The blanket is comprised of four rectangles, each bisected into a black and a white triangle, created by a simple intarsia technique. Using increases and decreases along the diagonal, you get a nice smooth line at the color change. The blanket is worked in two pieces for ease of handling, and these are sewn together at the end. It’s knit in a cozy bulky weight yarn for the maximum in warmth.
Skill Level: Easy
Size: 60” / [150 cm] long x 40” / [100 cm] wide.
Gauge: 12 sts and 15 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after blocking (gauge is not important for this design).
Materials
Yarn:
Three Irish Girls Springvale Bulky (100% Superwash Merino; 98 yards [90 meters]/115 grams): Dire Wolf (Color A), 5 skeins; Cewe-tie Pie (Color B), 5 skeins.
Needles: US size 11 (8.0 mm): one circular 24” / [60 cm] long; spare needle, any size, for holding live sts.
Notions: Stitch markers; tapestry needle
Pattern Notes
The blanket is worked in 2 strips which are sewn together. It can easily be made larger or smaller simply by casting on more or fewer stitches.
Special Stitches
Applied I-cord: With circular needle, CO 4 sts, *slide the sts to the opposite end of the needle, k3, sl 1 purlwise. With left hand tip, pick up a st on edge of piece, sl the last st on right needle tip back onto left tip, k2tog; rep from * until all sts on blanket edge are worked.
Twist: When changing colors, hold the yarn you’re stopping over to the left and then bring the new yarn up from under it, towards the right. This will twist it. To start the first st of the new color, you just knit that st with the new color.
RLI (Right lifted increase): Lift first leg of st below the next st onto needle and knit this st.
LLI (Left lifted increase): Lift last leg below last knitted st onto needle and knit this st.
Pattern
First Half of First Piece
With Color A, CO 54 sts.
Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Row 2 (RS): K to last 4 sts, k2tog, k1, attach Color B, twist, kfb in Color B.
Row 3: Purl, working sts in same color as row below, twisting 2 colors tog at color change.
Row 4: K until 3 sts rem in Color A, k2tog, k1, twist, change to Color B, k1, LLI, k1.
Row 5: Rep Row 3.
Row 6: K until 3 sts remain in Color A, k2tog, k1, twist, change to Color B, k2, LLI, k1.
Row 7: Rep Row 3.
Row 8: K until 3 sts rem in Color A, k2tog, k1, twist, change to Color B, k2, LLI, k to end.
Row 9: Rep Row 3.
Rep Rows 8-9 until 3 sts remain in Color A, 51 sts in Color B.
Row 100: K2tog, k1, twist, change to Color B, k2, LLI, k to end.
Row 101: Rep Row 3.
Row 102: K2tog, twist, change to Color B, k2, LLI, k to end.
Row 103: Rep Row 3.
Row 104: With Color B, k2tog, (Color B and Color A sts tog), k2, LLI, k to end.
Second Half of First Piece
Row 1: Purl using Color B.
Change to Color A.
Row 2: K1 in Color B, twist, k to end in Color A.
Row 3: Purl, working sts in same color as row below, twisting 2 colors tog at color change.
Row 4: In Color B, k1, RLI, twist, change to Color A, k1, ssk, knit to end.
Row 5: Rep Row 3.
Row 6: K1, RLI, k1 in Color B, twist, change to Color A, k1, ssk, k to end.
Row 7: Rep Row 3.
Row 8: K until 2 sts rem in Color B, RLI, k2 in Color B, twist, change to Color A, k1, ssk, k to end.
Row 9: Rep Row 3.
Rep Rows 8-9 until 3 sts rem in Color A, 51 sts in Color B.
Row 100: K until 2 sts rem in Color B, RLI, k2 in Color B, twist, change to Color A, k1, ssk.
Row 101: Rep Row 3.
Row 102: K until 2 sts rem in Color B, RLI, k2 in Color B, twist, change to Color A, ssk.
Row 103: Rep Row 3.
Row 104: K until 2 sts rem in Color B, RLI, k1 in Color B, ssk (Color B and Color A tog).
Row 105: Purl using Color B.
Do not bind off. Leave sts live for applied I-cord. Place on stitch holder or waste yarn.
Second Piece
Work Second Piece identical to First Piece.
Finishing
Block Pieces to desired measurements (about 60” / [150 cm] long x 20” / [50 cm] wide).
Using Mattress Stitch, sew the 2 strips together, with starting (cast-on) edge of Piece 1 aligning with ending edge of Piece 2, to form a Pinwheel design as shown in photos.
Place live sts from one edge onto spare needle (any size). Using Color A and with RS facing you, begin working applied I-cord as described above. Continue working I-cord all around blanket, picking up sts along all 4 sides as you go around.
At the end, sew the end of the I-cord to the beginning.
Weave in all ends.
I’m confused, is this a bulky yarn or a DK yarn? There is a big difference between the two.
Hi Debra, good catch! It is indeed bulky weight and the pattern has been updated. Happy knitting! – Nicola, Editor