Berroco Wood & Steel Blanket & Pillow- Portfolio Knitting

Berroco Wood & Steel Blanket & Pillow

Overview

The Wood & Steel Blanket & Pillow is a coordinated knitting project set designed by Alicia Plummer, featuring a cozy throw blanket and matching decorative pillow cover. Both pieces showcase sophisticated cable work and are constructed using Berroco Ultra Alpaca Chunky yarn in complementary colorways. This intermediate-level project combines classic knitting techniques with modern home décor appeal, making it ideal for crafters seeking to create substantial, textured pieces for the home.

Blanket Specifications

Finished Size: Approximately 41" x 45" (after blocking)

Yarn: 8 hanks of Berroco Ultra Alpaca Chunky (#7201 Winter White, 100 grams per hank)

Needles: 32" length circular knitting needle, size 10 (6.00 mm)

Additional Tools: Cable needle, 2 stitch markers

Gauge: 14 stitches and 20 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch; 19 stitches and 20 rows = 4" over Knotted Wood stitch

Pillow Specifications

Finished Size: Approximately 18" square (slightly stretched to fit 18" square knife-edge pillow form)

Yarn: 3 hanks of Berroco Ultra Alpaca Chunky (#7206 Light Gray, 100 grams per hank)

Needles: 32" length circular knitting needle, size 10 (6.00 mm), plus spare size 10 needle

Additional Tools: Cable needle, 5 stitch markers, tapestry needle, waste yarn for provisional cast-on, 18" square knife-edge pillow form

Techniques & Construction Methods

Both the blanket and pillow are worked flat, meaning they are knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round. This approach allows for straightforward construction and easier pattern management. The pieces are seamed together, requiring finishing work with a tapestry needle to join sections securely.

The primary decorative technique employed throughout both projects is cable knitting. Cables are created by crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle, producing the characteristic twisted, rope-like texture that defines the "Wood & Steel" aesthetic. This technique requires temporarily holding stitches on a cable needle while working other stitches, then knitting the held stitches to create dimensional, interlocking patterns.

Stitches & Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used in both pieces is the Knotted Wood Stitch, a 16-stitch repeat (plus 8 additional stitches) that combines cable crossings with stockinette sections. The pattern alternates between right-side rows featuring cable work and wrong-side rows worked entirely in purl stitches, creating a balanced, textured fabric.

The Knotted Wood Stitch employs two fundamental cable techniques:

• C4B (Cable 4 Back): Slip 2 stitches to a cable needle and hold in the back, knit the next 2 stitches, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle. This creates a cable that twists to the right.
• C4F (Cable 4 Front): Slip 2 stitches to a cable needle and hold in the front, knit the next 2 stitches, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle. This creates a cable that twists to the left.

The stitch pattern repeats over 12 rows, with Row 2 and all subsequent wrong-side rows worked in purl. The right-side rows alternate between rows featuring cable crossings and plain knit rows, creating visual rhythm and dimension in the finished fabric.

Yarn & Materials

Both projects use Berroco Ultra Alpaca Chunky, a bulky-weight yarn that provides substantial warmth and texture while working up quickly. The blanket calls for Winter White (#7201), a crisp, neutral colorway, while the pillow uses Light Gray (#7206), creating a sophisticated, coordinated aesthetic. Each hank weighs 100