Lion Brand Homespun 6-Hour Afghan – Free Knitting Pattern (90031AD)
The Lion Brand Homespun 6-Hour Afghan (Pattern Number 90031AD) is a free downloadable knitting pattern designed to help crafters create a cozy, generously sized throw blanket measuring 34 x 54 inches (86.5 x 137 cm), not including fringe. True to its name, this project is designed to knit up quickly, making it an ideal weekend project or a satisfying introduction to large-scale knitting. It is rated Beginner skill level, meaning even those who are relatively new to knitting can achieve beautiful, professional-looking results.
What Is Being Made
This pattern produces a striped, fringed throw afghan worked in a single flat panel. The finished blanket features a rich, textured appearance thanks to the combination of four coordinating colorways of Lion Brand Homespun® yarn held together simultaneously throughout the entire project. A decorative knotted fringe is added along both the cast-on and bind-off edges, giving the throw a classic, finished look. The result is a thick, plush, and warm blanket well-suited for home décor, gifting, or personal use.
Techniques Used
- Holding multiple strands together: One strand each of four different Homespun® colorways are held together as a single working yarn throughout the project. This technique dramatically increases the weight and thickness of the fabric, speeds up the knitting process, and blends the four colors into a beautifully harmonized, tweedy effect.
- Flat knitting: The throw is worked back and forth in rows on straight needles, making it accessible for beginners who have not yet learned to knit in the round.
- Casting on and binding off: A standard cast-on of 34 stitches begins the project, and a standard bind-off completes it.
- Weaving in ends: Loose yarn ends are secured by weaving them into the fabric using a large-eyed blunt needle for a tidy finish.
- Fringe application: A knotted fringe is attached along the first and last rows of the throw using a crochet hook. Strands are folded in half, drawn through the edge of the fabric to form a loop, and the ends are pulled through and tightened. One fringe is placed in each stitch along both short edges, and the ends are trimmed evenly for a polished finish.
Stitches Used
- Knit stitch: Worked on all right-side (odd-numbered) rows.
- Purl stitch: Worked on all wrong-side (even-numbered) rows.
- Stockinette stitch: The combination of knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows creates classic Stockinette stitch fabric — smooth on one side and textured on the other. With the chunky, textured nature of Lion Brand Homespun®, the resulting fabric is especially lush and cozy.
Materials
This pattern calls for four colorways of Lion Brand Homespun® yarn, each used in a quantity of two balls:
- Cream (790-393) – 2 balls
- Earth (790-403) – 2 balls
- Prairie (790-335) – 2 balls
- Barley (790-381) – 2 balls
Lion Brand Homespun® is a beloved bulky-weight yarn known for its soft, chenille-like texture and subtle color variation, which gives projects a rich, dimensional appearance even when worked in a simple stitch pattern. Its smooth, easy-to-work construction makes it especially beginner-friendly.
The pattern requires Lion Brand Knitting Needles – Size 50 (25 mm), also known as Speed Stix, which are extra-large needles that allow four strands of bulky yarn to be worked simultaneously with ease and speed. A Lion Brand Crochet Hook – Size K-10.5 is also needed for attaching the fringe. Large-eyed blunt needles are used for weaving in ends.
Gauge
Specifications
| Brand: | Lion Brand |
| Featured Products: | Lion Brand Homespun |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |