Traveling Afghan Square #10 by Whistle and Wool
I’m so excited to announce the year-long project sponsored by Lion Brand Yarn called the "Traveling Afghans" is now ready for my square. The Traveling Afghans has been a collaborative effort between 49 knitwear designers and bloggers from seven different countries!
Starting in January, the first Traveling Afghan square was started by Two of Wands for both knit and crochet, and then they began their journey around the world to a new designer every two weeks. Each designer created a 10"x 10" square to add to either the knit or the crochet blanket before sending it off to the next person to add theirs. These are published free online so everyone 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.
Here's how you can participate: 1. Purchase a yarn kit now for the knit or crochet Traveling Afghan so you have everything you need to get started with us when the first square pattern is released in January. 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.
**My square is #10 along the Knit Afghan journey, and all the materials needed are below in my pattern.
**You can also select a PDF version of this pattern in my Ravelry shop for $1. 2.View below for the master list of all designers and links to their sites as well as the itinerary for the afghans so you can have a peek at the route they will be taking as they travel around the world. www.twoofwands.com/travelingafghans or you can also visit the landing page for the project, hosted by Alexandra Tavel from Two of Wands.
#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
#6 - 3/11-3/24 - Alberta, Canada - Chantal Miyagishima of Knitatude
#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
#24 - 11/18-12/1 - Rhode Island, USA - Jake Kenyon of Kenyarn
#25 - 12/2-12/16 - New Jersey, USA - Vanessa Coscarelli Black of Vanessa Knits
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 (see FAQ & details on www.twoofwands.com/travelingafghans for step by step instructions).
Now lets get into my square #10! If you've been following along since the beginning I hope you love my new addition to the Blanket. The stitch make up of it is very easy, and a rhythmic pattern once you get used to the 4 row repeat. It works up so lovely in this nice worsted weight yarn.
Being in England throughout my life and where my love for knitting began, along with the weather came a style that very much influences my designs. Which is why for my Square I chose the Nubbly Tweed stitch. Something in particular I always remember about my Grandad is he always wore a smart tweed hat and coat when walking me into town or going on a wonderful day trip to see a castle or other historical landmark. It's a fabric and texture that is still one of my favorites and the inspo behind this design..... and with that, my Square uses a stitch pattern called the Nubbly Tweed. Likewise to my Grand dads hats, this gives a lovely, simple yet intricate, looking texture.
I also felt this pattern fit perfectly with this project because regardless of your knitting skill, this will be easily achieved, and quite relaxing.
Traveling Afghan Knit Square #10
What you need:
Yarn: Lionbrand Wool-Ease, 197 yards, 3 oz.
Approx. 98 yards / 1.55 oz. used
Needles: 8 (5 mm) Addi Turbo Needles used
Tapestry Needle for seaming the Blanket
Sewing pins (optional)
Finished size: 10in x 10in square
Nubbly Tweed Pattern
Gauge: 17sts x 32 rows = 4 inches in pattern
For a smaller swatch: 8.5sts x 16 rows = 2 inches
NOTES:
Throughout the pattern keep a nice loose tension. The slip stitches can get too compact if not.
Use the correct needle size to obtain sts per inch gauge. Length can easily be adjusted.
Stitches to know-
WS- Wrong side
K- Knit
P- Purl
Slip 1- When slipping stitches, always do it Purl wise and yarn stays in the back.
Cast on 45 sts
Row 1(WS): p1, *k1, p1, repeat after * for the row
Row 2: k1, *slip 1, k1, repeat after * for the row
Row 3: k1, *p1, k1, repeat after * for the row
Row.4: k2, slip 1, *k1, slip 1, repeat after * until last 2 sts, k2
Repeat Rows 1-4 until 10 inches is reached.
Cast off in knit.
Weave in all your ends and steam block your square, before seaming it to your Blanket.
Seaming- Using matching yarn and your Tapestry Needle- sewing pins (optional)
After giving the square a steam block to bring out extra stitch definition and getting the sides to lay flat, this will make seaming even easier.
With the wrong side of the blanket and square facing you, use a simple whip stitch, or your preferred method to attach your square in it's place. I pinned my square in place first, using my sewing pins. This helps give you nice markers along the way, knowing the square will be sewn on evenly. See my Pic 1 below, to see where I threaded/placed my stitches.
When I completed seaming the squares I just loved how seamlessly they all flowed into each other. Each maker pre-selected what stitch they wanted to create, tying into their maker journey, and yet to me it seemed as if they were purposely picked all at once, blending so beautifully. I can't wait to see this all completed and just enjoy looking at all the following squares flowing into the next.
I hope you enjoyed this new square and have even more fun adding each square to it until you've finished this wonderful piece of maker art.
Enjoy!
