Nantucket Afghan in Caron Simply Soft - Downloadable PDF

Nantucket Afghan in Caron Simply Soft – Free Knitting Pattern Summary

The Nantucket Afghan is a free, beginner-level knitting pattern that produces a generously sized, colorful blanket or throw measuring approximately 48" x 60" (122 x 152.5 cm). Designed to be worked flat on a long circular needle, this project is an excellent introduction to combining multiple colors, stitch textures, and stripe sequences in a single cohesive piece. The finished afghan has a classic, cozy aesthetic that suits a wide range of home décor styles.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a large, multi-color knitted throw or blanket. The design features bold horizontal stripes of varying widths, each worked in a different stitch pattern or color combination, giving the finished piece a rich, layered texture. The Nantucket Afghan is ideal for home use as a sofa throw, bed accent, or lap blanket.

Colors and Materials

The pattern calls for Caron Simply Soft yarn, an aran-weight acrylic yarn, used in four distinct colorways:

• Contrast A – Country Blue (39710): 2 balls (6 oz / 170.1 g; 315 yds / 288 m per ball)
• Contrast B – Autumn Red (39730): 3 balls
• Contrast C – Off White (39702): 2 balls
• Contrast D – Bone (39703): 2 balls

The combination of deep blue, warm red, crisp off-white, and soft bone creates a palette reminiscent of classic New England coastal style, perfectly suited to the Nantucket name.

Needles

The pattern requires a U.S. size 8 (5 mm) circular knitting needle, 36" (90.5 cm) long, or the size needed to achieve the correct gauge. A circular needle is used here to accommodate the large number of cast-on stitches — 216 stitches — while still working back and forth in rows rather than in the round.

Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is important for matching the finished dimensions. The pattern specifies 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch. Knitters are encouraged to swatch before beginning.

Stitches and Techniques Used

This beginner-friendly pattern uses three fundamental stitch patterns, making it a wonderful project for knitters who want to practice texture variety without complex shaping or construction:

• Garter Stitch: Knitting every row on both right and wrong sides. This stitch creates a ridged, reversible fabric and is used throughout the afghan for stripe sections and for the 5-stitch border at each edge, which keeps the sides neat and flat.
• Stockinette Stitch: Alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side. The pattern maintains a 5-stitch garter border on each edge even within stockinette sections, preventing the edges from curling — a common characteristic of stockinette fabric.
• Moss Stitch (also known as Seed Stitch in some traditions): A four-row repeating pattern that alternates knit and purl stitches in a specific sequence. Rows 1 and 2 follow a K1, P1 repeat, while rows 3 and 4 follow a P1, K1 repeat. This offset creates a bumpy, textured fabric that lies flat and looks attractive on both sides.

The afghan is constructed entirely by working back and forth in rows — there is no joining in the round. Colors are changed at the beginning of new stripe sections, and the pattern repeats a defined sequence of stripes until the blanket reaches the full 60" length, ending cleanly on a specified stripe section before casting off.

Stripe Sequence and Construction

The stripe sequence is carefully structured to create visual rhythm and textural contrast. Key sections of the pattern include:

• An opening section worked in Contrast D using garter stitch
• A Moss Stitch section in