Half Log Cabin Ombre Blanket
When Whitney first spotted Cascade’s Eco Cloud, the array of un-dyed colors instantly reminded her of Joelle’s Ombre Blanket from Last Minute Knitted Gifts which beautifully highlights the variety of hues that exist in nature. Inspired by the Joelle’s blanket and this new sumptuous yarn, the idea for another blanket was quick to come.
There are few patterns that can be applied to the craft of knitting and quilting as elegantly as the Log Cabin. It is classic yet modern and endlessly adaptable, and because of this it is a favorite here at Purl Soho. We think it’s the perfect form to showcase Eco Cloud’s richness.
In order to maximize the ombre effect of Eco Cloud’s subtle shades, I shook things up a bit and decided on a Half Log Cabin. I started with the lightest color and worked through nine skeins in nine colors, watching the transition from Cream to Ecru to Fawn, all the way to Dove Grey. Seeing the colors interact was endlessly entertaining. I could have kept working on this blanket, continuing the gradation from light to dark and back again. It is such a flexible pattern in that way, yet another attribute of the Log Cabin. -Laura
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoHalfLogCabinOmbreBlanket. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 9 skeins of Cascade’s Eco Cloud, (70% Un-dyed Merino, 30% Un-dyed Alpaca). Approximately 1,476 yards required. One of each of the following colors, used listed order: Cream, Ecru, Fawn, Bunny, Doe*, Otter, Wild Dove, Charcoal, Dove Grey
- US size 9 (5.5 mm), 32-inch circular needle. (We all agreed this blanket was knit quite densely, so feel free to jump up to a US size 10. The finished size will jump up a bit too!)
*Cascade has discontinued the color Doe. We recommend the color Silver Mink as substitution.
Gauge
18 stitches and 18 ridges = 4 inches in Garter Stitch
Size
Approximately 30 inches wide x 48 inches long
Pattern
The simplicity of a Half Log Cabin pattern makes knitting this blanket incredibly enjoyable. For a photo tutorial on how to do the Log Cabin technique take a look at Whitney’s Log Cabin Washcloths. Just remember, this blanket pattern is a Half Log Cabin, so where in a Full Log Cabin you always rotate your work, in a Half Log Cabin, at points you will be flipping your work.
To begin, simply cast on however many stitches you want (I started with 60 stitches). Knit every row until you are nearly finished with your first skein, finishing with a wrong side row. Make sure to leave enough yarn for binding off, about four times the width of your knitted piece. On the right side, cast off all but the very last stitch. Cut your yarn.
Rotate your work clockwise, 90 degrees. Move the remaining stitch from your right needle to your left. Knit the remaining stitch with your new color. Continue to pick up and knit one stitch through each ridge of garter. Once again, knit every row until your skein has nearly run out, finish with a right side row, leave enough yarn for casting off. On the wrong side, cast off all but the last stitch. Cut yarn.
This time, instead of rotating your work, you will flip your work. Move the remaining stitch from your right needle to your left. Knit the remaining stitch with your third color. Pick up and knit one stitch through each ridge and then each stitch until you get to the corner. Knit every row until you are nearly out of yarn, finishing with a wrong side row. On the right side, cast off all but the last stitch. Cut your yarn.
Rotate your work clockwise, 90 degrees. Knit the remaining stitch with your fourth color. Pick up and knit one stitch through each ridge and then each stitch until you get to the corner. Knit every row until you are nearly out of yarn, finishing with a right side row. On the wrong side, cast off all but the last stitch. Cut your yarn.
Flip your work. Move the remaining stitch from your right needle to your left. Knit the remaining stitch with your fifth color. Pick up and knit one stitch through each ridge and then each stitch until you get to the corner. Knit every row until you are nearly out of yarn, finishing with a wrong side row. On the right side, cast off all but the last stitch. Cut your yarn.
Continue in this fashion for all nine skeins. When you near the end of the last skein, cast off all stitches, weave in your ends and enjoy!
I've only just started knitting, but seeing this blanket makes me want to make it right now. I really like how you go from light to dark.
Oh how I love the new header! And the blanket is fabulous colours.
You knocked it out of the park with this one! It is genius! It is a mix of Bahaus and Amish ingenuity! Great design!
this is just awesome – we're moving into a new flat this summer, and my list of to-makes gets longer and longer…!
love it and love the colors
LOVE IT!
This is the perfect blanket. I can't wait to get started. I love that it has the old fashioned log cabin quilt design but also looks very contemporary!
This is beautiful. I don't knit, but I can see using that design to make a throw from reclaimed cashmere sweaters from the thrift shop.
Lovely.
Oh i am absolutely love it, it is gorgeous.!
This is beautiful. I love the upgrade to the old traditional afghan on the back of the sofa.
This blanket is really nice. It inspires me to spin some more of my various colored fleeces to see if I can make a similar one. Thanks very much.
Can you tell me the dimensions of the first rectangle? I think mine is too wide, and blanket will be really long and skinny if I keep going.
Thanks!
melissa
Can you please clarify a direction in this pattern? After knitting block number two, the direction to "flip" the work puts the knitter on the wrong side of the blanket. To pick up and knit stitches on the wrong side puts a line of the old color on the front of the blanket. How is this supposed to work?
Thank you,
Margaret
Hi Margaret. You are completely right. As the pattern is written, picking up for the third, fifth and seventh color will create a line of the second, fourth and sixth colors on the right side. If you would like to avoid this… rather than leaving the last stitch live, cast it off. Do not flip your work. And pick up with the new color on the right side. I hope this helps! -Laura
Lovely – I could curl up in it right now!
My mom always personalize our things in our room because she wanted that our belongings is designated to each of her daughter.Just like our blanket and pillow case which have first letter of our names.
I wondered if you could give me the colors you used in numbers. That is how they are identified on the ball band and also on Cascade's website. I'm not having any luck finding the names of the colors as you have listed them in your pattern. Thanks for any help.
Hope
P.S. LOVE your website!!
Hi Hope-
We have all of these colors available in our webstore here along with their numbers: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/8065-Cascade-Yarns-Eco-Cloud
Thank you!
Molly
Thank you, Molly for getting back to me w/ that info
Hope
Hello again. I am having a little trouble figuring out how to flip the work when adding the 3rd color and pick up the stitches and have my pickup ridge be on the wrong side of the blanket.
Hi Hope.
The pick up ridge is going to show on every other new color you start. So in the end there isn't really a 'wrong side' and 'right side' of the blanket because both have pick-up ridges.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Laura
ok thanks.
hope
Ive never knit a blanket before, and I'm terrible at making things the right size! I have an unusual gauge and I was planning on using a different yarn, which would make "knit to the end of the skein" unreliable. So i was wondering how many garter ridges are in each piece? Thanks in advance. I REALLY want to knit this blanket!!!!!!!!
Hello Girly Knitter.
Thanks for writing in. Unfortunately right now, I do not have the blanket in front of me. My best advice would be to make sure to use the proper needles to get the gauge correct. The beauty of this blanket is that the pattern is so loose. If your blocks are a bit larger or bigger it is ok. You can always continue adding blocks until you are happy with the size.
Thanks,
Laura
I don't understand how to flip the blanket to add the 3rd colour
Hello Joan,
To add the third color, turn your work so the opposite side is facing you. Then pick up.
Laura
i've read all the comments and still can't figure out which way to turn for the 3rd block of sts. Is it the one directly on top of the second block or is it the one to the right of the second block? Is there a way to number the blocks so we can figure it out?
Thank you
Hi MJ.
When you pick up the third block, you will be holding your knit fabric lengthwise, so that the first two blocks are side by side, the first one towards the left and the second one towards the right. Does this help orient you at all.
Something that has caught some folks off guard is that you pick up the odd number blocks on the "wrong side". Of course this is a blanket and there is no "wrong side", but by this I mean you will see the pick up row on the "front", which you don't see when you picked up for the second color.
Please write back if you have more questions.
Laura
Since Cascade has discontinued Doe as a color, can you recommend another color to substitute? Will Silver Mink give this nice ombr effect?
Thank you– I am in the middle of knitting this blanket and love both the yarn and the look.
Hi Jenny,
Fantastic question. I'll be sure to put an update in the pattern.
Silver Mink is the best choice for replacing Doe.
Thrilled to hear you are enjoying this project.
Best,
Laura
Hi Laura,
Yes, your advice did help. Also, once I read through all the directions and noticed that some blocks are bound off on the "right side" and some on the "wrong side" everything made sense. The picked up new color always shows on the "wrong side" because of the change in which side the block ends. Perhaps that information will help others?
I'm loving this blanket! Thank you.
Mj
if I want to make this blanket using sport weight yarn but keep it the same size, how many stitches and how many rows would you recommend beginning with? My gauge is approximately 5 sts = 1 inch and 5 garter ridges or 10 rows = 1 inch.
Thank you,
Mj
Hi MJ,
My first block here is approximately 13 1/4 inches square. So if you want your first block to be the same size, I would cast on 67 stitches and work approximately 132 rows. Perhaps you aren't limiting yourself to just one skein of each color (as I did here). Typically the first block requires some trial and error to figure out how large a square you can make from your skein of yarn. The instructions I'm giving you here is assuming though that you have the yardage to make a square this large.
Let us know how the project goes / if you have any questions!
Laura
Hi Laura,
I have already made this blanket with sport yarn and began with 90 sts. By adding more rows of yarn and adjusting each color, I knitted it to 54×54". Am making these blankets for a family of 5 in different colors and sizes. If I want to knit one for a baby, approximately 36×36", how many stitches would you recommend I cast on for the first square? Because of all the turns, I am assuming it would be less than if I were making it 30×48"?
Thanks for all you help!
Mj
Hi again MJ,
5 blankets?!? Goodness gracious. So generous of you.
I have to admit this math problem has many variables and is a bit beyond me. You are scaling it smaller, but also making it square. Yes, the beginning cast on would be smaller than the 67 stitches I suggested in my previous comment for making on the size of mine here. But because you are hoping to make a finished product that is square with the same number of turns and colors as the rectangular one here, I believe you'll need to start with a rectangle in order to end up with a square, rather than starting with a square that results in a rectangle. As for an exact cast on number, I do not know. My wild guess would be to try 50 stitches. PLEASE let me know how this goes. I am so curious now!
Laura
I started out to make the other ombre blanket, with two strands of sport yarn, but am very discouraged after several rows. The slipped stitches caused me grief, and I recall another project made with slipped stitched that also made trouble all the way through. I know the slipped stitch makes it hold warmth, but I can’t subject myself to the frustration. So…I’m going to make this one, the log cabin, wiht the sport weight and the many colors I bought. (Cascade SuperWash Sport.) Shall i follow what that MJ did with 90 stitches, and fumble along,or have you better instructions now. (I’ve made nearly everything in your book, some stuff two or three times.
Bette
Regarding sport weight, I see you already answered that above. I missed it before. Thanks very much
Bette
Hi Bette.
Glad you found the other comments helpful. Please let us know if you do have any additional questions!
Laura
I see it’s really important that you pick up the stitches, from the ridges with care. I am just starting the second square/rectangle. Loose stitches really show up.
This is brilliant! I just did a wonderful Fibonacci series log cabin type afghan inspired by Mason Dixon knitting but I ended up returning some yarn because I didn’t know how much I would need. I highly recommend Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride (I used bulky and size 11 needle). I also love the attached icord edging. Using one skein per color will take the stress out of calculating how much yarn I need…thanks for the pattern. I will look at the Cascade Eco Wool too.
For this to be a easy piece you site gives very few details. A video showing the new knitting community how to accomplish this blanket would help.
Hi Chelle.
Thank you for writing in. Is there a portion of the pattern that is causing you trouble? We’d love to help you through it! While we don’t currently have a video for this project, there is a fantastic photo-tutorial for the techniques used here in our New Log Cabin Washcloths post: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2013/08/11/whits-knits-new-log-cabin-washcloths/
Please do not hesitate to write back in with any questions.
Best,
Laura
Confused in beginning 3rd section directions say flip work but when I do that I’m looking at the wrong side. The only way I could be looking at right side would be if I’d ended 2nd section on a wrong side row and cast off on right side. Plus don’t I now need to be knitting across both 1st and 2nd section?
Hello, Knitbee!
Thank you for writing in! Sorry about the delayed response! You are correct, flipping the work does put you on the wrong side of the fabric. When you “pick up and knit one stitch through each ridge and then each stitch until you get to the corner” to create the third section, you will be holding your knit fabric lengthwise, so that the first two sections are side by side, the first one towards the left and the second one towards the right. Does this help? Please let us know!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
The first link under “Pattern” does not work but the second one does, thanx
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for letting us know! I have checked all of the links and fixed the ones that were not working. Thanks again for making us aware of the problem!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Hi!
I wish to make this blanket for a Queen Size bed. How many skeins will I need?
Thankyou.
Hi Harriet,
Thanks for writing in! A queen size blanket would be roughly 60 by 80 and this blanket is 30 by 48. Given these measurements, you will probably need roughly 4 times the amount of yarn or roughly 36 skeins of yarn. Please note that this is just an estimate and that you may need slightly more or slightly less depending on the actual size you make and your gauge!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Love this blanket! I’m knitting it for the second time, but switching up the color scheme. Also, for fun, I’m thinking about knitting a different stitch for each color. Would that affect how I join the colors? Just thinking it through before I start. Thanks!
Hi Joanna,
I love your idea! I would definitely do a gauge swatch for each type of stitch pattern you test out just incase the different pieces turn out to be a different size. You may need to increase or decrease the number of stitches you have depending on the type of gauge of the stitch pattern
Best,
Carly
Am I correct in assuming that you could continue to add blocks until reaching the desired size? Perhaps using more than one skein per color as the blanket gets larger? Thanks!
Hi Hailey,
You are spot on! You can certainly keep adding blocks until you reached the size that you would like. That is one of the great things about log cabin patterns!
Best,
Cassy
Just a note here for anyone else who wants to knit this and wants the ridges from picking up stitches to start a new color to be all on the same side — you can pick up the stitches purlwise instead of knitwise when you’re working on the sections where the wrong side is facing you. This results in there being one right side and one wrong side. Of course you might not mind having the ridges show up on both sides, but I preferred them all on one side, so hope this helps someone else if you come across this in the future.
Is there anyway to knit this so that the pick up ridges are all on the same side. I don’t like to see the little color ridge when I start a new color
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for reaching out! You certainly can pick up all the stitches from the right side of the blanket so everything looks the same! To do so, at the end of colors 2, 4, 6 and 8, instead of keeping the last live stitch on the needle and flipping the work, simply cast off the last stitch and pick up the stitches for the next section from the right side of the blanket, beginning at the opposite corner from where you ended.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hello,
When we flip the work, are we to pick up sts from left to right?
Hi Wren,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes that is correct, once you flip the work you will pick up the stitches from left to right starting by knitting the last stitch from the previous row that you did not bind off!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi, I was wondering if you could suggest a colour way for a cute baby, yet to be born! Im open to a colourway that is not ombre!
I love your site so much!!!!
Hi Yolande,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately we no longer cary this yarn, but in its place I would recommend our yarn Worsted Twist! I would love to suggest a palette for you, do you have any shades in specific that you are interested in or would you be more interested in a rainbow palette?
We also recently just came out with an updated pattern for this blanket in one of our newest warns Woolly Wool! If you are interested in checking that out you can find that pattern here: Log Cabin Spectrum Blanket.
Looking forward to your response!
Warmly,
Gianna