This swatch shows the stitch used, but knit with dk weight yarn on 4mm needles
I want to share the following very simple, deliciously foolproof, and
guaranteed-to-delight
pattern for a knitted throw (smallish afghan) with you.
I have to thank Claudia, of Hudson Valley fame and A.R.A.N. acclaim for the original idea. A (re)inspiration, actually, because the pattern stitch is that ol' knitter's favorite Feather & Fan, and I've let F & F more or less drop out of my repertoire over the past few years. Claudia wrote me that she was knitting an afghan as a wedding gift in natural colors, using chenille and cottons on size 15 needles, and that hers was about 42" wide.
Sounded lovely to me. As my mother's birthday approached this month, a perfect opportunity arose for me to knit one up, and (without suffering a bit) I finished mine over 5 days.
I chose to knit mine using one strand deep green mohair, one strand
KW. I used three different shades of greens in KW, going dark to light
to the middle and then reversing the colors on the second half. There are
literally endless possibilities for yarn and color choices. Claudia's and
mine are merely two ideas to go from.
Materials & Gauge:
I used about 600 yards of mohair and about 500 yards of knitting worsted.
Gauge will depend, of course, on the yarns and needle size you use. For me, one pattern over the 18 sts on US 17 (12 mm) needles came to about 6" or so. I didn't worry so much about gauge but rather went for the look I wanted, and 78 sts gave me a width of about 38". This is about right for a throw, it seems to me. I wouldn't go over 40" - 44" in width, unless you're doing an afghan sized project.
When you swatch, cast on at least 30sts - do the (K2tog x 3, then the pattern sts * - *, then end K2tog x 3). Knit several pattern repeats (the 4 rows) with different size needles, and/or changing yarn combinations and you'll quickly know what you want to go with
Blocked size:
38" W x 58" L
Pattern:
With mohair and worsted weight wool, knit with one strand of each throughout,
size 17 (12 mm) circular needle (knit back and forth) Here's the color
change pattern I used for the KW strand, but color choice is really a matter
for your own creativity (and yarn on hand, of course!)
I cast on (and off) with MC, did 3 patterns MC, 3 patterns A, 3 patterns B, 3 MC, 3 A, 5 B. Knit to end reversing: 3A, 3 MC, etc....
Cast on 78 stitches
Knit three rows garter stitch
Keeping 3 sts at each end in garter stitch throughout for neat edge, and slipping first stitch of every row purlwise, repeat the following pattern, making color changes as desired.
4 row Feather and Fan pattern:
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl (except for first and last 3 stitches: knit)
Row 3: K 3 (edge), (K 2 tog) 3x, *(YO, K1) 6x, (K2tog) 6x)* to last 9 sts, end (K2 tog) x 3, K 3 (edge stitches)
Row 4: Knit
That's it. Repeat to your heart's delight until you reach desired length, or until your color pattern is completed.
When you get to the end of the pattern rows, knit three rows in garter stitch and bind off *very loosely* so that it won't bunch up. Block with steaming (do not iron directly on mohair!) and fluff nicely by air drying in your dryer (no heat) - I take a drop of rose essential oil (just one drop), place it on a paper towel and toss it into the dryer. Go easy with this - don't overdo it, but you'll find it lends a lovely scent, subtle and (I think) one that replaces that dullish smell mohair can have with quite a special scent. If not rose, try lavender or jasmine or whatever you like (or you think the recipient would like.)