This afghan is inspired by the rectilinear lines of Danish modern furniture. The logical alternation of color makes the stranded colorwork easy to memorize, and the chunky gauge makes it quick to knit. Worked in blocks, this is the kind of project that can travel with you; a week of commuting on the train and you could have a new afghan ready for your sofa.
Finished Measurements
42" wide x 60" long
Yarn
Berroco Comfort Chunky (50% super fine nylon / 50% super fine acrylic; 100 grams / 150 yards): 7 skeins #5734 Liquorice (A); 4 skeins #5747 Cadet (B); 3 skeins #5703 Barley (C)
Needles
One pair straight needles size US 10½ (6.5 mm)
Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
Gauge
16 sts and 18 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch (St st)
Throw
MOTIF 1 (make 15)
Using A, CO 24 sts. Purl 2 rows. Change to Chart 1, Colorway 1. Work Rows 1-22 once. Change to A; knit 2 rows. Change to C; knit 1 row, purl 1 row. Change to Chart 1, Colorway 2. Work Rows 1-22 once. Change to C; knit 2 rows. BO all sts.
MOTIF 2 (make 10)
Using B, CO 24 sts. Purl 2 rows. Change to Chart 2, Colorway 3. Work Rows 1-22 once. Change to B; knit 2 rows. Change to A; knit 1 row, purl 1 row. Change to Chart 2, Colorway 4. Work Rows 1-22 once. Change to A; knit 2 rows. BO all sts.
MOTIF 3 (make 5)
Using B, CO 27 sts.
Row 1 (RS): Work 3 sts in Garter st (knit every row), work to end as for Motif 2.
Row 2: Work to last 3 sts, work in Garter st to end. Work even until instructions for Motif 2 have been completed.
MOTIF 4 (make 5)
Using B, CO 27 sts.
Row 1 (RS): Work as for Motif 2 to last 3 sts, work in Garter st to end.
Row 2: Work 3 sts in Garter st, work to end. Work even until instructions for Motif 2 have been completed.
Finishing
Sew Motifs together following Assembly Diagram.
Block lightly (see Set-Up Row:, page 158).
KEY
Knit on RS, purl on WS.
chart 2
assembly diagram
The strong palette of black, white, and red is traditional in northern European dress and household textiles, but looks modern in this bold, graphic design. Each square is made with an easy, textured stripe pattern, which is then crowned with a blaze of red. When assembled, the squares form red stair steps. Instructions are given for a large afghan (as shown on page 126) and a smaller throw-sized version.
Finished Measurements
Large Afghan: 62" wide x 74" long
Small Afghan: 50" wide x 62" long
Note: Numbers for Large Afghan are given first, and numbers for Small Afghan are given in parentheses. Where only one number is given, it applies to both sizes.
Yarn
Berroco Comfort (50% super fine nylon / 50% super fine acrylic; 100 grams / 210 yards): 5 (3) skeins #9755 Wild Cherry (A); 10 (7) skeins #9734 Liquorice (B); 11 (8) skeins #9701 Ivory (C)
Needles
One pair straight needles size US 8 (5 mm)
One 36" (90 cm) long or longer circular (circ) needle size US 8 (5 mm)
Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
Gauge
20 sts and 27 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch (St st)
SQUARES [make 99 (63)]
Using A, CO 30 sts.
Rows 1 (RS)-6: Knit.
Rows 7 and 8: Change to B. Knit.
Note: Do not cut yarn; carry colors not in use up side edge of work.
Rows 9 and 10: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.
Rows 11 and 12: *P1, k1; repeat from * to end.
Row 13: Change to C. *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.
Row 14: Purl.
Rows 15 and 16: Change to B. *P1, k1; repeat from * to end.
Rows 17 and 18: Change to C. Purl.
Rows 19 and 20: Change to B. *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.
Row 21: Change to C. *P1, k1; repeat from * to end.
Rows 22, 24, and 26: Purl.
Rows 23 and 25: Knit.
Rows 27 and 28: Change to B. *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.
Rows 29 and 30: *P1, k1; repeat from * to end.
Rows 31 and 32: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.
Rows 33 and 34: Change to A. *P1, k1; repeat from * to end.
Rows 35 and 36: Change to B. *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.
Rows 37 and 38: Change to C. Purl.
Rows 39 and 40: Change to B, *P1, k1; repeat from * to end.
Row 41: Change to C. *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.
Row 42: Purl.
Row 43: Knit.
Row 44: Purl.
BO all sts.
Finishing
With RS facing, sew Squares together following Assembly Diagram, with all seams to WS.
Side Edging: With RS facing, using circ needle and B, pick up and knit 299 (245) sts evenly spaced along side edge. Begin Garter St (knit every row); work even for 1". Change to C; work even for 3". BO all sts. Repeat for second side. Bottom Edging: With RS facing, using circ needle and B, pick up and knit 281 (227) sts evenly spaced along bottom edge. Begin Garter st; work even for 1". Change to C and work even for 3". BO all sts. Repeat for top edge. Block lightly (see Set-Up Row:, page 158).
assembly diagram
