Hi everyone! Hope that everyone had a wonderful summer. Time for me to get back to being organized and efficient and back into blogging.
The last two days here in SC have been cool. Finally! I'm sitting here this morning by an open window and have a shawl around my shoulders. It's so nice to have the windows open and not have to listen to the air conditioner humming away.
So, the cooler weather has put me in the frame of mind of afghans, as I can only work on these during the cooler months. I want to share with you a ripple afghan pattern that is knit. My mother made a number of these blankets; three are pictured below. This pattern is very easy, but just a word of warning, it is time-consuming. It is well worth it, though. And, I don't like saying this, but it is also an easy project to set aside for a while (or a year...LOL) and pick back up as the pattern is not complicated. This pattern was passed onto her by one of her friends and I have her copy, written on a recipe card, my favorite!
First some pictures....
These three afghans were knit by my mom. The blue and green one is my son's, the pink and yellow one is my daughter's, and the rose one is mine. She knit mine while I was in college (many years ago). These blankets are well-loved and used every winter so they hold up very well. In addition to these three, she made two others; one for each of my sisters.
Now for the pattern:
This beautiful and simple afghan pattern allows you to showcase a combination of solid yarns or a variegated yarn with solid yarns, in bold blocks of color. It is a simple knit pattern, requiring only basic knitting skills. It is knit on circular needles in order to hold the number of stitches for the pattern, but is knit back and forth on the needles, not in the round. Enjoy!
A pdf version of the pattern is available HERE.
Pattern Rating: Easy. Basic knitting skills required.
Stitches Used: knit (k), knit 2 together (k2tog), increase (inc)
Finished size: Approximately 45 inches wide x 90 inches long.
Gauge: not important
Materials:
· Size 8 circular knitting needles, at least 29 inches long
· Stitch markers
· 13 Skeins of worsted weight (No. 4) yarn: 4 skeins Color A, 4 skeins Color B, and 5 skeins Color C. See the color layouts below for variations using a mix of solid and variegated yarns. I recommend Red Heart Super Saver yarn. This is a durable, washable yarn that is available in many colors and has been used in all of the blankets that are shown in the picture above. It is easy to find and it is very easy to work with, especially if this is you first blanket or afghan.
Pattern:
Cast on 266 stitches.
Row 1: K across. Turn. Do not join. Circular needles are used for this pattern only to easily hold the number of stitches cast on.
Row 2: K1, K2 tog. *K8, increase in the next st, place marker, inc in the next st, K8, K2 together twice*. Repeat from * to * across to the last 3 stitches. K2 tog, K1. Turn.
Row 3: K across. Turn.
Row 4: K1, K2 tog. *K8, increase in the next st, slip marker, inc in the next st, K8, K2 together twice*. Repeat from * to * across to the last 3 stitches. K2 tog, K1. Turn.
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 for the pattern. This repeat will make a total of 12 points to the ripple across the afghan.
Each skein of yarn should be used completely, joining the next color in the pattern at the end of the row.
Bind off and weave in yarn ends.
Pattern note: Some yarn colors do not contain the same yardage as others, even by the same manufacturer. If you would like the color section to be the same width, you will need to count rows. Note, however, that variegated yarns tend to have less yardage than the solid yarns and the pattern does start with a solid color. The narrower bands of variegated yarn do add a bit of variety to the pattern and overall, do not matter in the completed project. I have never worried about the color band widths so I just knit until the yarn runs out. Just a thought!
Color Pattern Suggestions
There are many different color combinations that can be used to make this afghan uniquely yours. In the picture above, two of the blankets are made using 2 solid and 1 variegated colors of yarn while the other uses all solid colors.
Call the yarn colors Solid A (A), Solid B (B), and Variegated or Solid C (C).
Color Pattern 1: A - C - B - A - C - B - C - B - C - A - B - C - A
Color Pattern 2: A - C - B - A - C - B - A - B - C - A - B - C - A
The letter in BOLD is the center of the pattern. Basically, the color design steps out from the center toward each end.
These are just suggestions. I would love to someday make this as a scrappy yarn quilt, using up random skeins and partial skeins of yarn.
I would love to see your selections for yarn and your finished projects!
Just two more pictures....this is the afghan I have been working on for, say we say, awhile. Still love the colors, but I want you to see the needles I am using. These are the needles my mom used to make all of the afghans I mentioned. Worn with love!
This pattern may be used for articles to sell. Please credit auraverdecrafts.blogspot.com for the pattern. Thanks!
Happy Crafting...and Knitting!
Kathy
