Monday, April 9, 2018

Flint Hills Blanket - Easy to Knit Chunky Blanket

Recently, I knit a little blanket using my Flint Hills Blanket knitting pattern.  I love the texture of this easy to knit pattern!

Flint Hills Blanket knitting pattern is available on Ravelry, Craftsy, Etsy and LoveKnitting.

Flint Hills Blanket knitting pattern by Fifty Four Ten Studio
This blanket knits up very quickly with big needles and super bulky yarn!

See my Stay on the Ridge blanket knitting pattern if you prefer worsted weight yarn.

The Flint Hills Blanket is named for the Flint Hills - a large region in the east central portion of the state of Kansas which features rocking, rolling hills of limestone and flint (hard gray rock).  Early settlers in this area were unable to till the earth due to the rock so the land was mostly used for cattle ranches.  Today, the area is know for the largest intact tallgrass prairie in North America.  I know what you are thinking...you thought Kansas was perfectly flat!  But...much of the eastern portion of Kansas has beautiful rolling hills.

I love how this 'Aspen Tweed' shade of Lion Brand Hometown USA represents the natural, rocky, rolling hills landscape that inspired this pattern.

Flint Hills Blanket - knit with Lion Brand Hometown USA in 'Aspen Tweed'.

FIVE BLANKET SIZES:
The knitting pattern includes instructions for five blanket sizes.

Approximate sizes after blocking...

Baby Blanket: 30" wide x 32" long
Small Crib/Toddler/Lap Blanket: 35" wide x 37" long
Medium Throw: 37.5" wide x 47" long
Large Throw: 40" wide x 49.5" long
XL Afghan: 47.5" wide x 54.5" long

Any of the blanket sizes may be made longer by adding additional pattern repeats.  Each pattern repeat adds about 2.5" to the length of the blanket.  

Flint Hills Blanket is quick to knit with big needles and super bulky yarn.
SUPER BULKY YARN:
This blanket knitting pattern is designed for super bulky yarn.  

Approximate yardage required for each size...

Baby: 380 - 410 yards
Small: 520 - 560 yards
Medium: 690 - 740 yards
Large: 820 - 900 yards
XL: 1150 - 1250 yards

The pattern includes estimates for additional yard needed to make each blanket size longer.

Circular knitting needles are recommended to accommodate the large number of stitches.  The knitting needles I used (in photo below) are US size 13 Knitters Pride Nova Platina fixed circular in 32" length.

I love knitting a chunky blanket with Lion Brand Hometown USA.
I used Lion Brand Hometown USA in 'Aspen Tweed'.  I love how this lovely nature inspired yarn color works with the design!  I have used this yarn for many blanket projects and I'm always very pleased with the results.  Hometown USA is very, very soft with a lovely silky texture.  See all the beautiful color options for Hometown USA on the Lion Brand Yarn website.

Be sure to note...tweed options of Hometown USA have less yardage than solid color options.  Hometown USA tweed colorways have 64 yards.  Solid color options have 81 yards per skein.  

Also...I suggest sticking to solid colors of Hometown USA for baby blankets.  The tweed colorway has little flecks of contrasting color fibers that give extra texture and dimension...but would not be good for little ones who could pull the fibers off.

Flint Hills Blanket knitting pattern by Fifty Four Ten Studio
Where to get the pattern:

Flint Hills Blanket knitting pattern is available on Ravelry, Craftsy, Etsy and LoveKnitting.

Happy spring!

I love spring and watching everything outdoors brighten up.  And...the sunshine is the best!  At the end of March I went to visit one of our Kansas City treasures...The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art.  It was the perfect day for a walk through the garden in front of the museum and perfect timing to see the daffodils in full bloom. (It's hard to believe that since that day it has snowed on at least two days!)

Daffodils in bloom at The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.
As the days get longer...and the temperatures warmer...I get motivated to spruce things up around the house. The other day I moved a few things around in our spare bedroom and added my Parkway Pillow to accent the bed.  I love how the texture of the pillow and this pretty icy blue color yarn looks with the dark gray headboard and the bright white bedding!  (Yarn is Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in 'Glacier', white bedding is from IKEA and my husband made the headboard!)  Read more about The Parkway Pillow knitting pattern here on my blog. 

The Parkway Pillow - easy knitting pattern by Fifty Four Ten Studio
Thanks so much for reading!

Happy spring!

Mary Lee
Fifty Four Ten Studio

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