String Scarlett's Blanket Knitting Pattern

String Scarlett's Blanket: Knitted Cable Throw

Project Overview

Scarlett's Blanket is a luxurious knitted throw blanket designed by Lisa Hoffman, measuring 30 inches wide by 36 inches long (76 cm × 91.5 cm). This seamless, flat-worked blanket combines classic cable techniques with ribbed textures to create an elegant home accessory perfect for layering or display.

Materials and Tools

This blanket is crafted using 8 balls of STRING BREEZE yarn, a premium blend of 60% cotton, 20% cashmere, and 20% silk. Each ball contains 50 grams and 136 yards of yarn, providing a luxurious feel and drape. The project requires one size 7 (4.50mm) 32-inch circular needle (or the size needed to achieve proper gauge), along with 2 cable needles, stitch markers, and a tapestry needle for finishing.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 24 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished blanket meets the intended measurements. The pattern is written in one size only.

Knitting Techniques

Scarlett's Blanket employs several fundamental knitting techniques to achieve its sophisticated appearance:

• Bottom-up construction: The blanket is cast on and worked from the bottom edge upward to the top edge, allowing you to try on and adjust length as needed.
• Seamless, flat-worked design: The entire piece is worked flat on circular needles without seaming, creating a clean, unified fabric with no interruptions in the pattern flow.
• Cable work: The blanket features prominent cable sections that add visual interest and textural depth throughout the design.
• Garter stitch selvedges: Four-stitch garter stitch edges frame the blanket on both sides, providing neat, finished edges that resist curling.

Stitch Patterns and Construction

The blanket begins with a ribbed pattern foundation that establishes the structure. The pattern is organized into repeating sections marked with stitch markers to track progress and keep cable sections clearly defined.

Rib Pattern: The foundational pattern alternates knit and purl stitches in a structured sequence: knit 2, purl 1, knit 2, purl 7, knit 9, purl 7. This sequence repeats across the width of the blanket, with garter stitch borders on each side. The rib pattern is worked for 9 rows initially to establish the base.

Cable Cross technique: The cable motif uses a 9-stitch cable cross that creates a dramatic twisted effect. To execute this stitch, 3 stitches are slipped to a cable needle and held to the back, then 3 additional stitches are slipped to a second cable needle and held to the front. The next 3 stitches are knitted from the left needle, followed by the 3 stitches from the front cable needle, then the 3 stitches from the back cable needle. This creates the signature cable twist that appears regularly throughout the blanket.

Pattern repeat structure: After the initial rib foundation, the blanket alternates between cable rows (worked on the right side only) and 14 rows of rib pattern. This sequence is repeated 14 times total, creating consistent, evenly-spaced cable columns that run vertically through the blanket. A final cable row is worked, followed by 14 additional rows of rib pattern and 2 final rows of rib to complete the piece before binding off.

Finishing

Once all rows are complete, the blanket is bound off in pattern to maintain the textured edge. All yarn ends are woven in securely, and the finished piece is blocked to the specified measurements to even out the stitches and set the cables.

Skill Level Considerations

This pattern requires intermediate knitting skills, particularly comfort with cable techniques and the ability to manage multiple stitch markers. The use of circular needles for flat knitting and the coordination of cable crosses with the ribbed background pattern make this an engaging project for knitters with prior experience.