Note that you can buy the ad-free PDF on my Ravelry account or Etsy account for $1, should you not want to scroll for the free version later in this blog post.
Back in 2019 I was reached out to by Alexi of Two of Wands, wondering if I may want to take part in the Lion Brand Traveling Afghan project. I of course said yes, and now today I am bringing you my square (#6) in the blanket!
Not sure what the Traveling Afghan project is?
The Traveling Afghan project is a year long blanket project brought together by Lion Brand Yarn using Woolease. In the effort to bring makers together from all around the world, they came up with the “My Life in Yarn” campaign! This project has both a knit blanket version, and a crochet, meaning there is a total of 49 different designers adding their creativity to squares of their own that you can make along with us. At the end, you will have a stunning blanket, will have met new people, and learnt a whole bunch of new techniques you may not have known before.
Think of it… as a free pattern blog hop!
THE DEETS
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 6th 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 – square pattern HERE.
#2 – 1/15-1/28 – Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria – Sandra Gutierrez of Nomad Stitches – square pattern HERE.
#3 – 1/29-2/11 – Dublin, Ireland – Katie Moore of The Queen Stitch – square pattern HERE.
#4 – 2/12-2/25 – Nova Scotia, Canada – Kelly Brooks of Knitbrooks – square pattern HERE.
#5 – 2/26-3/10 – Alberta, Canada – Stephanie Lau of All About Ami – square pattern HERE.
#6 – 3/11-3/24 – Alberta, Canada – Chantal Miyagishima of Knitatude - Square pattern can be found in this blog post
#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
MY LIFE IN YARN - THE KNITATUDE STORY
I’m an odd duck. I technically learnt how to knit when I was in grade 7, but I think that lasted about a week. It wasn’t until I was 23 that I actually dove in. Within a year I was selling product, started Knitatude and was hitting up social media (follow me on Ig here) even though I hadn’t even learnt how to purl yet! So if that doesn’t tell you that you can do anything you put your mind to, I don’t know what else will haha.
But it wasn’t just the stitches that got me hooked (pardon the crochet pun). I found myself immersed into this amazing craft, and even more so - the community. Knitters and crocheters are a beautiful folk, if I say so myself. We like to share, we like to help, and all around I think we’re a pretty positive and happy group! I fell in love with both.
I never would have known that yarn would change my life this much. I went into knitting to just fiddle with yarn and pass the time. Not knowing that I would be designing sweaters and dresses and my own clothes, let alone having other people make what comes out of my head. That’s really cool and it’s been an unreal ride. So thanks for coming along my journey. (Check out my patterns on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE.)
THE INSPO BEHIND MY SQUARE
A little backstory: My heritage is Dutch and I’m a third generation Canadian. My mom is second generation and my Nana came over from Holland with my grandfather. I don’t know if it’s the Dutch in me that loves tulips so much, but there’s something about these flowers that bring me so much comfort. if you don’t know, Holland plants thousands of tulips every year in honour of Canada and their part in freeing their country from the second world war. So I figured I would pay homage to this beautiful act with this flower stitch that really reminds me of those stunning blooms. Plus, who doesn’t like flowers in the spring time amiright? So without further adieu, here is the pattern for my square - the “Field of Tulips” Square.
You can continue to scroll and find the free pattern below, or can find the ad-free PDF on Ravelery HERE or Etsy HERE.
THE FIELD OF TULIPS SQUARE PATTERN
MATERIALS:
•1 skeins of Lion Brand Woolease or approximately 72m/79yards of another worsted weight yarn, category 4
•Size US 8/5mm needles Size US
•2 Stitch markers
• Scissors
•Darning needle
DIMENSIONS
Height: 10”/25cm
Width: 10”/25cm
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
Advanced Beginner
GLOSSARY
CO = Cast On
K = Knit
P = Purl
ST(S) = Stitch(es)
Flower = Flower Stitch
P2tog = Purl 2 Together
BO = Bind Off
GAUGE
Knit in stockinette flat US 8/5mm needles: 4 sts x 6 rows = 1”
FLOWER STITCH TUTORIAL
Flower stitch – Count 2 stitches over and 3 stitches down. Insert your right hand needle into this space and wrap as you would a normal stitch. Draw this loop back through the hole /stitch you just went through and leave it on the right needle. Tug to make sure it is loose. Knit 2 sts. Make a 2nd loop into the same stitch. Knit 2 stitches. Make a third loop into the same stitch. Remember to keep those loops loose so they lay flat.
PATTERN
GARTER STITCH BORDER
On 5mm needles CO 39 sts
R1: K3, PM, K until last 3 sts, PM, K3
R2-4: K all sts
START THE FLOWER STITCH
R1: K all
R2: K3, SM, P until last 3 sts, SM, K3
R3: K all
R4: K3, SM, P until last 3 sts, SM, K3
R5: K3, SM, K3, flower, * K4, flower*, repeat from * to * until the last 5 sts, K2, SM, K3
R6: K3, SM, P2, (P2tog, P1) twice, P2tog, *P3, (P2tog, P1) twice, P2tog*, repeat from * to * until the last 5 sts, P2, SM, K3
R7: K all
R8: K3, SM, P until last 3 sts, SM, K3
R9: K all
R10: K3, SM, P until last 3 sts, SM, K3
R11: K3, SM, K7, *Flower, K4*, repeat from * to * until last 5 sts, K2, SM, K3
R12: K3, SM, P6, *(P2tog, P1) twice, P2tog, P3*, repeat from * to * until last 6 sts, P3, SM, K3
Repeat R1-12 in this section an additional 3 times, for a total of 4 times.
Repeat R1-6 in this section an additional time.
BORDER
R1-4: K all sts
R5: BO all sts
Cut yarn and weave in ends.
FINISHING YOUR PIECE
I highly suggest blocking your piece to ensure it lands at 10” x 10” to line up with the other squares of your Traveling Afghan. Thread your tail end of yarn onto a darning needle. Using mattress stitch or a wip stitch, seam your square to the rest of your #traveingKnitAfghans project.
I used my favourite steamer - which I got at amazon here!
If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email at knitatude@gmail.com, or hit me up on social media at:
Instagram - @knitatude
Facebook – www.facebook.com/knitatude
Etsy – knitatude.etsy.com
POLICIES
This pattern is a copyright of Chantal Miyagishima of Knitatude. Daisy Field Squares created using this pattern may be sold with credit given to Chantal Miyagishima of Knitatude. Credit must be given to Knitatude / knitatude.etsy.com. Pattern and photos can not be used for resale purposes.
Please share your work with the hashtag #TravelingAfghans and #knitatudeknits to share the handmade love!