Knitted Homespun Broken Windmill Afghan in Lion Brand Homespun

Knitted Homespun Broken Windmill Afghan in Lion Brand Homespun

Project Overview

This downloadable knitting pattern creates a Broken Windmill Quilt Afghan measuring 44 inches by 54 inches. The design combines solid-color squares with patchwork squares made from sewn triangles, creating a classic windmill motif across the finished blanket. The afghan is constructed using the Lion Brand Homespun yarn line, known for its soft, textured appearance ideal for cozy throws and blankets.

Construction Technique

The afghan employs a modular construction method, where individual squares are knitted separately and then assembled together. The finished piece consists of twenty squares total arranged in a 4-by-5 grid—ten solid-color squares and ten patchwork squares. Each patchwork square is formed by sewing together eight triangles in alternating colors to create the characteristic broken windmill pattern. Once all squares are completed and sewn together according to the provided diagram, an edging is picked up around the entire perimeter and worked in rounds.

Stitches and Techniques

The pattern uses fundamental knitting stitches and techniques suitable for intermediate crafters:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st) forms the base of all solid squares, created by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows for a smooth, classic fabric
• Garter Stitch creates the finished edging, worked in the round using alternating knit and purl rounds for a textured border
• Decreases (p2tog and k2tog) shape the triangular pieces by reducing stitches progressively until a single stitch remains
• Increases at corner points during edging construction maintain proper shaping around the afghan's perimeter
• Seaming joins the individual triangles into patchwork squares and assembles all squares into the final blanket
• Picking up stitches along the completed square assembly allows seamless integration of the border edging

Materials and Tools

The pattern calls for Lion Brand Homespun yarn (Art. No. 790) in three coordinating colors: Prairie (#335), Barrington (#336), and Ranch (#326). The yarn is provided in 6-ounce skeins, requiring 2 skeins of each color, though crafters may substitute colors of their choice. Knitting needles include one pair of size 10½ U.S. (3 U.K., 6.50 mm) needles for the main squares and one long circular needle in size 10 U.S. (4 U.K., 6.00 mm) for the edging work. A yarn needle is needed for weaving in ends and seaming pieces together.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 12 stitches and 16 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch using the size 10½ needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential to ensure the afghan reaches its intended finished dimensions of 44 by 54 inches. Crafters are advised to knit and measure a gauge swatch before beginning the project.

Pattern Components

Solid Squares (10 total): Knitted with color A (Prairie), each square begins with casting on 30 stitches and working 40 rows in Stockinette Stitch before binding off.

Triangles (40 total): The pattern includes instructions for creating triangles in both color B (Barrington) and color C (Ranch). Each triangle begins with 16 cast-on stitches and incorporates paired decreases on alternating rows until only 1 stitch remains, creating the tapered triangular shape. Eight triangles—alternating between colors B and C—are sewn together to form each of the ten patchwork squares.

Edging: After assembly, stitches are picked up around the entire perimeter at a rate of 30 stitches per square edge plus 1 stitch at each corner, totaling 544 stitches. The edging is worked in garter stitch for 6 rounds using color C, with increases at each corner every other round for shaping. An additional 6 rounds are then worked in color B using the same increase pattern before binding off loosely.