Take a Sunrise: Free Blanket Knitting Pattern
I'm so happy to introduce my new blanket knitting pattern - Take a Sunrise.
This blanket pattern is designed for worsted weight yarn and includes instructions for six blanket sizes.
Take a Sunrise knitting pattern is FREE to download every day. Scroll down for the links to get the PDF pattern instructions!
INSPIRATION FOR THE PATTERN NAME:
In early February of this year, I headed to my local yarn shop - Yarn Social in Kansas City, Missouri - with a sketch of a blanket design, a polka dot style stitch pattern and an idea for the pattern name already in place. This blanket would be called Take a Sunrise inspired by a line from a song in a favorite childhood movie: “who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew”. All I needed was the perfect shade of orange yarn to pull the plan together. I found this cheerful shade called ‘Pollen’ in the Spud & Chloe Sweater collection.
I cast on the blanket design in early March, thankful for this project to keep me busy as news in the world became more and more unsettling.
Within a few days after starting this project, staying at home was the new normal. Now, there are days that I wake up well before dawn and like so many I worry and wonder when things will get better.
One morning, I worked on knitting this orange blanket and watched the sun come up… like it always does… and the name for this blanket design took on new meaning.
In the spirit of hope for brighter days to come, the Take a Sunrise blanket knitting pattern will always be FREE to download here and on Ravelry.
Take a Sunrise blanket knitting pattern by Fifty Four Ten Studio.
Click here to see all of my knitting patterns.
Saturday, March 21, 2020 - Knitting this orange blanket and waiting to see the sunrise.
SIX BLANKET SIZES:
Approximate sizes after blocking...
Baby Blanket: 27.5” wide x 32.5” long
Small Blanket: 30” wide x 36.5” long
Medium Blanket: 32.5” wide x 40.5” long
Large Throw: 37” wide x 44.5” long
XL Afghan: 44.5” wide x 53” long
XXL Afghan: 49.5” wide x 61” long
Finished size may vary depending on yarn weight and gauge used.
It's easy to make any of the blanket sizes longer by adding additional pattern repeats. Each pattern repeat adds about 4" to the length of the blanket.
The pattern includes estimates of how much additional yarn is needed to make each blanket size longer.
The blanket shown in the photos is the small size blanket - about 30" wide x 36.5" long. I used approximately 750 yards of Spud & Chloe 'Sweater' yarn for this project.
Take a Sunrise blanket pattern for worsted weight yarn.
WORSTED OR ARAN #4 WEIGHT YARN:
This pattern is designed for #4 weight worsted or Aran yarn. Quantity of yarn needed for each blanket size:
Baby Blanket: 620 - 640 yards
Small Blanket: 770 - 800 yards
Medium Blanket: 930 - 960 yards
Large Throw: 1180 - 1230 yards
XL Afghan: 1660 - 1760 yards
XXL Afghan: 2200 - 2300 yards
Be sure to buy additional yarn if you plan to add length to your project.
This pattern may be used with slightly lighter or heavier weight yarns. Select the needle size that gives the best appearance for your yarn and knitting tension.
I used Blue Sky Fibers 'Sweater' yarn in the 'Pollen' colorway. This yarn is made of 55% superwash wool and 45% certified organic cotton and is part of the Blue Sky Fibers family of yarns. I am a huge fan of this beautiful yarn. The stitch definition is fabulous! I purchased the yarn for this project at Yarn Social in Kansas City, Missouri.
Blue Sky Fiber’s Sweater yarn in ‘Pollen’, ‘Sea Horse’ and ‘Igloo’.
Click here to find a yarn shop near you that carries Blue Sky Fibers yarns.
I also used the Blue Sky Fibers Sweater yarn for my Making Plans blanket knitting pattern and Dance on the Breeze blanket knitting pattern.
I used the ‘Firefly’ colorway of Blue Sky Fibers Sweater yarn for my Making Plans blanket knitting pattern design.
If you are using slightly lighter weight yarn, such as a ‘light’ worsted or DK weight, follow the directions for one size larger than you want the blanket to turn out.
If you are using slightly heavier weight yarn consider following the directions for one size smaller than you want the blanket to turn out.
Finished size and amount of yarn needed may vary depending on yarn choice and gauge...so buy some extra yarn just in case!
DOWNLOAD FREE PDF BLANKET PATTERN:
Take a Sunrise blanket knitting pattern is FREE to download.
Click here to download the pattern now.
Click here to download the pattern on Ravelry.
Keep reading below for yarn suggestions, ‘before’ and ‘after’ blocking photos… and more details!
YARN SUGGESTIONS:
As mentioned above… this pattern will look best with a solid color yarn.
The pattern will look great with many different yarns and fibers including 100% wool, superwash wool, cotton, acrylic/wool blends and more.
And, the pattern is very adaptable to light worsted, worsted and heavy worsted yarns. There is so much variation within the worsted category!
Here are a few yarn suggestions:
Knit Picks Swish Worsted (100% Superwash Merino Wool) - With more than 45,000 projects shared on Ravelry this yarn appears to be one of the top three most actively used superwash wool yarns on the market. Ravelry knitters rate it 4.4 out of 5 stars. Available in more than 45 colorways. Machine wash separately in cold water on delicate cycle. Tumble dry on low setting. Shop: Exclusively from KnitPicks.com
Berroco Vintage (52% Acrylic / 40% Wool / 8% Nylon) – I have used this classic style yarn for several small knitting projects. Very soft, pleasing texture. Click here to see a Touch of Kindness blanket project photo shared on Ravelry that shows off the nice stitch definition. Machine washable. Shop: Jimmy Beans Wool | Local Yarn Shops | LoveCrafts | WEBS Yarn Store
Knit Picks Shine Worsted (60% Pima Cotton / 40% Modal) - This pleasantly soft and silky yarn comes in the cutest little 75 yard skeins. The yarn has just a bit of sheen that gives a polished look. Lovely selection of more than 30 colorways. Great stitch definition. This yarn would work well with any of my blanket knitting patterns for worsted weight yarn. Machine washable and tumble dry low. Shop: Exclusively from KnitPicks.com
See more yarn suggestions in my blog post “More than 25 Worsted Weight Yarns for Blanket Knitting”.
I’m really impressed with the stitch definition of Knit Picks Shine Worsted. Colorways shown are: Reef, Sky, Green Apple and Peapod. I used US 7 knitting needles and the stitch pattern featured in my Quality Time blanket knitting pattern.
KNITTING NEEDLES:
The project is worked flat in one piece, back and forth on circular knitting needles. Circular knitting needles are highly recommended in order to accommodate the large number of stitches for a blanket.
I used US size 8 Knitter's Pride Nova Platina knitting needles.
Pick the needle size that gives the best appearance for your yarn and knitting tension. The goal is to find the knitting needle that gives the best stitch appearance. The stitch pattern will look best with moderately tight stitches.
I highly recommend using circular knitting needles to knit a blanket in order to accommodate the large number of stitches. I used US size 8 Knitter's Pride Nova Platina knitting needles.
BLOCKING RECOMMENDED:
For best appearance, blocking is essential with this project. Blocking completely transforms the appearance of this design.
Click here to see my blog post with lots of tips on blocking your finished blanket project.
Here are a couple of photos showing the blanket before it was blocked…
Before blocking…this blanket had many unattractive bumps. Blocking the blanket smoothed out all the unattractive lumps. Please try blocking! Click here to read all my tips!
Click here to see all my tips for blocking a blanket.
SKILLS NEEDED:
This is an easy knitting project for any knitter who has mastered knit and purl stitches, and changing back and forth from knit to purl. You will need to know how to cast on stitches, knit and purl confidently, read a row by row knitting pattern, bind off stitches and weave in ends.
If you already know how to work seed stitch and stockinette stitch then you have the skills to work this pattern.
A clip on stitch marker is a simple reminder that progress has been made.
This month, as we continue to stay at home full-time… I'm planning to focus on doing things I enjoy such as reading a few books. (See some of my favorite books on Bookshop.org.) I also plan to try a few new things such as growing lettuce and baking bread.
Speaking of trying new things... I finally used one of the Swedish style reusable dish towels that has been sitting in my kitchen drawer - unused - for months. These towels are amazing! Why did I wait so long to give them a try?! When wet, they work perfectly for wiping up spills on the kitchen counter. After use, I tossed it in the dishwasher to sanitize. These cute sheep themed Swedish style reusable towels are now on my wish list!
I'm thankful to have a back yard garden to tend to. Especially during these difficult times… I am appreciating the day-to-day changes spring brings. The white flowers below are called 'Bleeding Hearts'. This perennial plant returns every spring, year after year. The magical shape of the flowers amazes me every time.
This beautiful ‘Bleeding Heart’ perennial blooms every year in the April in my back yard in Kansas.
HOW TO GET THE FREE TAKE A SUNRISE BLANKET KNITTING PATTERN:
Click here to download the PDF pattern.
Click here to add the pattern to your Ravelry library.
Thanks so much for taking a minute to check out my other knitting patterns here on my website, on Ravelry and in my Etsy shop.
May you find comfort and peace in your knitting.
Take care,
