Heritage Blanket by Sandy McDonald

Heritage Blanket A knitting pattern book by Zanny Blew and Sandy McDonald

... and make an AIDS orphan warm

Roger McDonald (www.knit-a-square.com)

Design and artwork: Patrice Liem (www.artwords.com.au)

Heritage Heritage Blanket Blanket | 2

No part of this book may be copied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publishers and authors assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

For further information please visit: www.knit-a-square.com

... and make an AIDS orphan warm

SAMPLE ONLY, PLEASE GO TO http://www.knit-a-square.com/easy-knitting-patterns.html TO PURCAHSE THE FULL COPY.

Introduction This book has been designed as a testimony to the inherent artist in us all, and especially those of us who pursue hand crafts as a passion.

When I asked my mother, Zanny, to knit me a blanket, we stood in front of shelf loads of beautiful yarns one day, with no idea of how this blanket would look when it was completed. But we were embarked upon a knitting adventure and were already excited by the textures, colours, shades and patterns of the yarn strands in each ball or skein we selected. They were mini works of art in themselves.

It was only when we laid it on our bed, with the blocks joined and the blanket edged, that we finally understood its beauty. From every angle the colours seemed to ripple through the textures, passing from block to block like a silver stream through earthy banks. The whole was so much greater than the sum of its parts. It was a work of art. We sleep under a kaleidoscope of colours and textures, influenced by, and constantly changing as the light moves through its daily cycles. We have never tired of looking at it.

Sandy McDonald

Thereafter, the beauty (and the art) of this blanket unfolded in each small block, as the piles grew over many months and then, when we set about arranging them - just like a mosaic on the carpet.

We sleep under a kaleidoscope of colours and textures, influenced by, and constantly changing as the light moves through its daily rituals. We have never tired of looking at it. SAMPLE ONLY, PLEASE GO TO http://www.knit-a-square.com/easy-knitting-patterns.html TO PURCAHSE THE FULL COPY.

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Every time you stand before a wall of yarns, make a choice of colours, knitting and crocheting patterns, you are making the same decisions as a painter before applying paint to canvas. It is only the scale of ones endeavour and the commitment to a project that separate the results, practical striped scarf or heritage blanket.

Every arrangement created another knitted canvas on the floor for us to consider.

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Contents

Introduction

4-8 A different type of pattern book 4

Starting the project - Colours, texture and patterns - How to choose your colours - Working with texture - Knitting blocks - Quantities of yarn - Needle sizes - Yarn weights - Gauge and measurement - Blocking - Finishing the blocks

Making the blanket - Laying out the blocks - Collecting the blocks for joining - Joining the blocks - Joining the rows - Sewing tension - Joining uneven squares

8 Techniques for beginners - Attaching a second colour - Darning

10-25 Edging the border 10-25 Knitting pattern blocks 1-96

SAMPLE ONLY, PLEASE GO TO http://www.knit-a-square.com/easy-knitting-patterns.html TO PURCAHSE THE FULL COPY.

Row 2 - Block 20

Yarn:

Boucle and Mohair

Yarn:

Alpaca multi-coloured

Colours:

blue Mohair, mid grey Boucle

Colour:

grey/blue/mauve

Pattern:

Garter Stitch horizontal

Pattern:

Garter Stitch horizontal striped

ROW 2 BLOCK 19 – 24

Row 2 - Block 19

Cast on: 32 stitches Knit every row

Cast on: 32 stitches using both yarn strands

Continue until work measures 5” (13 cm)

Rows 1 to 4: knit, working with both yarn strands,

Cast off

Rows 5 to 8: knit blue Mohair only. Pick up mid grey boucle. These eight rows complete the pattern. Repeat pattern until work measures 5” (13 cm) Cast off

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Row 2 - Block 21

20 Row 2 - Block 22 (repeat block 20)

Yarn:

Wool and Boucle

Yarn:

Alpaca

Colour:

mid grey Wool, black/grey Boucle

Colour:

grey/blue/mauve

Pattern:

Garter Stitch horizontal

Pattern:

Garter Stitch vertical striped

Cast on: 32 stitches Knit every row

Cast on: 16 stitches in black/grey Boucle

Continue until work measures 5” (13 cm)

Rows 1 and 2: knit. Join mid grey Wool

Cast off

Rows 3 and 4: knit. Pick up black/grey Boucle These four rows complete the pattern. Repeat pattern until work measures 10” (26 cm) Cast off

21 Row 2 - Block 23

22 Row 2 - Block 24 (repeat block 11)

Yarn:

Mohair and Boucle

Yarn:

Boucle

Colour:

grey/brown Mohair, black/grey and mid grey Boucle

Colour:

black/grey

Pattern:

Garter Stitch horizontal

Garter Stitch vertical striped

Cast on: 16 stitches

Pattern:

Knit every row Continue until work measures 5” (13 cm)

Cast on: 16 stitches in black/ grey Boucle

Cast off

Rows 1 and 2: knit. Join grey/brown Mohair Rows 3 and 4: knit. Join mid grey Boucle Rows 5 and 6: knit. Pick up black/grey Boucle

SAMPLE These six ONLY, rows complete the pattern. PLEASE GO TO http://www.knit-a-square.com/easy-knitting-patterns.html Repeat pattern until work measures 10” (26 cm) Cast off TO PURCAHSE THE FULL COPY.

Knitting for charity There are an estimated 1.4 million orphans in South Africa, many of them as a result of losing their parents to HIV AIDS. The number is growing - over 500 children a day become orphans. As RIchard Stearns, CEO of World Vision said, “I believe that this could very well be looked back upon as the sin of our generation ... and our children 40 or 50 years from now are going to ask ‘what did you do while 40 million children became orphans in Africa?”

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In response to this terrible and mostly unrecognised human tragedy, knit-a-square.com has been set up to ask the knitters and crocheters of the world to send an 8 x 8” (20 x 20cm) square or more to South Africa to be made into blankets for the children. There, our sister organisation, Soweto Comfort Club collects the squares, sorts, bundles, joins and distributes them. The orphans live in terrible poverty. They need love, shelter, food, education and warmth. Many charities are working hard to provide the first four. Knit-a-square asks that the knitters and crocheters of the world provide the last - warmth. Why a square? Why not a whole blanket or just money? People need to know that what they do can make a difference. By knitting or crocheting an 8 x 8” square, we ask for a small act, but a definite commitment. By itself a single square is worth very little. Only when combined with others does it take on substantial value. Every square will go into blanket to keep a child warm. We call it a currency of squares. The volume of squares continues to grow exponentially as knitters and crocheters from 27 countries around the world have generously responded to this call. They knit and crochet their squares with great love, knowing that their efforts will make a difference to both warm and comfort these children who have been abandoned or are orphaned. We hope that you will use the scraps from your Heritage Blanket to knit and send squares to make blankets for the children and we thank you from our hearts if you do.

... and make an AIDS orphan warm

www.knit-a-square.com

SAMPLE ONLY, PLEASE GO TO http://www.knit-a-square.com/easy-knitting-patterns.html TO PURCAHSE THE FULL COPY.

Heritage Heritage Blanket Blanket | 7| 7

SAMPLE ONLY, PLEASE GO TO http://www.knit-a-square.com/easy-knitting-patterns.html TO PURCAHSE THE FULL COPY.

... and make an AIDS orphan warm

SAMPLE ONLY, PLEASE GO TO http://www.knit-a-square.com/easy-knitting-patterns.html TO PURCAHSE THE FULL COPY.