Fenestra Blankets
Our Fenestra Blankets are windows onto a sweeping view of shimmering color. Two blanket patterns in one, each pairs a gradient Nine-Note Bundle with one solid shade of Note… One yarn used for the windowpanes that flicker between closely related colors and the other yarn for the solid framework that holds them all together.
Choose your point of view, whether expansive panes or lots of little ones… The clever no-sew construction, all in easy-knitting garter stitch, is the same for both versions of the blanket, and both use the same amount of yarn. The only difference is how big you make those windowpanes!
For the Big Windowpanes version (above), you’ll work through an entire skein of your Nine-Note Bundle for each pane. The scale makes each color its own panoramic vista, highlighting their individuality by mixing up the order of the gradient.
On the other hand, the Small Windowpanes version (above) uses only about a quarter of a Nine-Note skein for each pane. Every value appears multiple times across the blanket, drawing your eye across a landscape of luminous hues… Mesmerizingly beautiful!
Whether in 100-gram skeins of Note or in our gradient Nine-Note Bundles, this incredibly special DK-weight yarn is delightfully bouncy and squishy (especially in plush garter stitch!) and so soft to the touch thanks to a blend of the finest merino wool in the world and lustrous baby alpaca. It’s a yarn you won’t be able to put down and that you’ll never want to stop knitting with!
Choose one Nine-Note Bundle and pick a match from Note’s painterly palette, then cast on your Fenestra Blanket, a window onto colors that seem to dance across your view in absolutely beautiful yarn!
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
Designed by Purl Soho founder and co-owner, Joelle Hoverson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Want to print this pattern? On desktop, find the “print” icon in the right margin, and on mobile, scroll to the end of the pattern for it. Use the on-screen instructions to remove anything you don’t want to print!
Materials
- Main Color (MC): 6 skeins of Purl Soho’s Note, 80% extra fine merino wool and 20% baby alpaca yarn. Each skein is 200 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 1200 total yards required. We used the color Gray Denim for the Small Grid blanket and Fresh Nutmeg for the Big Grid blanket.
NOTE: We used every last yard of our 6 skeins of Note for our blankets. To avoid running short, be sure to check your gauge, reuse your swatch yarn, and keep tails short. Or, consider ordering an extra skein. If you don’t end up needing it, you can return unwound yarn for a refund within 30 days of purchase, or within 6 months, for store credit. Our Return Policy has all the details!
- Contrast Colors (CC): 1 of Purl Soho’s Nine-Note Bundles. One bundle includes 9 skeins of 80% extra fine merino wool and 20% baby alpaca yarn. Each bundle is 900 yards/ 450 grams; approximately 765 (900) total yards required. We used the Penny bundle for the Small Grid blanket and the Begonia bundle for the Big Grid blanket.
You will also need…
- US 7 (4.5 mm), 60-inch circular knitting needles
- Stitch markers
GAUGE
19 stitches and 38 rows (19 ridges) = 4 inches in garter stitch
SIZES
Small Windowpanes (Big Windowpanes)
Finished Dimensions: 39¼ inches wide x 48¾ inches long (36¼ inches wide x 47½ inches long)
NOTE: “Small Windowpanes” and “Big Windowpanes” refers to the design of the blankets, not the finished dimensions. Both blankets are about the same finished size!
NOTES
CONTRAST COLORS 1–9
For the Nine-Note Bundle, the darkest color is Contrast Color 1 (CC1); the next lightest color is CC2; the next lightest color is CC3, and so on to the lightest color, CC9.
HORIZONTAL STRIPE SECTION
Row 1 (right side): Knit to marker, slip marker, slip last stitch of Horizontal Stripe Section, knit next stitch of Vertical Stripe Section, pass slipped stitch over to join Horizontal Stripe Section to Vertical Stripe Section, turn work. [1 stitch decreased]
Row 2 (wrong side): Move working yarn between needles to back of work, knit to end of row, slipping marker when you come to it.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2.
PICK UP FOR VERTICAL STRIPE SECTION
Orient blanket with cast-on edge at the bottom and Horizontal Stripe Section across the top. With right side facing you and with specified color, pick up and knit one stitch between each garter ridge along selvage edge, starting with upper right hand corner of blanket. Be sure to start picking up between cast-on row of Horizontal Stripe Section and first garter ridge, and finish picking up between last garter ridge and bind-off row from the Horizontal Stripe Section. [194 (190) stitches on needle]
NOTE: For help with picking up stitches, please visit our tutorial and scroll down the page to the Along A Vertical Edge: Garter Stitch video.
SCHEMATICS
SMALL WINDOWPANES
Want to see these bigger? Click here and view the Small Windowpanes schematics as one PDF!
COLOR ORDER
CONSTRUCTION
BIG WINDOWPANES
Want to see it bigger? Click here and view the Big Windowpanes schematic as a PDF!
COLOR ORDER
CONSTRUCTION
PATTERN
With Main Color (MC), cast on 194 (190) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
VERTICAL STRIPE 1
NOTE: Place a removable marker or scrap yarn on first row for right side.
With MC, knit 18 (36) rows, ending with a wrong-side row. [10 (19) garter ridges]
Cut yarn, but do not turn work.
HORIZONTAL STRIPE 1
With wrong side still facing you and using CC5, use a Long Tail Cast On to loosely cast on 1 stitch, place marker (pm), then loosely cast on 16 (36) stitches. [211 (227) stitches]
With CC5, work Horizontal Stripe Section (see Notes) for 48 (108) rows, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn. [24 (54) ridges]
With MC, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 20 (28) rows, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn. [10 (14) ridges]
With CC1 (CC9), work Horizontal Stripe Section for 48 (108) rows, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.
With MC, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 20 (28) rows, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.
SMALL WINDOWPANES ONLY
With CC8, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 48 rows, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.
With MC, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 20 rows, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.
With CC4, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 48 rows, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.
With MC, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 20 rows, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.
With CC2, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 48 rows, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.
With MC, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 20 rows, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.
BOTH VERSIONS
With CC9 (CC2), work Horizontal Stripe Section for 47 (107) rows, until all stitches from previous Vertical Stripe Section have been worked, removing marker on last row and ending with a right-side row.
Next Row (wrong side): Bind off knitwise and cut yarn.
VERTICAL STRIPE 2
With MC, work Pick Up For Vertical Stripe Section (see Notes). [194 (190) stitches]
Still with MC, knit for 19 (37) rows, ending with a wrong-side row. [10 (19) ridges]
Cut yarn, but do not turn work.
HORIZONTAL STRIPE 2
SMALL WINDOWPANES ONLY
Work as for Horizontal Stripe 1, using CC3, CC7, CC6, CC1, CC5, and CC4 for this stripe.
BIG WINDOWPANES ONLY
Work as for Horizontal Stripe 1, using CC7, CC1 and CC4 for this stripe.
VERTICAL STRIPE 3
Repeat Vertical Stripe 2.
HORIZONTAL STRIPE 3
SMALL WINDOWPANES ONLY
Work as for Horizontal Stripe 1, using CC6, CC8, CC3, CC7, CC9, and CC2 for this stripe.
BIG WINDOWPANES ONLY
Work as for Horizontal Stripe 1, using CC6, CC3, and CC8 for this stripe.
VERTICAL STRIPE 4
SMALL WINDOWPANES ONLY
Repeat Vertical Stripe 2.
BIG WINDOWPANES ONLY
Repeat Vertical Stripe 2, but turn work after last row and do not cut yarn.
With right side facing you, bind off loosely to end of row. Do not cut yarn.
Go on to Top + Bottom Borders, below.
CONTINUE: SMALL WINDOWPANES ONLY
HORIZONTAL STRIPE 4
Work as for Horizontal Stripe 1, using CC4, CC6, CC9, CC5, CC1, and CC7 for this stripe.
VERTICAL STRIPE 5
Repeat Vertical Stripe 2.
HORIZONTAL STRIPE 5
Work as for Horizontal Stripe 1, using CC8, CC3, CC2, CC7, CC5, and CC9 for this stripe.
VERTICAL STRIPE 6
Repeat Vertical Stripe 2.
HORIZONTAL STRIPE 6
Work as for Horizontal Stripe 1, using CC2, CC4, CC6, CC8, CC3, and CC1 for this stripe.
VERTICAL STRIPE 7
Repeat Vertical Stripe 2, but turn work after last row and do not cut yarn.
With right side facing you, bind off loosely to end of row. Do not cut yarn.
Go on to Top + Bottom Borders, below.
TOP + BOTTOM BORDERS
TOP BORDER
With right side still facing you, rotate blanket 90 degrees clockwise so left selvage is at the top, ready to pick up for Top Border.
With MC, pick up and knit one stitch between each garter ridge along selvage edge of Vertical Stripe sections, and one for each stitch along Horizontal Stripe sections. [172 (187) stitches]
Knit 27 (37) rows, ending with a wrong-side row. [14 (19) ridges]
With right-side facing you, bind off loosely.
BOTTOM BORDER
With right side still facing you, rotate blanket 180 degrees clockwise so right selvage is at the top, ready to pick up for Bottom Border. Join MC and work Bottom Border as for Top Border, but knitting 35 (43) rows instead of 27 (37). [18 (22) ridges]
FINISHING
Weave in the ends and block as desired.
LEARN ABOUT NINE-NOTE BUNDLES + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
The gorgeous gradient of our Nine-Note Bundle makes this project sing! A carefully calibrated scale of nine skeins ranging from very pale to very saturated, there is beautiful complexity in every harmonious color. A light worsted/DK-weight yarn, our Nine-Note Bundles are a mix of 80% of the softest extra fine merino wool in the world and 20% incredibly soft baby alpaca… It must be experienced to be believed! For a coordinating color, pick up some Note, the same yarn with double the size per skein and its own unique palette of painterly heathered colors.
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our growing collection of Nine-Note Bundle knitting patterns and cast on!
More Worsted/Aran-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of light worsted/DK-weight yarns (What does DK-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to DK yarn will answer your questions and demystify.)
- 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 merino wool yarn
- Shop alpaca 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!
Very nice pattern looking forward to try it. Thanks.
So much going on in the instructions that I wish you had an option to chose either or pattern. Small or large would be great to have it separated to assist the reader
Hi Tina,
I completely understand, and I want to let you know that I’ve passed along your suggestion to our design team for future consideration! In the meantime, I’m more than happy to answer any questions that arise as you knit.
All the best,
Lili
I am waiting for my yarns but in reading over the instructions I agree with Tina, the instructions are difficult to understand. Maybe a tutorial that explains the knitting directions and methodology might help.
Hi Rita,
Our design team let me know that they made an unofficial version with the sizes separate! I’ve sent you an email with that version attached. Hope that helps, and you’re always welcome to reach out to us if any questions arise along the way!
All the best,
Lili
I’d like instructions recalculated for a crib size or small throw. How about it? (And I’d prefer the small windows.)
Hi Pat,
That’s a great idea, and fortunately, this pattern is pretty easy to modify for any size! Once you’ve decided on the specific dimensions you want, you can calculate your new cast-on number by multiplying the number of stitches per inch (4.75 stitches, according to the gauge of the pattern) by your desired length. Then, just round the result to the nearest whole number, and that’s your new cast-on! You can also adjust the height of each stripe by knitting fewer rows (for the VERTICAL STRIPE sections) or casting on fewer stitches with the cable cast-on (for the HORIZONTAL STRIPE sections).
I hope this helps you create the blanket you have in mind, and please let me know if any questions come up along the way!
All the best,
Lili
Can you do me a favor and add to this pattern a finished template with numbers on it to show what order makes it the easiest to complete? I think you are starting at the bottom and then working right to left?…but it is hard to follow the detailed directions if I don’t understand the overall order.
Hi Dina,
I want to let you know that I’ve passed along your suggestion to our design team for future consideration! You’re absolutely correct in your interpretation though. You cast on for the length of the blanket, work in garter stitch for that first border stripe, then work a cable cast-on and work garter stitch in the perpendicular direction to create the first row of “windows.” Let me know if any other questions come up!
All the best,
Lili
I get the impression that the cast on side is the left side of the blanket but am not sure of the flow after that.
Hi Rita,
Yes, that’s correct! You cast on for the length of the blanket, work in garter stitch for that first border stripe, then work a cable cast-on and work garter stitch in the perpendicular direction to create the first row of “windows.”
I’d recommend taking a look at the arrows that are located at the bottom of the schematic diagram. Those point in the direction that each section is to be knit in, so they’ll show you exactly what the flow is!
All the best,
Lili
Beautiful blanket! I’d like make a smaller version for a baby blanket. Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Hi JAS,
That’s a great idea, and fortunately, this pattern is pretty easy to modify for any size! Once you’ve decided on the specific dimensions you want, you can calculate your new cast-on number by multiplying the number of stitches per inch (4.75 stitches, according to the gauge of the pattern) by your desired length. Then, just round the result to the nearest whole number, and that’s your new cast-on! You can also adjust the height of each stripe by knitting fewer rows (for the VERTICAL STRIPE sections) or casting on fewer stitches with the cable cast-on (for the HORIZONTAL STRIPE sections).
I hope this helps you create the blanket you have in mind, and please let me know if any questions come up along the way!
All the best,
Lili
Nice to have a different pattern in blankets Thanks
Would love to have seen pictures of the blanket in the knitting instructions
Hi Di,
While we haven’t included photos throughout the pattern, you can find some great shots of the blankets before the instructions begin, as well as a few at the bottom of the page! Were there any additional views you were hoping to see? I can check to see if we have some more photos in our files that would be helpful for you!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you so much for a printable pattern for this wonderful blanket. I cannot do it by pdf from my phone so to download pdf doesn’t work for me. I’m so happy when I see the pattern written out!
Thank you😊
Lili – First of all thanks for the tutorial on the Color Brick Road blanket. It is finished and the recipient loves it.
The yarn for Fenestra just arrived and it is lovely.
Are the strips joined the same way as the Color Brick? I am having trouble following exactly how the strips are joined together.
Hi Geni,
You’re so welcome!!! Glad to hear that they love the blanket!
The stripes in the Fenestra Blanket are joined in a similar way to the Color Brick Road Blanket, but it’s not exactly the same. The main difference is that garter ridges in the the HORIZONTAL STRIPE SECTION run perpendicular to the ridges in the VERTICAL STRIPE SECTION, rather than parallel as they do in the Color Brick Road Blanket.
You’ll also have all your VERTICAL STRIPE stitches live on your needles, which eliminates the need to pick up any stitches before joining the new stitches! Then, on Row 1, instead of working a k2tog to join the stitches, you slip a stitch, knit the next stitch, and then pass the slipped stitch over and off the needle. It’s just a slightly different way to do the same exact thing!
I would recommend trying this out on a small swatch first, but if you’re still running into trouble, I’m more than happy to help out further in a 1-On-1 Help appointment!
All the best,
Lili
I am confused whether I need to use a separate set of needles after knitting the first vertical stripe when I cast on for the first window color. Do you think you could make a video? Thank you, Jan
Hi Jan,
Nope, no need for a second set of needles! You’ll still use the needles you’re currently using to work the cable cast-on to begin the Vertical Stripe. And we have a wonderful video tutorial on the cable cast-on, so I’d recommend checking that out, but please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Lili
The directions say to stay on the wrong side of the piece when casting on the first vertical color. That doesn’t make sense to me. Do I want the newly cast on stitches to be where the yarn ends are hanging or the other side of the piece?
Hi Jan,
I think I’m a bit unclear about where you are in the pattern right now! Have you just completed VERTICAL STRIPE 1? And are about to begin HORIZONTAL STRIPE 1? Let me know, and then I should be able to answer your question!
All the best,
Lili
Yes, I am about to start the first horizontal stripe. My confusion may be because I am left handed and do a long tail cast on with the needle in my left hand and the yarn in my right so it makes sense to do that on the right side of the piece. My other question is whether to slip the last stitch purlwise or knitwise before knitting a stitch from the vertical row and slipping the stitch over. Thanks!
Thanks so much for confirming! Yes, if you’re casting on with the yarn in your right hand, then you would want to do that with the right side facing you (provided you’re knitting “righty” otherwise!). Then, you can simply not turn your work, and begin Row 1 of the HORIZONTAL STRIPE SECTION on the right side as well!
In answer to your other question, you will slip that stitch purlwise! That’s typically the default for knitting patterns, and if you’re meant to slip a stitch knitwise, that should be indicated in the pattern.
All the best,
Lili
Hi, I need help!
I’ve finished the first vertical stripe and the first block (CC5) of the horizontal stripe.
Now I’m at the point where I’m supposed to work the first horizontal stripe in MC for 28 rows. But I need some clarification. Do I pick up along the CC5 row the way I need previously on the Vertical Strip 1 MC row? And what do I do when I reach the Vertical Stripe 1 MC row?
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for writing in, and I’m happy to help out! You’ll work the second section of the Horizontal Stripe in exactly the same way you did for the first section. You won’t need to do any picking up of stitches for any sections of the Horizontal Stripe! The next time you need to pick up any more stitches is when you’re ready to begin Vertical Stripe 2–but that’s not until you’ve completed the entire Horizontal Stripe, so you still have a ways to go. Hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Lili
Hi! Can you clarify the instructions for the beginning of horizontal stripe one for the small panes version? The instructions read that you cast on one stitch, place a marker, and then cast on 16. I believe this totals 17 cast on stitches. However, when 17 is added to 194 cast on for the first vertical stripe, the new total should be 211. But in the following brackets, the new total cast on is 210.
I did check the instructions for the large window pane version, and in that case the new total cast on, including one +36, added to the original 190, is 227 stitches, which I believe is mathematically, correct.
I do understand that as the pieces worked, the last stitch from the vertical stripe and the stitch before the marker from the horizontal strip or combined in a passover, but I don’t think that should alter the total number of stitches.
Wood appreciate your help thanks
Hi Cecily,
Thank you so much for catching that! I have alerted our team of the error and that should now be corrected. You are correct though that the stitch count should read 211 rather than 210!
Happy making!
Gavriella
Hi! Is the direction to pick up stitches between ridges rather than on each ridge just the designer’s preference or an important part of the design, e. g. counting? I generally prefer picking up on the ridge to minimize bulkiness on the wrong side but i’d hate to have to tear out because using it might create a problem.
Thanks
Hi Cecily,
You got it! That decision is up to the designer, but the methods are usually completely interchangeable, and you can do whichever one you prefer in this case. Just make sure you pick up the correct number of stitches!
All the best,
Lili
Hi! Would it be possible to get a video of specifically the portion of the instructions titled HORIZONTAL STRIPE SECTION?
I’ve gotten it up until that point, however, whenever I attempt this, it is adding on stitches for some reason…I am doing something wrong.
Thank you!
Hi Kylie,
I’m so sorry that you’ve run into a problem at this point of the pattern! I would recommend signing up for a 1-On-1 Help appointment so that a member of our team can demonstrate this over Zoom!
I am knitting this blanket now and could not be more pleased with how it is going! The join between the “stripes” is beautiful and subtle. While this join technique is easy, I did need a 60 second zoom lesson from Lili to “get it.” I am shocked that I have never run into this “joining” technique before. It is impressive.
The yarn is so nice to work with.
This project is one of those that, once you get going, is very calming to do. It sends me to my zen knitting place.
It makes me anxious to run low on yarn so I did order an extra skein of the main color. I can always make the final borders a little bigger and use it up.
Thank you Lili!
You’re very welcome, Geni! So happy that you’re having fun knitting your blanket!
All the best,
Lili
Hi!
After trying to figure out why, at the end of each horizontal stripe, I had extra stitches, to the extent that I actually had to knit two together to use up all the stitches. I finally realized I was counting the cast on row in the very first section on the horizontal stripe and looks like a ridge, as a ridge. That made my ridge count in that section wrong. Now, my question is whether every cast on row, including those in the first vertical stripe sections be counted as a ridge or not?
Hi Cecily,
That’s a great question, and I can totally see how the cast-on could throw off the ridge count! In this pattern, you will not be counting any of the cast-ons as a ridge. Hope this helps clear things up, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Lili
Will this yarn pill? And looking for a blanket that won’t stretch out. Looking for a pattern that won’t stretch out, but keep its shape.
Hi Francesca,
Every yarn made of natural fiber can technically pill over time, but yarns made out of alpaca or multiple plies like Note are particularly resistant to pilling! It’s one of my favorite yarns for this reason and is perfect for this blanket. It has just enough softness, resilience, and support to make a project that will last you many years…
I hope that helps alleviate any concerns, but please let me know if you’d like to know anything else!
All the best,
Zha Zha
After finding that I had too many stitches left at the end of the horizontal stripe I realized I had been counting the cast on row for the beginning of the stripe as one ridge. I now understand that was incorrect.
My question now is whether all Cast rows , e.g. the first vertical row, should or should not be counted as ridges?
Hi Cecily,
I’m so sorry you weren’t aware of this until later in the pattern! Just to confirm, you should not consider any of the cast on rows as ridge rows when counting your ridges.
If you’re ever need any extra guidance, please feel free to send us a picture of your work to [email protected]. From there, we can draw arrows onto your pictures or talk further to help clarify!
All the best,
Zha Zha