Pixie Dust Lap Blanket | Purl Soho

This is a where-did-you-get-this?! kind of blanket. Big, loopy stitches; hand dyed, extraordinary color; and smatterings of sparkly “pixie dust” all conspire to make this no ordinary blanket.

The yarn comes from the incredibly creative yarn company, Knit Collage. We used their super funky Handspun Yarn to knit up the Fun Kid’s Hat last spring, and now we’re turning our attention to their more subdued (relatively speaking!) Pixie Dust yarn. A blend of wool and mohair, Pixie Dust is a handspun, ultra bulky yarn that really sparks the imagination. I’m transported right into the land of fairy tales. With this color (Lemon Meringue), I can’t help but think of Rapunzel and “Let down your golden hair!”.

Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!

Pixie Dust Lap Blanket | Purl Soho

You won’t be the only one who thinks your new blanket is awfully cuddily. While I was making the Pixie Dust Lap Blanket, my cat Butterfly stalked my every move, waiting for the moment I would set down my needles so she could finally claim her rightful place deep inside the blanket’s soft stitches. Now that the finished blanket is at Page’s house her cat, Sylvy, has taken up right where Butterfly left off! -Whitney

I can’t think of an easier way to makeover a room than to whip up this show stopper. Provided you can wrest it from your cat, it may even keep you toasty warm all winter!

Update: New Color

October 18, 2012

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We knit up the Pixie Dust Lap Blanket in a cool white “Snowflake” version. It’s equally gorgeous!

Update: New Yarn

Try doubling up Knit Collage’s Sister…

Pixie Dust Lap Blanket | Purl Soho

Same size needles, same pattern, same textural adventure, a Sister Lap Blanket is a beautifully affordable 100% wool alternative. You’ll only need five skeins (you could even get away with four if you don’t mind losing a few inches!). Here’s a swatch (pictured above).

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoPixieDustLapBlanket. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Pixie Dust Lap Blanket | Purl Soho
  • 7 skeins of Knit Collage’s Pixie Dust, a blend of Wool, Mohair, and Pixie Sparkles. Approximately 245 yards required. This color is “Lemon Meringue”.
  • A US 36 (19/20 mm), 32, or 40-inch circular needle.

Shop our wonderful collection of jumbo-weight yarn to find a suitable substitute for this project, and remember that it’s always a good idea to check your gauge before you cast on… Our All About Gauge Tutorial shows you how!

Gauge

4 stitches = approximately 4 inches in 1 x 1 rib

Size

Approximately 26 inches wide by 56 inches long

Pattern

Cast on 27 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Row 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Row 2: *P1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2  until you have used all 7 skeins minus about 4 yards (or until piece measures 56 inches).

Bind off in pattern and weave in the ends. (Little Tip: Rather than wresting this yarn through the eye of a tapestry needle, just use your hands to weave in the ends. It’s easy – you’ll see!)

Pixie Dust Lap Blanket | Purl Soho

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!