Third Street Blanket: Inspired by an old map of my hometown
The Third Street Blanket is chunky, cozy and easy to knit with super bulky yarn. This is a great pattern for a cozy throw, large afghan or a little baby blanket.
The knitting pattern includes instructions for six blanket sizes.
The blanket is knit flat, in one piece on US 13 circular needles.
The center of the blanket features a 4-row repeat stitch pattern that creates lots of texture and is easy to knit. The design is framed by a classic seed stitch border.
Read all the details below!
Third Street Blanket knitting pattern for super bulky weight yarn. Click to purchase the pattern.
It’s fun to see that so many knitters have enjoyed using this blanket knitting pattern. As of April 2020, this pattern has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Ravelry for overall results and 5 out of 5 stars for clarity of instructions.
This blanket design will look great with just about any decorating style. For best appearance of the stitch pattern, pick a solid color yarn.
If you prefer worsted weight yarn, please see my Making Plans blanket knitting pattern.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIX SIZES:
This pattern includes instructions for six sizes including very small baby blanket size, a crib or lap size blanket...on up to an XXL Afghan blanket size.
Approximate sizes after blocking...
XXL: 54.5” wide x 60.5” long
XL: 50” wide x 50.5” long
Large: 41.75” wide x 50.5” long
Medium: : 38.25” wide x 38.75” long
Small (Crib/Lap): 34.5” wide x 34” long
Baby: 28.25” wide x 28” long
Any of the blanket sizes may be make longer by adding additional pattern repeats.
I made the Small size blanket. It measures about 34.5" wide and 34" long.
SUPER BULKY YARN:
This pattern is designed for use with super bulky yarn. Yardage needed...
XXL: 1350 - 1420 yards
XL: 1040 - 1100 yards
Large: 860 - 900 yards
Medium: 610 - 650 yards
Small (Crib/Lap): 490 - 520 yards
Baby: 325 - 350 yards
I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in the color 'Glacier'. This yarn is 20% wool and 80% acrylic... it has a lovely soft, woolly texture. This yarn is available in a wide range of color options. The best place to find the full selection of color choices is on the Lion Brand website.
If you prefer worsted weight yarn, please see my Making Plans blanket knitting pattern. (Shown in yellow below.)
Third Street Blanket (blue) is the super bulky version of this design. The yellow blanket on the right is the worsted weight version - Making Plans blanket.
This blanket would also look wonderful knit with Lion Brand Hometown super bulky. This is a great yarn choice if you prefer a yarn without wool. Check out 'Washington Denim' if you like a color similar to the one I used. My other favorite shades in Hometown USA are 'Dallas Grey' and 'Houston Cream'.
The stitch pattern texture will show up best with solid color yarns.
Be sure to purchase additional yarn if you plan to add length to your blanket. The pattern includes estimates on how much additional yarn is required to add pattern repeats.
A seed stitch border frames the blanket design. The stitch pattern is easy to remember and knits up quickly with super bulky yarn.
INSPIRATION FOR THE PATTERN NAME:
The name for the Third Street Blanket is inspired by maps of one of the oldest neighborhoods in Kansas City. Like so many towns, the streets in Kansas City were given numbered names...counting up starting at the river.
The image below is from a 1940 Kansas City road map. (I love maps!) The label for 3rd Street is in the center of this photo, just south of the Missouri River. Note the grid layout of the streets with small square city blocks...this was the inspiration for the name of my new blanket!
Map from 1940, showing the streets of Kansas City, Missouri… including 3rd Street and the City Market.
For many years, a weekly outdoor farmer's market has taken place near 3rd Street at the City Market. In the 1940 map above it says "new" under the City Market label. This same location was used as a farmer's market back in the 1850's when the city was founded under the name "Town of Kansas". (The city of Kansas City shown in the map above is actually in the state of Missouri. There's another city also called Kansas City which is nearby...in the state of Kansas. If this sounds confusing...it is!)
More about the blanket...
The Third Street Blanket is knit with super bulky yarn so it knits up very quickly. The easy to remember pattern makes this a fun blanket to knit while watching your favorite TV show.
The pattern includes instructions for six sizes so you can knit a blanket for just about anyone.
Third Street Blanket is easy to knit with super bulky yarn and US 13 knitting needles. Click here to buy the pattern.
KNITTING NEEDLES:
The project is worked flat, back and forth on circular knitting needles. Circular knitting needles are necessary in order to accommodate the large number of stitches for a blanket. Read my blog post on this topic if you need more information.
I used US size 13 circular Knitter's Pride Nova Platina knitting needles that are 32” in length. I've used them for many projects and would definitely recommend these knitting needles.
Another knitting needle option is these beautiful ChiaoGoo Bamboo US 13 circular needles that are 40” long.
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, without being too tight...or too loose.
TIP FOR CLEAN EDGES:
To keep the edges 'clean'...transition from one skein of yarn to the next somewhere in the middle of a row. It's easier to hide the woven-in ends in the center of a row on the wrong side of your knitting.
BLOCKING RECOMMENDED:
For best appearance, blocking of the finished blanket is recommended.
Click here to see all of my blocking tips including step-by-step photos.
For best appearance, blocking the finished blanket is highly recommended. Click here to see all my tips for blocking a blanket.
Knitters often ask if my blanket patterns are reversible...this one is not reversible. This blanket definitely looks prettier on the "right side".
CUSTOMER PROJECTS:
As of April 2020, Ravelry knitters have shared more than 65 projects using the Third Street Blanket pattern. And, the pattern has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Ravelry for overall results and 5 out of 5 stars for clarity of instructions.
“Love this easy pattern... it looks like it is harder than it is — actually it is tv knitting at its best. ”
“I love this pattern. Super easy knit. Thank you!!!”
I would love to see your Third Street Blanket knitting project! Share your project on Ravelry and on Instagram with tags: #thirdstreetblanket #fiftyfourtenstudio and @fiftyfourtenstudio.
SKILLS NEEDED:
The Third Street Blanket pattern is easy to knit for a confident knitter. If you know how to knit and purl, and change back and forth from one to the other confidently then you probably have the skills to knit this blanket.
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.
WHERE TO PURCHASE THE PATTERN:
Click here to purchase the Third Street Blanket knitting pattern on this website.
Click here to purchase the pattern on Ravelry.
The pattern is also available on Etsy.
Thank you so much for reading!
Happy knitting!
