Cabled Patchwork Blanket

I started knitting the blanket squares back in April last year, on impulse, while seeking a cure for my cableaholism, which apparently, still exists. Time flew by and knitting went on rapidly at times and slowly other times and sometimes, none at all. There was a time recently the blanket was stashed, unfinished, put out of sight due to mere boredom. Forward to two weeks ago, I had an enormous desire to finish knitting something, be it a blanket or not and now, am happy that I picked up the blanket again.

Already, I am emotionally attached to the blanket because of just what it is - a warm, cozy, handmade blanket with a lot of memories of the year passed. Looking at it every time, reminds me of so many things about me - absolute craziness to tackle such a huge project, the determination and passion to try out so many cable patterns etc - unfortunately, these characters tend appear in other parts of my life as well.

Project details

Finished size: About 68' long and 52' wide. Individual squares approx. 9 inch by 9 inch. Knit a total of 32 squares. More details on Raverly

Yarn: Bluefaced Leicester Aran in Silver, 19 hanks, 100g each

Needles: US #9/5.5mm

Resources used include: The harmony guides, Barbara G. Walker, viking patterns for knitting among others.

If you would like to attempt such craziness and make your own blanket - here is a little recipe that might work for some and to some extent. (With a Disclaimer)

• Be impulsive and crazy enough to tackle a project idea that comes to mind while you trying to get to sleep
• Make sure you have some huge stash of yarn that you don't like something about (in my case it was the colour) plus other necessary resources like needles, which as a knitter, you certainly have
• Grab all resources like knitting books you have that you never knit anything from and take a good look around for some interesting patterns that you can incorporate into your project
• and finally begin to knit. Don't forget to set both relaxed long term deadlines (in my case was whenever) and tight short term deadlines ( gave myself  a number of 5 or 10 squares to knit during a knitting spurt) and you will be good to go for the next few years....
• Or less but at least you'll have a blanket!

Really, without misleading you, here are a few tips and tricks I learned that would help if you would like to make your own:

• Decide on individual square sizing. The squares were about 9' by 9' although not exactly in each case depending on the cable pattern used.
• Test gauge at least one or two cable patterns to determine the average number of stitches to use. For most of the squares, I cast on 46 stitches and that gave me ample number of stitches for a 24-28 stitch cable panel plus moss stitch and/or small cable panels border on either side. On average, the stitches ranged from 46-50sts.
• When choosing cable patterns, select the ones you like that would fit the size of the square needed. I stuck with mostly 24-30sts cable patterns with a 24-28 row repeats. Thus, the big cable panels like this or this, were repeated at least twice (ie a total of 48 rows) in a square and smaller cables like this or this were repeated multiple times. Also, the simple cable stitch pattern like honeycomb or lattice were easy to make to fit the dimensions.
• The seed stitch background is optional. I like the texture it gave with the yarn therefore didn't mind knitting it so much. A word of caution- on the squares that I used more seed seed stitch on either side of the cable, the squares gained a little  more after washing.
• Sewing the pieces together was easily done by using mattress stitch. This created a continuous seed stitch pattern on the top and no bulky seems on the back.
• Blocking really helps with straightening the blanket. Mine is slightly bigger on one side due to the combo of squares I put together in the last row (Most of them were over 9 inch in size but that's ok).
• Make your own desired size blanket. Don't be limited by squares of x size - you can basically make any shape and size you want. I even considered a round shaped blanket!

For more photos, check here and here.

**added*** Full Photos are here and here.

Spring cleaning, gardening and two year old tantrums await. Thus why blogging and responding to emails has been very limited lately!

Enjoy your spring days knitting!

Comments

[journeyseeds]

this is gorgeous! i love the color, love the cables...it's fabulous!

[flopeanut]

Waohw!

[Cindy D]

The jacket fits you like a glove!! I always enjoy your knitting and photography..........

[inge]

Wow - I am dreaming of making one of these. I just add you to my raverly friends. You have dutch Klompen & knit Socktoberfest socks. Well I am from Munich - capital of the Oktoberfest & live in Holland - crazy. By the way I used to do my internship at Vlisco. So hi there - what a small world it is!

[hpny knits]

I am in awe! its so lush and gorgeous!

[Mrs. Tex Benitez]

Wow. What a gorgeous colour. I'm roughly 1/4 of the way through a blanket project of my own so this is just the inspiration I needed - mine is cream and each square is/will be knitted in a different stitch - all 100 of them. Cable features prominently - I'm a recent convert and totally hooked. I've been wondering how to border the blanket, though - and I must say, I'm very tempted by that wonderful seed stitch edging!

[Annie]

That is gorgeous! Someday I'd like to try something like this. For now I'll stick to small projects since I am a beginner :)

It's very inspiring though. I'd love to snuggle under a blanket like that.

[Sheree]

This is sooo amazing! You need to write a book, sweet girl!

[Rebecca]

It's so lovely! I'd love to throw it around me now and snuggle down for a sleep but, like you, 2 year old tantrums await!

[deborah]

Oh my! Gorgeous and great idea! Who don't have a buncho stash stuff? Me do, me do! Sounds like great late night knitting!

[Nora]

It's beautiful Lucy! Thanks also for the tips - I'd love to start one.

[Lisa]

Beautiful blanket - love all the cables!

[kerry]

Absolutely stunning!

[Sonnja]

That blanket is beautiful!
Kind regards

Sonnja, from the Netherlands
Beertje Zonn

[Cheryl]

This turned out so well! It is truly a work of art! Thanks for the tutorial, you're making me want to start a blanket... :)

[Nicole]

You've created another heirloom-quality work of art. Just stunning! And I love the soft colour.

Inspiring!

[Lisa]

Simply beautiful!

[Zoe]

Wow Lucy that was worth the wait, as always I am in awe of your cable skills! Zoe

[leslie]

oh lucy! i am so happy that you finished this. and it is glorious. many cozy moments will happen under that beautiful blanket.

[kristin]

That blanket is absolutely stunning! And what a perfect color for all of those cables. It's funny how things work out, isn't it?

[Lin]

That is knitting to be proud off, its lovely and I could never have stck at a knit so big for so long!

[Elli]

Amazing! (I'd love to see a picture of it all laid out flat too!)

[Ellen]

You are the Cable Queen! The blanket is beautiful, and you've inspired me to do some cable swatches.

[Mari]

That is probably the most amazing thing I have seen in a long time! Gorgeous!

[Tamara]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing the recipe! I, too, love cables and will add this to my must do list!

[tiennie]

This is amazingly gorgeous!!! Fantastic job!

[christine]

wow, lucy. i'm amazed at your talent and your speed. i don't know how you manage to do it.

can't wait to see it one day.

christine

[Fríða]

oh, what a truly beautiful blanket, one that will be a permanent part of your home interior for many years to come. congratulations, it is simply stunning.
best wishes from Iceland
Frida

[Stacey_CrimsonPurl]

Just awesome!

[carla]

That is stunning!

[LizKnits]

Wow!! I mean really... WOW!

That is one fabulous blanket you have there. I started a cabled throw when I first began knitting and then just put it away. This really inspires me to go back and start on another square. I'm very impressed with all the different cable patterns you used. My fear of course would be that all my squares would end up very different sizes (since I'm sure I wouldn't want to swatch!).

Congrats on such a beautiful object!

[Devon]

That is unbelievably gorgeous. I love all the different cables and the color is wonderful to make those cables really pop!!! You are one talented lady.