Snowdrift Blanket

Snowdrift Blanket by Knitwit Designs

Project Overview

The Snowdrift Blanket is an intermediate-level knitted throw designed by Margaret Holzmann and published by Knitwit Designs in 2017. This festive blanket combines traditional Fair Isle colorwork with modern construction techniques to create a warm, visually striking piece suitable for display or everyday use. The blanket features decorative snowflake motifs worked in contrasting colors and is finished with a lined back for a polished, professional appearance.

What Is Being Made

This project produces a rectangular blanket available in four sizes: Small (55" high x 41" wide), Medium (65" high x 49" wide), Large (74" high x 56" wide), and Extra Large (84" high x 63" wide). Metric dimensions are also provided, ranging from 104 cm x 140 cm for the smallest size to 160 cm x 213 cm for the largest. The finished blanket is designed to be both decorative and functional, suitable for folding neatly for display or wrapping around oneself for warmth and comfort.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Snowdrift Blanket employs several advanced knitting techniques that contribute to its intermediate difficulty rating. The blanket is primarily knit in the round, which allows for seamless construction and efficient colorwork integration. A steek is used to flatten the blanket face, creating a flat rectangular surface from circular knitting. This technique involves cutting through the knitted fabric in a designated column of stitches, which is then secured and finished. After the steek is cut, seed stitch borders are knit flat on the top and bottom edges of the blanket face. Additional stitches are then picked up along each side after the steek is completed, allowing for seamless border integration. The pattern includes full instructions for lining the back of the blanket, adding both durability and a finished appearance to the interior surface.

Stitches and Colorwork

The primary stitch pattern employed throughout most of the blanket is Fair Isle stranding, a traditional colorwork technique in which two colors of yarn are carried across the back of the work and stranded as needed to create the pattern. The design features festive snowflake motifs worked in this stranding method, creating a cohesive winter-themed aesthetic. Seed stitch is used for the borders, providing a textured, non-rolling edge that frames the Fair Isle colorwork. Seed stitch is created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a checkerboard pattern, resulting in a reversible, bumpy texture that adds visual and tactile interest to the blanket edges.

Yarn and Materials

The Snowdrift Blanket is designed to be knitted with Knit Picks Mighty Stitch, a yarn blend consisting of 20% Superwash Wool and 80% Acrylic. This fiber composition provides durability, easy care, and warmth while remaining practical for frequent washing. The yarn is supplied in 3.5 oz (100g) balls, each containing 208 yards (190 meters). Yardage requirements vary by size: the Small size requires 5 balls of Main Color and 2 balls of Contrast Color; the Medium requires 6 and 2 balls respectively; the Large requires 8 and 3 balls; and the Extra Large requires 10 and 3 balls. The Main Color is Spruce, a dark green shade (#26826), which serves as the dominant color throughout the blanket. The Contrast Color is Cream, an off-white shade (#26831), which creates the snowflake motifs and provides visual contrast against the darker background. All knitting is worked on US 6 (4mm) needles, which are appropriately sized for the aran and worsted weight yarn specified in this pattern.

Yarn Weight Classification

This pattern is designed for aran and worsted weight yarns, both of which fall in the medium weight category. These yarn weights are ideal for creating blankets and throws, as they provide good stitch definition for colorwork while knitting at a reasonable pace. The Knit Picks Mighty Stitch yarn specified in the pattern falls within this weight range, making it an excellent choice for achieving the intended drape, warmth, and finished dimensions of the Snowdrift Blanket.