Bo Peep Pure Botanical Garden Blanket KAL - Maze in West Yorkshire Spinners - WYSKAL06M - Downloadable PDF

Bo Peep Pure Botanical Garden Blanket KAL – Maze: Pattern Summary

The Maze Botanical Garden Colourwork Blanket KAL – Part Six is a downloadable PDF knitting pattern designed by Rosee Woodland for West Yorkshire Spinners. This is the sixth instalment in the Botanical Garden Colourwork Blanket knit-along series, and it focuses on a Maze-themed colourwork panel that contributes to a finished blanket measuring approximately 85cm wide by 83cm tall after blocking. Each individual panel measures 20cm wide by 19.5cm tall after blocking, with a 2.5cm wide edging completing the finished piece. This is a free, downloadable pattern rated at an intermediate skill level, making it ideal for knitters who are comfortable with colourwork techniques and are ready to take on a more complex, multi-panel project.

What Is Being Made

This pattern is one part of a larger knit-along (KAL) blanket project — a modular, panel-based blanket worked in sections and joined together. The Maze instalment contributes a single decorative panel to the overall blanket design. Once all KAL parts are completed and assembled, the finished blanket measures 85cm wide by 83cm tall after blocking — a generous lap or decorative throw size. An optional cotton jersey backing can be added for extra warmth and a polished finish.

Techniques Used

• Stranded colourwork: A traditional Fair Isle-style technique where two or more yarn colours are carried across the back of the work, creating intricate, repeating geometric or pictorial patterns. This technique requires consistent tension management to ensure the fabric lies flat and the floats do not pucker.
• Strandtarsia colourwork: A hybrid technique combining elements of both stranded colourwork and intarsia. It is used in this pattern to work larger or more isolated colour blocks without carrying yarn across the full width of the row, reducing bulk and improving drape in specific sections of the panel.
• Circular knitting for edging: The blanket's edging is worked on a long circular needle, allowing the knitter to pick up stitches around the assembled panels and work a neat, continuous border.
• Blocking: Wet or steam blocking is an essential finishing step for this pattern. The tension specifications are given both before and after blocking, highlighting how significantly the fabric relaxes and evens out once blocked — a key consideration for achieving the correct finished measurements.
• Optional backing: The pattern includes guidance for attaching a cotton jersey backing using matching polyester sewing thread, adding a professional, boutique finish to the completed blanket.

Stitches Used

• Stranded colourwork stitches: Worked flat on straight needles across the individual panels, following a charted colourwork design that creates the Maze motif.
• Edging stitches: Picked up and worked in the round on a circular needle to create the finished border of the blanket.
• Stitch markers: Eight hinged stitch markers are used during the edging process, along with one contrast colour stitch marker to track the beginning of the round — both are listed as required materials.

Tension and Sizing

Achieving the correct tension is particularly important in this pattern, as the blanket is assembled from multiple individual panels that must match in size. Two separate tension specifications are provided:

• Stranded colourwork tension: 26 stitches and 26 rows to 10cm before blocking, and 24 stitches and 24 rows to 10cm after blocking, both measured over stranded colourwork using 4mm needles.
• Strandtarsia colourwork tension: 26 stitches and 27 rows to 10cm before blocking, measured over strandtarsia colourwork using 4mm needles.

The difference between pre- and post-blocking tension figures underscores the importance of blocking each panel before assembly to ensure a cohesive, professional result.

Materials Required

Yarn