Dichroic Reflections

lap blanket pattern

Apologies to nonknitters; you may just want to skip this entry.

While trying to fall asleep this morning after Rudder left for rowing (and then again after he came back because it was too windy), I invented a pattern to knit a lap blanket with a pocket to keep your feet warm. It's an unpattern, really, adaptable to any yarn and gauge. I probably won't knit this any time soon, what this that whole living in Phoenix thing, but I want to at least record the basic idea. I've worked out the math for two versions, one in garter stitch and one in stockinette with cables. My math skills are somewhat better than my knitting skills, but please let me know if you spot any errors!.

Feel free to use this pattern, but not to publish it elsewhere or sell it. Let me know if you do try it. Once again: I warn you I have NOT knit-tested this pattern!

For both styles:
You'll need a bulky or super-bulky yarn and an appropriately-sized circular needles 40" or so long. I think the garter-stitch version would look good in a chenille, while I'd want a smoother yarn for the cabled one.

Swatch (garter for the garter style, stockinette for the cable style). A flat swatch is fine; it's a blanket and exact size doesn't matter. Measure. Call your stitches per inch X, your rows per inch Y. To figure out the total number of stitches to cast on, which I'll call N, multiply X by 48. Use a provisional cast on of some kind (like casting onto waste yarn or a crochet chain - Google "provisional cast-on" to find instructions) to CO N stitches. PM and join sts.

Garter Stitch Foot-Pocket Throw:

Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for 18" or so. When you get to the marker on the next row, instead of continuing around in a circle, turn and go back the other way, going back and forth instead of around. If you want a wider blanket, when you switch to flat knitting, CO 6 times X stitches at the end of each of the next two rows. Knit every row from here out until the blanket is long enough to cover your lap with your feet in the pocket, longer if you want to fold it over for extra thickness. Pull out the waste yarn or crochet chain at the original cast-on and Kitchener graft the stitches together as you would for a sock toe.

Cabled Foot-Pocket Throw

This will be a stockinette throw with one bigger cable in the middle and two smaller ones on either side; obviously, the width of the cable (in inches, not stitches) will depend on the thickness of your yarn.
C4F: Slip 2 sts on a cable needle and hold in front of work. K 2, then K the 2 sts off the cable needle.
C6F: Slip 3 sts on a cable needle and hold in front of work. K 3, then K the 3 sts off the cable needle.

Row 1: K N/2-13 sts. P2, K4, P4, K6, P4, K4, P2, K N/2-13.
Rows 2-5: Repeat Row 1.
Row 6: K N/2-13 sts. P2, C4F, P4, K6, P4, C4F, P2, K N/2-13.
Rows 7-11: Repeat Row 1.
Row 12: K N/2-13 sts. P2, C4F, P4, C6F, P4, C4F, P2, K N/2-13.
Repeat Rows 1-12 for 18".

Switch from circular to flat knitting. From the marker, turn and:
Row 1(WS): K2, P N/2-15 sts. K2, P4, K4, P6, K4, P4, K2, P N/2-15, K2.
Row 2(RS): K N/2-13 sts, P2, K4, P4, K6, P4, K4, P2, K N/2-13.
Row 3(WS): Repeat Row 1.
Row 4(RS): Repeat Row 2.
Row 5(WS): Repeat Row 1.
Row 6(RS): K N/2-13 sts. P2, C4F, P4, K6, P4, C4F, P2, K N/2-13.
Row 7(WS): Repeat Row 1.
Row 8(RS): Repeat Row 2.
Row 9(WS): Repeat Row 1.
Row 10(RS): Repeat Row 2.
Row 11(WS): Repeat Row 1.
Row 12: K N/2-13 sts. P2, C4F, P4, C6F, P4, C4F, P2, K N/2-13.

What you're doing on this flat part is garter-stitching the first two stitches on every row to provide a nice edge. Repeat these 12 rows until the blanket is long enough to cover your lap with your feet in the pocket, longer if you want to fold it over for extra thickness. Pull out the waste yarn or crochet chain at the original cast-on and graft the stitches together as you would for a sock toe.

What I'm doing here is putting cables in the middle 26 stitches, with stockinette on either side.Obviously, this would be easy enough to adapt for different types of cables. If you want to get really adventurous, try one of these. I confess I haven't tried them because I usually read while knitting and I'd have to put the book down and pay attention for them.

Posted by dichroic at January 6, 2006 12:40 PM