Stripy Picnic Blanket

Designer Susie Johns certainly has an eye for colour. This vibrant blanket uses seven different shades and each striped section looks great. Of course, you could use as many or as few colours as you wish, but for us it's 'the more, the merrier.' The underside of the blanket is lined with fabric to keep your knitting safe from grass stains and dirt. Why not opt for a waterproof fabric for even greater protection?

NOTE: carry yarns up side of work when not in use Using 5mm needles and yarn A cast on 70 sts

Join in yarn B

❒ Row 1: using yarn B k to end Join in yarn C
❒ Row 2: using yarn C p to end
❒ Row 3: using yarn A k to end
❒ Row 4: using yarn B p to end
❒ Row 5: using yarn C k to end
❒ Cont in st st in one-row stripe patt as set until 51 stripes of each colour have been worked including cast-on row
❒ Using yarn A cast off
❒ Make a second section in the same three colours
❒ Make a third section using yarns F, E and D
❒ Make a fourth section using G, E and D

Using 4.5mm needles and yarn A cast on 70 sts

❒ Row 1: k each st tbl
❒ Row 2: as Row 1
❒ Cast off each st tbl

To make up Pin first and third sections together side-by-side to form half of blanket, then do the same with fourth and second sections. Make sure first and second sections are in opposite quarters. Join side edges using mattress stitch. Place two halves RS together and join with backstitch. Weave in all loose ends

❒ Using 4.5mm circular needle and yarn A pick up and k 220 sts along one long edge
❒ K two rows working each st tbl
❒ Cast off each st tbl
❒ Work second side to match yarn A pick up and k three sts along top edge of side border, 138 sts across top edge of blanket and three sts across end of opposite border
❒ K two rows working each st tbl
❒ Cast off each st tbl
❒ Work bottom border to match

❑ Using 4.5mm needles and yarn A pick up and k three sts along top edge of side border, 138 sts across top edge of blanket and three sts across end of opposite border
❑ K two rows working each st tbl
❑ Cast off each st tbl
❑ Work bottom border to match

Cut fabric same size as blanket excluding knitted borders, plus 2cm seam allowance. Tuck under 2cm on each edge of fabric and press with a steam iron. Pin fabric to blanket with WS together and folded edge in line with inner edge of knitted border. Oversew fabric to base of border using coloured thread to match yarn A. Add ties halfway up long edge on front and back of work

Click any of the images below to see a larger, clearer shot

Feast: 134cm x 87cm (approx)