Noro Feather & Fan Lace Blanket Knitting Pattern

Noro Feather & Fan Lace Blanket

Project Overview

The Noro Feather & Fan Lace Blanket is a knitted throw blanket featuring classic lace patterning. This finished piece measures 47¼ inches wide by 57¾ inches long (120cm x 146.5cm), making it an ideal size for draping over furniture or using as a decorative throw. The blanket is designed as an easy-level project, making it accessible to knitters with basic to intermediate experience.

Construction Method

This blanket is worked seamless and flat, meaning it is created as a single continuous piece without requiring seaming. The flat construction allows knitters to work back and forth in rows rather than in the round, which simplifies the lace pattern execution and makes it easier to maintain consistent tension throughout the project.

Lace Techniques and Stitches

The blanket showcases the Feather & Fan lace pattern, a traditional openwork design that creates an elegant, flowing aesthetic. This lace pattern is achieved through the strategic use of several key knitting techniques:

• Yarn overs: These create the characteristic openings and decorative holes that define lace knitting
• Decreases: Including knit 2 together (k2tog) and purl 2 together (p2tog) reductions that shape the pattern and maintain stitch count
• Slip, slip, knit decreases: A technique where two stitches are slipped knitwise individually, then knitted together through their front loops for a smooth left-leaning decrease
• Make one increases: Both knitwise and purlwise variations are used to add stitches by lifting the strand between stitches and working into the back loop or purling as appropriate
• Stitch markers: Placed on the needle to help track pattern repeats and maintain alignment throughout the blanket
• Chart reading: The pattern uses charted instructions that may include "no stitch" spaces indicating areas where stitches have been decreased, requiring knitters to skip over these shaded spaces

Materials and Tools

The blanket is constructed using Noro Silk Garden yarn, a luxurious blend yarn known for its rich coloration and drape. The pattern calls for a total of 15 skeins: 4 skeins in colorway #84 (A) and 11 skeins in colorway #341 (B). This combination of two colorways creates visual interest and depth in the finished blanket.

Knitting is accomplished using a size US 10 (6mm) circular needle measuring 32 inches long. The circular needle accommodates the width of the blanket while the flat construction method means the needle's circular nature is used simply for stitch capacity rather than for working in the round.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 18 rows over 4 inches (10cm) when worked over the charted pattern using a size US 10 (6mm) needle. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements and ensuring the lace pattern displays correctly.

Skill Development

This project provides excellent practice in fundamental lace knitting techniques. Knitters will develop proficiency with yarn overs, various decrease methods, and chart reading—all essential skills for advancing to more complex lace projects. The relatively straightforward pattern structure makes it an ideal introduction to lace blanket construction.