Big Little Dandelion Garter Blanket
Little Dandelion’s K1S1 is the yarn of giants. With proportionately immense needles, standing next to these materials made me feel as if I had shrunk down to a pocket-sized version of myself. But as I felt smaller, my curiosity grew bigger.
It was with the grace of a toddler walking in her mom’s high heels that I cast on the mere 24 stitches needed for this enormous blanket. But just a few rows later, I was cruising along, already mournful of how soon it would be over.
K1S1 is 100% merino wool and is as outrageously soft as it is big. Cushiony and wonderful to touch, I loved that knitting with this yarn also ensconced me in it. A full body experience, be prepared for the coziest workout you’ve ever had!
Our Big Little Dandelion Garter Blanket is garter stitch at its most thrilling. This simple blanket changes a whole room’s personality, from ho-hum to wowza. Not for the faint of heart, this is larger-than life knitting! –Laura
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoBigLittleDandelionGarterBlanket. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 1 bump of Little Dandelion’s k1s1, 5kg, 100% merino wool. This is the color White.
- A pair of Little Dandelion’s Industrial Knitting Needles
Gauge
2 stitches = 4 inches in garter stitch
Size
46 inches wide x 70 inches long
Pattern
Cast on 24 stitches.
Row 1: Knit.
Repeat Row 1 until only a few yards remain.
Bind off knitwise.
Using your hands, weave in the ends.
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!
I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, so let’s call it a caveat: working with such large needles is a great way to give yourself tendonitis in your hands and arms.
No one EVER says this when writing about these JUMBO projects.
The gigantic look is really cool, but please make sure you take plenty of breaks when using those needles. Stretch your hands, arms, shoulders and back after a knitting session.
Unless you’re really fit & have perfect posture, working with these size needles exploits every weakness and imbalance in your body. So take care. I found out too late!
Hello, Segolene!
Thank you for your comment! You are right, it is important to exercise caution when knitting with needles of this size. Stretching and taking breaks are fantastic suggestions. Thank you for your concern!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Can you do this project with suze us50 adi circular needles?
Hi, Wendy!
Thanks for writing in! Size US 50 circular needles are going to be too small to use with the K1S1 wool. You can knit with the K1S1 with your arms if you’re looking for an alternative to the industrial needles we used. If you have further questions please let us know!
Happy Knitting,
Kumeko
Best,
Kumeko
Thank you so much for letting me know. I already have tennis elbow and would never take on this project knowing that information. Too bad, I love it.
Hi… In defence of K1S1, they are well aware of th eissues and as such provide video clips that specifically explain the technique of how to use these needles.
Check out the Little Dandelion Website
WOW this is beautiful — but that yarn is so expensive! Are there cheaper options for jumbo yarn?
Hello, Hannah!
Than you for writing in! We are so excited to be carrying this unique yarn! And we hear you! We totally understand that sometimes our yarn suggestions are more of an inspiration than a reality for many people. Unfortunately there isn’t really an alternative to this product! Please, check out some of our other beautiful chunky throws:
Pixie Dust Lap Blanket https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2012/10/18/pixie-dust-lap-blanket-in-cool-white/ (This yarn is a lot of fun!)
Eleventh Hour Blanket: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2011/11/30/whits-knits-eleventh-hour-blanket/
(This one is a classic!)
Happy knitting!
Kumeko
There’s always a cheaper yarn. It may not look exactly the same, but believe me, there’s always a cheaper yarn.
This is amazing! I love it so much!
Any idea approx how many yards in the 5kg bump?
Hello Tina!
Each 5k bump has about 218 yards. Thanks for asking! -Alyson
This is amazing! I’m going to put it on my list for Santa.
I love this! A nice green would look fantastic!! My Mum has ‘rocket needles’ …. I wonder if they would do the job?? Might get Mum to start knitting again
Hello Kelly!
Which size needles are the rocket needles that your mom has? We’re so glad that you enjoy the pattern! We certainly hope that your mom will begin crafting again–its soothes the soul! Thanks for writing in! -Alyson
I want to see someone knitting with those giant needles.
Hello Lisa!
Thanks for writing in. You can see how Laura held the needles and yarn here in this short video clip on Instagram…https://www.instagram.com/p/-RlRjRDhVr/ -Alyson
Fantastic! How many yards are in each of the different sized bumps? Are there patterns for other items?
Carol b
Hello Carol!
Each bump has about 218 yards each. We don’t have any other patterns at the moment but we look forward to creating more designs with this plush and beautiful yarn! -Alyson
i want one!
this is a long shot, but it is possible to get gigantic yarn like this for less money? i can’t justify a $600 blanket
Hi Stephanie,
We hear you! We totally understand that sometimes our yarn suggestions are more of an inspiration than a reality for many people. We are very excited to carry this unique and special yarn! Unfortunately there isn’t really an alternative to this product! Take a look some of our other chunky throws here: Pixie Dust Lap Blanket https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2012/10/18/pixie-dust-lap-blanket-in-cool-white/ and our Eleventh Hour Blanket:
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2011/11/30/whits-knits-eleventh-hour-blanket/.
Thanks for writing in and happy holidays! -Alyson
Cascade Magnum is a beautiful big yarn with lots of great colors! It runs about $23 per skein and measures about 123 yards. I knit a blanket using that on size 50 needles that came out great!
How many stitches did you cast on for the Cascade Magnum yarn with the size 50 needles and what was the finished size? Thank you!
How many wool you need for knitting a blanket 200x200cm
Thank you Willemijn.
Hello!
You would need about 1.5 of these lovely bundles for a blanket that size. Best of luck! -Alyson
Siete bravi, fantasiosi e
creativi. In Italia e’ pero’ difficile trovare i materiali. Grazie e CIAO!
Hello, Maria!
Thank you so much for writing in! We greatly appreciate your kinds words. We do ship internationally, please send us an email at [email protected] for more information on shipping!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
It’s gorgeous–but WOW that is one expensive project. I wonder if there would be a way to make it more cheaply.
Hi, Anna!
Than you for writing in! We are so excited to be carrying this unique yarn and we hear you! We totally understand that sometimes our yarn suggestions are more of an inspiration than a reality for many people. Unfortunately there isn’t really an alternative to this product! Please, check out some of our other beautiful chunky throws:
Pixie Dust Lap Blanket https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2012/10/18/pixie-dust-lap-blanket-in-cool-white/ (The sparkle in this yarn is so much fun!)
Eleventh Hour Blanket: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2011/11/30/whits-knits-eleventh-hour-blanket/
(This one is classic and elegant!)
Happy knitting!
Kumeko
What I am looking for
Looking forward to making this for my bed, I’m 92 and need something to keep me warm.
I love your insightful emails! This looks a great project.
This is amazing,looking forward to the Little Dandelion.
I’d love to see pictures or a video of how in the world one does this!
Hello Shawn!
You’re in luck! We just posted a clip of Laura getting acquainted with this yarn, knitting up a swatch… https://www.instagram.com/p/-RlRjRDhVr/
Thanks for writing in. -Alyson
Any advice on how to actually use these things? (since they obviously cannot be held in the hands like regular knitting needles).
Hello Kahreen!
You can see how Laura wields the needles in the short video we just posted on Instagram… https://www.instagram.com/p/-RlRjRDhVr/ She’s letting the ends of the needles rest on the floor as she knits.
This would certainly be a knitting adventure! Best of luck! -Alyson
How big is blanket ?
Hello Maria,
Our sample is about 46 inches wide x 70 inches long. Thanks for writing in! -Alyson
What I would love to see is a video of you knitting it! 😉
Hi Leiah.
You’re in luck! We just posted a clip of me getting acquainted with this yarn, knitting up a swatch… https://www.instagram.com/p/-RlRjRDhVr/
Thanks for writing in.
Laura
Any way this can be made with your fingers as crochet hooks. Don’t mind spending money on yarn. But rather not buy those needles
Hello Betty!
That’s a wonderful idea! Arm knitting is definitely possible with this yarn, and you would easily be able to crochet with your fingers a similar sized throw. I would be very curious to see what you come up with, I encourage you to give it a shot and let us know how it goes! Best of luck! -Alyson
Are the knitting needles really $160?
Hello, Diane!
Thank you for writing in! We are so excited to be carrying these unique knitting needles! These industrial needles are specifically designed to manage the K1S1 extreme knitting yarn and so the cost reflects its specialized use. But, we hear you! We understand that sometimes our yarn/knitting needle suggestions are more of an inspiration than a reality for many people. Unfortunately there isn’t really an alternative to this product!
Again, thank you so much for reaching out to us.
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Is it possible to use size 50 needles but they’re only about 14 inches long. Any advice? Thank you!!
Hello Cindy!
This yarn is so plush and thick that even size #50 needles won’t quite do the trick. If you wanted to make a dense scarf with this yarn, I’d bet you could get away with the needles you have, but 14″ long wouldn’t be enough to fit the quantity of stitches needed for a throw blanket with this yarn.
We’re glad to see you’re interested in this project! Happy knitting! -Alyson
This is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen! I didn’t know they made needles that big. You ladies are always coming up with cool projects. Wow! Thanks for this.
Hi, Absolutely amazing. How hard wearing is this ‘yarn’. I’m not talking rough usage – but will it ‘catch’ and pill easily if it is used to curl up under in front of the TV?
Hello Veronica!
We’re so glad you’ve fallen in love with this yarn as much as we have! Since this yarn isn’t spun tightly and is so plush, it will definitely be prone to catching on zippers or buttons. I would say its safe for TV cuddles, but definitely off limits to pets and any other rough usage. It’s an heirloom! Happy knitting! -Alyson
How much yarn for the little dandelion blanket..and the bubbles blanket..I live in Canada ..Toronto Ontario and I don’t see this wool anywhere
thank you
Hi, Lucy!
Thank you for writing in! For the Big Little Dandelion blanket we used the entire skein of K1S1, so it took about 219 yards (200 meters) and the Falling Bobbles Blanket used 882 yards (810 meters). If you have further questions, please let us know!
Best,
Kumeko
i love the yarn. couple of things to add to the description: it’s yarn, but the yarn has been felted making it very heavy (11 pounds) therefore very substantial; it should last forever, the size of the blanket that i knit was not 46 x 70″ it was more square. There should be explicit information on how you unwind the yarn from the spool. You cannot sit the spool on the floor and unwind from the top. This causes the yarn to kink and makes it impossible to work with. the best way to knit would be to have the spool horizontal and take yarn off this way. what to do with the ends? yes, i wove them in but they stick out and that’s not attractive. i am thinking that i need to attach them to the blanket by sewing. the blanket was a gift and it was well received, the recipients were thrilled.
Hi Sydney,
Thanks for writing in and our apologies for the greatly delayed response! I did a little searching and see that Jacqui recommends weaving in the ends. We also thought that it while knitting, you could sew the end of the old yarn to the new ball using a needle and sewing thread. Given that this is such a new and exciting yarn, I feel like there are many experiments to try! I am so glad to hear that the recipients were pleased! Again, our apologies for the delay!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Hi,
I’m looking to possibly make a larger piece than this, how many stitches can probably fit on the needles (only 24?). And someone on here said their project ended up more square, I was wondering if anyone has any other measurements than the 46″x70′ of this piece once finished?
Hello, Emma!
Thank you so much for writing in! Sorry about the delayed response! The needles are 43-inches long so I’m afraid that casting on more than 24 stitches might be too much. I haven’t heard of anyone else getting different dimensions. But, Purl readers, if anyone else has please let us know!
Again, Emma, thank you for your questions!
Happy knitting,
Kumeko
I’m making this blanket with a few of the 1.5kg bumps. (I’m taking a stretch break right now!) Do you have any tips for joining the yarn?
Thanks!
Hi, Anthony!
Thank you for writing in! Sorry about the terribly late response! This is a great question. Since this is such a new and exciting yarn, we don’t have too much experience with it, but I feel like there are many experiments to try! I recommend attempting to join the yarn in the same way you would for a regular gauge yarn, but if that seems too troublesome you could try sewing the new skein to the working skein.
Please keep us updated on how your progressing with this project and yarn. Maybe once you’re done you’ll have some tips that you can share with us!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
i used the magic knot (surgeon’s knot) and it was very neat and tidy. blended in well. not noticeable.
I am 3/4 of the way through the blanket and love it. It will be such a statement piece. I would love it if you had other patterns to make with this incredible yarn! A floor pouf maybe? Thanks for this great pattern.
Hi, Stacy!
Thank you so much for writing in! We are delighted that you are enjoying the yarn and the blanket! I think a floor pouf made from the K1S1 would be awesome! Again, thank you for your kind words.
Happy knitting,
Kumeko
How can I be notified when the K1S1 5 kg merino wool is in stock?
Hello, Karen!
Thank you for writing in! If you go here and scroll down just below the price of the yarn you’ll see a little blurb that says “Click here to be notified when this product is back in stock.” Just click on that link and we will be sure to let you know when its back in stock.
Best wishes,
Kumeko
When I look at this on the website for the bump it says $160, for the needles it says $160, for the K1S1 1.5 it also says $160. So I want to confirm, is it a kit where the yarn and needles together are $160? Are the needles by themselves really $160? Is a set of 4 of the 1.5 $160 the same as the bump? I am confused on what is $160. Thanks!
Hello Keri-Lee,
Thanks for contacting us. I’d be glad to clear this up! The K1S1 1.5kg bumps are $160 each and the needles are also $160. The yarn and needles do not come as a set for $160. Hope this helps.
Best,
Adam
Wow, this is soooo lovely, & one day i would love to try it ♥.
I’m using addi circular needles 60 inch 25 mm. Perfect.
Im making this now and it’s more like a rug. Not a snuggly blanket. Not impressed
Hi Rhonda,
Thanks for writing in. Unfortunately the 25mm needles are too small for this yarn. The needles suggested are more like large PVC pipes with tips and ends. This will make the blanket lighter and less dense. Still, the yarn is pretty heavy and it does feel very cumbersome as a blanket, but boy it is a statement!
-Adam
my mistake I’m using an addi 50 mm 60 inch circular.. thanks adam it is a statement and a work of art
Hi! I was wondering if it’s possible to weave with this felted yarn. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Hi Robin,
Great question! The short answer to your question is yes! You can weave with almost any yarn. The longer answer is that this lovely yarn has a diameter or roughly 1 inch. To get a successful weave, you will need a rather large loom as most standard dents will not accommodate a yarn this large. It would be lovely used in tapestry weaving where a smaller loom could use it as a weft!
Happy weaving!
Cassy
How could I adapt this pattern if I only use one 1.5 kg bump? Is it also possible to work this yarn with arm knitting?
Thanks!
Hi Ellerie,
Thank you for writing in! We estimate that one 1.5 kg bump can make a throw that measures approximately 25 x 35 inches. Given that the gauge is 1/2 stitch per inch, you will cast on 12 or 13 stitches and follow the pattern as written.
I hope that this helps and enjoy this amazing yarn!
Cassy
Is this the only stitch you can do ? How will it change if you do knit one row purl the next? i would like to do this for my daughter but I think she would prefer the knit stitch.
Hi Kat,
Thanks for writing in! You can knit absolutely any stitch using this yarn! The artist who makes this lovely yarn has made blankets with ribbing, stockinette, and even cables! Her website and her instagram feed are a wealth of inspiration for this amazing yarn! THe best this about a yarn this large is that you can knit up a bit in the pattern that you would like to try and if it doesn’t work out to your liking, you can pull it out and reknit it very quickly!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi there! Love the size of this yarn and would prefer the larger size bump that only comes in white. Is it possible to dye this? Thanks! Love your site 🙂 ~Vicki
Hi Vicki,
Thanks for writing in. It’s possible to dye this yarn but it would take some sort of factory setting/dye house to do it. I don’t recommend doing it in your bathtub because it would take days to take the dye.
-Adam
could you make this in a stockinette pattern? Also, could you arm knit it? I’d love to make a baby blanket with this!
Hello Kara,
Thanks for writing in! These are both excellent ideas. You can definitely arm knit this. I’m not sure how stockinette will behave on this scale, but typically it will curl at the ends- I would recommend knitting a garter stitch border to prevent this.
I hope this helps! let me know if you have any further questions.
-Marilla
Wow! A beautiful pattern and yarn. I have been knitting for 32+ years, spent lots of money on yarn and needles but this project is very expensive ($680 for a throw). Lucille
Hi Lucille,
Than you for writing in! We are so excited to be carrying this unique yarn! And we hear you! We totally understand that sometimes our yarn suggestions are more of an inspiration than a reality for many people. Unfortunately there isn’t really an alternative to this product!
Please, check out some of our other beautiful chunky throws:
Pixie Dust Lap Blanket https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2012/10/18/pixie-dust-lap-blanket-in-cool-white/
Eleventh Hour Blanket: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2011/11/30/whits-knits-eleventh-hour-blanket/
Best,
Cassy
I completed a beautiful blanket with this technique -IT’S GORGEOUS! – well it was..until life. My blanket is pilling and fuzzing everywhere. Is there anyway to solve this?
Hello Kim,
Thank you for reaching out- I’m so happy to hear this blanket turned out beautifully for you! Pilling is an inevitable struggle when working with animal fibers. The best way to maintain your hand knits is to de-pill them. We recommend this “Ultimate Fuzz Remover”, it is what we use on all of our samples in the shop.
Happy de-pilling!
-Marilla
It’s an amazing project that I would love to start, but the yarn is so much money. Would it work if I just went on amazon and got some jumbo yarn to subsitute?
Hello Sienna,
Thank you for reaching out! As long as you are knitting at the same gauge you can certainly use a substitute yarn. When choosing a substitute remember that the key to this unique project is the specialized materials and because of the simplicity of the pattern the success of the pattern is shaped by the materials. The simplicity of the pattern also means that it can be easily adjusted to accommodate different yarns.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Can this be made using a loom? Is there a pattern for this?
Hello Elise,
Thank you for reaching out! I think this yarn would be a lot of fun to play with on a loom, but you would.t be able to weave this particular blanket. The pattern for this blanket is at the bottom of the page before the the comments begin.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi-
I love this yarn and took a class which was amazing.
I have three 1.5kg bumps (two different colors) and would like to use it in one project. What would be the best way to join the bumps together while knitting?
Thanks for any tips
Hi Beck,
Thanks for writing in! We recommend joining the new color by simply dropping the old one and starting to knit with the new one, as we show in our Adding A Ball of Yarn tutorial, leaving about 10 inch tails for both the old and new yarns, which you can then weave in later. Since K1S1 yarn is 100% wool, you could try working a wet splice, but I can’t say for sure if it will work! Since the yarn is already felted, you might not be able to felt the two ends together, but it would be worth trying so you don’t have to weave in any ends!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
What size blanket does one bump of yarn make?
Hi Lavinia,
Thanks for reaching out! If you are using the Little Dandelion’s k1s1 5KG you will only need one bump to get a 46 inches wide x 70 inches long blanket.
All the best,
Gianna
I LOVE THIS 🙂 This blanket isn’t for sale is it? If not, would it be possible to commission this blanket to be made? It would be the perfect Christmas gift. Let me know 🙂
Hi Eliana,
Thank you for reaching out. I’m so sorry to say that this blanket is not available for purchase and that we currently are not able to do a commission for it. The materials for this blanket were a limited release and are unfortunately no longer available through Purl Soho. I would suggest looking up K1S1 yarn and contacting the company, now named JaquiFink, for more information.
Please let us know if you have any other questions and thanks again for writing in!
All the best,
Cat