Hand print blanket square

Hand Print Blanket Square by Fiona Kelly

What is Being Made

This is a knitted alphabet square featuring a hand print design, created by independent designer Fiona Kelly. The project produces a customizable decorative square suitable for blankets, cushion covers, or other patchwork applications. The design incorporates duplicate stitch embroidery to add a contrasting letter or hand print motif to a knitted base square.

Project Overview and Difficulty

Classified as an intermediate knitting project, this square is described as quick and easy to complete, making it accessible for knitters with some foundational experience. The project combines two distinct techniques: knitting the base square and then embellishing it with duplicate stitch embroidery, allowing crafters to build skills in both construction and surface decoration.

Knitting Techniques Used

The primary technique is straightforward square knitting in stockinette stitch or similar basic stitches. After completing the knitted base, the design is embellished using duplicate stitch embroidery, also known as Swiss Darn in UK terminology. This embroidery technique allows you to add the hand print design using a contrasting yarn color without requiring additional tools beyond a bodkin or blunt-ended darning needle.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern is designed to work with cotton yarn in three different weight options, allowing crafters to choose their preferred finished square size:

• Aran (Worsted) Weight Version: 20g of Aran weight cotton for the main square color, 5g of contrasting Aran weight cotton for the hand print letter, 4mm knitting needles, and produces a 6 x 6 inch (15 x 15cm) square
• Double Knitting (DK/Sport) Weight Version: 12g of DK weight cotton for the main square color, 5g of contrasting DK weight cotton for the hand print letter, 3.5mm knitting needles, and produces a 5 x 5 inch (12.5 x 12.5cm) square
• 4Ply (Fingering) Weight Version: 8g of 4Ply weight cotton for the main square color, 5g of contrasting 4Ply weight cotton for the hand print letter, 3mm knitting needles, and produces a 4 x 4 inch (10 x 10cm) square

All versions require 1 x bodkin or blunt-ended darning needle for the duplicate stitch embroidery work. Cotton yarn is recommended for its durability and stitch definition, though similar weight yarns can be substituted.

Stitches and Construction

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the provided materials, the pattern uses basic knitting stitches appropriate for creating smooth, even squares. The duplicate stitch embroidery technique works by following the existing knitted stitches in the base square, allowing the contrast yarn to mimic the appearance of knitted stitches while creating the hand print design on the surface.

Customization and Applications

The three yarn weight options provide flexibility in scale and finished appearance. Crafters can select the appropriate needle size and yarn weight combination based on their preferred square dimensions and the intended final use, whether creating individual decorative squares for a larger blanket project or standalone pieces.