Noro Pastel Knitting Pattern

Noro Pastel Tiles Blanket

What Is Being Made

The Noro Pastel Tiles Blanket is an intermediate-level knitted throw blanket composed of 30 separate squares that are sewn together to create a finished piece measuring approximately 51 x 61 inches (129.5 x 155 centimeters). This modular construction method allows crafters to work on manageable individual units before assembling them into a larger blanket.

Techniques Used

This design employs several key knitting techniques to create visual interest and structure:

• Modular construction: The blanket is built from 30 individual 10 x 10 inch squares that are knitted separately and then sewn together, making the project portable and easier to manage.
• Garter stitch foundation: Each square begins with garter stitch, a fundamental reversible texture created by knitting every row.
• Picked-up stitches: After the initial square is complete, stitches are picked up along the edges to add borders and create the layered appearance.
• Increases and decreases: Strategic increases (kfb—knit into front and back) and decreases (k2tog and SK2P—slip, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over) shape the borders and create dimensional corners.
• Circular needle construction: The pattern utilizes a circular needle for working in rounds, allowing for seamless transitions when picking up stitches around the square perimeter.
• Stitch marker placement: Markers are used to track pattern repeats and identify corner positions, essential for maintaining even increases and decreases.

Stitches Used

The Noro Pastel Tiles Blanket relies on fundamental knitting stitches executed with precision:

• Knit (k): The primary stitch used throughout the garter stitch base and borders.
• Purl (p): Used to create texture transitions between sections and to establish pattern rhythm.
• Kfb (knit into front and back): An increase stitch that creates two stitches from one, used in the increase rounds to expand the square borders.
• K2tog (knit two together): A right-leaning decrease that reduces stitch count while shaping the corner triangles.
• SK2P (slip, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over): A centered double decrease used to taper the corner sections down to a single stitch before binding off.

Materials and Tools

The Noro Pastel Tiles Blanket is crafted using premium yarns and appropriately sized needles to achieve the correct gauge and fabric characteristics:

• Yarn: The pattern calls for Noro Viola in colorway #03 (3 x 200g balls) and colorway #13 (3 x 200g balls), combined with Noro Malvinas in colorway #13 (4 x 150g balls). These yarns provide the pastel color palette and varied texture that define the design.
• Needles: A US 9 (5.5mm) circular needle, 40 inches long, is required to work the pattern and achieve the specified gauge.
• Notions: Stitch markers are essential for tracking the pattern structure and identifying corner positions throughout construction.
• Gauge: The pattern is worked at 14.5 stitches and 26.5 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in garter stitch using the specified needle size. Checking gauge before beginning is critical to ensure the finished blanket meets the intended dimensions.

Design Details

Each individual square measures 10 x 10 inches (25.5 x 25.5 centimeters) and is constructed through a multi-step process. The base square is worked flat in garter stitch, then stitches are picked up along all four edges to add borders. These borders are increased at the corners to create a subtle dimensional effect, then finished with an edging in the contrasting yarn color. The design by Irina Poludnenko balances simplicity with visual complexity, allowing intermediate knitters to develop their skills in stitch pickup, shaping, and finishing while creating a substantial and functional blanket.