Mosaic Blanket
What a joy it is to discover those moments in knitting when something seemingly intricate turns out to be very easy!
Those are the moments that knitting legend Barbara Walker strove to find as she first learned how to knit. Finding color work’s bobbins and multiple strands of yarn cumbersome, she developed a slip-stitch technique she called “Mosaic Knitting,” a clever way to create elaborate, colorful patterns using only basic stitches (knit, slip and occasionally purl). Soon, she was staying up late into the night inventing hundreds of original mosaic motifs, guided solely by her imagination.
With a motif from Walker’s Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, we created our Mosaic Blanket, made in Purl Soho’s incredibly soft Alpaca Pure in vibrant, almost glowing Super Pink, and anchored by the sturdy smoothness of Worsted Twist in creamy Heirloom White.
As Barbara Walker herself discovered, there is beauty in simplicity… Although you won’t have to tell anyone just how simple this Mosaic Blanket actually is to make! -Kristy
Update: New Color!
May 17, 2017
Our Mosaic Blanket has become one of our most popular patterns, which may surprise you, given how complicated it looks to make. But the real surprise is that even an advanced beginner can cast on for this knitting adventure! For this version of our Mosaic Blanket we used Worsted Twist in classic Heirloom White and Alpaca Pure in mysterious Trout Brown, an earthy neutral at heart with a shimmer of blue across its surface. For additional images, check out our new post!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Kristina McGowan. Click here to see even more of Kristina’s designs!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoMosaicBlanket, and #PurlSohoWorstedTwist. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- Color A: 4 (6, 7) skeins of Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 164 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 656 (984, 1148) yards required. (NOTE: We no longer offer Worsted Twist, but choose from one of our other worsted/aran weight yarns.)
- Color B: 6 (8, 10) skeins of Purl Soho’s Alpaca Pure, 100% super baby alpaca. Each skein is 109 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 654 (872, 1090) yards required. (NOTE: We no longer offer Alpaca Pure, but choose from one of our other worsted/aran weight yarns.)
- A US 8 (5 mm), 24 or 32-inch circular needle
Here are four palette ideas, including the one knit up here!
• Color A: Heirloom White
• Color B: Super Pink
• Color A: Heirloom White
• Color B: Artemisia
• Color A: Heirloom White
• Color B: Yellow Zest
• Color A: Heirloom White
• Color B: Dark Loam
Gauge
19 stitches x 38 rows = 4 inches in Mosaic Stitch, using Colors A and B
15 stitches x 32 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch, using Color A
Sizes
Baby (Crib, Throw)
- Finished Measurements: Approximately 26 x 35 (33 ½ x 40, 41 x 46 ½) inches
SAMPLE: Baby
Notes
On all right side rows slip all of the slipped stitches with yarn in back.
On all wrong side rows slip all of the slipped stitches with yarn in front.
You’ll see that we’ve explained this pattern in two ways: written out row-by-row and illustrated in chart form. Follow whichever pattern makes more sense to you!
To help keep track of the stitch pattern, you may want to place a stitch marker (or piece of scrap yarn) between each 12-stitch repeat.
If you want to change the sizing or use this stitch pattern for a different project, just cast on a multiple of 12 plus 3 stitches. For example, 12 x 4 = 48. 48 + 3 = 51 cast-on stitches.
To see how easy it is check out this Mosaic Blanket video tutorial, below!
Pattern
Written Out
With Color A, cast on 123 (159, 195) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Set-up Row: With Color A, knit.
Row 1 (right side): With Color B, k1, *slip 1, k11, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, slip 1, k1. [Please see Notes, above, for slipping instructions.]
Row 2 and all following wrong side rows: Knit the same stitches you knit on the previous row, with the same color; and slip all of the same slipped stitches, with the yarn in front.
Row 3: With Color A, k4, *[slip 1, k1] three times, slip 1, k5, repeat from * to last 11 stitches, [slip 1, k1] three times, slip 1, k4.
Row 5: With Color B, k3, *slip 1, k7, slip 1, k3, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 7: With Color A, k2, *slip 1, k3, slip 1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 9: With Color B, k5, *slip 1, k3, slip 1, k7, repeat from * to last 10 stitches, slip 1, k3, slip 1, k5.
Row 11: With Color A, k2, *slip 1, k1, slip 1, k5, [slip 1, k1] twice, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 13: With Color B, k7, *slip 1, k11, repeat from * to last 8 stitches, slip 1, k7.
Rows 15 and 16: With Color A, repeat Rows 11 and 12.
Rows 17 and 18: With Color B, repeat Rows 9 and 10.
Rows 19 and 20: With Color A, repeat Rows 7 and 8.
Rows 21 and 22: With Color B, repeat Rows 5 and 6.
Rows 23 and 24: With Color A, repeat Rows 3 and 4.
Repeat Rows 1-24 thirteen (seventeen, twenty) more times.
Repeat Rows 1-14 once more.
With Color A: Knit 1 row.
With Color A, bind off all stitches knitwise.
Weave in the ends, block as desired and you’re done!
Pattern
Chart
Instead of following the written text above, you may find it easier to follow this chart instead. A few notes on how to follow mosaic charts …
The chart begins at the lower right corner on Row 1. Each horizontal row represents two rows of knitting. The rows going from right to left are on the right side, and the rows going from left to right are on the wrong side.
On every row that begins and ends with a gray square (Color B, in the case of this blanket), all Color B stitches are knitted and all Color A stitches are slipped. On every row that begins and ends with a white square (Color A, in the case of this blanket), all Color A stitches are knitted, and all Color B stitches slipped.
With Color A, cast on 123 (159, 195) stitches.
Set-up Row: With Color A, knit.
Following the chart, work Rows 1-24 fourteen (eighteen, twenty-one) times.
Repeat Rows 1-14 once more.
With Color A: Knit 1 row.
With Color A, bind off all stitches knitwise.
Weave in the ends, block as desired and enjoy!
This has got to be THE ABSOLUTE COOLEST BLANKET EVER! So easy yet complex enough to hold interest. WOW! I’ll be knitting this beautiful pattern for everyone I know. Thank you and Merry Christmas! Julie
Thank you, Julie! We’re so glad you like the pattern! Merry Christmas to you too!
Kristy
Good Morning,
Can you please confirm my understanding that the baby size Mosaic blanket requires 600 yes of each color – worsted weight? I did see that someone asked about double knit – i wondering if the pattern is nearly two thicknesses. This seems like a lot of yarn for small blanket.
Thank you.
Hi Christie,
Yes! To make our Baby size sample of the Mosaic Blanket, we used 4 skeins of our Worsted Twist, (which has 164 yards per skein, 656 yards total) and 6 skeins of our Alpaca Pure, which has 109 yards per skein, 654 yards total). The blanket is dense, but not doubled in any way. The feel of the stitch pattern is very similar to garter stitch. I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any further questions!
Kristy
I just finished this in ivory and dark green for my first grandchild, due the end of February. I was pleased with the thick, soft, cushy feel of this knit. And it was a blast to make!
I am not a knitter but love to crochet. Any ideas how to convert the pattern to crochet? I do know how to knit a stitch but no clue how to skip one, yarn to front, etc. I love this look so MAY attempt if someone can help with the skip part. My first time on your site and I love what I see so far!
Hi Sue!
Although we don’t have a crocheted version of this blanket, if you know how to work a knit stitch, you’re not far from being able to work the pattern, which uses only knit stitches and slipped stitches. Slipping stitches is not as tricky as it might seem, and is just a matter of moving a stitch unworked from your left needle to your right (when you are on right side rows, you will make sure your working yarn is held in back when you slip your stitches and when you are on wrong side rows, you will just make sure your working yarn is held in front when you slip them). We have a video clip that might help you see a bit more clearly what is going on (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBMdq8WOSWc&feature=youtu.be). We would encourage you to give it a try and to let us know if you get stuck in any way! Good luck and thanks for writing!
Kristy
Please could you recomend a UK weight yarn ie double or chunky, i would love to have a go at making this lovley blanket for a baby due in febuary regards sue
Hi Sue,
A lovely, bulkier yarn that you might try for the blanket would be our Super Soft Merino (https://www.purlsoho.com/super-soft-merino.html). For the Baby (Crib, Throw) sizes, you would need approximately 7-10 skeins of each color and we’d recommend a size 13 needle. (You might not want to wind the yarn until you’re ready to use it just in case you end up not needing all of it. You can exchange any unwound yarn for up to six months of purchase) We hope this helps and please let us know if you have any further questions!
Kristy
Does it matter what cast on I use? I didn’t see that the pattern specified any particular one like the long tail tubular, which is what I plan to use, or a more “beginner friendly” cast on.
Hi Hope!
Although there is no specific cast on specified for the blanket, the long tail tubular cast on that you’ve chosen would work well! Thanks for writing and please let us know if you have any further questions!
Kristy
Actually I do! Is there a way to alter the pattern so it can be knit in the round?
Hi Hope,
Thanks for writing and sincere apologies for the delay in responding! Working the pattern in the round would not be hard to do and you’ll just need to keep two things in mind. The first is that you will only repeat the 12 stitches bracketed off in the chart and will repeat only those 12 stitches for whatever multiple of 12 you desire. When working this pattern in the round, you will not work the first stitch and the last two stitches in the rows shown in the pattern, only the bracketed 12 stitches. The second thing to keep in mind is that in order to work garter stitch in the round (knitting every row as you do with this blanket) you will need to alternate between knitting and purling each round (and not knit each round). The slipped stitches you work will stay the same, but in order to maintain the garter stitch, you will need to alternate between knitting and purling. I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any questions along the way and best of luck!
Kristy
Hi!
This pattern is gorgeous and I’d love to make it for my niece. Can you recommend any machine wash friendly yarns ?
Thanks!
Meredith
Hi Merdith!
Thanks for writing! Cascade 220 Superwash Aran would also be a great choice for the Mosaic Blanket! It would allow you to like get very close to the pattern’s gauge and is a 100% superwash merino wool (https://www.purlsoho.com/cascade-220-aran.html). I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any further questions!
Kristy
Hi Kristina – Just following up on your suggestion to use Cascade 220 Superwash Aran. Do you think it will give a similar feel / weight to the blanket? It seems like the alpaca adds a certain density thats hard to replicate with other yarns.
Thanks,
Renata
Hi Renata,
As a superwash yarn close to the needed gauge, the Cascade 220 Superwash Aran is a lovely option for the blanket, although the two yarns we chose for our sample (our Worsted Twist and Alpaca Pure) provide an incredible warmth, softness and weight, unique to their combination. Our sample is best laundered by hand in cold water or dry cleaned, which is just a different experience than you’d have with the Cascade Superwash, which can be washed in a machine. I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any further questions! Thanks for writing!
Kristy
You would use the Cascade Superwash Aran for both color A and color B? I am planning on making this blanket for each of my twins we are expecting and need it to be machinewash!
Hello Kerri,
Thank you for reaching out! Yes, You can certainly use Cascade Superwash Aran weight for both colors. We no longer carry this yarn but you could also use Anzula’s For Better or Worsted or Blue Sky’s Worsted Cotton.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi Kristina,
I am also looking to make a machine washable version in crib size, but was hoping for a lighter weight, more lofty yarn. I live in a hotter climate and don’t want it to be too weighty or warm. What would you recommend?
Thanks so much!
Sarah
Hi, Sarah!
Thank you for writing in! I recommend Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton. The tag recommends hand washing, however we have machine washed and air dried many projects that are made with this cotton without incident. Cascade’s 220 Aran is another great option. It is machine washable and although it is 100% Merino Wool it is quite lightweight. If you have further questions please let us know!
Best,
Kumeko
beautiful pattern! i’m halfway through and i just happened to watch the video and see that the slipped stitches should be done purlwise…it wasn’t specified in the written instructions and i didn’t know any better so had been doing them knitwise! i realize now though that when a pattern doesn’t specify, it means to slip purlwise. live and learn. the blanket still looks beautiful though, even with the backward slipped stitches!
Hi,
I made my blanket a bit smaller than the pattern. I cast on 99 stitches instead. How many repeats of 1-24 would i need to make it not too long?
Thanks!
Hi Tracy,
If you’re getting close to the recommended gauge for the pattern, with a cast on of 99 stitches (which would be a width of about 21 inches), you could try repeating Rows 1-24 for a total of ten times, and then Rows 1-14 once. Proportionally, this should give you a good length (about 26 3/4 inches). To have the greatest control over your final length and account for any differences in tension and gauge, you could work rows 1-24 and see how many inches it is. We could then help you to calculate exactly how many more rows you will need to work in order to get the length you need. Please just let us know and we can help you figure it out! Thanks for writing in and good luck!
Kristy
I’m writing from the UK I’d like to make this blanket and I am looking at a Rowan wool in contrasting colours- http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/super-fine-merino-dk – how much would I need to make the small blanket and do you think it would work? This wool comes in a thicker aran version too would that be better?
Hi Sakhdeep,
The Super Fine Merino Aran would allow you to more closely match the gauge of the pattern and be a far less time-consuming knit. The recommended needle size for the yarn is a 7 and although we used an 8 for our blanket, you could knit up a swatch and measure how many stitches and rows you were getting per inch we could help you make any needed adjustments. For the small size, you’ll need approximately 650 yards per color. The Aran is listed at 93 yards per ball, so 7 of each color should do the trick. Please let us know if you have any further questions and good luck!
Kristy
I was wondering how many how to make this pattern for an adult size blanket afghan pattern? Not sure how many to cast on etc.
Also how much yarn would I need of each color?
I am estimating 55×65 inches
Thanks so much! I love this pattern!
Franny
Hi Franny,
You could cast on 255 stitches which would give you an approximate width of 53 3/4″ or 267 stitches which would give you an approximate width of 56 1/4. You would need an estimated 9 skeins of the Worsted Twist and 13 skeins of the Alpaca Pure, and any unwound yarn that you don’t end up using can be exchanged for up to six months of purchase. Please let us know if you have any further questions! Thanks for writing!
Kristy
Thanks so much! I am going to get started this week! I am using worsted weigh wool. 🙂
Hi Kristy!
I am writing you from Ukraine! these blanket and pattern are amazing! I would like to use this pattern for reglan. Could you help me to understand who this pattern works if to knit in a circle without purl? I would appreciate for your help!
Thank you!
Hi Anastasia,
We’re so glad that you like the blanket and the mosaic motif would not be hard to adapt to knit in the round! When knitting in the round, you will only need to work the center repeat of 12 stitches, and not the three edge stitches. So any number of stitches that you cast on should be a multiple of 12. Also, when working in the round, you will need to alternate rows of knitting and purling to maintain the pattern. When knitting flat, you knit every row for the pattern, but when working in the round, you will need to knit one row and then purl the next. You will need to slip all of your stitches with your yarn held in back on every row. When alternating colors, you’ll simply lay one color over the next when switching, and a neat twist will form along the wrong side of your join. We hope this helps get you started! Please let us know if you have any questions at all and best of luck! Thanks for writing with this great question!
Kristy
Kristy,
kindly thank you for your reply!
Try to use this pattern, hope I can do it!
Gladly, Anastasia! Please let us know if you have any further questions!
Kristy
How long do you think it will take to knit this lovely blanket for an intermediate knitter?
Hi Alto,
Everyone of course knits at their own pace but an estimate for the Baby size (26″ x 31″) would be about an hour an inch (at least that’s how long it took me and I’m not a particularly fast knitter!). I hope that this helps and please let us know if you have any further questions! Thanks for writing!
Kristy
Kristy,
Lovely pattern and I’m impressed with the support that you’ve provided here in the comments!
What knitting technique are you using in the video? It looks different to knitting that my grandmother taught me (wounding yarn around needle using my right hand to knit). I’d love to try the method your using here; suggestions for videos or google search key words?
Thank you and Happy Easter.
Nikki
Hi Nikki,
Thanks for writing in and for your kind words! In the video provided, Kristy is knitting Continental style. Based on your description of how you knit, it sounds as though you knit English style. The only difference between these two styles of knitting is which hand in which you hold your working yarn. You also use this hand to wrap the yarn around. Both styles yield the same finished product!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I love this pattern, but I’m wondering if it would look nice in a different type of color pallet. I was thinking of using pale stone for the main color and maybe a bright pop of color like orange for the secondary color, or maybe something more subdued with the pale stone. Do you think this color combo would look nice? I’m basically thinking of reversing the colors so the main color is more neutral.
Hi Barbara,
Reversing the colors of the blanket (so that the main color is more neutral) should also work very well, and the colors you describe do sound nice! It’s exciting (and fun!) how color choices can produce such different results! Please let us know how it turns out and good luck!
Kristy
You knit the same way I Learned how to knit so it was easy to follow your video on how to knit this beautiful baby blanket.
Thank you for sharing your talent!
I am a new viewer of your site and I will be subscribing
Thanks!
What an interesting pattern. Seems like a combination of stranding and double knitting. Fun! It is on my to do list. Thanks for sharing.
Ann
It was a privilege to be able to follow your patterns, both the speckled scarf and the Mosaic Blanket… thank you
Thank you so much for your kind comment, Mary!
Kristy
How much do you charge to send me the wool for this mosaic blanket, I live in the UK?
Hi Cathryn,
Thanks for writing! Our international shipping charge is $32.25 for standard shipping and $127 for express shipping! We ship UPS and the rate is a flat rate if it fits into a certain size container and above that there is a surcharge (depending on where we ship and how much the package weighs). Further details on our shipping rates can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/shipping/.
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any further questions!
Kristy
Thank you for this pattern–it is so much fun to knit! I love everything your share and appreciate your generosity in doing so.
Thanks so much Phyllis!
-Adam
Do you have any suggestions if I want to put an edging around the whole blanket? The two side edges look a bit sad without a nice white line like the other two edges.
This has been on my list and is my next baby blankie – can’t wait to start!
Thanks,
Deb
Hi Deb,
My first thought would be to simply pick up stitches evenly along the sides (in white) and then bind these stitches off. This would create a nice, clean edge — and would also be very easy to do. I hope this helps and please let us know if you have any further questions! Good luck with the blanket!
Kristy
Is there a way I can I get the cast on and bind off to match – to look exactly the same as each other? Thanks!
Hi Julie,
Two ideas come to mind to get the cast on and bind off edges to match. You could use a provisional cast on to start (https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2015/04/03/provisional-cast-on-video/). Knit the blanket and then bind off (using any method you like best). Then go back to the beginning of your work and undo the provisional cast on, placing the live stitches on your needles. Then bind off the live stitches using the exact same bind of you used at the opposite end. Although these steps are a bit more involved, the two edges will match because you will have worked them the same exact way.
The second idea would be to use a cable cast on (https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2008/07/07/cable-cast-on/), which will look a lot like a stitch-over-stitch bind off. Using both a cable cast on and a stitch-over-stitch cast off should also help your two edges to match more closely.
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any further questions and good luck!
Kristy
I just completed this beautiful Mosaic blanket yesterday in purple and teal. This is the first blanket I have attempted to make. It was quit the challenge to get started but, once I got into the grove, all I could think about was completing it. This pattern is stimulating enough to keep your attention and simple enough to understand the row you are on and the color stunning this blanket turned out. you should be using. I am extremely satisfied with how
I submitted a picture of the blanket on your facebook account.
Best regards,
Chrys
Did anyone ever try to make this a triangle scarf?
I would love to know before I try for myself.
Thanks
Carina.
Sorry – I forgot to ask in my last comment which cotton yarn would you recommend as a substitute for this pattern and can you recommend any color combinations? Thank you!
Dawn
Hi Dawn,
Thank you for writing in! Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton would be a lovely choice (https://www.purlsoho.com/worsted-cotton.html) and a few combinations that come to mind would be Lotus and Bone, Azul 628 and Drift — Sky and Tulip would also be very pretty! Best of luck and please let us know if you have any further questions!
Kristy
I’m eager to try this. I’m wanting to use Blue Sky Alpaca worsted cotton in perhaps drift/graphite and make a lap blanket. Can you recommend amounts of yarn for this and needle size?
Hi Suzanna,
The recommended needle size for Blue Sky Alpaca’s Worsted Cotton is 7-9, so I would try an 8. For the Baby (Crib, Throw) sizes, you’ll need about 656 (984, 1148) yards of Color A, and 654 (872, 1090) yards Color B, and each skein of yarn is 150 yards. I hope this helps — please let us know if you have any further questions!
Kristy
Hi there!
I’m wondering if can I use a 36″ circular needles instead of a 32″ because my none of my shops here sell 32″ needles, the lowest before 36″ is 29″
Hi Daniella,
Thanks for your question! You absolutely can use a longer needle. Since you are knitting this blanket flat, a longer needle will work splendidly without being a hindrance. I would, however, suggest that you do not select a shorter needle than suggested as the stitches will become quite bunched up and could be challenging to keep on the needles between rounds without some needle caps.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I live the blanket. Started making it then the chart disappear Ed from website. Can you repost?
Hi Char,
Sorry that the chart disappeared on you! I’m not sure what happened, but if you go to this link for the pattern, it should be there! Please let us know if it still doesn’t show up and we’ll find another way to get it to you!
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2015/06/29/mosaic-blanket/
Best,
Kristy
Eager to try this pattern! Do you think it could work for a large scarf?
Hi Allison,
Thanks for writing in! This sounds like a great idea! I think you could manipulate the cast on number to make a large scarf. This pattern is worked on multiples of 12+3, so you could cast on 27, 39, 51, etc. Let us know how it goes!
-Adam
I absolutely love this pattern! Would it be possible to make a smoother fabric by purling the wrong-side rows, as if you were knitting in stockinette? Would the yarn-over be different?
Hi Anne,
Thanks for writing us. You could certainly do this stitch in stockinette, slipping with the yarn in back on the right side and yarn in front on the wrong side. It will look quite different in stockinette and show elongated knit stitches here and there, but I think it’s worth a swatch. Let us know how it turns out!
-Adam
Hi
Love this pattern, and am just getting to the end of knitting it in the smallest size and was just hopping to clarify, on the last (half repeat) of the pattern you have it written two ways, do I repeat rows 1-14 or 1-13 before I knit the last? Just hoped I could check so that I finish it right.
Many thanks, in advance
Hi Jessica,
Thanks for writing in! I think that I see the confusion! You will Repeat Rows 1-24 thirteen more times and then Repeat Rows 1-14 once more.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Thank you so much for the help, now I can finish off your lovely blanket.
Hi there,
I love this pattern, ive just started and was wondering why the central dots show up more on some colours rather than others? Are they slighly different weight yarns? My one is looking more like the black and white, but the pink looks more like just atraight diamond shapes??
Hi Chelsea,
Thank you for the question. I don’t know if I understand, but write back and let me know if I’ve answered your quarry. I think that what you are referring to is stitch definition. It is hard to see the details in the black swatch, whereas the yellow and pink swatches are brighter and show more depth in the stitches. The artemesia swatch is very light, so it might look more blended. Let me know if that helps!
-Adam
Yes helps so much thank you
Hi there, I’m planning to knit this for a friend’s baby, due next year. I just wanted to ask- are there any long threads on the reverse side that aren’t caught in? I love this pattern and the idea of doing the colourwork but I’m about tiny baby fingers getting twisted up in the thread at the back!
Hi Louise,
Thanks for writing in! There are small floats, but not too long at all. I think it would be perfectly fine for a newborn. Good luck on the project!
-Adam
I love this pattern! I modified it a little and reworked it so that each third of the blanket was a different color- I thought it would be a neat twist on the colorblocking trend. It turned out perfectly and will make a fantastic gift for my friend’s new baby.
Will the Cascade Superwash work for both colors in this stunning baby blanket? Thanks.
Hi Penny,
If you are referring to Cascade 200 Superwash Sport, then yes! However, any weight really works with a blanket as long as it’s not too far off from the original yarn. Best of luck!
-Adam
Actually, the Cascade Superwash128, as there are better color options. Thanks.
Hello,
I am fairly new to knitting and am trying out this pattern. I keep running into a problem when I get to Row 3 and am supposed to switch back to color A; my working color A yarn is on the wrong end of my knitting! Am I casting on incorrectly? Which cast-on method should I use for this project?
Thanks
Hello Natalie,
Thank you for reaching out! Great question. I would use the long tail cast on for this blanket, though your cast on method will not change where your working yarn ends up. I suspect that you are counting your “Set-Up Round” as “Row 1”. After casting on with yarn A you will knit one row with yarn A. This means that after knitting Row 1 and Row 2 with yarn B you will be back to yarn A to knit row 3. I would also recommend watching our Mosaic Blanket tutorial video for a visual explanation.
I hope this helps!
-Marilla
I was thinking this would be fabulous changing the dominant color like a rainbow through the length of the blanket. Where would you recommend the color change, at the start of each repeat? If so, how many color changes would that be, and how much of each color would you estimate I would need?
Hi Jane,
Great idea! You can certainly make the change at the beginning of each repeat. For the smallest blanket there are 14 repeats, for the next size there are 18 repeats and for the largest size, there are 21 repeats. You may want to do 2 repeats per color or 3 repeats for the largest size. The amount of each color that you would need would depend on the amount of colors that you choose and the size of the blanket that you would like to knit. I’d be happy to help you with amounts of yarn when you have decided the size and number of colors!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
This is sooo beautiful!! I would love to knit this up in Cotton Pure. (for a crib sized blanket)
Do you recommend this? Does this yarn work for this pattern? If so, can you please let me know how much i will need, what needles to use and how this might change size in any way.
Thanks!!
Freida
Hi Freida,
Great question! I do think that this could be quite lovely using Cotton Pure. Without a gauge swatch (which I recommend that you do), I can only give you my best estimate for cast-on and the amount of yarn that you will need. The gauge of Cotton Pure is roughly 20% less than Worsted Twist and that is what I am basing these measurements on. You will need roughly 1150 yards for each color or 5 skeins of each color of Cotton Pure. You would then follow the directions for the largest blanket (cast on of 195 sts) using a US 6. I could provide more sure estimations if you were to do a gauge swatch in pattern. We could then estimate the amount of yarn at a much greater degree of surety!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Thank you for this wonderfull pattern. i am from Québec Canada and I don’t speak english verry well. I just want to say thank you for giving us that pattern and I hope than I will find time to do this blanket as soon as I will be on holiday.
Would the Tosh Merino yarn be suitable for the mosaic blanket?
Hello Julia
Yes! Most worsted weight yarns will work for this blanket, so Tosh Merino will work great.
-Marilla
I want to try and make this with blue sky Extra in an throw size. How many stitches would I cast on? Thanks!
Emily
Hi Emily,
Thanks for writing in! It looks like the yarn that you are using is a bit bulkier than the yarn we used here. You could remove one repeat and cast on 183 stitches. However, the best way to determine your cast on, is to knit a gauge swatch in pattern and find out how many stitches you are getting per inch. You will then multiply the stitches per inch by the width (41 inches for the throw size). Then, just cast on a multiple of 12 plus 3 stitches that is close as possible to the number that you just got. For example, 12 x 4 = 48. 48 + 3 = 51 cast-on stitches.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Made this blanket for my pregnant daughter. Was so nice to make and she loves it.
Do you have any mosaic patterns for woollen bed socks. I suffer from cold feet.
Thanks/Rosemary
Hi Rosemary,
Thanks for writing in and for your kind words! We do not have bed socks in a mosaic pattern. We do have a worsted weight sock pattern that is quite toasty. Our Boot Socks might fill your needs!
Best,
Cassy
This is a totally addictive pattern, and easy to read from below once the first mosaic is done. The chart is wonderful. I have tried slip stitch pattern knitting before but found it tedious UNTIL NOW! Thanks.
Hi! I cast on 267 stitches and was wondering how many times I will have to repeat the pattern to get a symmetrical blanket. Thank you!! Love your patterns and site!!
Hi Carlin,
Thanks for writing in! Based on your cast on number, you will have 22 repeats of the pattern and quite a large and lovely blanket!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I looove how this blanket looks. I just wish I could get row 3 to work out. I am doing up a little sample just to see if i can get it to work out. I casted on 30 sts. After I do the sl 1, k1 3 times I sl 1, k5. Then there are 14 sts left to be knitted. It says to knit to last 11. If i do this then i would have to stop the pattern mid way and change to the sl 1 k 1. Its kinda of hard to explain. Should that k5 be a k4? It seems like im the only one having a problem with this. oh my! i think im missing something here lol.
Hi Mollie,
Thanks for writing in! I think that I see the problem. This pattern is worked over a multiple of 12 plus 3 stitches. To knit a gauge swatch, I would suggest casting on 27 stitches instead of the 30 that you have can on as the pattern should work out over this stitch count!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
In the written directions for row 3 it says k4, (slip1,k1) 3times, slip 1, k5….. Is the k5 correct because in the video you say at that point to knit 4 where the k5 is written!
Hello Sheryl,
Thank you for your question! The reason for this is because in the video she is knitting a swatch with only twelve stitches so you end your row with 4 stitches, but when knitting a continuos pattern to create a blanket you knit 5 stitches between each pattern. I hope this clears things up!
Warmly,
Marilla
This is so lovely! Thank you for the pattern! Can’t wait to finish it. But I’m not understanding something.
Pattern says: “Repeat Rows 1-24 thirteen (seventeen, twenty) more times. Repeat Rows 1-14 once more. With Color A: Knit 1 row. With Color A, bind off all stitches knitwise.”
I’ve done a swatch. I did rows 1-24 once and then 1-14 again. It doesn’t match the beginning of the swatch. i.e. it’s not symmetric from cast on to bind off.
In your sample picture (white & pink), it looks like you repeat rows 1-24 thirteen times, then end with Color A knit 1 last row, and then bind off. No last repeat of rows 1-14.
What am I missing?
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for writing in! I think that I can help! If you look at the images of the swatches, you will see that they do not appear symmetrical. However, on the larger number of stitches, this should work itself out to appear symmetrical.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi Cassy,
Thank you for your reply. I’m almost finished with the blanket. But I really think the pattern should say, after a total of eighteen repeats of Chart, “Repeat Row 1 once more. ” And then finish “With Colour A…”
Best regards,
Cheryl
I am nearing the end and finding the same thing. It seems to me after repeating rows 1-24 the specified number of times that I would want to repeat rows 1 and 2 before finishing in Color A. If I repeat 1-14 I will have an extra half of a diamond.
Hi Grace,
Thanks for writing in! You can certainly repeat rows 1 and 2, especially if you prefer the look. One of the things that I love most about knitting is that we all get to choose how we make things and can always alter them to our liking! I am sure that your blanket will be lovley either way but it is always good to follow our hearts!
Best,
Cassy
I’m making he blanket using Pacific chunky, 60% Acrylic/40% Superwash Merino Wool. I’m using a size 10 circular needle. Looks great, but wondering how dense the blanket should feel.
Hi Jeanie,
I’m glad the blanket is going well! The Mosaic Blanket doesn’t necessarily feel dense but doesn’t feel as open as a regular stockinette stitch. When holding the sample up you can see a little light shine through the stitches.
I hope this helps!
Carly
Hi! I’ve made several of your patterns that I just love! Thank you! I’ve just found this pattern and was wondering how many stitches you would recommend to cast on to make a scarf using DK weight yarn.
Thanks!
Hello Lauren,
Thank you for reaching out! I love this idea- to figure out your cast on number the first thing you will need to do is make a gauge swatch. This will tell you how many stitches per inch you are getting with your desired yarn and needle. Once you know this you can simply multiply the stitches per inch by the width of the scarf you would like to make.
I hope this helps and let us know how it goes!
Happy knitting,
Marilla