Wave Knit Blanket in Hayfield Spirit Chunky - 10862 - Downloadable PDF

Wave Knit Blanket in Hayfield Spirit Chunky

What is Being Made

The Wave Knit Blanket is a cozy knitted throw designed as a one-size blanket measuring approximately 100 x 135 cm (39½ x 53¼ inches). This project creates a finished blanket suitable for draping over furniture or using as a decorative throw, making it an ideal beginner-friendly knitting project that produces a substantial finished piece.

Yarn and Materials

This blanket pattern requires 8 balls of Hayfield Spirit Chunky yarn in shade 434 Spring, with each ball weighing 100g. The chunky weight yarn works up quickly, making this an efficient project for creating a large blanket. You will need 1 pair of 6½mm (UK size 3 / USA size 10.5) knitting needles, or alternatively a 60cm circular needle if preferred. The pattern specifies these materials based on achieving the correct tension for the design.

Techniques and Stitches Used

This blanket employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginners, built around a repeating wave pattern. The core stitches and techniques include:

• Garter Stitch (g-st): The foundational stitch used to create the base and edges of the blanket, formed by knitting every row to produce a textured, reversible fabric
• Knit Stitch (k): The primary stitch worked throughout the pattern
• Purl Stitch (p): Used in alternating rows to create texture and definition
• Yarn Forward (yfwd): A yarn over technique that creates decorative eyelet holes, contributing to the wave pattern's visual interest
• Knit Two Together (k2tog): A decrease stitch that reduces stitch count and shapes the wave formation
• Slip, Knit, Pass Slipped Stitch Over (s1, k1, psso): Another decrease technique used to create the wave shaping and maintain pattern symmetry

Pattern Structure

The blanket is worked using a repeating wave pattern that varies in stitch count throughout. The pattern begins with garter stitch edging, followed by rows that alternate between purl rows and pattern rows featuring the wave motif. The wave is created through strategic increases (yarn forwards) and decreases (knit two togethers and slip-knit-pass over stitches), which form the characteristic undulating texture. The pattern note indicates that stitch counts within rows vary due to the nature of the wave design, so exact stitch counts are not consistently provided throughout the instructions.

Tension and Gauge

The pattern is designed to be worked at a tension of 13 stitches and 22 rows over 10 cm (4 inches) using 6½mm needles with Hayfield Spirit Chunky yarn. Achieving the correct tension is important for obtaining the specified finished blanket dimensions and ensuring the wave pattern displays correctly.

Skill Level

This project is rated as beginner difficulty, making it accessible to knitters new to the craft. While it incorporates several fundamental techniques including increases and decreases, the straightforward pattern repeat and chunky yarn weight make it manageable for those learning to knit.