Valley Yarns Carcross Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Carcross Cable Blanket

What Is Being Made

The Carcross is a modern cable blanket designed by Susan Baron that combines traditional warmth with contemporary styling. This knitted throw measures 43 inches wide by 54½ inches long, making it an ideal size for draping over furniture or using as a cozy lap blanket. The finished piece features integrated textured rib borders and five distinct vertical panels that create visual interest and structural definition throughout the design.

Craft and Project Type

This is a knitting project classified as a blanket and throw. The blanket is worked flat on circular needles in a single continuous piece, allowing the knitter to create the entire garment without seaming. The design offers flexibility—while the pattern is optimized for working all panels together in one piece with integrated borders, knitters may alternatively choose to work the five panels separately and seam them together if preferred.

Techniques Used

The Carcross employs cable knitting as its primary decorative technique, creating the classic textured patterns that give this blanket its timeless appeal. The blanket is worked flat, meaning it is knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round. Additional techniques include the Cable Cast-on Method for establishing stitches, strategic increases (M1) to shape the panels, and the use of stitch markers to organize and separate the five distinct vertical sections. The pattern incorporates both increases and pattern management to create the structured panel layout.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used throughout is Textured Rib, which combines knit and purl stitches to create visual texture and depth. The blanket begins with 131 cast-on stitches and expands to 155 stitches after the increase row, distributing these stitches across five panels: two Edge Panels (A and D), two side panels (B), and one Center Panel (C). The pattern uses stockinette stitch for seamed edges if panels are worked separately. Stitch markers are essential tools for tracking the panel divisions throughout the knitting process.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Carcross is designed to be knitted with Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky, a luxurious blend of 85% wool and 15% alpaca. The yarn is worked at a bulky weight, with each skein containing 100 grams and 108 yards of yardage. The project requires 11 skeins total, worked in the color 52-Stonewashed Heather. Knitters use a US size 10 (6.0 mm) circular needle measuring 40 inches in length, or the size necessary to achieve the correct gauge. Additional materials include stitch markers for panel organization, a cable needle for manipulating cable stitches, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and any seaming if panels are worked separately.

Gauge and Difficulty Level

The Carcross is rated as an Intermediate difficulty level, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic techniques. The required gauge is 12 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches when worked in the Textured Rib pattern and blocked. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements of 43 inches wide by 54½ inches long.