Big Good Blanket
If you love our Good Wool, you’ll really love it bigger! Our new Big Good Wool amps up the cozy, and our Big Good Blanket doubles down on that by using two strands held together… super big, extra toasty!
Using two strands also means that the beautiful, undyed colors of Big Good Wool flow from one to the next. Transitioning with one strand of the previous color and one of the next, you really get to enjoy the subtleties and surprises of each and every shade.
And in simple seed stitch, the palette takes on the texture of nature herself, like pebbles at a beach, soil and snow up a hillside, or bark on a tree. And in the end you’ll find that the feeling of a field of big, soft nubbles is just as satisfying as the sight!
Like Good Wool, Big Good Wool is 100% undyed Andean highland wool, as rugged as a work horse and as beautiful as the mountains it comes from. A chunky weight, it’s perfect for quick gift knitting and down-to-earth classic garments, blankets, and accessories.
It comes in five undyed colors, each as the sheep grew it, and every skein is a generous 200 grams and 274 yards. One skein of each color knits up a small size throw (shown here) or two of each for an even bigger Big Good Blanket… Very sheepy, very beautiful, and very big!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Adam Aronowitz.
Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoBigGoodBlanket. We can’t wait to see what you make!
MATERIALS
To knit your own Big Good Blanket, you will need…
- 5 (10) skeins of Purl Soho’s Big Good Wool, 100% Andean Highland wool, undyed. Each skein is approximately 274 yards/ 200 grams; approximately 1240 (2570) total yards required. Each Blanket requires the following colors…
Color A: 1 (2) skein(s) of Heirloom White, approximately 260 (541) yards required
Color B: 1 (2) skein(s) of Winter Grass, approximately 240 (496) yards required
Color C: 1 (2) skein(s) of Driftwood Gray, approximately 240 (496) yards required
Color D: 1 (2) skein(s) of Walking Stick, approximately 240 (496) yards required
Color E: 1 (2) skein(s) of Hickory Nut, approximately 260 (541) yards required
(Please Note: Big Good Wool is no longer available. To view our full line of Purl Soho yarns, click here! Be sure to check your gauge when substituting yarns.)
You will also need…
- US 17 (12 mm), 40- or 47-inch circular needles (depending on size you are making)
- Removable marker or scrap yarn
GAUGE
9 stitches and 14 rows = 4 inches in seed stitch, with yarn doubled
SIZES
Small Throw (Large Throw)
Finished Dimensions: 34¼ inches wide x 40½ inches long (48½ inches wide x 56¼ inches long)
NOTE
DOUBLE THE YARN
Throughout this pattern, you will pull two strands together. If you’re making the Small Throw, when you’re knitting two strands of the same color, pull from the inside and outside of the ball.
PATTERN
FIRST STRIPE
Holding two strands of Color A (see Note), cast on 77 (109) stitches.
Row 1 (wrong side): *K1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 2 (right side): *K1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Mark the right side with a removable marker or piece of scrap yarn.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures approximately 6¼ (8) inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 1.
MIDDLE STRIPES
Cut one strand of Color A, and join one strand of Color B.
*Starting with Row 2, repeat Rows 1 and 2 for approximately 4 (5¾) inches, ending with Row 1.
Repeat from * working through all the colors as follows…
Two strands of Color B
One strand of Color B + one strand of Color C
Two strands of Color C
One strand of Color C + one strand of Color D
Two strands of Color D
One strand of Color D + one strand of Color E
LAST STRIPE
Cut strand of Color D, hold 2 strands of Color E together. Starting with Row 2, repeat Rows 1 and 2 for approximately 6¼ (8) inches, ending with Row 1.
With right side facing you, bind off loosely in pattern.
Weave in ends and block your finished blanket!
Hi! Do you have any chunky sweater patterns that you could recommend for this yarn? It looks absolutely perfect for a nice cozy garment.
Hi Meaghan,
Great question! Big Good Wool held double would be just about perfect for our Classic Knit Jacket! You will need 5 (5, 5, 6, 7, 7) skeins for the jacket.
Happy knitting, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Hi!
I’m thinking of making this as a Christmas gift using only one color, the Driftwood Gray. What do you mean by, “when using two strands of the same color pull from the outside and inside of the ball”?
Looking forward to this project.
Gina B.
Hi Gina,
Thanks for reaching out! This means that you will work from both the beginning and end of the yarn at the same time, which requires that the yarn is wound into a center pull ball. If you don’t have a ball winder at home, we are happy to wind it for you! Just let us know in the special instructions area of your order and we can wind everything before shipping.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hello, This pattern looks like seed stitch but the pattern doesn’t instruct like it, is it correct?
Trischa
Hi Trischa,
Thanks for writing in! This blanket is knit in seed stitch. For either size, you will cast on an odd number of stitches, and then work every row as *k1, p1* to the last stitch, k1. You can find this written out in the section titled “First Stripe.”
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Hi. This blanket is lovely! Last year I bought the good wool bundle (not the ‘Big Good Wool”) and have not figured out what to do with it. What are your thoughts on using it to make a scarf with a similar pattern?
Hi Patty,
Thanks for writing in! I think that would be absolutely lovely! I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch in seed stitch using Good Wool held double on US 10 or 11 needles. You can then multiply your stitches per inch by 12 inches (or however wide you would like your scarf) and round to the nearest odd number to determine how many stitches to cast on. After that, you can then follow the pattern above as written for the color changes, making each stripe as long as you would like.
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
Hi! I am interested in making a blanket like this, but with Good Wool doubled. If I use size 11 needles as described above, can you help me estimate a good cast-on number and number of skeins needed to make a throw-sized blanket (larger than crib)? Thanks!
Hi Gloria!
Thank you for reaching out! The best way to estimate a cast-on stitch amount is by knitting a gauge swatch, since every knitter has different tension. We have a very in-depth tutorial on this subject called All About Gauge. It describes this process and more and is very good at setting you up for success! Check it out here!
To estimate your skeins needed, you can also use the information from your gauge swatch to learn how much yardage you used in a 4×4 or 5×5 square, and then multiplying that by the dimensions and area of your blanket!
I hope this is helpful!
All the best,
Margaret
Your description doesn’t mention anything about the softness of this wool. By rugged and “sheepy” do you mean that it’s a bit coarse/scratchy?
Hi Jane,
Thanks for reaching out! While Good Wool and Big Good Wool aren’t as soft as merino, I still find them plenty soft for next to skin items! Highland Wool does have a lot of texture and is somewhat coarse, but it isn’t an itchy or abrasive coarseness. We do understand that everyone’s tastes and sensitivities are different, so some people may find it to be a bit scratchy, but it should still be lovely in a blanket!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Washing instructions?
Hi Amy,
Thanks for writing in! Our Big Good Wool is non-superwash wool, so the washing instructions are to hand wash in cold water and lay flat to dry.
Best,
Julianna
Hi,
I love the pattern, but would like to make a baby blanket as a gift. Could you recommend an equivalent superwash bulky wool on your site? Also, since this would be a baby blanket, how many stitches do you recommend I cast on?
Thank you!
Hello Cathy,
Thank you for reaching out! Cascade’s Superwash 128 would be a lovely substitute for this project. If you want a blanket that is 28″ by 30″ you will want to cast on 63 stitches.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Can this be revised to make a narrower and longer wrap? Suggested number of stitches? Thanks!
Hello Judy,
Thank you for reaching out! Yes, you can certainly make this scarf narrower. Once you decide your desired width, you will multiply your width by your stitches per inch. For example, if you have a gauge of 2.25 stitches per inch and want a scarf with a width of 10 inches, you would multiply 10 x 2.25. This will give you a cast on of either 25 stitches or 27 stitches because you will want to round to the nearest odd number.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi! Do you have any video/instructions on how to best cut and join in the new color of yarn for this project? I’m a beginner-ish knitter and while I have added in new colors of yarn to a project, I’ve never done it whilst knitting with two strants of yarn.
Thank you so much!
Courtney
Hi Courtney,
Thanks for writing in! We don’t have a tutorial that is specific to this pattern, but you will use the same technique we show in our Adding a Ball of Yarn tutorial. It’s actually even easier since you will only be changing one color at a time, so you will cut the color that you are done with, and hold the new color along with the old color that is already attached when knitting the first stitch of the row.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Hello all — I received my Big Good Blanket bundle and love it! I am enjoying winding the yarn by hand. Would you be so kind to recommend cast on and bind off methods for this blanket? Thanks so much.
Regards, BJ
Hi BJ,
Thanks so much for the kind words and for reaching out! We use a Long Tail Cast On for most of our projects, but you could also use a Cable Cast On for this blanket if you prefer. A Basic Bind Off worked in the seed stitch pattern will end the blanket nicely!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Thank you, Julianna, for the recommendations. I am anxious to begin this gorgeous blanket now that it is perfect knitting weather!
I purchased your Big Good Blanket Bundle …I am knitting the smaller size blanket. Have to say, this is a very fun knit and it is going very fast. The yarn is softer than I thought it would be and I love the way the natural colors blend into one another. Ingenious design! Already thinking about knitting a second blanket..great gifts! Thank you Purl Soho! ❤️
I totally agree with Barbara. It is way softer than I imagined and looks lovely.
I’m terribly tempted to buy the Big Good Blanket bundle (if only the exchange rate was a little more favourable). Are you able to give me the approximate size of the larger blanket!
Hello Brenda,
Thank you for reaching out! The larger blanket’s dimensions are 48½ inches wide x 56¼ inches long.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I bought this kit and started the blanket, but am having trouble with the strands getting tangled as I knit. How can I avoid this?
Hi Anne,
Thanks for reaching out! When knitting with two strands held together, it’s normal and not a problem for them to twist around one another as you go, especially if you are working with the inside and outside ends of the same ball. It can be annoying, but doesn’t affect how the finished blanket will look! It might help to keep your yarn in a basket or yarn bowl, rather than a bag, so the cake or ball doesn’t roll around too much. This will also make a big difference if you are working from two different balls of yarn at once!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi Julianna: I have purchased the large bundle to make this blanket. I’ve started with the first colour , which is to be knitted for 8″. The thing is, there is still sooo much yarn left on the balls and I don’t know want to waste any yarn. How many more inches do you think I should knit, so that I have enough yarn left over to do the change colour section. If you don’t know that’s okay, I’ll try and figure it out. Thanks for your help.
Kind Regards,
Myrna-lynn
Hi Myrna-lynn,
Thanks for writing in! Unfortunately we did not knit a sample of the large blanket, so I can’t tell you exactly how much yarn we had left over; however, you should be able to get a good idea of how much further you can knit by weighing your yarn! If you weigh how much Heirloom White you have left and subtract that from the original weight of 100 grams, that will tell you how much yarn by weight you have used for the first stripe. You will need half that much for the second stripe, since you will be holding one strand of Heirloom White along with the second color. You may need to weigh your yarn a few more times as you go, but hopefully that will give you a good idea of how much more you can knit without running out!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Thanks so much for your reply. Now all I need is a scale:)
Can you offer any similar yarns (similar gauge) that I can use on a medium grey couch, perhaps with white and any contrast color(s)? I love the look and esp the large gauge. Thanks!
Hi Robin,
Thanks so much for the kind words and for reaching out! Brooklyn Tweed Quarry would be an excellent substitute for Big Good Wool, and it comes in several grays and white that should work well with your couch!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
If I wanted to do this with Linen Quill doubled, what needle size would you recommend? And I would probably need to increase the number of stitches too, I’m assuming. I figure one ball of LQ is double the yardage of BGW, so I probably still only need one ball of each to make the small? Thanks!
Hello Sarah,
Thank you for reaching out! Our Nature’s Palette Blanket is knit up with Linen Quill doubled and could be a helpful reference for you. If you are using a US 7 needle with a gauge of 19 stitches per 4 inches and would like a width of 34.25″ you will cast on 163 stitches. You will just want to be sure to cast on an odd number.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi! I’d like to make this blanket for myself but have never cast on or knitted with two strands. What kind of cast on do you suggest: loop, knitted, or long tail? Do the strands get tied together first? Thank you so much for your help!
Hi Jill,
Thanks for reaching out! We used a Long Tail Cast On for this blanket, and there’s no need to take any special steps to keep or tie the two yarns together. You will simply hold both yarns in your hand as if they were one when measuring out your tail and when working your cast on, starting with the initial slip knot. It may sound odd or be hard to visualize if you haven’t done it before, but I assure you that knitting with two strands at once is just as easy as knitting with one!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I would like to make the blanket bigger. I would like to make my blanket approx. 60”w x80”l.
Can you tell me how much more yarn I will need?
Thank you !
Hi Anita,
What a great idea! A blanket of 60×80 inches would be just a little over 1.75 times the size of our larger blanket, with that in mind, I think that you would need 4 skeins of each color!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Hello! I would like to knit this with a super bulky chenille-style yarn that I found with 8 stitches:4 inches that seems more dense than the yarn here. Do I have to use 2 strands to knit or will it look ok with 1 strand? I guess it takes away the “seamless” color transition but I’m trying to save money on yarn atm.
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for reaching out! You certainly could use just one strand for this blanket. The effect would give you more of a colorblocked look instead of the smoother transition that you see here but it could still be quite lovely indeed!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
i bought the product with large size. i’m confused with the pattern… It’s “Honeycomb” or “seed stitch” or “fluffy brioche”?
Hi Josephine,
Thanks for reaching out! This blanket is knit in regular seed stitch! You can find the instructions above under the heading “Pattern.”
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Hello,
I have three couples I’m going to make blankets for, as wedding presents. I’m looking at library blanket and a couple of others and this one. Does Big Good Wool come in any other colors but neutral? Or could you suggest another of your yarns that could work? I am most interested in a green/blue wave, like the Tonal Blanket. Thanks, Megan
Hi Megan,
Thank you for reaching out! Big Good Wool is only available in natural shades, but if you want to take a look at other yarns we carry that knit to a similar gauge, you can find them here: Chunky/Bulky Yarns You might also want to take a look at our Nature’s Palette Blanket which is another variation on a seed stitch blanket with yarn held double. If you’re willing to experiment with your gauge, just about any yarn held double would work beautifully for an elegant colorwash effect!
I hope this helps – good luck and happy knitting!
Cassandra
Hi. I would like to know what ply the wool is that is used in this blanket. Is it 8ply (double knitting) or heavier eg 12 ply
Thanks
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for your question! Big Good Wool is a chunky weight yarn that would be equivalent to a 12 ply. Doubling the yarn in this pattern makes it extra warm and cozy!
Happy knitting!
Jessica
I would like to make the Big Good Blanket, but unfortunately I have arthritis and can’t hold needles size 17.
The largest needle size I can use is size 11.
How many more stitches would I need to make the Large Throw blanket? And would I still need to double the yarn or only use 1 strand of yarn? If I still need to use 2 strands, how much more yarn should I purchase?
I appreciate your help with this.
Thank you,
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie
Thanks for writing in! An option that would give you a similar look and a thinner blanket would be to use just one strand of Big Good Wool. The effect would give you more of a color-blocked look instead of the smoother transition that you see here but it could still be quite beautiful. I would try a gauge swatch on a US 9, or 10 needle and assuming you are getting around 3.5 stitches to the inch, you will need around 1500 yards to get the same size as the Large Throw 48 X 56, and a cast on of 169 stitches. This requires 6 skeins of the Big Good Wool, so you may need to repeat a color or, work your blanket a touch smaller using the 5 full skeins of each color. I hope this helps and happy knitting!
Best
Jessica
Thank you so much for getting back to me quickly.
I will order the yarn now. Can’t wait to start.
Again thank you,
If I was thinking of doing a baby blanket, I could adjust the size and cast on fewer stitches, but will it be a bit heavy?
Could regular Good Wool work possibly for a baby blanket version?
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for reaching out! The Small Throw size variation of this pattern is pretty comparable to a baby blanket size (34¼ inches wide x 40½ inches long) so you can easily adjust from there is you would like it even smaller! This blanket is pretty chunky so if you prefer something a little more lightweight for a baby then I would recommend Good Wool! If you choose to go with Good Wool I would also recommend working a gauge swatch with an appropriate needle size so you can adjust the pattern from there! Our tutorial All About Gauge is an excellent resource to use!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi, I intended to make a large size blanket but, having finished the Nature’s Palette Blanket (which my son LOVE LOVE LOVES) I was thinking about making a smaller blanket and using the remaining wool to weave something on my rigid heddle. Do you have any weaving suggestions or patterns? Thanks in advance, Amanda
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for reaching out! That sounds like such a fun idea! We have one woven blanket pattern available: the Cabin Blanket I think it would be fairly easy to adjust it to accommodate what you are looking to make!
I hope this helps!
Gianna
I bought the Big Good Blanket. When the pattern tells you to cut strand A and join one strand B, then rpt. rows 1&2 for 5 1/4 “ will I have enough Heirloom white to work with Winter Grass for the 5 1/4 “?
Hi Michaelene,
Thanks for reaching out! If you purchased the recommend amounts of each skien as stated in the pattern and follow the pattern as written you should have plenty of of yarn to complete the blanket!
All the best,
Gianna
Hello. I’m new to knitting and stuck at the following:
| Cut one strand of Color A, and join one strand of Color B. *Starting with Row 2, repeat Rows 1 and 2 for approximately 4 (5¾) inches, ending with Row 1. Repeat from * working through all the colors as follows…Two strands of Color B |
Does this mean that I work with 1 strand of A and 1 strand of B for 4″? Is the second strand of B added at the 4″ mark? Next, do I knit with 2 strands of B for another 4″ before adding 1 strand of C?
Could you please help this newbie? 🙂
Thank you.
Hi Leigh,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes that is correct, once you finish the first section holding 2 strands of color A you will cut one of those strands and join in on strand of color B, then start the next section holding one strand of color A and one strand of color B together! You will then repeat rows 1 and 2 until you get to 4″, and then move on to the next color combination (2 strands of color B) and then repeating the steps for another 4″ and so on!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Hi, I’m just about ready to begin this wonderful blanket but I’m feeling a little dense and would like to confirm that ” …ending with Row 1″ means you knit row 1 as the final row of that section.
Thanks as always!
Amanda
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for reaching out! That is correct, ending with row 1 means you work row 1 before moving onto the next section!
Warmly,
Gianna
Would love to make this blanket using brighter colors. What yarn would you recommend?
Hi Treyce,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend using our Super Soft Merino! It is a wonderful yarn and comes in a great selection of colors! For this pattern we used Big Good Wool doubled and the Super Soft Merino doubled should work up similar! I do recommend working a gauge swatch prior to beginning to insure that your gauge is consistent with the pattern!
Please let us know how this turns out!
Warmly,
Gianna
I love this idea! Can you please let me know how many Super Soft Merino skeins would be needed to complete the large size size blanket?
Thanks,
Amanda
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for reaching out again! For the large size you would bee 6 Skeins of Colors A and E and then 5 Skeins of colors B-D!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
I tried to get the 47″ needle for the larger throw size. (Out of stock.)
Could I get away with the 40″ for the larger size, or will that be too crowded on the needles?
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend sticking with a 47″ needle for the large throw size, the 40″ works best for the small throw size since 109 stitches would be quite crowded!
Warmly,
Gianna
Thanks for the advice!
Ran out of yarns on last row, binding off! I just finished binding off my large size blanket and while it looks beautiful, I was very very disappointed to have run out about 1/3 through, as I was binding off the final row! I had to pull out the stitches and take from the second skein enough to make it all the way through. I had no problem with the first 8 inch section (had a fair amount to spare) and I didn’t knit the second 8 inch section any longer so I hadn’t expected a problem. I hope Purl Soho can check they are giving ample yarn for each section but meantime, I just wanted other knitters to be aware of this possibility.
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for reaching out! I haven’t heard of this happening before with this blanket but I am sorry to hear that you ran short of yarn! Did you check your gauge prior to beginning the blanket? It is possible if your gauge was off that you used up more yarn! We always suggest working a gauge swatch prior to beginning to insure that you are consistent with the pattern.
We make sure to always suggest an ample amount of yarn for every project, and for this blanket we used approximately 541 yards of colors A and E including cast on and bind off. Two skeins total 548 yards so you should have approximately 7 yards left over of each color after finishing!
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi Gianna,
Thank you for your reply. I had checked my gauge before I began as I always do, however, there is always the chance it changed as I knitted as I had more than enough for the first 8 inches.
Kind regards,
Amanda
I just finished knitting this blanket – it is beautiful yarn and knitted up perfectly! My husband loves it! My only comment is that we can barely tell the difference between walking stick and hickory wools – the photo online looked much more distinctive. The last blocks look almost entirely the same.
Hi Judy,
Thanks for reaching out! I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed the pattern and the yarn! It is possible for Hickory Nut and Walking stick to look very similar. Since the wool is undyed and completely unique to the color of the animal it is coming from, the colors can vary from lot to lot and even skein to skein! So because of this its very possible to end up with a Hickory Nut and Walking Stick that look more similar to each other!
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Gianna
I am noticing the same thing as Judy. I purchased the bundle for the large throw size a while ago, but never really looked closely at the yarn until now. I wish I had. I don’t know if this blanket will be worth knitting if it won’t have the same beautiful ombre look as in the samples pictured here.
So, maybe there’s a way to dye the darkest shade to be darker- without affecting the texture of the yarn?
Maybe I could also leave out one of the darker shades- and adjust the total dimensions of the blanket?
Or perhaps you have ideas of another project to use this yarn? I have two skeins of each.
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for writing in! That is a great question! You can definitely dye the yarn to achieve a darker color. If you would like to do that you will need a dye suitable for yarn, I recommend using Jacquard Acid Dyes. It is perfect for any protein fiber like wool, alpaca, cashmere, silk and can even be used on nylon and wont change the overall feel of the yarn if done correctly.
I hope this helps!
Gianna
Hi –
I’m interested in purchasing the yarn and making this blanket but it seems you’re out of Winter Grass. Will you be receiving more in anytime soon or is there a comparable yarn that can be used?
Beautiful blanket.
Best, Melissa
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, Big Good Wool is being discontinued so we will not be getting Winter Grass back. In its place I would recommend Super Soft Merino or Lovebird!
Warmly,
Gianna
Okay, thank you so very much!
Hi –
I would like to use my extra yarn for a pillow cover 20″X20″. Can you give me basic pattern instructions?
Thanks
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for reaching out! If your gauge is consistent with the pattern then I would suggest casting on 45 stitches and then knitting in the stitch pattern until you reach 20″ for the panel, you can then make a second panel the exact same and stitch up the sides!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi,
I intend to make the blanket in the larger size.
After knitting with color A and getting to the part where I cut one of the strands, at that point should I expect to have about half of each skein left? Or am I totally off?
Is there a way of knowing how much yarn by weight I use for each section of the blanket?
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately I don’t have the exact weight used of each skein but you may be able to determine that based on the yardage used per color!
If your gauge is accurate and you have knit the amount of inches per each section (for example 8 inches for the first stripe, 5¾ for the middle stripes) then you should be on the right track!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
What yarn would you recommend for this blanket since you no longer have the Big Good Wool?
Hi Deb,
Thanks for reaching out! The most comparable yarn to Big Good Wool is Brooklyn Tweed’s Quarry, but you could also use our Super Soft Merino, however, it is a bit thicker than Big Good Wool. Whenever using a different yarn than the pattern recommends I always suggest starting off by working a gauge swatch to ensure you are consistent!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Is there an easy substitute wool for this blanket with the same weight yarn and same colors and tones? I note that the Big Good Wool is now discontinued. Thank you.
Hi Cris,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, since Big Good Wool is discontinued we don’t have a yarn that is quite like it in terms of color (since Big Good Wool is unique since it’s undyed.) The only yarn that has the same color palette is our original Good Wool, however, it is a sport weight yarn so it is considerably thinner, however, if you wanted to, you could certainly adjust the pattern and use Good Wool. In that case, I would suggest doubling it to get a heavier weight!
In terms of weight, I would suggest using Brooklyn Tweed’s Quarry! It is the most similar to Big Good Wool in terms of texture and weight. Our Super Soft Merino would also work!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Thanks so much for your response. When you say you suggest doubling it to get a heavier weight, do you mean the quantity of wool, because the pattern already calls for knitting with two strands of wool for thiw pattern. I am not sure I understand what you mean by doubling it to get a heavier weight. Could you please clarify as I am not sure.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your response! Since you were asking about alternative yarns but enjoyed the color palette of Big Good Wool, I mentioned Good Wool since it comes in the same color palette as Big Good Wool, however, it is a much thinner weight yarn. I was suggesting holding the yarn doubled as we do in the pattern, but to get a heavier weight overall (since Good Wool is so thin) you could hold each strand doubled (4 strands all together.) This would get the overall gauge closer to the gauge of the pattern! For Example, for the First Stripe you would start off by holding 4 strands of Color A, then for the Middle Stripes, you would start by cutting 2 of the strands of Color A (keeping the other 2), and then join 2 strands of Color B (4 strands total.)
I hope this clears things up, and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Gianna
Oh thank you so much for the response. Very helpful. I will try it!
Hi, I would like to make the larger version of this blanket using Good Wool as has been suggested. Would it be sufficient to purchase 3 skeins of each colorway?
Hi Jennie,
Thanks for reaching out. It looks like this pattern calls for Big Good Wool, which was a bulky weight yarn, so it was far heavier than Good Wool! I am sorry to say that Big Good Wool has since been discontinued. The closest yarn we carry to it is Brooklyn Tweed’s Quarry, so you could absolutely substitute that in if you’d like!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, I think you misunderstood my question. I was thinking I would buy the sport weight version that you do have called Good Wool. Do you think that 3 skeins of each color would be sufficient? Thanks.
Hi Jennie,
Ah, I see! Because Good Wool is sportweight, it would not actually work for this project as it’s written. The Big Good Blanket is knit with two strands of a bulky weight yarn held together, so you would not be able to achieve the gauge with a sportweight yarn. You could modify the pattern significantly in order to use Good Wool by casting on more stitches and knitting for more rows, but I’m afraid that that makes it really difficult for me to give you an accurate estimate of how many skeins you’ll need. Alternatively, if you’d like to browse through some blanket designs which use sportweight yarn, feel free to follow this link. I’m sorry I can’t help more!
All the best,
Lili
I thought someone commented earlier about this pattern that one could use four strands of Good Wool for the project.
Thank you.
Hi Jennie,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes that is correct, you could hold each strand doubled (4 strands all together.) This would get the overall gauge closer to the gauge of the pattern, however, it still will be thinner so you will need to work a gauge swatch prior to beginning to compare your gauge to the gauge of the pattern to calculate your cast on amount!
I hope this clears things up, and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Gianna
Hi, I want to adapt the bigger of the two sizes for three colors instead of five but when I tried to do the math to alter the pattern, what you have for each of the five section didn’t add up to finished size so I was wondering if I was missing something. Can you help me alter the widths of each of the colors for three colors or tell me if I am looking at it wrong? I have the total amount of yarn that is written here for the larger pattern. Thanks so much.
Hi Phoebe,
Thanks for writing in. This pattern is definitely tricky to adapt, since there are actually 9 different stripes when you knit it up with 5 colors, and some stripes are different widths! With 3 colors, there will be 5 individual stripes. Here’s how long I’d knit each of these for:
Two strands of Color A: knit for 12 inches
Color A + Color B: knit for approximately 9.5 inches
Two strands of Color B: knit for approximately 9.5 inches
Color B + Color C: knit for approximately 9.5 inches
Two strands of Color C: knit for 12 inches
This way, your blanket will end up with the same dimensions as our throw size, and the widths of each stripe will be proportional to those in our original design. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hello,
I bought the Linen Quill to use for this pattern, what size needle do you suggest?
Also, i’ve never knitted with two strands of yarn before, do I cast on with two strands? Or just add two strands once i’ve already cast on?
Thank you so much!
Hi Alex,
Thanks for reaching out! Since Linen Quill is quite a bit thinner than Big Good Wool, you will want to start off by working a gauge swatch (for more information on gauge please check out our All About Gauge tutorial!) to calculate your stitches per inch. I would recommend using a US 7 needle size. For the swatch and the blanket, you will want to cast on holding both strands.
We actually have a pattern similar to this blanket, the Nature’s Palette Blanket, that uses Linen Quill Doubled in a seed stitch. The gauge of that pattern is 19 stitches and 34 rows = 4 inches in seed stitch with yarn doubled, so if your gauge is consistent with that I would suggest casting on 163 stitches for the Small Throw size and 230 stitches for the Large Throw size.
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any more questions!
Gianna
Is there a video of this? Or can you make one?
Hi Laura!
Thank you for your question. While we currently do not have a video tutorial for this blanket, I suggest taking a look at our Knit Stitch Tutorial and Purl Stitch Tutorial. Alternatively, I recommend typing “seed stitch” into your favorite search engine to see a video of seed stitch in action, since seed stitch is comprised of knit and purl stitches!
I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Margaret
Hi! This is a gorgeous blanket. Do you have any current recommendations for an alternate yarn to use given that the Big Good Wool has been discontinued? Quarry and Super Soft Merino are both out of stock in the neutral colors.
I’m eyeing the Woolly Wool – would you still double this up as recommended in the pattern? Would size 17 needles be appropriate? I was thinking 3 skeins per color for the smaller size.
I’m also considering using the regular Good Wool because the neutral colors are just so gorgeous. I understand it’s significantly less bulky than the Big Good. Would it work to knit with four strands? What size needles would you recommend for this modification? For the smaller size and using four strands, would 3 skeins of each color be adequate for the smaller size? Any help figuring this out would be appreciated, thank you!
Hi Julie,
Thanks for reaching out. I think that using the natural colors of regular Good Wool is the way to go! I would recommend using just 2 strands of this yarn at once (4 will be difficult to manage) and modifying the stitch count to adjust for the smaller gauge. The blanket will be thinner, but still super warm and cozy!
I’d say that anywhere between size US 7 and size US 10 needles would work great for Good Wool doubled. But you can test this out when you’re swatching for the project to figure out your preference! Smaller needles will give you a denser and stiffer fabric, while larger needles will give you a looser fabric with more drape. As for skeins, I think that 2 skeins of each color will definitely be enough yarn for the smaller size!
Finally, to figure out your new cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width (34.5 inches) and cast on the nearest odd number of stitches. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
I hope this helps you plan your project, but please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you! I received my Good Wool order earlier this week. It’s gorgeous! Looking forward to knitting with it.
I was also wondering, do you recommend any particular selvedge edge on this blanket, or should I follow the pattern exactly as written? I suppose it could be up to personal preference, with the seed edge lending the blanket a particular rustic charm, but I’m curious what you all would recommend? The edges in the photos look pretty tidy. Thanks 🙂
You’re very welcome, Julie! I’d recommend following the pattern as written, as I agree the seed stitch edge gives it a rustic charm! But if you want something else, feel free to try it out (you can test out other ideas on a swatch using scrap yarn beforehand, if you don’t want to jump into the project right away). For an example of a slipped stitch edge on seed stitch, I’d recommend checking out our Nature’s Palette Blanket to see how that works up.
All the best,
Lili
I was reading the directions and it says to use size 17 needle. Is that correct? I actually am planning to use good wool.
As I was reading some of the comments people are using smaller needles.
Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for reaching out! This pattern was designed in our Big Good Wool yarn, which has since been discontinued. That yarn was a bulky weight yarn (very different from the current, sportweight version of Good Wool), and it was held double throughout the pattern, so size US 17 needles were the best choice.
If you make this pattern using Good Wool, I’d recommend using smaller needles and casting on more stitches, so that the dimensions of the blanket come out the same. To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width of the blanket (either 34¼ or 48½ inches, depending on which size you’re making) and cast on the nearest odd number. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
All the best,
Lili