Down on the Farm Blanket Knitting Pattern

Down on the Farm Blanket Knitting Pattern

Project Overview

The Down on the Farm Blanket is an intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by Amy Bahrt and published by Cascade Yarns as pattern W466. This charming throw blanket measures approximately 29 by 37 inches and features a patchwork design of farm-themed blocks, combining solid color sections, striped panels, and intarsia chart blocks depicting farmyard animals.

What Is Being Made

This project creates a decorative blanket or throw featuring a farm theme. The blanket is constructed from multiple 32-stitch by 36-row blocks arranged in a grid pattern, with each block showcasing different techniques and designs. The finished piece includes chart blocks depicting a cow, duck, pig, and lamb, alternating with solid-color blocks and striped blocks in coordinating colors.

Materials and Yarn

The pattern calls for Cascade Cherub Aran yarn, a blend of 55 percent nylon and 45 percent acrylic. This fiber composition creates a durable, washable fabric suitable for a blanket. The yarn is machine washable on warm water and can be tumble dried, making it practical for regular use and care. The yardage requirements are distributed across six colors:

• Color 11 (Green, A): 3 skeins at 240 yards per 100-gram skein
• Color 28 (Blue, B): 3 skeins
• Color 38 (Yellow, C): 2 skeins
• Color 1 (White, D): 1 skein
• Color 17 (Grey, E): 1 skein
• Color 32 (Pink, F): 1 skein

Total yardage needed is approximately 2,880 yards across all colors.

Tools Required

The pattern requires size 7 circular needles in 32-inch length for the main blanket construction, size 7 straight needles for certain sections, a size G/6 crochet hook for finishing details, and an embroidery needle for any additional embellishment work.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The working gauge is 20 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Maintaining this gauge is essential for achieving the intended finished dimensions of 29 by 37 inches.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Garter Stitch: The blanket begins and ends with garter stitch borders, worked for 1 inch (approximately 4 ridges) in the main color. Each block also features 5-stitch garter stitch borders on both lengthwise sides, creating a frame effect around the patchwork blocks.

Stockinette Stitch: All 32-stitch by 36-row blocks are worked in stockinette stitch as the foundation fabric, creating a smooth, classic knit surface.

Intarsia Colorwork: The farm animal blocks employ intarsia techniques, where separate balls of yarn are used for different colored sections within a single row. This method creates distinct pictorial designs without carrying yarn across the back of the work. The cow, duck, pig, and lamb designs are worked from charts using this technique, with the animal motifs centered within each block and surrounded by background color.

Stripe Patterns: Four distinct stripe patterns are incorporated throughout the blanket:

• Stripe Pattern #1: Alternates 4 rows of color C with 2 rows of color B, repeating for a 6-row cycle
• Stripe Pattern #2: Alternates 2 rows of color A with 2 rows of color C, repeating for a 4-row cycle
• Stripe Pattern #3: Alternates 2 rows of color C with 2 rows of color A, repeating for a 4-row cycle
• Stripe Pattern #4: Alternates 4 rows of color A with 2 rows of color B, repeating for a 6-row cycle

Construction Method

The blanket is constructed by casting on 138 stitches and working a 1-inch garter stitch border. The main body is then worked in blocks across the width, with each row of blocks containing a 5