Faux Modular Afghan

This striking throw seems much more complicated than it really is, but the secret is in a simple stranded stitch pattern which looks different on each side. Worked up in one piece, this afghan is the perfect accent piece for any couch.

Skill Level:  Intermediate

Size: 40 x 60 inches (100 cm x 150 cm)

Gauge: 9 sts x 10 rows = 3.5 inches (9 cm) in main pattern; each ‘square’ on the blanket is 3.5 inches (9 cm) square

Materials

Yarn: Patons Fab Big (100% acrylic; 143 yards [131 meters]/200 grams): #02347 Taupe (MC, 4 skeins), #02307 Cream (CC, 4 skeins)

Needles: US size 15 (10.0 mm) needles, each with an 80 cm cord

Notions: Large yarn needle to weave in ends

Special Stitches

Pattern Repeats

Border 1: Sl 1, K1 in CC, K1 in MC.
Border 2: K1 in MC, K1 in CC, K1 in MC.
Border 3: Sl 1, P1 in CC, P1 in MC.
Border 4: P1 in MC, P1 in CC, P1 in MC.
Square 1: (K1 CC, K1 MC) Repeat bracket three more times (4 times in total). K1 CC.
Square 2: (P1 MC, P1 CC) Repeat bracket three more times (4 times in total). P1 MC.
Square 3: (P1 CC, P1 MC) Repeat bracket three more times (4 times in total). P1 CC.
Square 4: (K1 MC, K1 CC) Repeat bracket three more times (4 times in total), K1 MC. 

Pattern Notes

This blanket is made in one piece and uses the stitch pattern to give the illusion of seamed squares.
You can have a different number of columns or rows in your own project by casting on more or fewer pattern repeats at the start and then knitting for more or fewer rows in total.
Each blanket ‘square’ is nine stitches wide and ten rows tall. To change the number of squares across your own blanket, add or subtract multiples of nine stitches from the Cast On number specified.
If you wish your blanket to have the same pattern in all four corners you will need to cast on an odd number of pattern repeats across your blanket and knit an odd number of pattern row repeats.
The entire blanket is framed by a border which is three stitches wide on each side of the blanket and six rows deep at the top and bottom, in addition to the cast on and bind off rows.
For the main pattern section of the blanket, the two colors of yarn alternate all the way across. This means that you should always be working with a different color yarn to your previous stitch, and the same color yarn as the stitch that you are knitting into.
After working each stitch, the working yarn should be directed to lie over the top of the yarn being picked up for the next color, in the conventional stranded knitting method.
Each row starts and finishes with (MC, CC, MC) for the border.
The first stitch on every row is slipped, to form a neat edge.

Pattern

Cast on 105 stitches in MC.
Row 1: Sl 1, K 104 in MC.
Row 2: Sl 1, P 104 in MC.
Row 3: Join CC. Sl 1, K 103 in CC, Sl 1.
Row 4: Sl 1, P 103 in CC, P 1 in MC.
Row 5: Sl 1, K1 in CC, K101 in MC, Sl1, K1 in MC.
Row 6: Sl 2, P101 in MC, Sl l, P1 in MC.
Row 7: Border 1. (Square 1, bring both yarns to front, Square 2, bring both yarns to back) Repeat bracket four more times (5 times in total). Square 1. Border 2.
Row 8: Border 3. (Square 3, bring both yarns to back, Square 4, bring both yarns to the front). Repeat bracket four more times (5 times in total). Square 3. Border 4.
Rows 9-16: Repeat Rows 7 and 8 four more times each. (10 rows in total)
Row 17: Border 1. (Bring both yarns to the back, Square 3, bring both yarns to front, Square 4) Repeat bracket four more times (5 times in total). Bring both yarns to the back, Square 3. Bring both yarns to the front, Border 2.
Row 18: Border 3. (Bring both yarns to the front, Square 1, bring both yarns to the back, Square 2) Repeat bracket four more times (5 times in total). Bring both yarns to the front, Square 1. Bring both yarns to the back, Border 4.
Rows 19-26: Repeat Rows 17 and 18 four more times each. (10 rows in total) 
Rows 27-36: Repeat Rows 7 and 8 four more times each. (10 rows in total)
Rows 37-46: Repeat Rows 17 and 18 four more times each. (10 rows in total) 
Rows 47-56: Repeat Rows 7 and 8 four more times each. (10 rows in total)    
Rows 57-66: Repeat Rows 17 and 18 four more times each. (10 rows in total) 
Rows 67-76: Repeat Rows 7 and 8 four more times each. (10 rows in total) 
Rows 77-86: Repeat Rows 17 and 18 four more times each. (10 rows in total) 
Rows 87-96: Repeat Rows 7 and 8 four more times each. (10 rows in total)
Rows 97-106: Repeat Rows 17 and 18 four more times each. (10 rows in total) 
Rows 107-116: Repeat Rows 7 and 8 four more times each. (10 rows in total)
Rows 117-126: Repeat Rows 17 and 18 four more times each. (10 rows in total)
Rows 127-136: Repeat Rows 7 and 8 four more times each. (10 rows in total)
Rows 137-146: Repeat Rows 17 and 18 four more times each. (10 rows in total)
Rows 147-156: Repeat Rows 7 and 8 four more times each. (10 rows in total)
Rows 157-166: Repeat Rows 17 and 18 four more times each. (10 rows in total)
Rows 167-176: Repeat Rows 7 and 8 four more times each. (10 rows in total)
Row 177: Sl 1, P1 in CC,  P101 in MC, Sl l, P1 in MC.
Row 178: Sl 2, K101 in MC, K1 in CC, K1 in MC.
Row 179: Sl 1, P103 in CC, Sl 1.
Row 180: Sl 1, K103 in CC, K1 in MC.
Row 181: Sl 1, P104 in MC.
Row 182: Sl 1, K104 in MC.
Bind off 105 stitches loosely in MC.
Weave in ends and block blanket.