Blocks and Stripes Blanket in Cascade Pacific Chunky - C232

Blocks and Stripes Blanket in Cascade Pacific Chunky

Project Overview

The Blocks and Stripes Blanket is a knitted throw designed by Linda Medina, measuring 43 inches wide by 60 inches long. This advanced beginner knitting project creates a striking geometric design through the strategic use of colorblocking and horizontal stripes, making it an ideal blanket for adding visual interest to any room while remaining accessible to knitters developing their skills.

What is Being Made

This is a knitted blanket constructed from three separate strips that are sewn together upon completion. The finished blanket features a bold color-blocked design with distinct rectangular blocks arranged in a striped pattern. Each individual block measures 13 inches wide by 14 inches long, and the blanket is assembled using a strip-based construction method that simplifies the finishing process and makes picking up stitches for borders straightforward.

Yarn and Materials

The blanket is created using Cascade Yarns Pacific Chunky, a yarn blend composed of 60% acrylic and 40% superwash merino wool. This fiber content provides durability, easy care, and a soft hand suitable for a cozy throw blanket. The project requires the following yarn quantities in specific colors:

• 5 skeins in Color #70 Blue (Main Color)
• 3 skeins in Color #02 White
• 3 skeins in Color #48 Black
• 2 skeins in Color #25 Orange
• 2 skeins in Color #33 Green

Each skein contains 3.5 ounces of yarn. The chunky weight of Pacific Chunky yarn allows the project to work up quickly while creating a substantial, cozy finished blanket.

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for Size 10 needles, specifically a 29-inch circular needle for working the blanket strips. Circular needles are recommended for accommodating the width of the strips and managing the stitch count comfortably during knitting.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The working gauge for this project is 15 stitches and 18 rows per 4 inches when measured over the stitch pattern. Each individual block consists of 50 stitches and 64 rows, resulting in blocks that measure 13 inches wide by 14 inches long. Maintaining this gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished blanket dimensions of 43 inches wide by 60 inches long.

Stitches and Techniques

The Blocks and Stripes Blanket uses a simple yet effective stitch pattern that combines knit and purl techniques to create texture and visual definition:

• Garter Stitch Selvedges: Each strip includes a selvedge stitch on both sides, created by slipping the first stitch knitwise on every row. This technique creates neat, finished edges that are easy to sew together and facilitate picking up stitches for borders.
• Stockinette-Based Pattern: The main stitch pattern alternates between knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, with edge stitches slipped knitwise. This creates a smooth stockinette fabric that showcases the color changes between blocks.
• Color Blocking: The blanket is constructed by knitting blocks in different colors and arranging them in a striped pattern across the three strips. This technique allows knitters to create complex geometric designs without the complexity of intarsia or Fair Isle colorwork.
• Strip Assembly: The three strips are sewn together after completion, a method that simplifies construction and allows each strip to be worked as a manageable project.

Construction Method

The blanket is worked in three vertical strips, with each strip containing multiple blocks in different colors. The pattern specifies that Strip 1, Block 1 begins with casting on 50 stitches in Color #33 Green on size 10 needles, and the stitch pattern is repeated 32 times to create the block dimensions. This modular approach breaks the project into smaller, manageable sections while the final assembly through seaming creates a cohesive, finished blanket with clean edges and professional construction.