Comfort Knitted Afghans

An Heirloom Trio for a Cozy Home and Family

ABRAMS

Textured Knots

Basic two-over-two cables combine to form a lattice of intricate knots, diagonal arcs, and highly twisted ropes on this classic, textured afghan. The top and bottom of the afghan are ribbed, and the side edges are worked in garter stitch, which means there's no finishing to do once you have bound off except for weaving in a few ends and lightly blocking.

Finished Measurements

52" wide x 62" long

Yarn

Berroco Comfort (50% super fine nylon / 50% super fine acrylic; 100 grams / 210 yards): 17 skeins #9756 Copen Blue

Needles

One 36" (90 cm) long or longer circular (circ) needle size US 6 (4 mm)

One 36" (90 cm) long or longer circular needle size US 8 (5 mm)

Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Notions

Cable needle (cn); stitch markers

Gauge

24 sts and 22 rows = 4" (10 cm) in pattern from Knot Chart, using larger needles

Afghan

Using smaller needle, CO 308 sts.

Set-Up Row (RS): Work 5 sts in Garter st (knit every row), place marker (pm), work Section A of Knot Chart once, pm work Section B to last 19 sts, pm, work Section C once, pm, work in Garter st to end. Keeping first and last 5 sts in Garter st, repeat Rows 1 and 2 of Chart for 2", ending with a WS row.

Change to larger needle and work even until entire Chart is complete. Repeat Rows 1-32 of Chart until piece measures approximately 60" from the beginning, ending with Row 32. Change to smaller needles. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 of Chart for 2". BO all sts.

Finishing

Block lightly.

Bright Star

Inspired by the intricate piecing of patchwork quilts, the large, brightly colored stars in this afghan are mainly composed of mitered squares. Since the color changes within the squares are all in straight, intuitive lines, this is a perfect project on which to learn the art of intarsia. The straight lines also make the chart easy to memorize, so you can comfortably engage in conversation as you work.

Finished Measurements

50" wide x 60" long

Yarn

Berroco Comfort (50% super fine nylon / 50% super fine acrylic; 100 grams / 210 yards): 4 skeins each #9725 Dutch Teal (A), #9724 Pumpkin (B), and #9743 Goldenrod (C); 3 skeins each #9753 Aegean Sea (D) and #9717 Raspberry Coulis (E)

Needles

One pair straight needles size US 9 (5.5 mm)

Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Notions

Crochet hook size US H/8 (5 mm)

Gauge

18 sts and 17 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Garter stitch (knit every row)

Afghan

SQUARE A (make 16)

CO 22 sts A, 22 sts B, 22 sts C, then 22 sts A–88 sts.

Knit 1 row, changing colors as established.

Decrease Row 1 (RS): K21 A; k21, k2tog B; ssk, k21 C; k21 A–86 sts remain.

Knit 1 row, changing colors as established.

Decrease Row 2 (RS): K20 A; k21, k2tog B; ssk, k21 C; k20 A–84 sts remain.

Knit 1 row, changing colors as established.

Continue to work 1 less st at each side in A every RS row and AT THE SAME TIME, decrease 2 sts at center every RS row as established, work until no sts in A remain–22 sts in B and C remain. Change to D across all sts; continue to decrease 2 sts at center every RS row until 2 sts remain, ending with a RS row. K2tog. Fasten off remaining st.

NOTCHED SQUARE B (make 8)

Work as for Square 1 until no sts in A remain–22 sts in B and C remain. BO all sts.

SOLID SQUARES C (make 4)

Using E, CO 44 sts. Begin Garter st (knit every row); work even until piece measures 10" from the beginning, ending with a WS row. BO all sts.

SOLID RECTANGLES D (make 4)

Using E, CO 44 sts. Begin Garter st; work even until piece measures 5" from the beginning, ending with a WS row. BO all sts.

TOP RIGHT CORNER E

Using B, CO 22 sts. Knit 1 row.

Next Row (RS): K21 B; k1 A.

Knit 1 row, changing colors as established.

Next Row: K20 B; k2 A. Continue as established, working 1 less st in B and 1 more st in A every RS row until all sts are in A, ending with a WS row. BO all sts.

TOP LEFT CORNER F

Using C, CO 22 sts. Knit 1 row.

Next Row (RS): K1 A; k21 C.

Knit 1 row, changing colors as established.

Next Row: K2 A; k20 C.

Continue as established, working 1 more st in A and 1 less st in C every RS row until all sts are in A, ending with a WS row. BO all sts.

BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER G

Work as for Top Left Corner, reversing A and C.

BOTTOM LEFT CORNER H

Work as for Top Right Corner, reversing A and B.

CENTER SIDE RECTANGLES I (make 2)

Using A, CO 44 sts. Knit 1 row.

Next Row (RS): K1 B; k42 A; k1 C.

Knit 1 row, changing colors as established.

Next Row: K2 B; k40 A; k2 C.

Knit 1 row, changing colors as established.

Continue as established, working 1 more st with B and C every RS row until no sts A remain, ending with a WS row. BO all sts.

Finishing

Sew all pieces together following Assembly Diagram.

Edging: With RS facing, using crochet hook and D, work in sc around entire afghan, working 3 sc in each corner. Do not turn. Working from left to right, work in Reverse sc around entire afghan, working 3 Reverse sc in each corner, join with a sl st in first sc. Fasten off. Block lightly.

Swirl

Hexagons fit together like the cells of a honeycomb in this brightly colored baby blanket. The spirals are created by decreasing at the same spot on every round, and are further accented by eyelets, giving the whole afghan a sense of movement. For a more traditional baby gift, change the colors to all white, or try a variety of softer shades.

Finished Measurements

42" wide x 44" long

Yarn

Berroco Comfort (50% super fine nylon / 50% super fine acrylic; 100 grams / 210 yards): 2 skeins each #9735 Delft Blue (A), #9726 Cornflower (B), and #9740 Seedling (C); 1 skein each #9743 Goldenrod (D) and #9732 Primary Yellow (E)

Needles

One 16" (40 cm) long circular (circ) needle size US 8 (5 mm)

One set of five double-pointed needles (dpn) size US 8 (5 mm)

Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Notions

Stitch markers

Gauge

20 sts and 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Seed stitch

Stitch Pattern

SEED STITCH (odd number of sts; 1-row repeat)

All Rows: K1, *p1, k1; repeat from * to end.

Afghan

Note: You may begin at any point in the Assembly Diagram for the First Hexagon. Pick the center Hexagon to start with and work out in concentric rings from there, or pick a Hexagon on the outside edge and work in toward the center. Once you've worked the First Hexagon, you will pick up sts along one edge of it for the first edge of the next Hexagon, then cast on sts for the remaining edges. All of the following Hexagons will be worked off of the preceding Hexagons. Each Hexagon has 120 sts, 20 sts per side. You will always pick up 20 sts per side for each side of adjacent Hexagons, then cast on enough additional sts to get to 120 sts.

FIRST HEXAGON

Using circ needle and color of your choice, CO 120 sts, placing markers every 20 sts. Join and place a distinctive marker at beginning of rnd.

Note: Change to dpns when necessary for number of sts on needle.

Rnd 1 (RS): *P2, [k1, p1] 7 times, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–114 sts remain.

Rnd 2: *P1, [k1, p1] 7 times, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–108 sts remain.

Rnd 3: *P2, [k1, p1] 6 times, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–102 sts remain.

Rnd 4: *P1, [k1, p1] 6 times, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–96 sts remain.

Rnd 5: *P2, [k1, p1] 5 times, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–90 sts remain.

Rnd 6: *P1, [k1, p1] 5 times, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–84 sts remain.

Rnd 7: *P2, [k1, p1] 4 times, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–78 sts remain.

Rnd 8: *P1, [k1, p1] 4 times, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–72 sts remain.

Rnd 9: *P2, [k1, p1] 3 times, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–66 sts remain.

Rnd 10: *P1, [k1, p1] 3 times, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–60 sts remain.

Rnd 11: *P2, [k1, p1] 2 times, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–54 sts remain.

Rnd 12: *P1, [k1, p1] 2 times, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–48 sts remain.

Rnd 13: *P2, k1, p1, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–42 sts remain.

Rnd 14: *P1, k1, p1, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–36 sts remain.

Rnd 15: *P2, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–30 sts remain.

Rnd 16: *P1, ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–24 sts remain.

Rnd 17: *Ssk, yo, ssk; repeat from * to end–18 sts remain.

Rnd 18: *K1, ssk; repeat from * to end–12 sts remain.

Rnd 19: [Ssk] 6 times–6 sts remain. BO.

NEXT HEXAGON

Using color for next Hexagon in Assembly Diagram, pick up and knit 20 sts from First Hexagon. CO 100 sts for remaining sides, placing markers every 20 sts–120 sts. Complete as for First Hexagon.

REMAINING HEXAGONS

Using color for next Hexagon in Assembly Diagram, pick up and knit 20 sts per side for each adjacent 1 or more previous Hexagons, cast on additional sts for remaining sides to get to 120 sts, placing markers every 20 sts. Complete as for First Hexagon.

Finishing

Block lightly.