Lacewing Blanket in Valley Superwash Bulky - 1100 - Downloadable PDF

Lacewing Blanket in Valley Superwash Bulky – Pattern #1100 by Susan Baron

The Lacewing Blanket, pattern #1100, is a beautifully structured knitted throw designed by Susan Baron and published by Valley Yarns. Finished at a generous 45 inches wide by 56 inches long, this blanket is crafted to be a cozy, everyday companion — perfect for curling up on a sofa or layering on a bed. Despite its sophisticated, multi-textured appearance, the pattern is rated Beginner skill level, making it an excellent project for newer knitters looking to build confidence while creating something truly impressive.

Construction and Structure

The Lacewing Blanket uses a clever and distinctive construction method that sets it apart from a simple rectangular knit. The blanket is worked flat in three separate vertical strips, each incorporating a variety of stitch patterns and color sequences. Once the strips are complete, they are rotated 90 degrees, and stitches are picked up along their edges to create stockinette stitch vertical stripes that visually connect the strips. The three strips are then seamed together using a tapestry needle, and finally, an all-around seed stitch border is added to frame the entire blanket with a tidy, non-rolling edge. This approach to construction — combining worked-flat panels, seaming, and picked-up stitches — gives the finished blanket a richly layered, architectural quality that belies its beginner rating.

Stitch Patterns and Techniques

One of the most appealing aspects of the Lacewing Blanket is the variety of stitch patterns woven throughout each strip, creating visual interest and tactile texture across the surface of the throw. The stitch patterns used include:

• Stockinette stitch – the foundational knit-on-right-side, purl-on-wrong-side fabric used extensively throughout each strip and in the vertical stripe sections
• Striped pattern – a 4-row striped sequence worked in two colors, repeated multiple times to create bold horizontal color bands
• Embossed Rib pattern – a 4-row repeat that adds dimensional ribbed texture, worked over multiple repeats for a substantial textured section
• Seed Stitch Squares pattern – a 14-row repeat that creates a geometric, checkerboard-like arrangement of seed stitch blocks, adding a playful and tactile element to the design
• Seed stitch border – worked all around the perimeter of the assembled blanket to create a neat, reversible, non-curling edge finish

The pattern also incorporates simple shaping rows — a make-one purl increase (m1p) and a purl-two-together decrease (p2tog) — used at specific points within the strips to accommodate stitch count adjustments required by certain pattern sections, then returned to the original count before moving on.

The Long-Tail Cast-On method is specified for casting on, a popular and versatile technique that creates a neat, slightly elastic edge well-suited to blanket construction. The pattern even references a video tutorial for this cast-on, making it especially accessible for beginners encountering it for the first time.

Color Palette and Yarn

The Lacewing Blanket is worked in four colors, all from Valley Yarns Valley Superwash Bulky, a 100% Extra Fine Superwash Merino Wool yarn sold in 100g / 109-yard balls. The superwash treatment means the finished blanket can be machine washed — a highly practical feature for a frequently used home accessory. The Extra Fine Merino fiber provides exceptional softness against the skin, making this blanket as comfortable as it is beautiful.

The four colors specified in the pattern are:

• Color A: 17-Steel Gray — 6 balls, the dominant background color used throughout all strips
• Color B: 20-Light Grey — 4 balls, used in striped and embossed rib sections
• Color C: 24-Turquoise — 3 balls, providing a vibrant accent color
• Color D: 01-Natural — 3 balls, a warm neutral used in striped and