I decided I wanted a really thick, squishy blanket and after looking around, I could not find what I wanted, so I decided to write a pattern and I wanted to share it with you.
Maine Squeeze: (I had lots of help from friends and family to come up with the perfect name)
Maine (because that is where I live) Squeeze (this is very squeezable) is a very thick throw that measures 48" by 58" and knit using two strands of yarn at once.Yarn
1820 yards bulky weight (holding two strands at a time)
I used Buttercream Luxe Alpaca Solids 14 balls
This yarn is a dream. It is an Alpaca blend, so it feels and looks like alpaca but it can be washed in the washing machine and is affordable.
Any other bulky weight yarn will do.
Gauge and Needles
9 stitches equals 4" doubling yarn using size 13 US needles
Notions
Darning needle
Cable needle
Abbreviations
K-knit
P-purl
CO-cast on
BO-Bind off
PM-place marker
SM-slip marker
RS-right side
WS-wrong side
Patterns
Stockinette stitch
Row 1: K
Row 2: P
repeat these two rows
Make Cluster
Slip next three stitches onto cable needle, wrap yarn around stitches six times counterclockwise, K3 from cable needle
With size 13(US) needles holding two strands of yarn together, CO 93 stitches
K4, PM, (these are your 4 side border stitches, they will always be knit) K 85, PM, K4 (other side border stitches, you will always knit these 4 stitches)-total 93 stitches
K 4 rows- top border
Next Row, stockinette stitch for 8 rows (make sure to always knit 4 border side stitches, even on Ws row) ending on WS row
Start cluster stitch pattern- clusters are always made on RS
Next row (cluster stitch row1) *K5, make cluster, repeat from* to last 5 stitches, K5
Next row (WS) stockinette stitch for 9 rows
Next row (cluster stitch row 2) *K1, make cluster, K4, rep from * to last 5 stitches, K1 make cluster, K1
Next row Stockinette stitch for 9 rows
Repeat cluster stitch pattern until blanket measures about 54" ending with a cluster stitch row (it doesn't matter if it is row 1 or row 2)
Next row (WS) work in stockinette stitch for 8 rows
Next row (RS)K 4 rows for bottom border, BO weave in ends with darning needle.
Please email me with any questions you have. Enjoy!
30 comments:
This is beautiful, Katie! I clicked over on the yarn and I couldn't figure out which one it is...can you give more details? I'd appreciate it!
I love this! So cute. I think I'll make it for my mom for Christmas. How long did it take you?
Thanks!
NEXT UP! LOVE it!!!
It just took a few weeks! It knit up so quick!!
What weight of yarn is this? Is it a 5 or 6?
What weight of yarn is this? Is it a 5 or 6?
it is a 6
The yarn you recommend loots great, but has reviews on that site I wanted to ask you about. Many people complained that it sheds quite a bit while knitting with it. What's your experience with it on that front? And did it shed much in your first few washings of it?
Thanks!!
It does shed, but after washing it, it is much better. Honestly the yarn is so gorgeous and affordable it didn't bother me that it shed a bit!
Thanks for that feedback on the yarn. And I just noticed this yarn will be 40% off on Black Friday. Alas, there's no Joann Fabric near me. I hope they offer the deal online!!
This yarn is available now both in store and online for 40% OFF (free shipping over $60) at joann.com! So each skein is now $5.99 down from $9.99, in case anyone wants to make it cheaper.
Yay!! Thank you for sharing!
Nice post. thanks for the shared it with us. web free design
I'm knitting this and I don't understand how to make the clusters. How do you knit the 3 stitches on the cable needle if you've wrapped the yarn around it? Can you party some pictures of how to make these and how the yarn is layered on the cable needle? Thanks so much!
Klhrabosky@gmail.com I meant post not party.
Yes, please post pictures of how to make the clusters. I am a visual learner and I am not sure what to do with the cable needle. Thank you!!
Slip three stitches on a cable needle, wrap yarn around bottom, leaving cable needle visible, then knit from cable needle. Your cable needle is your knitting needle on your left side. Hope that helps.
This is Kara again. I figured out the clusters, thanks. I had errors on the stitch count on the second row of clusters, though. When I used K1, cluster, K4*, the clusters were not at all centered in relation to the first row of clusters (they should be centered between the prior row of clusters). So watch this visually as you do it (I don't know why I had problems as I see from your pic you did exactly as the pattern - maybe I need to count up all my stitched in the row again and make sure I didn't add one or two by mistake). Anyway, I modified the spacing counts to align visually for my blanket and its working great.
I also found that using #13 needles with a double layer of yarn made the blanket too thick and stiff for my taste. I suggest trying a few swatches in various needle and yarn thicknesses before making this one to pick what suits you. So for those wondering about options, I am now making it on #15 needles with 1 skein of yarn thickness (my knitting it medium tension, I think). I kept the clusters at 12 wraps of only 1 strand of yarn, to make them comparable to the 6 wraps with 2 strands at once as is in the original pattern. Depending on how big you want the clusters and how loose or tight you wrap them, you could also wrap it 8-9 times and get a nice effect too. I'm using the Buttercream yarn from Joann and love it - thanks for the rec!!
Enjoying this pattern! Though I am slow. Will post a pic when its eventually finished (may be awhile!)
Kara,
For the second row of clusters you *K1, make cluster, knit 4* repeat from *you are still knitting 5 in between, but it is set off by one in the first stitches...
Ahhh, yes. Of course! That makes sense now.
Would be cool to make
Just made this in single strand for my mom in AZ. Love it.
I LOVE this pattern! Can you please explain a little more how to make the clusters? When you say wrap around the bottom, what bottom are you talking about please?
Thank you
I posted a photo showing the cluster in 4 steps. Click here for a visual.
Sorry about the deleted posts. I was trying to figure out how to insert a live link!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I truly appreciate your efforts and I am waiting for your further post thanks once again. facebook login
Hello, I finally purchased the yarn, needle size and downloaded the pattern of your beautiful Maine Squeeze afghan/blanket. I have knitted about 8 rows and am finding it a little bit too bulky and actually think my $20 circule, size 13 needle may need to have a longer cord. My question is, do you think that I could knit your same pattern, using same bulky yarn with only using 1 strand instead of the 2 strands? would those bobbles work on it as a single strand? Thank you for your reply.
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