Noro Leaf Afghan Blanket Knitting Pattern

Noro Leaf Afghan

What Is Being Made

The Noro Leaf Afghan is an intermediate-level knitted blanket and throw featuring a decorative leaf motif design. The finished afghan measures approximately 52 x 63 inches (132 x 160 centimeters), making it a substantial throw-sized blanket suitable for draping over furniture or use as a bed topper. The design combines a central stockinette stitch section measuring 27½ x 38 inches (70 x 96 centimeters) with coordinating leaf-patterned borders that frame the main body of the piece.

Techniques Used

This afghan is constructed using several key knitting techniques that build visual interest and texture:

• Bottom-up construction: The afghan is worked from the bottom edge upward, allowing knitters to monitor finished dimensions as they progress and easily adjust length if desired.
• Flat knitting: The piece is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, creating clean edges and straightforward row-by-row progression.
• Lace work: Decorative lace patterning is incorporated throughout the design, created through strategic yarn overs and decreases that form openwork sections and the characteristic leaf motifs.
• Pick-up and knit technique: Stitches are picked up and knitted along edges to add the leaf borders seamlessly to the central stockinette section.
• Stitch marker placement: Markers are used to denote pattern repeats and section boundaries, helping maintain accuracy across the wider fabric.

Stitches Used

The Noro Leaf Afghan employs a range of fundamental and intermediate knitting stitches:

• Stockinette stitch: Forms the smooth, classic foundation of the central section, created by alternating knit rows and purl rows to produce the characteristic V-pattern texture on the front side.
• Yarn overs: Essential to lace construction, yarn overs create the decorative holes and openwork characteristic of the leaf pattern by placing yarn over the needle to form new stitches.
• Decreases (slip, slip, knit and slip, slip, purl): These left-leaning decreases are paired with yarn overs to shape the lace motifs and create the leaf silhouettes throughout the design.
• Purl stitches: Used both within stockinette sections and as part of textural variation, purl stitches can be worked individually or in combination to add depth.
• Selvage stitches: Edge stitches worked at the beginning and end of rows facilitate easier seaming and create neat, finished edges.
• Slip stitches: Used to move stitches on the needle without working them, slip stitches appear in decrease sequences and help shape the lace pattern.

Materials

The Noro Leaf Afghan is designed to be worked with high-quality yarn and appropriate needles:

• Yarn: The pattern calls for 15 skeins of Noro Silk Garden in colorway #267 (main color) and 8 skeins of Noro Silk Garden in colorway #84 (contrasting color), with each skein weighing 50 grams. Noro Silk Garden is a premium blended yarn known for its subtle color variations and luxurious hand.
• Needles: One pair of US size 8 (5mm) straight needles or the size required to obtain proper gauge is recommended. The pattern editor notes that LYKKE® needles are recommended for optimal knitting experience.
• Notions: A stitch holder is required for managing stitches during construction, and contrasting yarn or purchased stitch markers are needed to denote pattern sections and repeats.

Gauge

Achieving proper gauge is essential for this project. The pattern specifies 14 stitches and 16 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch using US size 8 (5mm) needles. Knitters should swatch before beginning to ensure their tension matches the specified gauge, as variations will affect the final dimensions of the completed afghan.