Raya's Blanket

Raya's Blanket by Pam Grushkin

Project Overview

Raya's Blanket is a knitted throw blanket designed by independent designer Pam Grushkin. This cozy home accessory measures 26 inches wide by 28 inches long when blocked, making it an ideal size for a lap blanket or small throw. The pattern is classified as Advanced Beginner skill level, making it accessible to knitters with some foundational experience who are ready to expand their abilities.

Craft and Technique

This project is created using the knitting technique. The blanket is worked on circular needles, which are used to accommodate the width of the piece even though it is knitted flat rather than in the round. Circular needles provide comfort and support when working larger projects. The pattern includes a bottom border worked in garter stitch (knitting every row), which creates a textured, reversible edge that frames the blanket beautifully.

Stitches and Construction

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches including knit and purl stitches as the building blocks of the design. Stitch markers are used throughout the project to help track pattern repeats and maintain stitch accuracy. The use of a tapestry needle is required for weaving in yarn ends during finishing. The pattern instructions are written with abbreviations including K (knit), P (purl), St(s) (stitch/stitches), Rep (repeat), RS (right side), and WS (wrong side), which are standard in knitting patterns.

Yarn and Needle Options

Raya's Blanket is designed to be worked in two yarn weight options, allowing knitters to choose based on preference and availability:

• DK Weight Version: Requires 928 yards of DK weight yarn worked on US #5 (3.75mm) circular needles. The gauge for this version is 22 stitches and 36 rows over 4 inches when blocked. Cast on begins with 144 stitches for the DK weight option.
• Worsted Weight Version: Requires 743 yards of worsted weight yarn worked on US #7 (5mm) circular needles. The gauge for this version is 19 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches when blocked. The worsted weight version uses 124 stitches for the cast on.

Both versions require a 24-inch circular needle to comfortably work the blanket width. The sample shown in the pattern was created using Berroco Pima 100, a yarn composed of 100% Pima Cotton. The sample required 3 skeins (100g/3.5oz each, 219 yards per skein) in the color phlox. While gauge is not critical for blanket projects since size variation is often acceptable, working to the specified gauge will help achieve the intended finished dimensions and yardage requirements.

Materials Summary

Essential materials for completing Raya's Blanket include yarn in either DK or worsted weight, appropriately sized circular needles, stitch markers for tracking pattern sections, and a tapestry needle for finishing. The blanket's cotton fiber content in the sample makes it breathable and suitable for year-round use, though any yarn in the specified weights would be suitable for this design.