First-Cable Afghan in Lion Brand Homespun - 20148

Lion Brand Homespun First-Cable Afghan (Pattern #20148) – Free Knitting Pattern Summary

The Lion Brand Homespun First-Cable Afghan (Pattern Number 20148) is a free, downloadable knitting pattern designed to produce a generously sized blanket or throw measuring 40 inches wide by 54 inches long, not including the decorative fringe. Rated as Easy skill level, this project is specifically crafted to introduce knitters to the classic cable stitch in a low-pressure, approachable format. The construction method — working in three separate, manageable panels — makes this an ideal portable project that can be knitted in sections and assembled at the end.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a large, cozy cable knit afghan suitable for use as a lap blanket, sofa throw, or bed accent. The finished piece features a rich, textured surface created by alternating cable columns and seed stitch borders. Once the three panels are complete, they are sewn together and finished with a full fringe along both short ends, adding a classic handcrafted touch. The combination of cables and seed stitch gives the afghan a visually interesting, dimensional appearance without requiring advanced knitting skills.

Materials Used

• Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun® in colorway Bella Vista — 8 skeins total, used doubled throughout the entire project for extra warmth, weight, and faster knitting progress
• Needles: Lion Brand Size 15 [10 mm] 29-inch [75 cm] Circular Needles — the circular format accommodates the stitch count comfortably even when working flat
• Cable Needles: Lion Brand Cable Needles (set of 2) — used to hold stitches temporarily during the cable crossing row
• Finishing Needles: Large-Eye Blunt Needles (set of 6) for seaming panels and weaving in ends
• Additional Tool: A crochet hook is required for attaching the fringe along the edges

Techniques Used

• Working with doubled yarn: Both strands of Lion Brand Homespun® are held together throughout, which speeds up the knitting process, creates a thicker and warmer fabric, and gives the cables a bold, pronounced definition
• Panel construction: The afghan is knit in three separate panels, each cast on with 27 stitches, making the project portable and easy to manage in smaller sessions
• Seaming: The finished panels are sewn together using the blunt tapestry needles to create one unified blanket
• Fringing: Cut lengths of approximately 8 inches are grouped into sets of 5 strands and attached closely together along the short ends — approximately 60 fringe sets per side — using a crochet hook
• Gauge swatch: The pattern emphasizes checking gauge, set at 8 stitches and 12 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette stitch with yarn doubled

Stitches Used

• Seed Stitch: Worked over a multiple of 2 plus 1 stitches, seed stitch alternates knit and purl stitches within each row and is repeated identically on every row. This creates a bumpy, non-curling texture that frames the cable columns beautifully. Each panel uses seed stitch borders of 3 stitches on each outer edge and a 5-stitch seed stitch column between the two cable sections.
• 8-Stitch Cable: The central design element of this afghan, the cable is worked over 8 stitches across a 12-row repeat. Right-side rows 1, 3, 7, 9, and 11 are knitted across; wrong-side rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 are purled. The defining cable crossing occurs on Row 5, where 4 stitches are slipped to the cable needle and held to the back, the next 4 stitches are knitted, and then the 4 held stitches are knitted from the cable needle. This back-held crossing creates the classic right-leaning cable twist. Each panel features two cable columns of 8 stitches each.