Mati Blanket Knitting Pattern

Mati Blanket in Juniper Moon Farm Neve

What is Being Made

The Mati blanket is a circular knitted throw designed by Kathleen Dames as part of the Santorini Collection. This intermediate-level project creates a finished blanket measuring 48 inches (122 centimeters) in diameter, making it an ideal size for a cozy lap blanket or decorative throw for home use.

Knitting Techniques

This blanket is worked in the round from the center outward, a construction method that creates a seamless, radial design. The pattern begins with a small cast-on at the center and expands through strategic increases worked at regular intervals. Knitters start with double-pointed needles and transition to a 60-inch circular needle using the Magic Loop method as stitch counts become too large for double-pointed needles to manage comfortably. This technique allows for working large circumferences on a single circular needle by creating a loop with the cable.

The blanket incorporates color changes at different rounds, creating distinct horizontal bands of color that radiate outward from the center. This multi-color approach adds visual interest and demonstrates intermediate-level color work in knitting.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Mati blanket uses fundamental knitting stitches combined with strategic shaping:

• Knit stitch (k): The primary stitch throughout most of the blanket, creating a smooth Stockinette stitch texture
• Make one increase (m1): Worked by placing a backwards loop of working yarn over the right needle to create new stitches. These increases are strategically placed at regular intervals to expand the blanket's diameter evenly
• Purl stitch (p): Used in the final rounds to create a decorative edge detail
• Knit two together (k2tog): Used in the bind-off sequence to secure the final edge
• Slip stitch (sl): Incorporated into the bind-off technique for a finished edge

The increase pattern follows a doubling sequence: increases occur at strategic rounds (Rounds 2, 6, 13, 28, 53, and 102) that allow the stitch count to double, creating even expansion. Between increase rounds, plain knitting maintains the established stitches, with varying numbers of rounds between each increase to shape the blanket properly.

Materials and Gauge

The Mati blanket is knitted using Juniper Moon Farm Neve yarn, a 100-gram skein weight yarn. The pattern calls for multiple skeins in three coordinating colors:

• Main Color (MC): 5 skeins of Neve in color #26 Pacific
• Contrast Color 1 (CC1): 2 skeins of Neve in color #03 Duck Eggs
• Contrast Color 2 (CC2): 1 skein of Neve in color #18 Clean Slate

Needles required include a size US 6 (4mm) circular needle measuring 60 inches long for the majority of the work, and one set of five size US 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles for beginning the center. Additional notions include stitch markers to track round beginnings and a tapestry needle for finishing.

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 20 stitches and 32 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters) in Stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the blanket to reach its intended finished diameter of 48 inches.

Construction Overview

The blanket progresses through distinct color sections: the pattern begins with the main color Pacific, transitions to Duck Eggs for the middle rounds, shifts to Clean Slate for a narrower band, and returns to Pacific for the final rounds. The last four rounds feature alternating knit and purl rounds, creating a subtle textured edge before the final bind-off. This construction method creates a blanket with no seams and a naturally circular shape.