Eleventh Hour Blanket
It’s not too late to wrap your favorite people in hand knit love! True, starting a knitted blanket now would normally be a recipe for big time holiday stress; but since we should all banish yuletide overdrive from our lives, I decided to design a blanket that, even if you worked at a leisurely pace, you could start now (or next week!) and be done in plenty of time for Christmas!
Of course, for this plan to work the blanket would have to be the kind of beautiful gift you love to give. And so for inspiration, I turned to a perennial Purl Bee favorite, the Eleventh Hour Scarf, and borrowing the concept, the yarn and the stitch pattern, the Eleventh Hour Blanket was born!
Doubling Cascade’s very soft and very bulky Magnum means not only a quick knit, but a deep and toasty blanket, perfect for cuddling and snoozing. It may not be the eleventh hour to the holiday season, but as far as knitting blankets goes, it is! -Whitney
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoEleventhHourBlanket. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- For the Main Color (Ecru): 7 skeins of Cascade’s Magnum, 100% Wool. Each skein is 123 yards/ 250 grams; approximately 861 yards required.
- For the Contrast Color (Birch Heather): 1 skein of Cascade Magnum. Approximately 123 yards required.
- A US 36 (19/20 mm), 40 inch circular needle.
- Two US 17 (12 mm) double pointed needles.
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
About 3½ stitches = 4 inches in seed stitch, with yarn doubled and using the larger needles
Finished Size
42 inches x 52 inches
Pattern
Begin
NOTES
- For the Main Color, you will use the Magnum doubled. The best way to do this is to pull from two balls at once. For the seventh ball, just pull one strand from the inside of the ball and one strand from the outside. If you don’t have a swift and ball winder to wind a center-pull ball, never fear, you can do it by hand! Click here for a great video that shows you how!
With two strands of the Main Color and the circular needles, cast on 45 stitches.
Row 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Repeat Row 1 until you have used all seven skeins, leaving enough yarn for the bind off row.
Bind off loosely in k1, p1 pattern.
I-Cord Edge
NOTES
- For the I-Cord Edge you will no longer double the yarn. You’ll use just one strand of the Contrast Color, like normal!
- I like to use a Provisional Cast On for this kind of edging so that, later, I can graft the two ends together. If you feel overwhelmed by a Provisional Cast On, then just cast on as usual and you can sew the ends together when you’re through.
With one strand of the Contrast Color and the double pointed needles, cast on 3 stitches.
Starting a few inches from a corner, make an Attached I-Cord around the entire blanket, picking up 1 stitch for every row or stitch.
At the Corners
When you get to a corner, knit 1 row of the I-cord without attaching it (in other words, just knit 3 stitches and slide them to the right end of the needle), then pick up a stitch at the corner (knit 2, slip 1, yarn over, pick up 1 stitch, pass the yarn over and slipped stitch over), make 1 more row without attaching, and then continue the Attached I-cord as usual.
Finishing
When you have knitted the Attached I-Cord all the way around, then use the Kitchener Stitch to graft the two ends together. (If you didn’t use a Provisional Cast On, then just sew the two ends together.)
Weave in the ends and enjoy your big, cozy blanket!
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!
Great blanket! For finishing, can you recommend something other than the attached I-Cord?
This looks so comfy and soft! I love it. Thanks so much for another gorgeous pattern.
Hi Ana-
You don't need to add the I-cord at all, the blanket would still be beautiful without it, and quicker! Or if you want an alternative boarder you could do a single crochet around the edge, or sew a blanket stitch around the edge with a large tapestry needle.
Thanks for the question!
Molly
toasty.
i'm greedy – i want to make this for myself!
This looks great! I'd love to make one (or several!)! Any idea where I can get those needles without spending a fortune?
make them out of wooden doweling…the double points I mean..
I love this! it looks amazingly cozy and comfy – looks like a MUST knit!
I realize I picked up knitting again after a long absence but I thought the seed stitch is k1 p1 1st row then p1 k1 2nd row and continued like this for the seed stitch pattern. If so, I'm confused with your directions for seed stitch.
Row 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Repeat Row 1 until you have used all seven skeins, leaving enough yarn for the bind off row.
Thanks.
Hi Barbara-
The pattern for seed stitch depends on how many stitches you cast on. For an even number of stitches your pattern is correct. But for an odd number of stitches, as in this pattern, our pattern is correct. It can seem confusing but we promise it works if you just go ahead and give it a try.
Thanks so much for your question!
– Molly
Beautiful Blanket! Would this work as a last minute baby blanket, too? How would I have to adjust sizing?
Thanks a lot,
Viviane
Hi Viviane-
This could work in any size, but if you're making it into a baby blanket please keep in mind that it's not machine washable. (It is hand washable however.)
To make it in a baby size you could cast on 23 stitches for a blanket that is 26 inches wide. You could knit until it was 26-inches long for a square, or any length you like.
Thanks for your question!
Molly
thanks a lot, Molly! One more question: Could you maybe suggest another yarn for this blanket?
Thanks,
Viviane
Hi VIviane-
You could use any very bulky yarn for this.
Outer would make a bit thinner but washable version (you might want to go down a needle size or two):https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/5885-Spud-Chloe-Outer
We chose the Cascade Magnum because it's such an exceptional value since you get 123 yards on a skein.
Thanks for your question!
Molly
Can you confirm the needle size? 36s sound like knitting on, as a friend said, tennis racquet handles. I haven't been able to find them at stores or online, and the link Purl Bee provides in the Materials list links to a selection that maxes out at size 19 (the largest size I've been able to find elsewhere as well). I'm running out of hours, so let us know 🙂
Hi Leigh-
They are indeed a size 36, which is bigger than a size 19. We are currently sold out but they should be back in stock, at the link posted in the story, by Monday. If you'd like to be emailed when we get them in please drop our warehouse a line at [email protected]
Thanks for the question!
– Molly
Nice that the 36's are verified.. I have 19's and RH Craft yarn…77sts…it looks fabulous and my son will not wreck it in the wash. NEXT I can make another with my wool yarns, as really this is beautiful! Thanks!
So I'm definitely in need of an eleventh hour project! About how fast is this project?
You could also bind it as a quilt with a nice printed fabric. It would keep it from stretching over time.
I figured out you are just using the circular needle for its length, in order to hold that ammount of stitches, but are knitting in straight rows and not in rounds, right? Maybe it would be worth the mention.
Thanks for the beautiful pattern.
Hi Emily-
It all depends on how fast of a knitter you are but it would probably be cutting it too close to start it now for Christmas or the last day of Channukah.
If you're looking for something you could actually make in one sitting we would suggest the eleventh hour scarf: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/bulky-knit-scarf/2008/12/19/whits-knits-the-eleventh-hour-scarf.html
Thanks for the question! – Molly
What other yarn could you use besides Magnum? I would like to have my Mother knit this, but I think the yarn is a little expensive.
Hi Cathy-
Unfortunately we don't carry anything this thick that is less expensive. We find the Magnum yarn to be a very good value because you get so much yardage and it's 100% wool. If you'd like to cut down on the cost you could make it a bit smaller and not add the I-cord edging.
Thank you very much for your question!
Molly
Simply lovely!! Seed stitch on doubled up super bulky is probably my favorite thing to knit!
About the 11th hr blanket, it really looks ingenius and I cannot wait to begin the project. Thanks to AllFreeKnitting to sponsor this wonderful Purl Bee site and too many thanks to Purl Bee for the donation. I adore it so much, I would like to advertise this pattern via a coat! What do you think folks?
If I am going to knit a project I want it to last a couple of generations so I appreciate you using this wonderful yarn. If its worth doing-do it right!.
Thank you for the free pattern. I love the look of the completed blanket.
Hello all!
Thank you for this very lovely pattern!
I am almost done the main color and I just measured it. 44×72!!!
Yet, I bought this exact wool, in the right quantity… But now I have an extra-long blanket!
Did anyone else experience this? I didn't knit very tightly, I don't know why it's gotten so long!
I am new to this link. I just found it today. The llth hour blanket sounds just beautiful and I would love to make it. I donate almost all of my work to charity, so I try to keep my costs down. Can you tell me more about this beautiful yarn you are talking about, and where can I buy it? I can't wait to get started!!!!!!!!!!
Susie
Hi Susie-
The yarn is called Magnum and it's available at our online store here, https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/650-Cascade-Yarns-Magnum
Thank you for your question!
Molly
Some of my childres and I are allergic to wool. Do you have any other suggestions for the yarn?
Hi Linda-
Unfortunately we don't have anything this bulky that doesn't contain wool. You could make a beautiful blanket using a Blue Sky Cotton that has been doubled but it would be much less bulky so you wouldn't be able to follow this pattern. You would probably use a US #11 needle. Here is a link to that yarn: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/721-Blue-Sky-Blue-Sky-Cotton
Thank you for your question-
Molly
I have been wanting to make a bigger version of this to fit the top of my queen bed (so, about 60″). I figured I would cast on 67 stitches or so, and that I would need a 60″ needle, but I can't find any #36 in 60″ (addi turbo or other). Do you know of any? Might I be able to squeeze that many stitches onto the 40″ (I'm guessing no)? Perhaps I'm just crazy to think I can make it so big!
Hi Jill,
You may actually get away with a 40 inch circular needle, but we do also carry a 47 inch length which I think would be perfect. I see that it's not in stock right now, but if you drop us an email at [email protected] about it we'll let you know when it's back.
By the way, a queen size version sounds wonderful! Good luck!
Whitney
I absolutely LOVE this blanket! I already have some large crochet hooks (sizes L, P, and Q), so I was wondering, instead of buying size 17 dpns, what you might suggest as the best size to achieve a crocheted border (in place of the I-cord)? Thanks!
HI Nicole,
Great idea! The size hook will depend a little bit on your tension and taste, but I would start my experimenting with the P!
Good luck!
Whitney
Hi.
I saw you commented about turning this into a baby blanket. I'm still weighing this, especially given the machine washability issue. But if I do decide to do this in that smaller size blanket, how many skeins (or yards) of yarn would I need?
Thanks so much,
Adriana
Hi Adriana-
You would need about 1/2 the yarn so 430 yards, or 4 skeins of the main color. You'd still need to get 1 skein of the border color.
Thanks for your question!
Molly
What is the size?
Hi Martha-
The finished size is 42X 52-inches. It is listed under the “Pattern” section above.
Thank you for your question!
Molly
This is a lovely blanket. Is it necessary to block a large blanket like this, or for that matter, any throw or scarf made of a super bulky wool? Thanks!
Hi Elizabeth,
Blocking is a usually a matter of personal preference, but for this project I would say, no, there really isn't any big benefit to blocking. I tend to reserve my blocking energy for lace projects, yarn that needs a little softening, and projects that could use some shaping…
Thanks for the question!
Whitney
Wow. What a lovely, cozy blanket. Just what I need in the cold northerly winters.
Hi!
Do you have to use circular needles to make this blanket, as I've only ever knitted with straight single-point needles!!
Eep!
Hi Becky-
This project is too bulky to fit comfortably on straight needles so we do recommend using circular needles. The cable connecting the circular needle just holds all the stitches for you but otherwise you treat them just as you would straight needles. No special skills involved! Here's a little video to make it more clear:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2utVAejcTE&feature=related
If you have any more questions please let us know. Thanks for writing in!
Molly
i am looking to make this lovely blanket. Do i have to use circular needles? If not, what size straight needles are comparable?
Hi Joy.
I don't know of any straight needles long enough to hold all the stitches for this blanket. Whitney suggests a 40 inch needle because the blanket finishes at around 42 x 52 inches. -Laura
I have the same yarn that I tried to make a cable knit blanket out of but found it too time consuming. I would LOVE to try this blanket but where in the world would someone find US 36 40″ circular needles? It's crazy! I could possibly make it with one strand of yarn and the thickest circular needles I can find but that would take so much longer.
Hi Alyson,
Actually, we sell US 36, 40-inch circular needles. We just happen to be out of them at the moment! If you'd like to be notified when they come back in, please send an email to our customer service department at https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/contact. They can also let you know how soon we expect the the needles to arrive!
Thanks!
Whitney
Hello! I just finished the big herringbone cowl and am starting this blanket as my new project. I am a beginner so pretty much everything is new to me.
Question: Do I need to be careful of the double strands getting crossed? Will the end product look messing if I am not careful to keep the strands separate? Also I casted on 55 instead of 45 to make a bigger blanket. How many balls of yarn do you think I would need to complete the project that would end up being 10 rows longer as well?
Thanks a lot!
Hi Celia,
No, you don't need to worry about the strands crossing or twisting. Just knit like usual, making sure your needle picks up both strands. Great question!
And for those bigger dimensions, I would guess you'll need two more skeins, possibly three to be on the safe side. (If you don't wind the extra skein into a ball, you can return it for store credit within six months of having bought it.) Sounds like a beautiful idea!
Thanks for your questions and good luck!
Whitney
I would like to be notified by you when you have the needles this blanket takes, circular
needles, US #36, 40 inches . Thank you. Elizabeth Cruise
I finished this blanket a few months ago using Cascade Magnum in pumpkin spice for the body and galaxy for the icord. I absolutely love how thick and cozy it is, but the one trouble I've had with my finished blanket is the amount of fuzz coming off of it. Is there anything I can do to reduce the amount this blanket pills/sheds? I've got pumpkin spice tumbleweeds all over my house!
Thanks!
Hi Amie,
Loosely spun fibers do have a tendency to shed, which does diminish over time. Meanwhile, you can try hand washing your blanket (soak it for 15 minutes or so in warm water with gentle detergent, rinse it and squeeze out as much of the excess water as you can) and then drying it in a dryer on the AIR DRY setting for about 10 or 15 minutes. Check your lint trap often.
I hope this helps make your blanket perfect! Thanks for your question!
Whitney
I made this beautiful blanket in the colors shown for my husband’s Gran for the holidays and absolutely love it but had the same issue with the shedding. I tried the washing / drying instructions as directed above with disastrous results. The beautiful gold boarder looked like bad dreadlocks when I removed it from the dryer after only 10 minutes. It was covered with the white fuzz and looked terribly matted.
However, I was able to carefully cut off the ICord off the blanket, which still looks beautiful and I will hopefully have enough left over to create a new boarder tonight. My suggestion would be to gently wash and dry the blanket prior to attaching the trim to avoid this problem. (The washing and drying did drastically reduce the amount of shedding from the white part).
Hi GirlGule,
We are sorry to hear that you had shedding issues! We are glad that you were able to remove the dreaded I-cord and we, too hope that you are able to create a new boarder. Thank you so much for telling us about your experience, it’s comments and suggestions just like yours that help foster our crafting community. I am certain that our readers will benefit from your washing suggestion. Thank you for writing in!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Hello Whitney! I am almost done with this blanket and am wondering what the best method to weave in the ends would be. Between the bulky yarn and the loose knit (I do have the correct gauge) I just don't know how to make the ends secure, at least not in the places where the loose ends are in the middle of a row. Any tips would be appreciated, thank you!
HI Hannah,
Seed stitch is always tricky when it comes to weaving in the ends! I'd recommend trying to weave in the ends on the diagonal, going under purl bumps when you can. It may take a little experimenting!
Thanks for asking and I hope you find a way to finish your blanket that's perfectly satisfying!
Whitney
Hello. I am making this as a crib blanket for my son.. I am so excited but I cant figure out how many stitches to cast-on if I want the blanket to end up around 33" wide. Please help.
Thank you!
-KJ
HI Kendal,
Since the Attached I-cord adds about 3 inches to the finished width, you should cast on 35 stitches for a 30-inch wide rectangle (4 / 3.5 [gauge per 4 inches] = 1.14 [stitches per inch] x 30 = 34 + 1 [for an odd number] = 35).
Please let us know if you have any more questions and thanks for this one!
Whitney
trop beau
je suiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis nulle en traduction, help!!!!
grand merci
I purchased Spud and Chloe yarn for this project. I am using it as a single thread. Also using a size 15 needle. I started to knit but found that I need additional stitches to make up the 42" wide. I want the blanket this size and am going to crochet around with a thick border. How many stitches should I cast on?
Thanks for your help.
Hi Janice-
You'll need to knit a swatch in pattern to find out how many stitches you're getting per inch. From there we can help you figure out how many to cast on.
Thank you!
Molly
Love this chunky blanket. Making two for my daughters fill-size beds for christmas. How many stitches should I cast on for a full size blanket?
Hi knit1012,
You should determine the width of the blanket you'd like to make and multiply that by the number of stitches you get per inch. For example, the gauge for this pattern is 3 1/2 stitches per 4 inches, which per 1 inch is 7/8 of a stitch (or 0.875). So, if you want to make a 60-inch wide blanket (for example), you'd cast on 60 x 0.875 = 52.5 Choose the closest odd number to cast on (53).
Please let us know if you have any other questions and thanks for this one. What lucky daughters!
Whitney
Hi Whitney, I also had issues with the Magnum shedding so much that I didn't want to use the blanket so I thought I would share my solution. I put it in the dryer on Delicate for 60 minutes, checking on it every 10 (every dryer is different, so check check check!). This effectively felted the flyaways without felting the whole blanket. I then used a rubber pet hair brush (sold in pet stores for removing hair from furniture) to brush away all the extra loose fuzz (there was a lot). It made a huge difference, and I'm sure as it slightly felts with use it will get even better. I can finally use my beautiful, warm blanket this winter! I'm ecstatic, it was a joy to make and will be a joy to use. Thank you for all your lovely patterns!
This is a wonderful pattern and is coming along really well. A question concerning the Cascade Magnum, which I love! As I am knitting, the yarn is "shedding". Is this the norm ,and if so is, there a "cure" for this?
Thank you. Susan
Hi Susan,
The Cascade Magnum is spun quite loosely so it does tend to shed a bit at first. Hand washing the finished blanket will help, as will time.
And please read Hannah's very helpful response before mine. She offers some great advice. Thanks, Hannah!
I hope you enjoy your blanket! Please let us know if you have any more questions and thanks for this one!
Whitney
Hello,
I have recently discovered this incredible site so first of all I just want to say how much I love all your patterns and how excited I am by your range projects and yarn! I've been thoroughly over excited these last few days trying to decide on a project and which yarns to use.
I only have size us 50 circular needles and although I could buy some 36 size for this project I am rather attached to my 50s partly because of there speed. I have knitted with this thickness of wool on them before and like the effect, but I was wondering whether using bigger needles would effect the size of the finished blanket and how much wool I would need to use? Also would it be possible to do stripes by having each if the 7 skeins in different colours? Sorry about all the questions I'm new to knitting blankets!
Thanks
Helena
Hi Helena,
Using size 50 needles will most likely result in a bigger blanket (unless you're a very tight knitter), which also means you may need an extra skein or two of yarn.
Stripes sounds beautiful, but keep in mind that, in seed stitch, half the stitches will look "inside out" at the color transition (do an image search of "seed stitch stripes" to see what I'm talking about).
Thanks so much for your questions. Please let us know if you have more and welcome to the Purl Bee!
Whitney
Hi Purl Bee (Molly)
I've already made this blanket – and wanted to try a different bulky yarn. Would your own, Purl Soho super soft bulky merino work? I found the Cascade to be a bit scratchy. the recipient of this next blanket is very sensitive to the softness of the yarn! (who isn't?)
Hi Claudia-
The Super Soft Merino is a bit thinner than the Magnum but it would still make a lovely blanket and be very quick to knit. I would do a gauge swatch with the Super Soft Merino. You might end up liking the looser fabric you get from doubling it and knitting it on size 36 needles.But if it's a bit too loose for your taste you can move down in needle size and just cast on more stitches.
Thanks for your question!
Molly
Hi Whitney,
I am just about to put in my order for yarn for this project but had a quick question. Usually on blankets I slip the first stitch (purlwise) to get a nice edge, but I am guessing with the icord edging you wouldn't want to do this as you'd have less stitches on the edge. Is this correct?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Sally,
Yes, I agree that slipping the first stitch would complicate how you pick up stitches for the Attached I-cord. It would also be unnecessary since you won't in the end see the original selvedge!
Thanks for the great question and I hope you enjoy knitting your Eleventh Hour Blanket!
Whitney
Hi there,
I love the look of this blanket! I was wondering if you are able to convert the pattern so it's suitable for a rectangle knitting loom? I'm new to this all so have just been watching video tutorials as I don't understand the 'language'.
Kind Regards,
Holly
Hi Holly-
We don't have any experience with knitting looms so unfortunately we offer much advice about that.
This particular pattern isn't the best project to start with for a beginning knitter. Instead we would recommend our Learn to Knit Kit: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/8946-Purl-Soho-Learn-to-Knit
Thanks for getting in touch!
Molly
So I am a very new beginner to knitting. This was actually the third knitting project ever. The seed stitch is a simple stitch to learn and the doubling of the yarn made knitting the entire blanket take a relatively short amount of time. I loved the chunkiness but I ended up making the blanket smaller than the dimensions on here. The edging was more difficult to understand but it was 100% worth it! It sets the blanket off so well. I ended up making a solid blue color with white edging as a wedding present for my sister-in-law. Though I didn't buy the yarn here I still spent 70 bucks at Michaels. I love this blanket and I would do it over and over again if I could afford all that yarn. Also, I saved money by making my own circular knitting needles
I did this project in half-double crochet stitch with a single stitch border and it came out great! I used the instructions to know how much yarn to buy and for the dimensions of the blanket. I doubled the yarn for the body as in the instructions. It is a popular blanket in our house. I may need to do another!
Video tutorial please!!
Just finished up my newborn sons blanket! Couldn’t be happier! I’ve ready started the edging for my first sons blanket, larger and in a different color than his brothers. 🙂
for the size I needed I took the stitch count you had 45 and divided it by the finished size 42 and then multiplied that by 57 which is the finished size I need and came out with 61 for stitch count the needles will be here tomorrow and have the yarn cannot wait to start this is for my great grand daughters jennylind bed cannot wait to see it on this old bed
What yarn would you recommend for this pattern if I don’t want to deal with the shedding? It’s ok if I need to change the number to cast on due to different thickness of yarn but interested in warmth and softness! Thanks!
Hi Cassie,
Here are some soft and toasty options that don’t shed. Keep in mind that, although all these choices are at least chunky, none of them are as thick as the Magnum (although they could be if you used enough strands!)…
Purl Soho’s Silk Alpaca Alloy: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/9651-Purl-Soho-Silk-Alpaca-Alloy
Spud & Chloe Outer: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/5885-Spud-Chloe-Outer
Cascade Superwash 128: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/6355-Cascade-Yarns-Superwash-128
Please let us know if you need any more help and good luck!
Whitney
I’ve just finished knitting this and it looks lovely. I used 2 strands of Plymouth DeAire for the body of the blanket and a single strand of the for the i-cord edging. I think that the i-cord edging is too tight. The blanket now has the shape of a fitted sheet. Any suggestions? I’m thinking of ripping out the i-Cord, but I love how it looks. Is there any way to make it looser? Thanks for your help!
Hi Lynne!
It’s possible that you might be able to stretch it out by getting it damp and stretching it by hand some. Otherwise, the only real way to fix it is to re-knit the edge on a larger needle. You might also need to pick up closer together as you work your way around the edge of the scarf.
Hope this helps! Happy Knitting!
Thomas
I want to make this for my son’s Sponsor Family at the United Air Force Academy. His class colors are Blue/Silver/ and gold. So I though I would use 1 strand of Blue and 1 strand of silver for the body and then use the gold color for the I-cord – what do you think? Also, I cannot afford the Cascade Magnum so I am looking for a less expensive alternative – will Cascade Superwash work? If so, what size needles should I use? I am a new knitter and appreciate your suggestions.
Cascade Superwash 128 Yarn
Fiber Content: 100% Superwash Merino Wool
Weight/Yardage: 100 g / 128 yds
Knitting Weight: 5-Chunky
Gauge: 3.5 stitches = 1 inch
Recommended Needle: US 10
Hi Vicki-
What a thoughtful idea!
As for the substitution, you would have to double the 128 in order to near the big gauge of the Magnum so it would actually end up being more expensive. Unfortunately we don’t have anything less expensive in the Magnum that is as thick. You may want to try going to a local yarn shop to see if they have anything bulky like this that fits your budget. You are certainly welcome to use this pattern (and ask us any technical questions) even if you aren’t using yarn from us.
Good luck with your project and thanks for getting in touch!
Molly
Hi Vicki
Great blanket! Do you (or anyone else reading this) know if it is possible to crochet a similar stitch, and how could it be done?
Any help appreciated!
Thanks
F –
i need a very easy knitting pattern of a blanket.I am going to being using all the colors in the rainbow.
I wanted to try to use Madelinetosh ASAP to make this blanket, I already did one in cascade Magnum and hope to experiment with Madelinetosh ASAP next. Since the gauge is different, should I triple strand it? Or how would you suggest I adjust? Thanks!
Hi Camille,
Thank you for the comment! I think that Madelinetosh ASAP would be a great alternative for this project! According to Madelinetosh’s website the gauge is similar enough to the Cascade Magnum that I think you can follow the pattern as written holding the Madelinetosh ASAP double. It never hurts to do a little gauge swatch just to most accurately predict the final dimensions and adjust your cast on number accordingly but I believe that this yarn is similar enough that you won’t have to change anything!
I hope this helps and let me know if you need anymore assistance!
Happy Knitting!
Jake
Hi Jake- I thought I had submitted this reply earlier, but I don’t think it went through- forgive me if I am duplicating the reply now! Thank you for answering my original message. I have tried a swatch with the ASAP doubled on size 13 needles, and I get 8 stitches per 4 inches, and when I tried a swatch on size 15 and size 17, it was too loose. I am not sure if I should just continue on 13 and adjust the number of stitches cast on to get to 42 inches? Or should I do something else to adjust the scale of each stitch- triple strand it on a different needle size? Or any suggestions? Also, I am having trouble figuring out how many skeins of the ASAP to use for the pattern since the yardage is different and my gauge is different- any tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again- Camille
Hi Camille,
Thanks for responding! Both of these ideas would be great options. If you are pleased with your swatch of the ASAP held double then I would go with that and find what the cast on number is to achieve 42 inches. If you would like to achieve a fabric a little closer to the one in the Eleventh Hour Blanket then I would do a swatch holding 3 or even 4 strands together. How much yarn you need will really depend on the gauge your getting. If you are going to shoot for the gauge that we get then you will want to buy 430 yards multiplied by the number of strands your holding together. If you are going hold the yarn double then in order to calculate the amount you will need, estimate how much of the skein was used in your swatch and calculate that by the expected dimensions of your blanket. Sorry there isn’t a simpler way to do this although there are over 300 people who have made this project on ravelry so it is possible someone has used this yarn and could give you an exact yardage!
I hope this helps you a little in your endeavor and feel free to let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you!
Good Luck!
Jake
This was the fastest, easiest, most beautiful project EVER. But the end result looks like it was complicated and took a lot of time and effort. I have made two as gifts for non-knitters and it was never so easy to look like a hero.
Hi,
I want to knit this blanket but not at the cord ends. Do I slip the first sitch so I make a nice edge without it curling. Also do you have a picture of the blanket not folded, just flat so I can see the whole thing?
Rachael
Hello Rachael,
Seed Stitch, especially in this large gauge, doesn’t curl in naturally. Therefore its not necessary to slip the first stitch of each row, but it would definitely add a more finished edge! Unfortunately we don’t have a photo available of the entire blanket, but the entire thing is consistent seed stitch throughout.
Best of luck! Happy knitting! -Alyson
I am a very new to knitting. Can you advise, when knitting if the pattern states to k1, p1, etc. and you slip the first stitch do you continue with the next stitch as k1 then or continue on with p1? Appreciate your advise.
Hello Donna,
Thank you for reaching out! When slipping the first stitch you count that stitch as a knit stitch so your second stitch will be a purl stitch.
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any further questions!
Warmly,
Marilla
I am thinking of using Cascade 128 Superwash for this lovely afghan….If I double the yarn, will it be similar to the Magnum yarn gauge. Would I still need the size 35 needle? I also thought I would just do a single strand of yarn..for a different look. But not sure how much to cast on.
Hello Pat!
Magnum is a very super chunky yarn! Cascade 128, even doubled, won’t be chunky enough to complete this pattern as written. If you’d like to experiment, I would make a gauge swatch and see what you think looks best! I would recommend that you try using size US #19 with two strands of this yarn.
Once you find out how many stitches per inch you are getting at your ideal texture, multiply that by the number of stitches that you want the width of the blanket to be. Happy knitting! -Alyson
I couldn’t find any comments about it, but do you know how this project would turn out knitting with a single strand? I don’t have the funds for making this with two strands.
Hello Rachel!
You can totally adjust the pattern, but if you use one strand and #35 needles the blanket will be so loose that it will be lacy and spider web like. If you’d like to use one strand and like a #19 needles, you could make a throw but it would be about half the size of the original pattern. Unfortunately, we don’t sell a cheaper yarn that is this thickness, but I bet you could find one somewhere!
Best of luck! -Alyson
ok, so if I use lion brand wool-ease yarn how many skeins would I need? and for contrast color?
thanks
*Alaina
Hello Alaina,
Wool Ease yarn is a worsted weight, while the recommended yarn (Cascade Magnum) is a super bulky yarn. You will need many, many skeins in order to make a throw of this size. I’m guessing if you double the yarn around 15-20 for the body and about 2-3 for the border. Best to make a gauge swatch since the sizing of the stitches will change so drastically from the pattern with this yarn.
Keep in mind the look of the pattern will be very different since the stitches will be on a smaller scale. Hope this helps! -Alyson
I just finished the main part of this blanket and I plan on making several more as gifts! I haven’t done the I-Cord part yet and would love some instruction on how to do the attached I-Cord. The link keeps taking me to a dead page. Can you put the instructions back up or link me to some kind of tutorial as it doesn’t explain how to attach the I-Cord in the pattern?
Hello Caitlin!
Here is the link to the tutorial: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2008/01/23/attached-i-cord-tutorial/ We’re so sorry some of our links are still getting repaired after our big website redesign!
Please write again if you have any further questions! Thanks! -Alyson
Thank you for asking this! I’m finishing up my main colour and was going to ask the same about the I cord link.
I have decided to make 3 of these blankets for my grown children for Christmas. One of them is vegan, and I would like to make it in cotton. Can you suggest how I could make it from something like the Blue Skys cotton? Or do you have another suggestion for a relatively quick to knit cotton blanket or throw? Thank you so much.
Hello Wendy!
We don’t have any cotton yarn that would be thick enough to maintain the gauge of this pattern successfully. We have many throws using Blue Sky’s cottons, but they would take more time since they are knit in a smaller gauge. Would the smaller gauge be ok? If you don’t mind, you could definitely adapt this pattern to the cotton yarn.
Please let us know how you’d like to proceed and we can keep helping you troubleshoot! Thanks for writing in! -Alyson
Hi Alyson,
A smaller gauge would be fine. Can you suggest any throws knit in Blue Sky’s cotton? Thank you.
Hi Wendy,
Our Cozy Corners Blanket and our Chevron Baby Blanket are made from Blue Sky Alpaca’s Worsted Cotton. Additionally, any of our worsted weight blankets can be made with Worsted Cotton. I would suggest our Super Easy Baby Blanket or our new Color Study Blanket.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I have made several infiniti scarves with Cascade Magnum in the past, I LOVE this yarn. What I struggle with is winding it…due to the size of the ball, I usually just wind each hank into 2 balls. I’m wondering if you have a recommendation to make 1 big ball or to knit directly from the hank to avoid having to work the 2 balls together.
Thanks in advance!
Hello Erin!
If you are local to the NYC area, please feel free to come by our shop and we would love to help you wind the yarn! Our swift and ball winder can do the trick and make it all into one ball! If you’re not nearby, I wouldn’t recommend trying to knit it out of the skein unless you kept it taught on the back of a chair or on your knees in some fashion.
Let us know if you have any other questions and we’re so happy you like this yarn! Happy knitting! -Alyson
With the provisional cast on, the video has me cut it once I have my 3 cast on stitches, do I still do this or just move the stitches to the right of my needle?
Hello Elise!
For provisional cast on, you will need a bit of scrap yarn in order to create the crochet chain from which you will pick up the stitches with your actual border yarn. The “cutting” instructions refer to cutting the tail of the scrap yarn that you use for the crochet chain. Once you pick up the stitches with your border yarn you’ll continue with the attached i-cord technique to complete the border.
I hope this makes sense! Please write in again should you have any other concerns! Thanks! -Alyson
Hi!
I’ve done this blanket before using the Magnum, but I’m now wondering how it would work with your new Gentle Giant? Would it have similar results? Thanks!
Hello, Liz!
I think the Eleventh Hour Blanket would look wonderful (and be oh so cuddly) in Gentle Giant! Gental Giant has a slightly larger gauge than Magnum. Magnum gets you 1.5 stitches per inch while the Gentle Giant gets you 2 stitches per inch. So, if you use Gentle Giant and follow the directions as is, you would get a larger blanket. I highly recommend knitting a gauge swatch in Gentle Giant before starting the project so that you can get an idea of just how much bigger the blanket will be. Thank you for writing in!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
My daughter is getting ready to have her first baby and so of course, I MUST get started on a blanket. If I were to do this one, how would you adjust the size to suit a baby blanket? Or if you have other suggestions for a baby blanket, I would welcome them!
Thank you!
Robin
– See more at: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2015/11/09/falling-bobbles-blanket/#sthash.sfE33Ex5.dpuf
Hi Robin,
Thank you for writing us! I do not suggest this blanket for a baby because it’s very heavy and fuzzy. Rather, I suggest you consider doing the Cozy Corners Crib Blanket or the Colorblock Bias Blanket. I think that these are quick knits and suitable for a newborn! Feel free to omit the tassel if you are worried about that.
All the best,
Adam
I made this blanket once in the suggested colors and it was beautiful! I want to make it again as a wedding gift but am having trouble picking a color combination. You always have such amazing combos. Any suggestions? I am drawn to the camel color that is offered but feel that the camel as the i chord with the solid Ecru might be slightly bland.
Hi Anna!
Thanks for the amazing comment! I like the idea of a camel colored blanket but I actually suggest you look at the color “Doeskin”. It’s a heathered yarn and it adds a little more depth and intrigue than a solid color. I also recommend the i-cord in either “Jet”, “Ecru” or “Navy”. I think that you can just go wild with this since the “Doeskin” color is neutral. Best of luck on this project! It’s going to be great!
-Adam
Hello,
This is such a lovely blanket, and I can’t wait to start it but I do have a small question about needle size. The pattern calls for U.S. needle size 36…can I just use a size 17 needle?
Hi Aden,
Thanks for writing in! For the majority of this blanket, we used a US 36 needle which is 20mm. The US 17 needle (which we use for the edging) is 12.5mm. The difference in size between the two needles is a substantial 7.5mm. If you were to use the US 17, the fabric would be quite stiff indeed.
If you did want to use the US 17 across the whole blanket, you could hold the Magnum singled instead of doubled. This would require an alteration to the number of stitches that you cast on. To do so, knit a small gauge swatch and measure how many stitches you are getting per inch. Then multiply that number by the number of inches across that you would like the blanket to be. Then choose the closest odd number to cast on.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Hello, quick question: for this pattern are we supposed to knit in the round or just use circular needles and it flat? Thank you!
Hi Faith,
Thanks for writing in! Although we used circular needles for this project, we knit the blanket flat, meaning back in forth in rows, turning the work at the end of each row. The reason we sometimes use circular needles for flat knitting is to accommodate a lot of stitches. Cramming a blanket’s worth of stitches onto long straight needles can be pretty cumbersome and sometimes even, impossible. To use circular needles for knitting flat you simply finish a row, turn the work so the other side is facing you and put the needle that was in your right hand into your left hand and the needle that was in your left hand into your right hand, ready to go on the next row!
By the way, once you get the hang of it, you may find that you never use straight needles again, even for projects without so many stitches. Circular needles are just easier to keep track of (no losing one in the cushions of your couch!), and they never poke the person sitting next to you!
Best,
Cassy
How would this work with Purl Soho’s Gentle Giant? I bought the blanket bundle for the granny square blanket, but can’t seem to handle the crochet. The regular knit alternative is too much like another bias blanket I already have, but I really like this look.
Hello Alicia,
Thanks for writing in! This blanket should work with our Gentle Giant yarn. I would start by knitting a gauge swatch and go from there. Let us know how it turns out!
Warmly,
-Marilla
I was downloading some of the free patterns posted on 11/30/17. I also found the original Eleventh Hour Blanket. In the text, Eleventh Hour Scarf was highlighted and I clicked on it. The screen came up with not found. I tried searching too for the pattern, but could not find. Is this pattern for the scarf still available?
Hi Michele,
Thanks for writing in and for letting us know! I have fixed the broken link and will include it here for you as well! https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2008/12/19/whits-knits-the-eleventh-hour-scarf/
Best,
Cassy
Hi, I’d love to make this blanket but would like to avoid the shedding. Is there another yarn you can recommend that would shed less? Thank you so much!
Hi Gabrielle,
Thanks for writing in! All of the yarns that we carry that knit up at this gauge are fairly lightly spun like the Magnum that we used here. These yarns tend to shed more as the light spin of the yarn leaves fibers exposed to bloom up. My recommendation would be that you could hold 2-3 strands of worsted weight together to equal one strand of Magnum. For this blanket, you would then be holding 4-6 strands together. This could allow you to have some fun with color combinations should you be so inclined. To minimize shedding, you will want to look for a yarn with a tight twist, like Cascade 220 or Anzula For Better or Worsted.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi. The link to the attached icord video is broken. When I search your site, I can’t seem to find it. Do you have a way to link directly to it?
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for reaching out and letting us know! I have repaired the link and will include it here for you!
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/attached-i-cord-tutorial/
Best,
Cassy
What is the best cast on to use to begin this blanket?
Hi Jes,
Great question! We used a Long Tail Cast On for our sample, but I have also seen this done with a Cable Cast On and it works equally well!
Best,
Julianna
Is this knitable with gentle giant?
Hi Malks,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, Gentle Giant would be wonderful for this blanket – in fact, we already knitted a marled version using one strand of Gentle Giant and one strand of Super Soft Merino!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Thanks so much! How many skeins of gentle giant?
Hi Malks,
Thanks for reaching out! We recommend 8 skeins of Gentle Giant for this blanket!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi PurlSoho gang! I’ve never tried double knitting before, and I’m thinking about using this pattern as my first foray into it. The instructions I’ve found so far usually say to alternate knit and purl/knit and slip according to color, with one color/yarn being used for the knit stitches, the other for the purls, etc. How exactly does that play out with this pattern? Would I knit twice, once with both strands, then switch to the front and purl twice? Thank you!
Hi Lilly,
Thanks for writing in! It sounds like you might be referring to our Double Knit Blanket. It is quite common to work double knitting as you describe using both colors at the same time in each row, but our method uses only one color per row – the two methods do produce the same fabric but our technique is just a bit more beginner friendly to help out knitters who are new to Double Knitting. If you are new to double knitting, I wouldn’t recommend trying to translate this pattern to the two colors per row method as it might be quite confusing. Our Double Knitting Tutorial should be quite helpful!
Best,
Julianna
If I want to make this but using only one strand of the cascade Magnum instead of two, what sized needles would I need please?
Thank you.
Hi Suzie,
Thanks for reaching out! I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch using Magnum held single on a US 13 or 15 needle. You can then measure your stitches per inch, multiply that number by 42, and round to the nearest odd number to determine how many stitches to cast on.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Thanks very much Julianna.
Is the Magnum yarn washable. I love these blankets, but I
want to make something that for my grandchildren that
they can use and pop in the washer and dryer over and over
and over.
Hi Esther,
Thanks for asking about this! Magnum is not machine washable, unfortunately. We don’t currently have a machine washable yarn that is as thick as the required 3 1/2 stitches over 4 inches for the gauge of this blanket. For this project, we actually held Magnum, which is a super bulky yarn, doubled. Any washable yarn that can be doubled or tripled to get this gauge would be what you’d want to substitute. I hope this helps – please let me know if you have any other questions!
Best,
Cassandra
I d like to block my finished blanket to give it a little more length/width. Should I do this before or after adding the border?
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you for writing in! We recommend finishing your blanket with the border and then blocking your project just to make sure everything blocks out evenly. I hope this helps but please let me know if you have any questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella