Fair + Square Blanket, Knit Version
Our Fair + Square Blanket turns knitting’s inherent grid structure into a playground of shapes and colors and a fanfare of whimsy!
Since knitting isn’t the only game in town, we also hooked up a crocheted version of our Fair + Square Blanket. Equally winning, you can get that free pattern right here. We’re sorry ahead of time if you knit and crochet, because we didn’t know how to choose one over the other either!
The knit Fair + Square Blanket is constructed square by square, knitting each one in the round and decreasing to its center. Happily, you’re not left with a pile of squares to sew together at the end but, instead, build your blanket by picking up and knitting into an adjacent square (or squares). The anticipation of knitting each square’s little story makes this a super fun and satisfying knit!
But the most charming part of all? These colors like a big field of wild flowers! Credit for that goes to our wonderfully soft and persistently cheerful Morning, a machine washable mix of organically grown cotton and yak. Pick up all the Morning you need with a Fair + Square Blanket Bundle (no longer available), available in sizes Small or Large Throw, and in this Full-Spectrum Palette or in a Four-Color Palette (which uses the same pattern but requires less yarn).
If you love the yarn used in this project, you’ll love all of our other yarn, too! Explore our 35+ lovingly created yarn collections, in nearly every natural fiber and spectacular color you can imagine… Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn shop!
UPDATE: NOW A WASHCLOTH IN TULIP COTTON
JUNE 2023
It turns out the clever construction of the Fair + Square Blanket squares makes for a fun, easy, and quick washcloth! We chose our lovely Tulip Cotton (no longer available) for our free Fair + Square Washcloth pattern. Thick and plush, quick to knit and wonderfully soft, its 100% Turkish cotton is a long-staple fiber, which is extra strong, very smooth, and grows softer with age and wear… A winning match for handknit washcloths!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!
Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoFairAndSquareBlanket and #PurlSohoMorning. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
Full-Spectrum Palette
To knit your own Crib (Throw) size blanket, you will need (NOTE: the Fair + Square Blanket Bundles are no longer available)…
- 22 (27) skeins of Purl Soho’s Morning, 75% organically grown cotton and 25% yak. Each skein of this light worsted/DK weight yarn is 191 yards. (NOTE: Winter Pink is no longer available)
- Main Color: 7 (12) skeins of Heirloom White; approximately 1,295 (2,292) yards required
- Color A: 1 skein of Winter Pink; approximately 42 (74) yards required
- Color B: 1 skein of Purple Allium; approximately 26 (46) yards required
- Color C: 1 skein of Pink Radish; approximately 53 (94) yards required
- Color D: 1 skein of Pink Lemonade; approximately 57 (101) yards required
- Color E: 1 skein of Sweet Apricot; approximately 40 (71) yards required
- Color F: 1 skein of Yellow Apple; approximately 55 (97) yards required
- Color G: 1 skein of Cucumber Ice; approximately 49 (87) yards required
- Color H: 1 skein of Tender Green; approximately 38 (67) yards required
- Color I: 1 skein of Araucana Blue; approximately 31 (55) yards required
- Color J: 1 skein of Fresh Sky; approximately 57 (101) yards required
- Color K: 1 skein of Dungarees Blue; approximately 30 (53) yards required
- Color L: 1 skein of Blue Morning Glory; approximately 23 (41) yards required
- Color M: 1 skein of Mountain Purple; approximately 40 (71) yards required
- Color N: 1 skein of Stone Cottage; approximately 38 (67) yards required
- Color O: 1 skein of Grassland Gray; approximately 36 (64) yards required
Four-Color Palettes
Another option is to make a Small or Large Throw blanket using fewer skeins and just four contrast colors. You will need…
- 11 (18) skeins of Purl Soho’s Morning, 75% organically grown cotton and 25% yak. Each skein is 191 yards.
We love these three cheery palettes…
LEMONADE
- Main Color: 7 (12) skeins of Heirloom White; approximately 1,295 (2,292) yards required
- Color A: 1 (2) skein(s) of Yellow Apple; approximately 191 (338) yards required
- Color B: 1 (2) skein(s) of Pink Radish; approximately 176 (312) yards required
- Color C: 1 (1) skein of Pink Lemonade; approximately 93 (165) yards required
- Color D: 1 (1) skein of Sweet Apricot; approximately 104 (184) yards required
POOL
- Main Color: 7 (12) skeins of Heirloom White; approximately 1,295 (2,292) yards required
- Color A: 1 (2) skein(s) of Fresh Sky; approximately 191 (338) yards required
- Color B: 1 (2) skein(s) of Araucana Blue; approximately 176 (312) yards required
- Color C: 1 (1) skein of Cucumber Ice; approximately 93 (165) yards required
- Color D: 1 (1) skein of Tender Green; approximately 104 (184) yards required
HYACINTH
- Main Color: 7 (12) skeins of Heirloom White; approximately 1,295 (2,292) yards required
- Color A: 1 (2) skein(s) of Purple Allium; approximately 191 (338) yards required
- Color B: 1 (2) skein(s) of Mountain Purple; approximately 176 (312) yards required
- Color C: 1 (1) skein of Dungarees Blue; approximately 93 (165) yards required
- Color D: 1 (1) skein of Blue Morning Glory; approximately 104 (184) yards required
You will also need…
- US 6 (4 mm), 16- or 20-inch circular needles
- A set of US 6 double pointed needles
- Stitch markers, including one unique
Gauge
20 stitches and 40 rounds = 4 inches in garter stitch
Dimensions of individual square for Small Throw: 6 x 6 inches (see Basic Square, below, and cast on 120 stitches)
Dimensions of individual square for Large Throw: 8 x 8 inches (see Basic Square, below, and cast on 160 stitches)
Sizes
Small Throw (Large Throw)
Finished Dimensions: 30 inches wide x 42 inches long (40 inches wide x 56 inches long)
Notes
Basic Square
Cast on number of stitches instructed in pattern.
Place unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Round 1: *K30 (40), place marker, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: Purl to end of round.
Round 3: [Slip slip knit (ssk), knit to 2 stitches before next marker, knit 2 together (k2tog), slip marker (sm)] 4 times. [8 stitches decreased]
Small Throw Only
Rounds 4-27: Repeat Rounds 2 and 3 twelve more times. [16 stitches remain]
Round 28: [Ssk, k2tog] 4 times. [8 stitches remain]
Large Throw Only
Rounds 4-37: Repeat Rounds 2 and 3 seventeen more times. [16 stitches remain]
Round 38: [Ssk, k2tog] 4 times. [8 stitches remain]
Both Sizes
Cut yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail, and thread tail onto a tapestry needle. Sew tail through remaining stitches.
Pull taut and bring tail to back of Square to weave in.
Schematics
Full-Spectrum Palette Schematic
Want to see it bigger? Here’s a PDF…
Four-Color Schematic
NOTE: Follow the pattern as written, but instead of using the contrast colors indicated in the pattern, refer to the schematic below for which colors to use in which squares.
Want to see it bigger? Here’s a PDF…
Pattern
NOTE: Refer to the Schematics, above, for a visual reference to the following instructions, and if making 4-Color Blanket, use Schematic to determine which contrast color to use throughout pattern.
Row 1
Square 1A
With Main Color (MC), cast on 120 (160) stitches. We used a Long Tail Cast On.
**Continuing with MC, work Rounds 1-20 (1-26) of Basic Square (see Notes). [48 (64) stitches remain]
Cut MC. Join Color K.
With Color K, finish Basic Square, starting with Round 21 (27).
Square 1B
With MC, cast on 90 (120) stitches.
With right side facing you, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along an edge of Square 1A. [120 (160) stitches]
**Continuing with MC, work from beginning of Basic Square instructions through Round 8 (12). [96 (120) stitches remain]
Cut MC. Join Color D.
With Color D, work Rounds 9-14 (13-20) of Basic Square. [72 (88) stitches remain]
Cut Color D. Join MC.
With MC, finish Basic Square, starting with Round 15 (21).
Square 1C
With MC, cast on 90 (120) stitches.
With right side facing you and Square 1A at the bottom, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 1B. [120 (160) stitches]
**Continuing with MC, work from beginning of Basic Square instructions through Round 12 (18). [80 (96) stitches remain]
Cut MC. Join Color M.
With Color M, work Rounds 13-20 (19-26) of Basic Square. [48 (64) stitches remain]
Cut Color M. Join MC.
With MC, finish Basic Square, starting with Round 21 (27).
Square 1D
With MC, cast on 90 (120) stitches.
With the right side facing you and Square 1A at the bottom, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along the top edge of Square 1C. [120 (160) stitches]
**Continuing with MC, work from beginning of Basic Square instructions through Round 12 (18). [80 (96) stitches remain]
Cut MC. Join Color A.
With Color A, finish Basic Square, starting with Round 13 (19).
Square 1E
With MC, cast on 90 (120) stitches.
With the right side facing you and Square 1A at the bottom, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along the top edge of Square 1D. [120 (160) stitches]
**Continuing with MC, work from beginning of Basic Square instructions through Round 8 (12). [96 (120) stitches remain]
Cut MC. Join Color C.
With Color C, work Rounds 9-24 (13-32) of Basic Square. [32 (40) stitches remain]
Cut Color C. Join MC.
With MC, finish Basic Square, starting with Round 25 (33).
Row 2
Square 2A
With MC, cast on 90 (120) stitches.
With right side facing you and Row 1 oriented horizontally with Square 1A on the right-hand side, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 1A. [120 (160) stitches]
**Continuing with MC, work from beginning of Basic Square instructions through Round 8 (12). [96 (120) stitches remain]
Cut MC. Join Color F.
With Color F, finish Basic Square, starting with Round 9 (13).
Square 2B
With MC, cast on 60 (80) stitches.
With right side facing you and Row 1 oriented vertically with Square 2A at the bottom, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 2A. [90 (120) stitches]
Turn piece 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that Row 1 is oriented horizontally, then pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 1B. [120 (160) stitches]
**Continuing with MC, work from beginning of Basic Square instructions through Round 20 (26). [48 (64) stitches remain]
Cut MC. Join Color C.
With Color C, finish Basic Square, starting with Round 21 (27).
Square 2C
With MC, cast on 60 (80) stitches.
With right side facing you and Row 1 oriented vertically with Square 2A at the bottom, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 2B. [90 (120) stitches]
Turn piece 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that Row 1 is oriented horizontally, then pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 1C. [120 (160) stitches]
**Continuing with MC, work from beginning of Basic Square instructions through Round 6 (10). [104 (128) stitches remain]
Cut MC. Join Color E.
With Color E, work Rounds 7-12 (11-18) of Basic Square. [80 (96) stitches remain]
Cut Color E. Join MC.
With MC, finish Basic Square, starting with Round 13 (19).
Square 2D
With Color H, cast on 60 (80) stitches.
With right side facing you and Row 1 oriented vertically with Square 2A at the bottom, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 2C. [90 (120) stitches]
Turn piece 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that Row 1 is oriented horizontally, then pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 1D. [120 (160) stitches]
**Continuing with Color H, work from beginning of Basic Square instructions through Round 6 (10). [104 (128) stitches remain]
Cut Color H. Join MC.
With MC, finish Basic Square, starting with Round 7 (11).
Square 2E
With MC, cast on 60 (80) stitches.
With right side facing you and Row 1 oriented vertically with Square 2A at the bottom, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 2D.
Turn piece 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that Row 1 is oriented horizontally, then pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 1E.
Continuing with MC, work from beginning of Basic Square instructions through Round 20 (26). [48 (64) stitches remain]
Cut MC. Join Color J.
With Color J, finish Basic Square, starting with Round 21 (27).
Row 3
Square 3A
With MC, cast on 90 (120) stitches.
With right side facing you and piece oriented horizontally with column A on the right, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 2A. [120 (160) stitches]
**Continuing with MC, work from beginning of Basic Square instructions through Round 12 (18). [80 (96) stitches remain]
Cut MC. Join Color E.
With Color E, work Rounds 13-24 (19-32) of Basic Square. [32 (40) stitches remain]
Cut Color E. Join MC.
With MC, finish Basic Square, starting with Round 25 (33).
Square 3B
With Color J, cast on 60 (80) stitches.
With right side facing you and piece vertically with column A at the bottom, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 3A. [90 (120) stitches]
Turn piece 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that piece is oriented horizontally, then pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 2B. [120 (160) stitches]
Work from ** of Square 2D, using Color J as contrast color.
Square 3C
With MC, cast on 60 (80) stitches.
With right side facing you and piece vertically with column A at the bottom, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 3B. [90 (120) stitches]
Turn piece 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that piece is oriented horizontally, then pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 2C. [120 (160) stitches]
Work from ** of Square 1D, using color G as contrast color.
Square 3D
With MC, cast on 60 (80) stitches.
With right side facing you and piece vertically with column A at the bottom, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 3C. [90 (120) stitches]
Turn piece 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that piece is oriented horizontally, then pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 2D. [120 (160) stitches]
Work from ** of Square 1B, using color L as contrast color.
Square 3E
With MC, cast on 60 (80) stitches.
With right side facing you and piece vertically with column A at the bottom, pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 3D. [90 (120) stitches]
Turn piece 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that piece is oriented horizontally, then pick up and knit 30 (40) stitches along top edge of Square 2E. [120 (160) stitches]
Work from ** of Square 1D, using color N as contrast color.
Row 4
Square 4A
With MC, cast on and pick up as for Square 3A, now picking up along edge of Square 3A.
Work from ** of Square 1A, using color O as contrast color.
Square 4B
With MC, cast on and pick up as for Square 3B, now picking up along edges of Squares 4A and 3B.
Work from ** of Square 1D, using color B as contrast color.
Square 4C
With MC, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 3A, using color I as contrast color.
Square 4D
With MC, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 1A, using color F as contrast color.
Square 4E
With Color D, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 2D, using Color D as contrast color.
Row 5
Square 5A
With MC, cast on as established for first Square of the row.
Work from ** of Square 1D, using Color D as contrast color.
Square 5B
With MC, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 1B, using color H as contrast color.
Square 5C
With MC, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 1A, using color L as contrast color.
Square 5D
With MC, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 2A, using color O as contrast color.
Square 5E
With MC, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 1E, using color M as contrast color.
Row 6
Square 6A
With Color A, cast on as established for first Square of the row.
Work from ** of Square 2D, using Color A as contrast color.
Square 6B
With MC, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 1A, using color B as contrast color.
Square 6C
With MC, cast on and pick up as established.
Continuing with MC, work from beginning of Basic Square instructions through Round 6 (10). [104 (128) stitches remain]
Cut MC. Join Color J.
With Color J, work Rounds 7-20 (11-26) of Basic Square. [48 (64) stitches remain]
Cut Color J. Join MC.
With MC, finish Basic Square, starting with Round 21 (27).
Square 6D
With MC, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 1D, using color K as contrast color.
Square 6E
With MC, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 1A, using color E as contrast color.
Row 7
Square 7A
With MC, cast on as established for first Square of the row.
Work from ** of Square 2A, using Color G as contrast color.
Square 7B
With MC, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 1C, using color N as contrast color.
Square 7C
With Color F, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 2D, using color F as contrast color.
Square 7D
With MC, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 3A, using color C as contrast color.
Square 7E
With MC, cast on and pick up as established.
Work from ** of Square 1B, using color I as contrast color.
Finish
Weave in all the ends and wet block. All done!
LEARN ABOUT MORNING + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
75% organically grown cotton and 25% yak, Morning adds something very special to this project! The cotton lends strength and a cool touch, while the yak is super soft and pliant. Together, this light worsted/DK-weight yarn has a satisfying weight, a very soft feel, and an incredibly lovely hand. In 14 up-with-the-sun colors, Morning is an absolute pleasure to knit!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our vast collection of (mostly free!) Morning knitting patterns and cast on!
More Light Worsted/DK-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of light worsted/DK-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fibers
- Shop cotton yarn
- Shop yak yarn
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!
What are finished sizes of the throws? Looking for a baby blanket size.
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for reaching out! You can find this information on the pattern page just below the MATERIALS and GAUGE section under SIZE, the Small Throw is 30 inches wide x 42 inches long and the Large Throw is 40 inches wide x 56 inches long. I think the Small Throw would be a good size for a baby blanket, it is actually pretty similar to the sizes of many of our baby blankets!
Warmly,
Gianna
How much does each skein cost?
Hi Karen,
Thanks for reaching out! One skein of Morning costs $26, but the yarn is currently on sale for $22.10 through Sunday!
Happy crafting!
Gianna
How many extra skeins do you think would be needed to pick up and knit a 1″ garter stitch or seed stitch border around the large throw?
Hi Liz,
I’d recommend buying 2-3 additional skeins for the border, just to be sure you have enough yarn. I’d suggest only winding the skeins as you need them, that way if you end up with an extra skein you can return it or exchange it for another color! You can view our full return policy here!
Warmly,
Kelsey
Thank you, Kelsey!
I may have missed it buy what size needles are used for the small throw?
Hi Carol,
You’ll need US 6 (4mm), 16- or 20-inch circular needles, as well as a set of US 6 double pointed needles for this project. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
How do you recommend connecting the squares??
Hi Joy,
Thanks for reaching out! For this blanket, you actually don’t need to sew all your squares together at the end. Instead, you’ll build your blanket by picking up and knitting into an adjacent square (or squares)! Hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Lili
Are there pics of the 4 color throws ?
Sue Ellen
Hi Sue Ellen,
Thanks for writing in! Unfortunately, we only made samples of the Fair + Square Blanket in the full-spectrum palette. Hopefully you’ll be able to get an idea of the 4 color version from the photos of the bundles, but I do understand that that’s not ideal. I’ll make sure to suggest to my team that we should knit up a blanket with just the 4 colors!
All the best,
Lili
I believe that this will be a good winter project.
Hi, is it possible to do a video tutorial just to get the beginning of the knit throw started.
Hi Carol,
Thanks for reaching out! To begin the first square, you’ll be casting on a number of stitches onto your circular needles. We used the Long Tail Cast-On, and we do have a tutorial for that, which I’m linking right here! Then, you’ll begin knitting the square in the round. Hope this helps get you started, and please let me know if you have any other questions.
All the best,
Lili
Thank you. I figured it out and am already halfway done. Turned out to be fairly easy once I read through the pattern instead of skimming various sections.
Any pictures of the 4 color version?
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for writing in! Unfortunately, we only made samples of the Fair + Square Blanket in the full-spectrum palette. Hopefully you’ll be able to get an idea of the 4 color version from the photos of the bundles, but I do understand that that’s not ideal. I’ll make sure to suggest to my team that we should knit up a blanket with just the 4 colors!
All the best,
Lili
Buona sera
Scrivo dall Italia
Esattamente Toscana
Città Arezzo
È possibile avere istruzioni in italiano?
Ho provato a tradurre ma mi risulta molto difficile quasi impossibile
Grazie mille
A me basterebbe il pattern della mattonella non di tutta la coperta
Saluti
Raffaella
Hi Raffaella,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, we do not offer instructions in Italian, but thank you so much for expressing your interest! I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team!
Warm Regards,
Gianna
Hi! Question on second square. After I pick up and knit 30 stitches pattern says to start at beginning of basic square one. Do I start with row 1 and knit or row 2 and purl?
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for reaching out! For the second square, you will start off at the beginning of Basic Square 1 starting with Row 1!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Thank you for such a beautiful pattern and yarn – the colors are fantastic! Since only a small amount of each individual color is used from the Full Spectrum bundle, would you consider offering a bundle with smaller skeins to make it more affordable?
Hi Jill,
Thanks for writing in! At this time we only offer Morning in full skeins, but thank you so much for expressing your interest! I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team!
Warmly,
Gianna
I want to make this but in a larger size. That said I do not favor the off white color and wonder if you recommend another machine washable yarn that has different whites” that would work with Morning.
Hi Liz,
We’re so excited to hear you’re interested in making this blanket with some color modifications! It’s less common to have a yarn made with natural fibers that’s both machine washable and a stark white, but Anzula’s Cricket in Au Natural might work for you. That yarn is made out of 100% superwash merino wool so it’s perfectly safe to go in the washing machine.
Another option could be Koigu’s Kersti in the K-0000, solid color. Although the label says to hand wash, rest assured that on a gentle cycle, it is perfectly safe to machine wash and lay flat to dry. I did want to note though that because it is hand-dyed, dark, saturated colors may require re-fixing to make sure colors don’t run. Since this blanket requires multiple colors you might want to check out our handy tutorial for how to do that right here:
Unfortunately, I feel like neither of these colors are exactly what you’re looking for but hopefully at least one catches your eye! If you’re mixing and matching colors I’d also recommend keeping to the same yarn line so the texture is consistent throughout.
All the best,
Zha Zha
Thank you
Hi- Could you recommend other yarns that you carry for this project? Would Cotton Pure work? Or Buttercup Cotton?
thanks!
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in. You could absolutely use either Cotton Pure or Buttercup Cotton for this project, but because they’re not the same weight as Morning, the blanket will come out smaller (though you could always add extra squares). The blanket was designed for a DK weight yarn, and Cotton Pure is sportweight and Buttercup Cotton is fingering weight. If you’re interested in a yarn that is DK weight, you can browse through the ones we offer right here! Any of these yarns would work great for this pattern, and the blanket should come out to roughly the same dimensions as it is in Morning. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi there! I absolutely love this blanket and can’t wait to knit it up. I’m considering knitting it in Cashmere Merino (I realize it will be quite an investment, but I’ll just pay for it in batches). Do you think that would translate well? Thanks so much 🙂
Hi Julia,
Thanks for reaching out. I think that Cashmere Merino Bloom would make a very, very cozy blanket! Since that yarn is the same weight as Morning, it should work as a substitute. But as always, we recommend making a gauge swatch before starting a project to be sure you’re working with the right needles, especially when substituting yarns. If this is daunting, I’d recommend checking out a tutorial called All About Gauge, which covers some incredibly helpful information!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, could you expand on the suggestion to either use a small circular needle or DPNs – if using the circular, how are the squares worked in the round? Would you suggest using magic loop method? Sorry if this is meant to be obvious, I can’t see it anywhere in the instructions though. thanks!
Hi Jane,
Thanks for writing in. In this pattern, we recommend using both circular needles and DPNs! The squares are worked in the round from the outside to the center, so you’ll need to switch to DPNs once the circumference of each square becomes too small to fit comfortably around the circular needles you’re using. But you’re right, you can absolutely use magic loop in place of DPNs! I would just suggest using a longer circular needle for that, maybe a 32- or 40-inch needle. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I have never switched from circular to DPN’s. How do I go about doing that? Is there a tutorial somewhere? I got tower the middle of the square and could no longer use the circular needles, but transferring to DPN’s just wasn’t making sense to me. Thanks!
Hi Corina,
Thanks for reaching out! There are two different ways you can go about switching from circulars to DPNs. First, you could transfer each stitch, one-by-one to your DPNs, switching DPN when needed. This method uses the same exact technique as slipping stitches like you’d do while knitting! The other way would be to just begin knitting the next row, but instead of using the other end of your circulars, you would use the DPNs as your right needle. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, I would like to make this beautiful blanket in the small, knitted version with 4 colors in a merino yarn using black as the mc and a gradient of reds as the contrast colors. Can you recommend yarns I could use.
Thank you.
Hi Fran,
Thanks for reaching out. I’d recommend using Cashmere Merino Bloom, since that’s also a DK weight yarn! The closest color to black that we have in that yarn line is Charcoal Onyx, which is really a black ply twisted with a dark gray ply. But there are a number of nice red shades as well! Hope this helps.
All the best,
Lili
would flax down work? thansk.
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in. Flax Down would certainly work for this pattern since it’s also a DK weight yarn! As always, we recommend making a gauge swatch before starting a project to be sure you’re working with the right needles, especially when substituting yarns. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Are you available to help make this blanket a little larger? I would like to add 2 more rows to the top and side and could use your help figuring out the added yardage.
Hi Carolee,
Thanks for reaching out. Adding 2 rows of squares to the top and sides would create a blanket with dimensions of 56 by 72 inches. Based on the yardage and dimensions of the original full-spectrum, throw-sized pattern, a blanket with dimensions 56×72″ would require a total of 6,086 yards! And based on the percentage of main color to contrast colors, 4,126 yards of this total need to be the main color. So I’d recommend purchasing a total of 22 skeins of Morning in Heirloom White, and then 1 skein of each of the contrast colors (since you don’t use up very much yarn with any of those, even when increasing the number of squares). I hope this helps you to plan your project!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you! My yarn arrived today and I cannot wait to begin this blanket. 💛💜💚💙
For the life of me I can’t figure out how to pick up and knit a square, right side facing me to the beginning of the next square. I always have the wrong side facing me.
Hi Ginger,
Thanks for reaching out. When you’re getting ready to pick up the stitches, you’ll need to make sure the right side of the finished square is facing upwards before you begin picking up stitches! Then, start picking up and knitting the stitches from the right-hand corner of whichever edge the pattern indicates to pick up from. I hope this helps, but if you’re still running into trouble, feel free to email us at [email protected] with photos of your work!
All the best,
Lili
Your email was extremely helpful.
Thank you!
After picking up and knitting the stitches for the 2nd square, and going for a few rounds, I notice a kind of gutter formed by 2 knit stitch rows right at row 1. I’m picking up through the first full stitch below the cast on edge. I do not see that “gutter” in the photos included with the pattern. Any thoughts? Thanks. Jim
Hi Jim,
Thanks for reaching out. You’re right, because the cast-on round counts as a knit round, and because Round 1 is a knit round, there will be a little “gutter” between all the squares! It’s probably less noticeable in the photos, since they were taken after the blanket was blocked, so the stitches had the opportunity to relax into each other. If you’re worried that the gap you’re seeing in your project is wider than normal, feel free to send us a photo of it at [email protected] so we can take a look!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you, Lili. I’m good to go. Jim
Absolutely love this! Can you let me know how much yardage is actually required in each color in the small throw size? Thanks!
Hi Shari,
Thanks for the kind words! We love the Fair + Square Knit Blanket too! I’d be happy to give you the yardage requirements for the small throw size. You will need:
1,337 yards of Main Color
191 yards of Color A
191 yards of Color B
191 yards of Color C
191 yards of Color D
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Carly
I also didn’t like the look after picking up stitches to join squares, so I decided to knit separately and will crochet squares together – and then perhaps a crochet border. I am making the 4 color Lemonade throw. Looking for suggestions on color to use to join squares. I am open to using a different color.
Hi Joan,
Thank you for your question! I’d be happy to recommend an extra color for the Lemonade palette!
Since the majority of the blanket is knit in Heirloom White, it might be nice to have a low-contrasting color to crochet your pieces together. I’d recommend using something subtle like Cucumber Ice, or Winter Pink. If you would like a high-contrast border around your blanket squares instead, you might like the Purple Allium colorway!
I hope these recommendations help, and please feel free to send any other questions our way!
All the best,
Carly
Thanks, Carly! I like the idea of using 2 different colors, one to join and the other to border.
Of course, Joan! A second color that might go with Purple Allium for your pallet is Purple Mountain, or if you like the version with Cucumber Mint, I’d recommend using Winter Pink too.
Let me know what you think, or if you’d like to hear some other options!
All the best,
Carly
I misread your initial response. If I were to use Cucumber Ice to join and border, how much yarn do you think I would need? Thanks for your help. Almost half way through!
Hi Joan,
I can’t say off the top of my head how many skeins of Cucumber Ice you would need to join all the squares, but there’s an easy way to find out! First, join one border between two squares using your preferred stitch. Then, unravel this and measure the length of yarn you just used to join this one border. Multiply this number by 82, since that’s the total number of edges you’ll need to crochet along. I’d also recommend adding about 10% to the resulting number, just so you have a buffer to make sure you don’t run out of yarn! Finally, divide this number (the total yardage) by 191 (the yardage of 1 skein of Morning) to determine how many skeins you need.
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Lili
Hi,
where can I download the pattern? Sorry, I can not find it.
Thank you!
Hi Verena,
Thanks for reaching out! Here’s how you can download this webpage into a PDF: If you’re on your computer, you’ll find a “print” icon in the right column just below the “Save To Favorites” button. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find the “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
Click on this button, and a window will pop up where you can delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print. When you hover over any image or a text block, it will be highlighted in yellow and a “trash” icon will appear. Just click on this icon to delete anything that’s not necessary to the pattern! For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials. Then, click on the “PDF” button in the upper left-hand corner of the pop-up window. Once your PDF has finished downloading, just click the “Download PDF” button, and it will be saved to your computer! (You can also click the “Print” button if you’d like to print the pattern.)
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hello Lili,
thanks for your quick Message.
But out of that description I do not get how to knit one of the squares. Is there a Description and pattern of that? Sorry!
Hi Verena,
The pattern includes instructions on how to knit each type of square in the NOTES section! Let me know if you see that!
All the best,
Lili
Hey!
When you have to pick up and knit the 2nd square; do you use the circular needles or the double pointed ones?
Do you have to use both?
Hi Stien,
Thanks for reaching out! I’d recommend using circular needles to begin each square, since the stitch count at that point is enough to fit all the way around the circulars. As you begin decreasing though, the circumference gets smaller, so you will need to switch to either DPNs or magic loop once the stitches start to feel very tight. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hey Lili!
Thanks! And how many stitches have to be on one DPN? Is it possible to just use the circular ones?
You’re welcome! Once it’s time to switch to the DPNs, you’ll just want to make that the stitches are divided relatively evenly between the needles. It doesn’t matter exactly how many are on each, just that they’re evenly spread out over all the DPNs, which makes it easier to knit.
While you will not be able to continue using circular needles as usual once the circumference is too small, you could use longer circulars for the magic loop technique. We have a great tutorial on that, if you’re not already familiar with it!
All the best,
Lili
I can’t figure out what the “basic square” is used for. Looking at the schematic it seems I should just start with square 1A and go from there. Am I missing something?
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for writing in! You will use the basic square instructions to jumpstart your blanket in square 1A and then use various parts of the basic square throughout multiple square as you continue on. You can think of it as a blank canvas to use in your first square as you begin. I hope this helps clarify!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
How many squares are in the smaller size blanket?
Hi Joan,
Thanks for writing in! Both size blankets have the same number of squares (35 squares). The squares for the Small Throw are 6 inches wide, rather than 8 inches wide, as they are in the Large Throw. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Would love to knit the throw in the full spectrum. What’s a recommended substitute colour for the discontinued Winter Pink?
Hi Bella,
I’m afraid we don’t have an exact match for this color. One thing you could try is using two strands of Cotton Pure for a wider variety of color options. I think Beach Rose or Lavender rose would make wonderful options. I hope this helps but please let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Gavriella