Rowan Check Mate Throw Blanket Knitting Pattern

Rowan Check Mate Throw by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Check Mate Throw is a knitted blanket designed by Martin Storey for Rowan. This finished throw measures approximately 86 cm (34 inches) wide and 110 cm (43.5 inches) long, making it an ideal size for draping over furniture or using as a cozy lap blanket. The project creates a striking geometric pattern through the use of two contrasting yarn colors worked in a structured repeat.

Knitting Techniques

This throw is constructed using several key knitting techniques that contribute to both its visual appeal and structural integrity:

• Bottom-Up Construction: The throw is worked from the cast-on edge upward, allowing knitters to monitor the growing piece and adjust sizing if needed before completing the final cast-off.
• Seamless Knitting: The entire throw is worked as a single piece without seams, creating a unified fabric with no joining required during finishing.
• Worked Flat: Despite using a circular needle, the throw is worked back and forth in flat rows rather than in the round, which is ideal for rectangular blanket projects and allows for easier pattern management.
• Stripe and Check Pattern: The design incorporates both striping and checkered elements through the strategic use of two yarn colors (Granite and Clay) worked according to a charted pattern repeat.
• Slipped Stitch Technique: The pattern utilizes slipped stitches worked purlwise (sl 1P) to create crisp color changes and definition in the check pattern. These slipped stitches are worked with yarn in back on right-side rows and yarn in front on wrong-side rows.

Stitches Used

The Check Mate Throw employs a straightforward stitch vocabulary centered on fundamental knitting techniques. The primary stitch is the knit stitch, which forms the base fabric of the throw. The pattern incorporates slipped stitches worked purlwise (abbreviated as sl 1P wyib on right-side rows and sl 1P wyif on wrong-side rows) to create the distinctive check pattern and color definition. The abbreviation wyib means "with yarn in back," while wyif means "with yarn in front." These slipped stitches are never actually worked as purls but are slipped from needle to needle while managing yarn position to achieve the desired visual effect.

Materials and Specifications

The Check Mate Throw is designed to be worked with Rowan Felted Tweed Aran yarn, a wool-based fiber that provides excellent stitch definition and drape. The pattern requires two colorways: Granite (color 719) in a quantity of 9 balls of 50g each, and Clay (color 777) in a quantity of 8 balls of 50g each. This totals approximately 850 grams of yarn.

The throw is worked on 5mm (US size 8) circular needles that are at least 80 centimeters long. Circular needles are specified to accommodate the width of the throw while working flat. The pattern is worked to a tension of 20 stitches and 32 rows to 10 centimeters when measured over the pattern using the specified needle size.

Pattern Construction Details

The throw begins with casting on 173 stitches using yarn A (Granite). The pattern is worked from a charted repeat that measures 38 stitches wide and 64 rows tall. This 38-stitch repeat is repeated 4 times across each row to span the full width of 173 stitches. The 64-row pattern repeat is worked continuously throughout the project, with a total of 352 rows knitted. The pattern concludes after completing chart row 32 of the final repeat, with the right side of the work facing for the final cast-off, which is worked in pattern to maintain the visual continuity of the design.

Finishing involves pressing the completed throw according to instructions provided on the Rowan website, which helps to even out the stitches and enhance the definition of the check pattern.