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Tibetan Check Afghan

Click here for larger image.Our free pattern with this issue of the newsletter is Tibetan Check Afghan by Barbara Venishnick. The blocks of color are interspersed with garter ridges, which add lots of texture and interest to the project. Make it in school colors, team colors or to match his den perfectly.

The pattern is worked at one time, so no sewing is needed to complete it. The intarsia method links the block colors, so be sure to bring the new color of yarn up under the yarn just used when you change colors. You'll avoid making holes and keep the back of the work neat looking.

A checkerboard is overlaid with bands of horizontal garter stitch, giving a three-dimensional effect. The afghan is constructed in one piece using intarsia technique.

Design by Barbara Venishnick

Finished Size

Approx 49 x 63 inches

Materials

  • Plymouth Encore worsted weight 75 percent acrylic/25 percent wool yarn (200 yds/100g per ball): 5 balls rose heather #433 (A), 4 balls each beige heather #1415 (B), grey heather #389 (C)
  • Size 10 (6mm) 40-inch circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge
  • Size H/8 (5mm) crochet hook (for cast on)
  • Tapestry needle

Gauge

15 sts and 26 rows = 4 inches/10cm in pat

To save time, take time to check gauge.

Pattern Notes

Afghan is worked using intarsia technique. Attach separate ball of yarn for each square of checkerboard. Keep them all in a basket to avoid tangling. When changing colors, pick up new color under old to avoid holes.

Carry colors B and C up behind color A stripes. Cut yarn and reposition colors only when color B and C blocks change position. Color A may be carried up side when not in use.

Circular needle is used to accommodate large number of sts. Do not join at end of row.

Special Abbreviations

M1 (Make 1): Inc by lifting running yarn between st just knit and next st onto LH needle. K1 in back loop.

Provisional cast on: With crochet hook and scrap yarn, loosely ch number of sts needed for afghan plus a few more. With working needle and afghan yarn, pick up 1 st in each purl bump on back side of ch. Ch can be undone leaving live sts to work trim. This makes a more flexible edge than a regular cast on.

With crochet hook, ch 176 sts plus a few extra. With circular needle, provisionally cast on as follows: [22 B, 22 C] 4 times.

Note: Cast-on row counts as Row 1 of first rep of pat.

Pattern

Row 1: Knit [22 B, 22 C] 4 times.

Row 2: Purl [22 C, 22 B] 4 times.

Rows 3 and 4: Rep Rows 1 and 2.

Rows 5–8: With A, k176.

Rows 9–40: [Rep Rows 1–8] 4 more times to complete row of checks.

Row 41: Knit [22 C, 22 B] 4 times.

Row 42: Purl [22 B, 22 C] 4 times.

Rows 43 and 44: Rep Rows 41 and 42.

Rows 45–48: With A, k176.

Rows 49–80: [Rep Rows 41–80] 4 more times to complete row of checks.

Rep [Rows 1–80] 4 times more, ending last rep with Row 76. Do not work last 4 rows of A. Finished grid will be 8 blocks wide and 10 blocks high. Do not bind off.

Top Border

Rows 1 and 2: With A, knit.

Row 3: With C, k1, M1, k to last st, M1, k1.

Row 4: With C, knit.

Rows 5 and 6: With A, knit.

Rows 7 and 8: With B, rep Rows 3 and 4.

Row 9: With A, knit.

With A, bind off all sts knitwise.

Bottom Border

Undo crochet ch and place all sts on needle. Note: Undo 1 st at a time and sl resulting st onto needle as you go. Work as for top border.

Side Borders

With A and circular needle, pick up and k 1 st in every other row along side of afghan, with first st in first color A row of top border, and last st in first color A row of bottom border.

Row 1: With A, knit.

Row 2: With C, pick up and k 1 st in color C row of top border, knit across, pick up and k 1 st in color C row of bottom border.

Row 3: With C, knit.

Row 4: With A, pick up and k 1 st in 2nd color A row of top border, knit across, pick up and k 1 st in 2nd color A row of bottom border.

Row 5: With A, knit.

Row 6: With B, pick up and k 1 st in color B row of top border, knit across, pick up and k 1 st in color B row of bottom border.

Row 7: With B, knit.

Row 8: With A, pick up and k 1 st in last color A row of top border, knit across, pick up and k 1 st in last color A row of bottom border.

With A, bind off all sts knitwise. Rep on other side.

Block lightly.

Copyright © 2006 Quick Knits: Cool Projects, House of White Birches. All rights reserved.

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