The Knit Traveling Afghan Square 12 - My Life in Yarn
Hello, and welcome to The Knit Traveling Afghan Square #12!
Let me begin by saying how blessed I am to be a part of this wonderful, collaborative effort between makers around the world. The Traveling Afghans project, kicked off by Alexi from Two of Wands, is a massive undertaking: two 24-square blankets (one knit and one crochet), with different designers around the world creating each square and the borders. 49 designers and bloggers, seven countries, with all patterns free online. Check out the landing page of this project for all the details, including a full list of designers and links to all the patterns that have been released so far! Believe it or not, after completing this square, you will be half-way done with your squares for this blanket.
If you are just learning about the project and want to participate, there’s still time! You can find knit kits and crochet kits on Lion Brand Yarn’s website. Or you can join using yarn from your stash - you will need approximately 3,150 yards of worsted weight yarn.
This project’s overarching goal is to tell a story - the story of our lives in yarn.
In the fiber-world we all inhabit, we each have a story to tell. Everyone has a story about how they learned to knit or crochet, whether from a grandparent, a cousin, a friend, or the internet. I’m among those that learned from the internet - Lion Brand Yarn’s illustrated “How to Knit” tutorials to be exact! And everyone has a story about how yarn and fiber has impacted their life.
I’ve always been drawn to complex-looking patterns: lacework, intricate cables, colorwork, multitudes of stitches, and more. As beautiful as plain stockinette can be, it was never my favorite. That being said, the patterns I was drawn to always intimidated me. I found myself time and again sighing over a beautiful pattern that I was too afraid to even attempt. It took me many years for me to work up the courage to attempt complex patterns.
Unfortunately, as beautiful as lacework and intricate cables and colorwork are, they also annoyed me. I loved the final product, but would get frustrated when I would have to check my pattern and count stitches every step of the way. What I really wanted was to make things that looked complicated, but that I was able to complete while relaxing and watching my favorite TV show. And therein lies the key inspiration for essentially all of my patterns - simple stitches combined for maximum payoff! Which brings us to my knit square for this collaborative afghan project.
The Knit Traveling Afghan - Square 12: Double Seed Stitch
A printable PDF version of this pattern is available on Ravelry for $1
Materials:
1/2 skein of Lion Brand Wool-Ease, or approximately 100yds/90m of another worsted weight (category 4) yarn
Size 5mm (US 8) knitting needles
Tapestry needle
Finished dimensions:
10” x 10” / 25.5cm x 25.5cm
Gauge:
18 sts x 25 rows = 4”/10cm in pattern after blocking
Abbreviations:
CO - cast on
K - knit
P - purl
St(s) - stitch(es)
Pattern:
CO 46 sts
Row 1: * K1, P1. Repeat from * to end of row
Row 2: Repeat row 1
Row 3: * P1, K1. Repeat from * to end of row
Row 4: Repeat row 3
Rows 5-63: Repeat rows 1-4, ending with a row 3
Row 64: Bind off in pattern
Block your finished piece to 10” x 10” / 25.5cm x 25.5cm
Seam with neighboring squares
Now, the blanket is off to Rachel of Evelyn & Peter - check out her website in the next few weeks for the next pattern!
You can check out all the other designers for The Knit Traveling Afghan on their websites:
#1 - 1/1-1/13 - New York City, USA - Alexandra Tavel of Two of Wands
#2 - 1/15-1/28 - Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria - Sandra Gutierrez of Nomad Stitches
#3 - 1/29-2/11 - Dublin, Ireland - Katie Moore of The Queen Stitch
#4 - 2/12-2/25 - Nova Scotia, Canada - Kelly Brooks of Knitbrooks
#5 - 2/26-3/10 - Alberta, Canada - Stephanie Lau of All About Ami
#6 - 3/11-3/24 - Alberta, Canada - Chantal Miyagishima of Knitatude
#7 - 3/25-4/7 - BC, Canada - Christie Bodden of Christie Bodden Designs
#8 - 4/8-4/21 - Oregon, USA - Makenzie Alvarez of Hanks and Needles
#9 - 4/22-5/5 - California, USA - Phanessa Fong of Designs by Phanessa
#10 - 5/6-5/19 - California, USA - Angie Bivins of Whistle & Wool
#11 - 5/20-6/2 - California, USA - Jane Tsou of Gorilla Knits
#12 - 6/3-6/16 - Nevada, USA - Chenoa Wilcox of jellyKNITTING (me!)
#13 - 6/17-6/30 - Utah, USA - Rachel Misner of Evelyn & Peter
#14 - 7/1-7/14 - Colorado, USA - Jessica Potasz of Mama in a Stitch
#15 - 7/15-7/28 - Kansas, USA - Jerica Tompkins of Yarn Hook Needles
#16 - 7/29-8/11 - Kansas, USA - Mary Lee of Fifty Four Ten Studio
#17 - 8/12-8/25 - Minnesota, USA - Kaitlin Barthold of Originally Lovely
#18 - 8/26-9/8 - Minnesota, USA - Julia Anastasi of Northern Loop Knitwear
#19 - 9/9-9/22 - Winona, MN, USA - Trista Ziemendorf of While They Dream
#20 - 9/23-10/6 - Illinois, USA - Heidi Gustad of Hands Occupied
#21 - 10/7-10/20 - Illinois, USA - Jewell Washington of Northknits
#22 - 10/21-11/3 - Michigan, USA - Destiny Meyer of Knifty Knittings
#23 - 11/4-11/17 - Virginia, USA - Nathan Bryant of Loop N Threads
#24 - 11/18-12/1 - Rhode Island, USA - Jake Kenyon of Kenyarn
#25 - 12/2-12/16 - New Jersey, USA - Vanessa Coscarelli Black of Vanessa Knits
Disclosure:
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