Moonstone Plaid Blanket

Moonstone Plaid Blanket by Two of Wands

Project Overview

The Moonstone Plaid Blanket is a chunky knit throw blanket designed by Two of Wands. This beginner-friendly knitting project creates a finished blanket measuring 46 inches wide by 56 inches long, making it an ideal size for a cozy throw. The design features a plaid pattern created through a combination of knitted stripes and woven color work, resulting in a sophisticated geometric design suitable for modern home décor.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a rectangular blanket worked flat using the back-and-forth knitting method. The finished dimensions are 46 inches in width and 56 inches in length. The blanket features a plaid aesthetic achieved through vertical stripes that are woven into the knitted base after the main body is complete. The weaving technique stretches the stitches widthwise, which means the blanket dimensions before weaving differ from the final finished measurements.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Flat knitting: The blanket is worked flat in back and forth rows rather than in the round, allowing for straightforward construction on circular needles.
• Selvedge edge creation: The first stitch of each row is slipped to create a clean, finished edge along the sides of the blanket.
• Color work through weaving: Rather than carrying multiple yarn colors up the sides of the work, vertical stripes are woven into the finished knitted fabric, a technique that keeps the construction process simpler and prevents bulky edges.
• Garter stitch: The primary stitch structure used throughout the blanket, which creates a textured, reversible fabric ideal for blankets.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The Moonstone Plaid Blanket uses fundamental knitting stitches written in standard US terms. Key stitches and abbreviations include:

• K: Knit stitch
• Sl: Slip stitch
• CO: Cast on
• Rep: Repeat
• Wyif: With yarn in front
• St(s): Stitch or stitches
• Garter stitch: Created by knitting every row, producing a bumpy, textured fabric that is identical on both sides

Materials and Yarn

The Moonstone Plaid Blanket is designed to be worked in chunky weight yarn, which allows for quick project completion and creates a substantial, cozy throw. The pattern calls for Lion Brand Hue + Me yarn in four coordinating colorways:

• Color A (Haze, 617-144): 6 skeins for the primary base color
• Color B (Shadow, 617-150): 3 skeins for accent stripes
• Color C (Werewolf, 617-152): 3 skeins for accent stripes
• Color D (Arrowwood, 617-132): 3 skeins for accent stripes

The color palette combines neutral and cool-toned shades that work together to create the plaid pattern. The chunky weight yarn paired with the garter stitch creates a dense, warm, and durable blanket suitable for regular use.

Tools and Equipment

• Size US 15 (10mm) circular knitting needles, 32 inches (80cm) long: Circular needles accommodate the width of the blanket and allow for comfortable knitting of the flat fabric.
• Tapestry needle: Used for weaving in yarn ends and for the vertical stripe weaving that creates the plaid pattern.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 9 stitches and 16 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in garter stitch. This gauge is important for achieving the correct finished dimensions. The completed blanket measures 46 inches in width and 56 inches in length. It is important to note that these dimensions represent the finished blanket after the weaving step; the blanket will have different proportions before the vertical stripes are woven in, as the weaving process stretches the stitches horizontally.