Fan & Feather Afghan Blanket Knitting Pattern

Fan & Feather Afghan Blanket Knitting Pattern

Project Overview

The Fan & Feather Afghan is an advanced beginner knitting project that creates a beautiful 44" x 44" square blanket featuring a striking fan and feather stitch design. This pattern, re-knit by Jill Monier using Cascade Cherub DK yarn, combines colorwork with textured stitching to produce a visually dynamic throw blanket suitable for home décor or gifting.

What Is Being Made

This project produces a finished square afghan blanket measuring 44 inches wide by 44 inches in length. The blanket features a repeating fan and feather pattern worked in five coordinating colors, creating a rainbow effect across the surface of the throw. The design alternates between a main color and four contrast colors throughout the piece, with the main color used as a separator between each contrast color section.

Techniques and Stitches Used

The Fan & Feather Afghan employs several fundamental knitting techniques that make it suitable for advanced beginners:

• Decreasing: The pattern uses k2tog (knit two together) decreases, worked three times in succession to create the "closing" portion of each fan motif
• Yarn overs: Yarn overs (yo) are worked six times consecutively to create the lacy, feathered opening of each fan design, which adds airiness and visual interest to the blanket
• Garter stitch: Knit rows create garter stitch sections that frame and separate the patterned rows, providing structure and stability
• Stockinette stitch variations: Purl rows worked between knit borders create subtle texture changes
• Colorwork: The pattern incorporates planned color changes every four rows, requiring attention to color sequencing but not simultaneous multi-color knitting

Pattern Structure

The four-row repeat that forms the foundation of this blanket is straightforward and easy to memorize. Row 1 consists of knitting all stitches. Row 2 maintains garter stitch borders with three knit stitches on each edge while purling the center stitches. Row 3 is where the fan and feather design emerges, with the repeating motif of three consecutive decreases followed by six yarn overs and one knit stitch between each decrease group, worked across the row while maintaining the three-stitch garter borders. Row 4 returns to knitting all stitches. This four-row sequence is repeated throughout the blanket, with color changes occurring after every complete four-row cycle.

Colorwork and Color Sequence

The blanket uses a total of 12 skeins of yarn in a carefully planned color sequence. Color A, the main color, uses 4 skeins and appears both at the beginning and end of the blanket as well as between each contrast color section. Colors B, C, D, and E are contrast colors, each using 2 skeins. The color sequence follows the pattern: Color B with Color A separating it, then Color C with Color A separating it, then Color D with Color A separating it, then Color E with Color A separating it, after which the sequence repeats with Color B. Each color is worked for all four rows of the pattern before switching to the next color in the sequence.

Materials and Gauge

The Fan & Feather Afghan is worked using Cascade Cherub DK yarn, a DK weight yarn that provides excellent stitch definition for displaying the fan and feather pattern. The model shown uses Color #11 as the main color (4 skeins), with contrast colors #14, #01, #32, and #06 (2 skeins each). The pattern is worked on US 5 needles or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge of 22 stitches and 36 rows equaling 4 inches in pattern. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements of 44" x 44".

Construction Details

The afghan begins with casting on 240 stitches using the main color and working four rows of garter stitch to create a stable foundation edge. The fan and feather pattern is then worked continuously for 43 and one-half inches, allowing the colorwork sequence to develop across the blanket's surface. After the patterned section is complete, four final rows of garter stitch in the main color create a balanced finishing edge. All stitches are then bound off to complete the blanket.