#1238 Paradise City - Blanket Knitting Pattern for Home in Valley Yarns Northampton by Valley Yarns

Pattern Summary: #1238 Paradise City Blanket – Cable Block Knitting Pattern by Julie Turjoman and Susan Baron

The Paradise City Blanket is a stunning, large-scale knitted throw designed by Julie Turjoman and Susan Baron for Valley Yarns. Named in honor of Northampton, Massachusetts — famously nicknamed "The Paradise of America" by 19th-century singer and performer Jenny Lind — this blanket celebrates the city's rich cultural heritage and vibrant arts community. The pattern is published by WEBS – America's Yarn Store, which is proud to be headquartered in Northampton. Available as a downloadable PDF, this is an ideal project for knitters ready to expand their skills with colorwork and classic cable construction.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a large knitted blanket or throw measuring 46 inches wide by 56 inches long, making it a generous, couch-ready or bed-worthy piece. The blanket is constructed from individual knitted blocks, each measuring 9¼ inches by 11 inches, which are then assembled into the full throw. This modular block construction is a practical and satisfying approach to making a large blanket, as each block is a manageable, portable project in itself before being joined into the complete design.

Design and Construction Techniques

Block-Based Construction

The Paradise City Blanket is built from individual rectangular blocks that are knitted separately and then seamed or joined together. This modular approach keeps the knitting process approachable and well-organized, allowing knitters to work through one block at a time. It also makes the pattern ideal for those who want to carry their knitting on the go without managing a large, heavy piece of fabric.

Cables

The primary decorative technique used throughout the blanket is cable knitting. Cables are created by crossing groups of stitches over one another, typically using a cable needle, to produce twisted rope-like or braided textures that stand out in beautiful relief against a background fabric. Cables add dimension, warmth, and a classic handcrafted aesthetic to the finished blanket. This pattern incorporates cables as a central design element across the individual blocks, giving the overall throw a rich, textured surface.

Worked Flat

The blanket blocks are worked flat, meaning they are knitted back and forth in rows on straight or circular needles rather than in the round. This is the traditional method for producing flat fabric panels and is well-suited to the rectangular block format of this design. Working flat allows knitters to see the right side of the cable work clearly on right-side rows and to manage the fabric easily throughout construction.

Skill Level

The pattern is rated Adventurous Beginner to Intermediate. While the listing notes an intermediate difficulty, the pattern itself describes the skill level as Adventurous Beginner, suggesting it is accessible to knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to tackle their first cable projects. The block-by-block construction also helps less experienced knitters manage the complexity gradually. For those already comfortable with cables, the pattern offers a satisfying and meditative rhythm.

Materials: Yarn

Valley Yarns Northampton

The recommended yarn is Valley Yarns Northampton, a 100% wool worsted weight yarn that comes in 100g skeins containing approximately 247 yards each. Valley Yarns Northampton is named directly after the city that inspired the blanket, making it a deeply fitting choice for this design. Wool is an excellent fiber for cable knitting because its natural elasticity helps the twisted stitches pop and hold their definition beautifully over time. It also provides warmth and durability, qualities that make a wool throw a lasting heirloom piece.

Color Requirements and Colorways

The pattern calls for 2 skeins each of 5 colors, plus 1 additional skein of at least one color, for a total of approximately 11 skeins. Two complete colorways are provided, giving knitters the option to choose a palette that suits their home décor or personal taste:

• Colorway 1:
  • Color A: Caribbean Heather (58)
  • Color B: Lake Heather (42)
  • Color C: Deep Periw