Hillsdale Throw

Hillsdale Throw by Distracted Knits

Project Overview

The Hillsdale Throw is a beginner-friendly knitted blanket designed by Faith Schmidt. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a lightweight throw measuring 45.5 inches by 54 inches, making it an ideal project for crafters new to knitting who want to complete a substantial finished piece. The throw combines fundamental knitting techniques to achieve an attractive visual design without requiring advanced skills.

What is Being Made

This pattern produces a soft, cotton-blend throw blanket suitable for draping over furniture or using as a lightweight covering. The finished dimensions of 45.5 by 54 inches create a versatile size that works well as a decorative accent or functional throw for moderate warmth.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Hillsdale Throw uses two fundamental knitting stitches to create visual interest:

• Stockinette Stitch — the most basic and commonly used knit stitch, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing the classic smooth, V-patterned fabric
• Reverse Stockinette Stitch — the inverse of stockinette stitch, created by purling on the right side and knitting on the wrong side, producing a bumpy, textured appearance

These two stitches are combined strategically to form a zig zag pattern across the throw. The pattern also includes a garter stitch border (created by knitting every row), which adds definition and prevents curling at the edges. The pattern notes that stitch gauge is critical at 18.5 stitches over 4 inches in the zig zag stitch pattern, though row gauge is less critical for this particular project.

Materials Required

Needles: US 6 (4mm) circular needles measuring 36 inches or longer. Circular needles are recommended for this project to accommodate the width of the throw as stitches accumulate.

Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Worsted weight yarn in the colorway Seraphim (product number 25317). The yarn composition is 75% Pima Cotton and 25% Acrylic, which creates a soft, breathable fabric with slight elasticity. A total of 19 balls are required, with each ball containing 109 yards and weighing 50 grams. The cotton-blend composition keeps the finished throw soft and lightweight, making it comfortable for year-round use.

Pattern Customization

The Hillsdale Throw pattern allows for resizing by adjusting the cast-on number. To create a custom size, cast on a multiple of 8 stitches plus 2 additional stitches. This flexibility enables crafters to make smaller or larger versions while maintaining the zig zag pattern integrity.