I’m so excited to part of the Traveling Afghans project, this new year-long project sponsored by Lion Brand Yarn. In conjunction with Lion Brand’s “My Life in Yarn” 2020 campaign, the Traveling Afghans will be a collaborative effort amongst 49 knitwear designers and bloggers from seven different countries!
This journey started in January, the Traveling Afghans set sail from NYC and journey to a new designer every two weeks. Each designer will create a 10"x10" square to add to either the knit or the crochet blanket before sending it off to the next person to add theirs. They will each publish their pattern for free online so YOU can follow along with us and create your own knit or crochet afghan! This year-long collaborative effort will feature stories from the designers about their paths as makers, and will give you the opportunity to learn new stitches and make new friends in the community along the way.
There are two traveling afghans (a knit version and a crochet version) that have set sail from New York City and are journeying to a new designer every two weeks. Each designer is creating a 10″ x 10″ square to add to the blanket before sending it off to the next person. All the designers are publishing their square patterns for free online so that YOU can follow along with us and create your own knit or crochet afghan! I am pleased to be the 5th stop of the knit afghan and have loved following along with all the squares that have already been made. This year-long collaborative effort will feature stories from the designers about their paths as makers, and will give you the opportunity to learn new stitches and make new friends in the community along the way!
Here’s how you can participate:
1. Purchase a yarn kit now for either the knit or crochet Traveling Afghan so you have everything you need to make your own Traveling Afghan (project began in January 2020 and will span the entire year with a new square being released every two weeks). Note that you do not need to purchase a kit to join – you’re welcome to use any yarn you like, including what you already have in your stash! You’ll need worsted weight yarn and size US 8 (5mm) knitting needles or a J/10 (6mm) crochet hook.
2. Visit this page HERE organized by Alexi of Two of Wands for the itineraries of the afghans along with the master list of all designers and links to their sites so you can follow along as they travel around the world and new patterns get released.
3. Follow the designers on social media to get updates on their pattern releases and learn about their maker journeys. There may even be some giveaways to enter!
4. Host a CAL or KAL with your local maker friends! Get together throughout the year in person or online to add your squares. We would love to see YOUR life in yarn too, so make sure to tag Lion Brand Yarn and My Life in Yarn in your posts and use the hashtags #travelingafghans #lionbrandyarn and #mylifeinyarn and either #travelingknitafghan or #travelingcrochetafghan. You can also post your projects to Ravelry!
Here is the itinerary for the Traveling Knit Afghan (the links will be updated as the squares are added):
#1 - 1/1-1/13 - New York City, USA - Alexandra Tavel of Two of Wands
#2 - 1/15-1/28 - Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria - Sandra Gutierrez of Nomad Stitches
#3 - 1/29-2/11 - Dublin, Ireland - Katie Moore of The Queen Stitch
#4 - 2/12-2/25 - Nova Scotia, Canada - Kelly Brooks of Knitbrooks
#5 - 2/26-3/10 - Alberta, Canada - Stephanie Lau of All About Ami
#7 - 3/25-4/7 - BC, Canada - Christie Bodden of Christie Bodden Designs
#8 - 4/8-4/21 - Oregon, USA - Makenzie Alvarez of Hanks and Needles
#9 - 4/22-5/5 - California, USA - Phanessa Fong of Designs by Phanessa
#10 - 5/6-5/19 - California, USA - Angie Bivins of Whistle & Wool
#11 - 5/20-6/2 - California, USA - Jane Tsou of Gorilla Knits
#12 - 6/3-6/16 - Nevada, USA - Chenoa Wilcox of jellyKNITTING
#13 - 6/17-6/30 - Utah, USA - Rachel Misner of Evelyn & Peter
#14 - 7/1-7/14 - Colorado, USA - Jessica Potasz of Mama in a Stitch
#15 - 7/15-7/28 - Kansas, USA - Jerica Tompkins of Yarn Hook Needles
#16 - 7/29-8/11 - Kansas, USA - Mary Lee of Fifty Four Ten Studio
#17 - 8/12-8/25 - Minnesota, USA - Kaitlin Barthold of Originally Lovely
#18 - 8/26-9/8 - Minnesota, USA - Julia Anastasi of Northern Loop Knitwear
#19 - 9/9-9/22 - Winona, MN, USA - Trista Ziemendorf of While They Dream
#20 - 9/23-10/6 - Illinois, USA - Heidi Gustad of Hands Occupied
#21 - 10/7-10/20 - Illinois, USA - Jewell Washington of Northknits
#22 - 10/21-11/3 - Michigan, USA - Destiny Meyer of Knifty Knittings
#23 - 11/4-11/17 - Virginia, USA - Nathan Bryant of Loop N Threads
#25 - 12/2-12/16 - New Jersey, USA - Vanessa Coscarelli Black of Vanessa Knits
My Life in Yarn
I have always loved being creative. When I was little I remember sitting for hours working on the same project (to be hones I still do). I dabbled in a little of everything I enjoyed learning the process, even if I only did it once. When I would go with my mom to the craft stores I was drawn to the yarn isle; it was full of so many colors and I just had to touch them all. I wasn't until I was eighteen when I learned how to knit. Knitting ended up being the craft I would return to over and over, especially in the most difficult years in my life. I enjoyed it, but I did not fall in love with it until I taught myself how to knit cables. There is just something I love about cables, the process, the look, and the fact they are a lot easier than one might think.
The year I learned to knit cables was the year I decided to start my business. I wanted to make my own money so I could buy yarn (I think a lot of us start out that way). For years I knit and sold everything I could, until I could no longer keep up. I wanted to make more than just the same pair of fingerless gloves over and over again. So, I took a leap into full time knitwear design. Now I am always working and planning new designs and even make time for selfish knitting. Some days I have to pinch myself, I mean knitting is my full time job and I love every stitch of it.
Materials
Lion Brand Wool-Ease, Worsted Weight Yarn; Sample used 1.1oz/32g; approximently 74 yds/68m
US8/5mm needle; or size to meet gauge.
Tapestry Needle
Gauge
20 sts x 24 rows = 4"/10cm square in Stockinette St
Terms
CO - Cast On RS - Right Side
K - Knit Sts - Stitch(es)
P - Purl WS - Wrong Side
Rep - Repeat
Pattern
Downloadable PDF Version available HERE
CO 48 sts
Entire pattern is also charted below.
Border
Note: Border is worked in Stockinette St for 6 rows
Row 1 (RS): Knit. (48 sts) Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Rows 3-6: Rep Rows 1 and 2.
Begin Chevron St.
Chevron St
Note: Continue with a 5 st border on both sides of the Chevron pattern. Row 7: K5, (p1, k3, p3, k5, p3, k3) × 2, p1, k6. Row 8: P6, (k1, p3, k3, p5, k3, p3) × 2, k1, p5. Row 9: K5, p2, (k3, p3) × 6, k5. Row 10: P5, (k3, p3) × 6, k2, p5. Row 11: K5, p3, k3, p3, k1, p3, k3, p5, k3, p3, k1, p3, k3, p4, k5. Row 12: P5, k4, p3, k3, p1, k3, p3, k5, p3, k3, p1, k3, p3, k3, p5. Row 13: K6, (p3, k3, p5, k3, p3, k1) × 2, p1, k5. Row 14: P5, k1, (p1, k3, p3, k5, p3, k3) × 2, p6. Row 15: K7, (p3, k3) × 5, p3, k8. Row 16: P8, (k3, p3) × 5, k3, p7. Row 17: K8, p3, k3, p1, k3, p3, k5, p3, k3, p1, k3, p3, k9. Row 18: P9, k3, p3, k1, p3, k3, p5, k3, p3, k1, p3, k3, p8. Rows 19 - 30: Rep Rows 7-18.
Rows 31 - 42: Rep Rows 7-18.
Rows 43 - 54: Rep Rows 7-18.
Rows 55 - 56: Rep Rows 7 and 8.
Begin Bottom Border.
Bottom Border
Note: Border is worked in Stockinette St for 6 rows
Row 57: Knit.
Row 58: Purl.
Rows 59-62: Repeat Rows 57 and 58.
Begin Finishing.
Finishing
Bind off knitwise. Block your square in your preferred method. I like to wet block and pin to schematics. If you decide to do this be sure to let your square dry completely.
Use preferred method for attaching your square. I recommend Mattress Stitch.
Mattress Stitch
Note: Instruction video Here
With the bound-off edges together line up the stitches.
Insert the tapestry needle under the stitch inside the bound-off edge of one side and under the corresponding stitch of the other.
Rep Step 2 until all the stitches have been seamed, pulling the yarn tight enough to hide the edges.
Chart
Note: How to read knitting charts. Charts are read from bottom to top. Right Side rows are read from right to left; Wrong Side rows are read from left to right.
Thank you for following along with all of us throughout the year; I am excited to see everyones squares. Please remember to tag me on social media (Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest). Happy knitting!