I’m excited to be a part of the year-long project sponsored by Lion Brand Yarn called the “Traveling Knit Afghan”. Welcome to my square, the 6th square of the year below are the materials needed for the pattern. I love my Clover cable stitch holders for knitting cables and braids. This little tool helps you hold your stitches snuggly while you pull them forward or backward.
“Makers are able follow the progress of the afghan as it travels from designer to designer across the country and into Canada. And while makers follow the afghan’s journey they are also able to create the squares and eventually the blanket themselves as each month designers release their square designs for free!
Starting in January, the Traveling Knit Afghan will journey from California, across the country and into Canada, meeting a new designer each month. Each designer will create a 20″x20″ square to add to the knit blanket before sending it off to the next designer. For 2021, there will be 13 designers – one for each month and 1 designer work an afghan border. 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.
The 2021 Traveling Knit Afghan will carry the themes of comfort, community, and kindness. It is entitled Purl it Forward which is derived from the concept of Pay it Forward. The phrase ‘pay it forward’, was most likely coined in 1916 by author Lily Hardy Hammond in her novel In the Garden of Delight, where she wrote: “You don’t pay love back; you pay it forward.”
Although, the 2021 Traveling Knit Afghan has a lineup of amazing designers from many walks of life, this year the blanket’s creation highlights BIPOC and QTBIPOC designers – raising voices which are normally marginalized and muted.
Over the years, the concept of ‘Paying it Forward’ has been summed up as ‘You can never pay back but you can pay forward’; therefore, with a wink and a nod to those who have come before us, paving the way in many facets, we do the work, leaving doors wide open for those right behind us – paying forward what we ourselves have received!
Join us in the making of the 2021 Traveling Knit Afghan.”
Arica at www.skeinsnsticksdesigns.com.
**You can also select a PDF version of this pattern in my Shop or Ravelry for $1.
This year-long collaborative effort will feature stories from the designers about their paths as makers and members of our fiber community. Join us, learn new stitches and make new friends by participating in the 2021 Traveling Knit Afghan Project.
Here’s how you can participate:
- Go to Lion Brand at www.lionbrand.com and purchase Feels Like Butta yarn now so you have everything you need to get started with us when the first square pattern is released in January.
- Visit the landing page for the project, hosted by Arica from Skeinsnsticks Designs, 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.skeinsnsticksdesigns.com
- Follow the designers on social media to get updates on their pattern releases and learn about their maker journeys.
- Host a KAL with your local maker friends! We would love to see YOUR life in yarn too, so make sure to tag Lion Brand Yarn in your posts and use the hashtags #travelingknitafghan2021 #lionbrandyarn #mylifeinyarn #mylifeinyarn2021 #travelingafghans2021 and #purlitforward
DESCRIPTION
The 6th month of the Lion Brand Knit Traveling Afghan is inspired by braids.
SKILL LEVEL
EASY
SIZE
20×20 in. (51×51 cm)
MATERIALS
- LION BRAND® FEELS LIKE BUTTA®, 3.5OZ/100G, 218Y/100M
- Dusty Blue, 1 ball, A
- Lemon, 1 ball, B
- Knitting Needles US 7 (4.5 mm), I love my Clover Takumi Needles
- Cable Needle
- Large-eyed blunt needle
- Stitch Markers
GAUGE
19 sts = about 4 in. (10 cm) in garter stitch
BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE.
ABBREVIATIONS
- C8B = cable 8 back, slip next 4 sts onto cable needle and hold at back, knit next 4 sts from left hand needle, knit 4 sts from cable needle.
- C8F = cable 8 front, slip next 4 sts onto cable needle and hold at front, knit next 4 sts from left hand needle, knit 4 sts from cable needle.
- k = knit
- p = purl
- rep = repeat
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- SM = stitch marker
NOTES
- Rows are worked flat in back-and-forth rows, turning at the end of each row.
- Square will pull in slightly with braids but will straighten out when blocked and sewn into the afghan.
SQUARE
First Section
With A, CO 96.
Row 1(RS): Knit.
Rows 2-34: Knit.
Fasten off.
With B.
Rows 35-38: Knit
Fasten off.
With A.
Rows 39-44: Knit
The piece will measure 5.5 in. (14 cm) from beginning.
Fasten off.
Second Section
With B.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: K12, place SM, *P12, place SM, K8, place SM; rep from * 2 times, P12, place SM, K12.
Row 3: K12, *K4, C8B, K8; rep from * 2 times, K4, C8B, K12.
Row 4: K12, *P12, K8; rep from * 2 times, P12, K12.
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Rep Row 4.
Row 7: K12, *C8F, K4, K8; rep from * 2 times, C8F, K4, K12.
Row 8: Rep Row 4.
Rep Rows 1-8 eight times.
The piece will measure 14.5 in. (37 cm) from beginning.
Fasten off.
Third Section
Note: Remove SM on Row 1.
With A.
Row 1-6: Knit.
Fasten off.
With B.
Rows 7-10: Knit
Fasten off.
With A.
Rows 11-44: Knit
Fasten off.
FINISHING
Block Square to 20×20 in (51×51 cm). Weave in ends. Sew square to Afghan with mattress stitch or your choice of seaming. You can reference the placement of the square at Skein N Sticks Designs.
You can find an ad-free PDF version for $1 HERE or on Ravelry.
Please note, some of these links are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to make free content. I only recommend products that I use and love. Thank you for your support. You can read my full disclosure.
**You can NOT copy pattern (or part of a pattern) and publish it on another website or other publication. Instead, you can publish a link to the pattern. You may sell products made from this pattern but not the pattern. I ask that you link back to my post. Please do not copy or reproduce pictures. When in doubt ask me, tonjapebenito@gmail.com.**
