Valley Yarns Thora Blanket Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Thora Blanket

What Is Being Made

The Thora Blanket is a richly patterned knit blanket featuring a modular parquet square design. This downloadable knitting pattern offers three finished size options: 24" x 32", 40" x 48", and 56" x 64". The blanket is constructed from individual squares that are picked up and knit from their neighboring squares, creating an interlocking geometric pattern with visual depth and complexity.

Design and Construction

Designed by Kirsten Hipsky, the Thora Blanket uses a modular construction technique where squares are worked sequentially, with each new square picking up stitches from the edges of previously completed squares. This method creates a cohesive, unified fabric without requiring assembly after completion. The pattern includes 12 blanket squares for the smallest size, 30 squares for the medium size, and 56 squares for the largest size.

Techniques Used

• Worked Flat: The blanket is knit flat on circular needles rather than in the round, allowing for traditional back-and-forth row construction
• Modular Knitting: Individual squares are created by picking up and knitting stitches along the edges of adjacent completed squares, integrating them seamlessly
• Stitch Integration: Stitches from neighboring squares are knit together at edges to join squares without seaming, creating a unified fabric structure
• Colorwork: The pattern employs a four-color scheme using Valley Yarns Stockbridge in Blue Mist, Gold, Lake, and Stone Blue to create the parquet pattern effect

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch: The primary stitch throughout the blanket, created by knitting every row. This produces a reversible, textured fabric with excellent drape and durability
• Pick Up and Knit: Stitches are picked up along edges of completed squares to begin new squares, eliminating the need for separate seaming
• Knit Together: Stitches from adjacent squares are knit together at their shared edges to create permanent joins
• Bind Off: Used to secure stitches at the completion of each square

Materials and Gauge

Yarn: Valley Yarns Stockbridge, a blend of 50% Superfine Alpaca and 50% Wool. Each skein yields 109 yards and weighs 50 grams. Yardage requirements vary by size: the smallest blanket requires 3 skeins of Color A (Blue Mist), 4 skeins of Color B (Gold), 3 skeins of Color C (Lake), and 3 skeins of Color D (Stone Blue). The medium size requires double these quantities, and the largest size requires quadruple.

Needles: US size 7 (4.50mm) circular needles measuring 32 inches or longer. Circular needles are used for their length capacity despite the blanket being worked flat, accommodating the width of the project as it grows.

Additional Materials: Scrap yarn is used as stitch holders to temporarily secure stitches between squares. A tapestry needle is essential for weaving in the numerous yarn ends created by the colorwork and modular construction.

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 9 rows equal 1 inch when worked in garter stitch. Achieving proper gauge is critical for obtaining the correct finished dimensions.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as advanced beginner, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex construction techniques. While garter stitch itself is beginner-friendly, the modular pickup-and-knit method and color management across multiple squares require intermediate understanding of knitting principles.

Finishing Considerations

The pattern includes an important note regarding finishing: there are numerous yarn ends to weave in, even for the smallest size. Knitters have two options for managing these ends. The traditional approach involves using a tapestry needle to weave in each end individually. Alternatively, knitters can carry yarn strands loosely across the wrong side of the work and sew a fabric backing to the blanket to conceal all ends at once, reducing finishing time significantly.