A couple of weeks ago I was at Jo-Ann Fabrics browsing through their magazines and saw one dedicated to plushies/stuffies. But I cannot remember what it was called. I think the issue I saw was only the magazines 2nd issue, so it is very new. Anyone know what I am talking about? I thought it was called Stuffed, but could be wrong. 

I was going to suggest the Lion Brand website as well. Also, check out Ravelry.com. I do have a book that uses a lot of chunky yarn but not sure if it uses the big speed sticks. Speed Knitting (can't remember the author).

Thanks! 

The original pattern is this:

Cast on 97 sts.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: Purl
Row 4: P1, *yo, P2tog; rep from *
Row 5: K1, *yo, K2tog; rep from *
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: Purl

Switch yarn colors. Work 15 rows in stockinette stitch beginning with Purl row and end Purl row.

What I want to do is only cast on 77 sts, and then follow the original pattern. Will this pattern still work out ok if I do this? 

I've got 4 skeins of Lion Brand Chunky USA (2 dark purple and 2 light purple). Each skein is 155 yds/113 g. I've been looking online everywhere for a baby blanket to make with this material and to no avail, most projects need a lot more yarn than I have (I'm trying to avoid purchasing more yarn!), or have the same project (which is a diagonal blanket with a YO border--which I have already made multiple times). I'd like something more fancy than straight knit stitch if possible, but I am getting pretty desperate for ideas! LOL Anyone know of a really good pattern to use up this yarn on that isn't too difficult? I really appreciate it. 

I love it!!!

If worse comes to worse, you can always line the back of the blanket with some cotten fabric material--I've seen some projects like that before. Just another idea.

The first thing that comes to mind is a pillow, or pillow cover--since you said the name of the yarn has special meaning for you and your fiance. I don't have a link to any, but you could probably search for some ideas online. My other suggestion is using some of the yarn in a blanket or something that you and your fiance could use.

I know you said you didn't want to make it into a basic scarf, but you still could make a scarf that has stripes or various types of yarn used in it (including this yarn you are mentioning), and make a scarf for each of you, with them both containing the yarn.

Just some ideas that popped into my head... 

I am trying my first attempt at a baby blanket and want to make sure I understand this pattern before I start....

I'm working on the Bernat Baby Coordinates Sweet Stripes (Purple Knit Blanket), which some of you may be familiar with--it's from the Bernat website.

Here is what the pattern says:

Cast on 4 sts. Do not join.Working back and forth across needle in rows, proceed as follows:

1st row: (WS). Knit.
2nd row: (Inc row). K2. yfwd. Knit to end of row.
Rep last row until there are 190 sts.

My question is, when I get to row 2, and after I K2, do I knit one stitch with yfwd, and then knit to the end of the row like normal? Or do I knit every stitch after my original K2, with yfwd? 

I liked the book 'First Knits'. They had some really cute ideas in there--and it's great for beginners because there aren't a lot of hard techniques that can make a beginner feel overwhelmed. However, I didn't buy this book. I borrowed it from my library. The first book I actually ended up getting was a pre-teen knitting book. Because I could actually understand it! 

Annie's Attic-'I Can Knit!' (Which is geared toward pre-teens, including all the patterns. But it helped me learn the basics, even if the projects were kind of dorky. LOL)