Almost exactly one year ago this week, I started knitting this Celtic Knot afghan.
This was, without a doubt, the most ambitious knitting project I had taken up to date. That’s not saying much as my knitting skills are pretty rudimentary, but this project certainly taught me a lot.
Before I get into the pattern and the photos, I want to give credit to The Knitting Tree, a wonderful shop that happens to be just a block from our house that sells really high-quality yarn and knitting materials, and also teach classes for all levels. The people who work there are incredibly helpful, answering any questions you may have, and even giving you their cell phone numbers in case you have a “knitting emergency.” Seriously, that happened.
Thankfully, I have yet to figure out what would qualify as a knitting emergency. Over the course of the last year, I haven’t had to make any late night phone calls, but I imagine that if I did they would help me through the trauma like a skilled doctor.
Anyways, this is the store I bought all the supplies I needed and got some much-needed advice. If you live in Madison and want to learn to knit, I highly recommend checking them out.
The finished product is now comfortably laying in our living room, just asking to be used to snuggle up and read the New York Times Magazine.
Now onto the pattern, for those interested in actually making a Celtic Knot afghan.
Finished Size
55 inches by 64 inches
Gauge
5 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch
Supplies
- US 8 36 inch circular needle
- US 8 cable needle
- 3,000 yards worsted weight yarn. I chose this Berroco Vintage yarn in Fennel.
Abbreviations
- pm = place marker
- sm = slip marker
- K = knit
- P = purl
- K1TBL = knit 1 through back loop
- P1TBL = purl 1 through back loop
- C4B = slip next 2 stitches to cable needed, hold in back of work, K2, then K2 from cable needle
- C4F = slip next 2 stitches to cable needed, hold in front of work, K2, then K2 from cable needle
Pattern
Border:
- Cast on 268 stitches using long tail cast on method.
- Row 1: *K1, P1; repeat from * to end of row. This is called a seed stitch.
- Row 2: *P1, K1; repeat from * to end of row.
- Repeat rows 1 & 2 seven times for a total of 16 rows.
Set Up Rows:
- Row 1: Seed stitch 8 stitches, pm, *P2, K1TBL, P2, K8, repeat from * 18 times; P2, K1TBL, P2, sm, seed stitch last 8 stitches.
- Row 2: Seed stitch 8 stitches, sm, *K2, P1TBL, K2, P8, repeat from * 18 times; K2, P1TBL, K2, sm, seed stitch last 8 stitches.
Cable Pattern Rows:
- Row 1: Seed stitch 8 stitches, sm, *P2, K1TBL, P2, K2, C4B, K2, P2, K1TBL, P2, K8, repeat from * 8 times; P2, K1TBL, P2, K2, C4B, K2, P2, K1TBL, P2, sm, seed stitch last 8 stitches.
- Row 2: Seed stitch 8 stitches, sm, *K2, P1TBL, K2, K8, repeat from * 18 times; K2, P1TBL, K2, sm, seed stitch last 8 stitches.
- Row 3: Seed stitch 8 stitches, sm, *P2, K1TBL, P2, C4F, C4F, P2, K1TBL, P2, K8, repeat from * 8 times; P2, K1TBL, P2, C4F, C4F, P2, K1TBL, P2, sm, seed stitch last 8 stitches.
- Row 4: Repeat row 2.
- Row 5: Repeat row 1.
- Row 6: Repeat row 2.
- Row 7: Repeat row 3.
- Row 8: Repeat row 2.
- Row 9: Repeat row 1.
- Row 10: Repeat row 2.
- Row 11: Seed stitch 8 stitches, sm, *P2, K1TBL, P2, K8, P2, K1TBL, P2, K2, C4B, K2, repeat from * 8 times; P2, K1TBL, P2, K8, P2, K1TBL, P2, sm, seed stitch last 8 stitches.
- Row 12: Repeat row 2.
- Row 13: Seed stitch 8 stitches, sm, *P2, K1TBL, P2, K8, P2, K1TBL, P2, C4F, C4F, repeat from * 8 times; P2, K1TBL, P2, K8, P2, K1TBL, P2, sm, seed stitch last 8 stitches.
- Row 14: Repeat row 2.
- Row 15: Repeat row 11.
- Row 16: Repeat row 2.
- Row 17: Repeat row 13.
- Row 18: Repeat row 2.
- Row 19: Repeat row 11.
- Row 20: Repeat row 2.
- Repeat rows 1-20 until 4 inches from end.
- Repeat rows 1-10.
Border:
- Row 1: *K1, P1; repeat from * to end of row.
- Row 2: *P1, K1; repeat from * to end of row.
- Repeat rows 1 & 2 seven times for a total of 16 rows.
- Bind off in seed stitch.
3covered
writes 2headgear