Knitted Rainbow Blanket

Oh me, oh my… it’s finally here. My first ever PipsRainbow knitted pattern. So excited to share this with you all. I have knitted for so many years, but never thought I would have the confidence to write one down on here! I think I spoke before about how I seem to be sharing my time a little more between knitting and crocheting. I seem to crave more time with both of them and feel that both are a joy to do and create with. I never thought I would design with knitting though, but have loved creating this one and really hope I can design more.


So without further ado, let’s get stuck in. Now my little blanket (well not so little) is created using the utterly gorgeous club yarn from my Geodes and Gems club from For the Love of Yarn

Lisa’s colours are just out of this world. Each lovely monthly parcel comes with a gorgeous bundle of yarn, including 5 x 20gs of yarn all blended from one colour that is based on a gorgeous gem or geode and a little stitch marker to match. So pleased I was lucky enough to sign up to this one. Definitely needed to create something that would do it justice.

I choose the Yak Base for my yarn, I’m so pleased I did. Gives the colour such a richness and is so deliciously soft. I can imagine I will have my lot fighting over who gets to snuggle under this blanket.

As many of you know, I do not sell my patterns, but ask for a donation, however small, to support one of our incredible charities. For this pattern, I will be supporting the wonderful charity CLDF – Children’s Liver Disease Foundation. This is a charity that is close to the heart of Lisa from For the Love of Yarn and her family and I feel truly honoured that I can help and support the charity in anyway I can. Here is the link to my Just Giving page to support CLDF.

Children’s Liver Disease Foundation – Just Giving Page

Thank you so much for your support, it is very much appreciated.

It’s pattern time

Now as this is a KAL, the complete blanket will be completed at the end of the year. (I still have November and December to come.) The blanket will consist of 12 sections of 5 different stitches. I will use 12 sets of 5 x gradient colours from my Geodes and Gems Club. The colours are so gorgeous & blend so beautifully. I can’t wait to see it finished! As the club is ongoing I will add the finished pattern on here, once I have completed the blanket in early January. But all you need to get started is on this sumptuous blanket, is here.

Right so let’s get started…

Yarn

12 x 5 sets of 20g skeins of DK Geodes and Gems Club yarn from For the Love of Yarn

Needles

5mm x 100cm Circular Sock Needles

Notions

Scissors and Darning Needle for ends.

Gauge

18 stitches and 25 rows to 10 cm / 4 ins measured.

Finished Size –

155cm wide by 140cm height. (Perfect snuggle size)

Abbreviations –

k: Knit

p: Purl

SL1pw: Slip 1 stitch purl wise (slip – the first stitch (next stitch on the left-hand needle) on to the the right-hand needle purlwise, as if to knit.)

yf: Yarn to the front

yb: Yarn to the back

RS: Right side

Stitches –

The blanket uses 5 stitches – Fleck Stitch, Double Moss Stitch, Garter Stitch, Texture Stitch and Moss Stitch. They are worked in this order and are repeated 12 times to complete the blanket. Each of these stitches are a multiple of 2 plus 1, thus why they work so well together.

Cast On:

Using a loose cast on method, cast on 201 stitches and turn.

Stitch 1 – Fleck Stitch

Row 1 – (RS) Knit each stitch, turn.

Row 2 – Purl each stitch, turn.

Row 3 – K1, [p1, k1] repeat to end, turn.

Row 4 – Purl each stitch, turn.

Row 5 – Knit each stitch, turn.

Row 6 – Purl each stitch, turn, fasten off.

Stitch 2 – Double Moss Stitch

Row 1 – (RS) K1, [p1, k1] repeat to end, turn.

Row 2 – P1, [k1, p1] repeat to end, turn.

Row 3 – P1, [k1, p1] repeat to end, turn.

Row 4 – K1, [p1, k1] repeat to end, turn.

Row 5 – P1, [k1, p1] repeat to end, turn.

Row 6 – K1, [p1, k1] repeat to end, turn.

Stitch 3 – Garter Stitch

Rows 1 – 6 Starting with the RS. Knit each stitch, turn.

Stitch 4 – Texture Stitch

Row 1 – (RS) Purl each stitch, turn.

Row 2 – Purl each stitch, turn.

Row 3 – K1, [yf, SL1pw, yb, k1] repeat to end, turn.

Row 4 – Purl each stitch, turn.

Row 5 – K1, [yf, SL1pw, yb, k1] repeat to end, turn.

Row 6 – Purl each stitch, turn.

Stitch 5 – Moss Stitch

Rows 1 – 6 Starting with the RS, K1, [p1, k1] repeat to end, turn.

Now repeat the process from stitch 1 to stitch 5, until you have used all 12 sets of colours. So there will be 12 sections of colour.

Then it will be time to cast off and sew in all your ends and block your blanket.

As I said before, I will share the full pattern again at the end of the year, once I have completed the club and blanket. I really hope you have enjoyed this pattern. I know I have loved creating and designing this blanket and I know in time, I hope to bring many more knitted patterns to be shared on my little PipsRainbow.

Here’s the link to Lisa’s website, for any of you lovely lot that would love a peek of her gorgeous yarns. For the Love of Yarn

Don’t forget to share all your creations and tag me in. If you have any questions or queries, just give us a shout. 

Happy stitching.

🌈Xx

(Don’t forget that this pattern is brought to you from PipsRainbow, it has not been tech edited, but all attempts have been made to ensure it is correct and easy to follow. It is only to be used for personnel use only and not to be shared or used to create items for profit. Thank you.)

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PipsRainbow is 6 Years Old!

Hmm, now where has that gone! 6 years! I can’t quite believe how quickly the time flies by. If you’d have said that I would be a crochet designer & that I would have my one blog & write my own patterns 10 years ago – well I definitely wouldn’t have believed you! I remember when I thought up PipsRainbow. It was on a journey on the way home from Lymington. We’d been on a family holiday and my little boy was only a few months old, so it was quite a big thing. I remember the days of all the paraphernalia that you need with a little one. The extra little bits of kit that you may or may not use! But the one thing I did have, was my crochet kit. Even then, I didn’t use to leave the house without my crochet kit. You just never knew when the next moment to crochet would arise. In those days, it would be when I was out and about and little one had fallen asleep in his pram or car seat. Well on this particular occasion, I must have been trying to get him to have a nap. You can just see his little awake eye peeping out at me! Bless him.

I think I was crocheting a little Easter chick or a duck at the time. I now find that sock knitting or crocheting is my go to for taking out and about with me. It’s such a small project and usually involves not much thinking about, so great to work on when there are other things going on around you.

Over the past year, I feel PipsRainbow has evolved. I think it is important to develop and grow as a little company. I always knew that it had to fit around our daily busy lives. And sometimes this year, it is safe to say that, it has been on the back burner. Which makes me a little sad. As I have spoken about before, when you have a bit of a confidence drop in your work – you will always find another job that needs doing and those all uninspiring words ‘It’s ok, I will do that tomorrow!’ Are said. Hmm…I think I have said that, far too many times already this year. Haha, guessing that can be said for many of us, in all walks of life. So onward and upward me thinks. Time to take charge & spend a little bit more time doing the things with love.

One thing that does seem to be evolving is my desire to knit and design projects. Crocheting and knitting seem to be working hand in hand with each other. And I have always said that some things are best crocheted, yet others definitely need to be knitted. Heyho. The juggling act for both of them, is very real. Haha.

So here’s a cheer to the last year of PipsRainbow. I wonder what Year 7 will look like?!

Right then – here is the all important Birthday Pattern. The Waffle Snood. Haha, I know it is a funny name, but the stitch really does look like a waffle. Hmm, maybe I need to rethink that one.



This beautiful yarn was given to me by my dear friend. It’s from Manos Del Urguary and is called Alegria Grande. It’s a worsted weight and is oh so soft. So perfect for a snuggle snood. And yep, I am wearing it now – it’s cold!!

You will need –

100g skein of Aran/worsted yarn, 5mm crochet hook, blunt ended tapestry needle and some scissors.

Stitch Information –

Waffle Stitch – 1ch, insert hook into next chain/stitch, yrh, pull through a loop, insert hook in next chain/stitch, yrh, pull through a loop [yrh, pull through 2 loops] twice. 

Abbreviations –

ch – Chain

chsp – Chain Space

yrh – yarn round hook

Pattern –

Start your work by making a foundation chain of 39 stitches.  

Step 1 – Insert your hook into 3rd chain from the hook, yrh, pull through a loop, insert hook in 4th chain from hook, yrh, pull through a loop, [yrh, pull through 2 loops] twice. Now work a waffle stitch in each of next 2ch. (Waffle Stitch – 1ch, insert hook into next chain/stitch, yrh, pull through a loop, insert hook in next chain/stitch, yrh, pull through a loop [yrh, pull through 2 loops] twice. Repeat to last chain, 1ch, 1dc in last ch, turn. 

Step 2 – Ch2, Waffle stitch in first dc & next ch1sp, then [1ch, waffle stitch in next stitch and then in next 1chsp] Repeat to the last waffle stitch. Ch1, 1dc in last waffle stitch and turn. 

Repeat step 2 until you have the desired length you would like and fasten off. I worked mine till it was 60cm in length.

Now fold it back on itself and use your crochet hook to work 1dc in both sides of the snood by inserting you hook into both stitches in either side. (Alternatively, using your darning needle, sew up both sides to create the snood and then fasten off and sew in your ends.

Now it’s time to block your work. If your aren’t sure how to do this, then look up my You tube video on how to block your work.

So there you have it. A year of PipsRainbow & an all important Birthday Pattern. Enjoy.

Big hugs to you all & thank you once again for all of your support over the year. It means so much to me, more than you know.

Happy hooking.

Pip

🌈Xx

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