Leaf Blanket in Spud & Chloe Outer - 9216 - Downloadable PDF

Leaf Blanket in Spud & Chloe Outer – Pattern No. 9216 by Susan B. Anderson

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern by designer Susan B. Anderson guides knitters through creating a beautifully shaped Leaf Blanket, a cozy, oversized throw worked in the form of a single large leaf complete with a stem detail. Published under the Spud & Chloe brand, this beginner-friendly project is an ideal introduction to simple shaping techniques while producing a striking, sculptural finished piece.

What Is Being Made

The finished object is a large knitted blanket or throw styled to resemble a leaf. It measures 38 inches from the tip of the leaf to the end of the stem and 26 inches at its widest point. The blanket is worked from the top down, beginning at the very tip of the leaf and expanding outward before tapering back in, creating the organic, pointed silhouette of a natural leaf. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in the colorway Hedge #7210. A ¾-inch button is also included as a finishing detail.

Construction and Structure

The blanket is divided into distinct numbered sections that correspond to different stages of the leaf's shape:

• Section 1 – Tip of the Leaf: Begins with a cast-on of just 2 stitches on a circular needle. Stitches are increased every right-side row using kfb (knit into the front and back) increases, building the narrow pointed tip of the leaf over 14 rows.
• Section 2 – Widening the Leaf Body: Stitch markers are placed to frame a central purl stitch that runs as a spine down the center of the leaf. Increases using M1 (make one) are worked on either side of this central marker on right-side rows, while wrong-side rows maintain the established pattern of knit borders and reverse stockinette panels.
• Section 3 and 4 – Tapering and Shaping: Once the leaf reaches its full width, decreases are introduced using ssk (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit 2 together) on either side of the central spine marker, gradually reducing the stitch count and creating the tapered lower portion of the leaf.

Throughout the blanket, a 3-stitch garter border is maintained on each side by knitting the first and last 3 stitches of every row, giving the edges a tidy, non-curling finish. The central spine stitch is consistently worked as a knit stitch on wrong-side rows and a purl stitch on right-side rows, creating a raised rib that visually mimics the central vein of a leaf.

Techniques Used

• Top-down construction – the blanket is worked from the leaf tip downward in a single flat piece
• Kfb increases – used in the early tip section to build width from a 2-stitch cast-on
• M1 (Make One) increases – used symmetrically on either side of the central spine during the widening phase
• Ssk and k2tog decreases – used symmetrically to taper the leaf shape in the lower sections
• Stitch marker placement – markers frame the central spine stitch and guide consistent shaping throughout
• I-Cord – an optional technique worked on double pointed needles to create the stem at the base of the leaf
• Garter stitch borders – knit on every row along the side edges to prevent rolling and add structure
• Reverse stockinette panels – the main body of the leaf is worked in reverse stockinette (purl on the right side), which creates a textured, cushioned surface that contrasts with the garter edges and the raised central spine

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch – knit every row, used for the side borders
• Stockinette stitch – referenced in the gauge measurement
• Reverse stockinette stitch – purl on right side, knit on wrong side, used for the main