Twisted stitches, cables and lace come together in this relatively quick project. You can easily adjust the number of counterpane squares for a smaller or larger throw as desired.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 47” wide and 58” long
Gauge: 8 1/2 sts x 13 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Counterpane patt after wet blocking; 1 Counterpane Square = 11 1/2” [29 cm] across after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn:
Universal Yarn Uptown Bulky (100% anti-pilling acrylic; 87 yards [80 meters]/100 grams): #428 Lavender (20 balls)
Needles: US size 13 (9.0 mm) set of dpns, 16 and 24” circular needles
Notions: Markers, tapestry needle
Pattern Notes
This blanket is worked in a modular fashion. Each square is worked from the outside in. Stitches are cast on and picked up from sides of adjacent squares. To make this a better travel project, make each square separately and sew together instead.
The cabled edging is worked as a knit-on edging. Stitches are picked up around the perimeter of the blanket. Edging stitches are attached to the blanket by knitting 2 stitches together.
Special Stitches
Left Purl Twist (LPT): Purl the second st on the left needle tbl, knit the first st on the left needle through the front loop, slip both sts from needle.
Right Purl Twist (RPT): K2tog, do not slip sts off needle, purl the second st again tbl, slip both sts from needle.
1x1x1 RC: Slip next st to cn and hold in back, RPT, k1 from cn.
2×2 LC: Slip next 2 sts to cn and hold in front, k2 from left needle, k2 from cn.
2×2 LC Dec: Slip next 2 sts to cn and hold in front, ssk, k2tog from cn.
Counterpane Square
(Begins with 100 sts)
Note: Work begins on longest circular needle. Switch to shorter circular needle and then dpns when there are too few stitches to fit on the needle.
Rnd 1: *K4, [p2, k1] 3 times, p3, [k1, p2] 3 times; rep from * 3 more times.
Rnd 2 (Dec): *2×2 LC, p2tog, LPT, p1, yo, ssk, p1, LPT, p1, RPT, p1, k2tog, yo, p1, RPT, p2tog; rep from * 3 more times. (92 sts rem)
Rnd 3: *K4, [p2, k1] 3 times, p1, [k1, p3] 3 times; rep from * 3 more times.
Rnd 4 (Dec): *K4, p2tog, LPT, p1, yo, ssk, p1, 1x1x1 RC, p1, k2tog, yo, p1, RPT, p2tog; rep from * 3 more times. (84 sts rem)
Rnd 5: *K4, [p2, k1] 2 times, p5, [k1, p2] 2 times; rep from * 3 more times.
Rnd 6 (Dec): *2×2 LC, p2tog, LPT, p1, yo, ssk, p3, k2tog, yo, p1, RPT, p2tog; rep from * 3 more times. (76 sts rem)
Rnd 7: *K4, [p2, k1] 2 times, p3, [k1, p2] 2 times; rep from * 3 more times.
Rnd 8 (Dec): *K4, p2tog, LPT, p1, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, p1, RPT, p2tog; rep from * 3 more times. (68 sts rem)
Rnd 9: *K4, p2, k1, p2, k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl, p2, k1, p2; rep from * 3 more times.
Rnd 10 (Dec): *2×2 LPT, p2tog, LPT, [p1, k1 tbl] 2 times, p1, RPT, p2tog; rep from * 3 more times. (60 sts rem)
Rnd 11: *K4, p2, LPT, k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl, RPT, p2; rep from * 3 more times.
Rnd 12 (Dec): *K4, p2tog, p1, LPT, p1, RPT, p1, p2tog; rep from * 3 more times. (52 sts rem)
Rnd 13: *K4, p3, k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl, p3; rep from * 3 more times.
Rnd 14 (Dec): *2×2 LC, p2tog, [p1, k1 tbl] 2 times, p1, p2tog; rep from * 3 more times. (44 sts rem)
Rnd 15: *K4, p2, k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl, p2; rep from * 3 more times.
Rnd 16 (Dec): *K4, p2tog, k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl, p2tog; rep from * 3 more times. (36 sts rem)
Rnd 17: *K4, [p1, k1 tbl] 2 times, p1; rep from * 3 more times.
Rnd 18 (Dec): *2×2 LC Dec, p1, sk2p, p1; rep from * 3 more times. (20 sts rem)
Rnd 19 (Dec): *K2tog, p3tog; rep from * 3 more times. (8 sts rem)
Break yarn leaving 6” tail. Pass tail through rem live sts, pull taut. Weave in end.
Pattern
Refer to diagram for Square placement.
Row 1
Square 1
With longer circ needle, *CO 25 sts, pm; rep from * 3 more times, join to work in the rnd. (100 sts)
Work Rnds 1-19 of Counterpane Square. Finish Square.
Square 2
With longer circ needle, CO 2 sts, beg in the center of any 2×2 cable from outer edge of Square 1, pick up and knit 23 sts along side of Square 1, ending just before the next 2×2 cable, pm, pick up and knit 2 sts along first half of that cable, CO 23 sts, pm, [CO 25 sts, pm] 2 times. Join to work in the rnd.
Work Rnds 1-19 of Counterpane Square. Finish Square.
Squares 3 and 4
Work as for Square 2, picking up stitches from the sides of previous squares.
Row 2
Square 5
With longer circ needle, CO 2 sts, beg in the center of top right 2×2 cable from outer edge of Square 1, pick up and knit 23 sts along side of Square 1, ending just before the next 2×2 cable, pm, pick up and knit 2 sts along first half of that cable, CO 23 sts, pm, [CO 25 sts, pm] 2 times. Join to work in the rnd.
Work Rnds 1-19 of Counterpane Square. Finish Square.
Square 6
With longer circ needle, CO 2 sts, beg in the center of upper left 2×2 cable from outer edge of Square 5, pick up and knit 23 sts along side of Square 5, ending just before the next 2×2 cable, pm, pick up and knit 2 sts along first half of that cable, working along top of Square 2, beg in center of cable, pick up and knit 23 sts along side of Square 2, ending just before the next 2×2 cable, pm, pick up and knit 2 sts along first half of that cable, pm, [CO 25 sts, pm] 2 times. Join to work in the rnd.
Work Rnds 1-19 of Counterpane Square. Finish Square.
Square 7 and 8
Work as for Square 6, picking up stitches from the sides of previous squares.
Rows 3-5
Work as for Row 2.
Finishing – Cabled Edging – Top Edge
With longest circ needle, pick up (do not pick up and knit, just pick up) 23 sts along top of Square 17 beginning just after the upper right corner cable, 25 sts each along Squares 18 and 19, and 23 sts along Square 20 ending just before upper left corner cable. (96 sts)
CO 7 sts to needle.
Rep Rows 1-4 of Edging Cable patt until all sts from circ needle have been worked. (32 total reps of Edging Cable have been worked)
Pick up 4 sts along upper left corner cable from Square 20.
Work Rows 1-8 of Corner Cable patt, 2 times.
Left Edge
Pick up 23 sts along remainder of Square 20, 25 sts each along Squares 16, 12, 8, and 22 sts along Square 4 ending just before lower left corner cable. (120 sts).
Rep Rows 1-4 of Edging Cable patt until all sts from circ needle have been worked. (40 total reps of Edging Cable have been worked)
Pick up 4 sts along lower left corner cable from Square 4.
Work Rows 1-8 of Corner Cable patt, 2 times.
Bottom Edge
Pick up 23 sts along remainder of Square 4, 25 sts each along Squares 3, 2, and 23 sts along Square 1, ending just before lower right corner cable. (96 sts)
Rep Rows 1-4 of Edging Cable patt until all sts from circ needle have been worked. (32 total reps of Edging Cable have been worked)
Pick up 4 sts along lower right corner cable from Square 1.
Work Rows 1-8 of Corner Cable patt, 2 times.
Right Edge
Pick up 23 sts along remainder of Square 1, 25 sts each along Squares 5, 9, 13, and 22 sts along Square 17, ending just before upper right corner cable. (120 sts)
Rep Rows 1-4 of Edging Cable patt until all sts from circ needle have been worked. (40 total reps of Edging Cable have been worked)
Pick up 4 sts along upper right corner cable from Square 17.
Work Rows 1-8 of Corner Cable patt, 2 times.
BO all sts.
Sew ends of Edging together. Weave in ends and block. 