How Knitters Use Fifty Four Ten Studio Patterns - Sharing their projects!

Today, I'm sharing photos of some projects customers have made using my Fifty Four Ten Studio knitting patterns.  It's such a joy to see how knitters have used my patterns to make special items for their family and friends...as well as their own home.  These are just a few of many lovely finished projects.

All photos shared with the permission of each knitter.

Click the links on each pattern name to read more about each pattern here on my blog.

Patti's Pretty Blanket Projects

Patti has made several blankets using my knitting patterns.  She sent me this photo of the Westport Blanket she made for a birthday gift...neatly folded and boxed up for gift giving.  It looks absolutely lovely!

Westport Blanket - knit by Patti

Patti also made the Over the Rooftops blanket in this pretty pinkish cranberry shade.  (I'm sorry I forgot to ask her the yarn color!)  Beautiful stitches!

Over the Rooftops blanket knit by Patti

Khonnie's Traveling Bed Runner Project

Khonnie is knitting a River of Dreams chunky cable bed runner blanket and has shared several gorgeous progress pics on her @atticus_fynch Instagram account.  It was hard to pick just two photos to share!  Her caption for this one: "I take my projects around so I can say they were made in different places. #madeinsac#madeintahoe #madeinLA"

River of Dreams bed runner - knit by Khonnie

How about the pretty composition of the photo below: the open window...the dark shadow in the foreground...the cable knitting appearing out of the shadow and drawing our eye to the window. 

Khonnie's caption: "Adding #madeinoakland to this cable bed runner. I’m renting a small room this weekend while finishing a weaving workshop in Oakland."  Head over to Khonnie's Instagram account to see her posts about weaving!

River of Dreams bed runner - work in progress by Khonnie

UPDATE: Khonnie posted this finished project photo of her beautiful River of Dreams bed runner on Instagram on April 7, 2019:

Khonnie's finished 'River of Dreams' bed runner knitting project.

Eleri's Cozy Blanket Projects

Here's a work in progress photo of Eleri's Stones in the Road blanket.  She used Drops Andes yarn in the 'Gray Lilac' colorway. I love how the chunky texture of her knitting looks with all the fabric designs on her couch...so cozy!

Stones in the Road blanket knit by Eleri

And....she also made this beautiful Across the Diamond blanket for her parents last year.  Such a special gift with perfect stitches...and a gorgeous yarn color!

Across the Diamond blanket knit by Eleri

Carla's 10th Knitting Project!

Carla knit the All These Places blanket in a lovely navy blue yarn.  She told me the yarn is Kramer Yarns Perfection Chunky in the colorway 'Admiral'. 

When I emailed Carla to ask if I could use her project photo for this blog post, she shared with me that this is her 10th finished knitting project...and she's only been knitting for about four months.  She started knitting in November 2018 and she made this blanket in March 2019....it looks fabulous!

All These Places blanket knit by Carla

Carla's Beautiful Birthday Gift

Carla, from Mexico, shared this lovely photo of the beautiful blanket she made as a birthday gift for her adult son. She used my Where the Sidewalk Ends knitting pattern and Lion Brand Hometown USA in the 'Dallas Grey' colorway.  Her stitches are gorgeous!  Such care and love shows in her presentation of flowers, cake and her handmade gift.

Where the Sidewalk Ends blanket - knit by Carla

Shona's Cheery Stay on the Ridge Blanket Project

Shona, from New Zealand, made a gorgeous blanket with the Stay on the Ridge knitting pattern using Malabrigo Worsted yarn in the 'Frank Ochre' colorway.  She shared several beautiful progress photos on her @lilbidypurl Instagram account last year....these are my two favorite:

Stay on the Ridge blanket - work in progress by Shona

I love this September 2018 photo of Shona's finished Stay on the Ridge blanket!  

Stay on the Ridge blanket - knit by Shona

Liz's Beautiful Boulevard Blanket Knitting Project

Liz, who lives in Alaska, shared this pretty work-in-progress photo of The Boulevard Blanket on her Instagram account (check out her beautiful photography!) in mid-January. She said: "I must finish this blanket soon, so it can keep me warm!!! And of course there's Watson, never too far away.  My little quality control specialist." (See more cute photos of her dog Watson on her Instagram account!)

The Boulevard Blanket - knit by Liz

Liz used Lion Brand Hometown USA in 'Lake Tahoe Blue' for her Boulevard Blanket project...it's gorgeous!  I love how the very subtle variegation of the yarn works with the stitch pattern.

Liz used Lion Brand Hometown USA in 'Lake Tahoe Blue'

The Boulevard Blanket knitting pattern is *free* everyday on Ravelry and LoveKnitting.  It's easy to knit with super bulky yarn.  The pattern includes instructions for six blanket sizes!

_______________________________________

Thank you so much to Patti, Eleri, Carla, Khonnie, Liz, Shona and Carla (yes...two knitters named Carla!) for sharing their Fifty Four Ten Studio project photos....and for allowing me to share their beautiful photos with you here on my blog.  It's a joy to see how other knitters use my knitting patterns!  

How to share your photos and be considered for a future blog post:  

Instagram: If you are sharing your Fifty Four Ten Studio knitting project on Instagram...be sure to tag your photo with @FiftyFourTenStudio so I will see it!  (Keep in mind that if your account is private, I won't be able to see your photo.)

Email: My email address is in all of my pattern documents...drop me a line anytime!  I love hearing about your projects!  

Ravelry Projects: I love seeing Fifty Four Ten Studio projects that are shared on Ravelry!  I try to check on Ravelry and look for new projects every few weeks.  

Thanks so much for reading!  Have a fabulous day!

Mary Lee

Fifty Four Ten Studio

Projects made with Fifty Four Ten Studio knitting patterns - 2019

Game Time - New Chunky Blanket & Scarf Knitting Pattern

I'm so excited to introduce my new easy to knit chunky blanket (& scarf!) knitting pattern...Game Time.

The Game Time knitting pattern has instructions for six blanket sizes...plus a cozy, chunky scarf!

This design features a four row repeat pattern that is easy to knit.  This is a great pattern for any level of knitter, including a confident beginner.

Game Time blanket & scarf knitting pattern is available on Ravelry, Etsy, Craftsy and LoveKnitting.

Game Time chunky blanket knitting pattern by Fifty Four Ten Studio

INSPIRATION FOR THE PATTERN NAME:

Game Time...is 8:00 a.m. on a crisp fall Saturday morning when parents and grandparents, bundled in coats, blankets and scarves, take their spot on the sidelines to cheer for the kids. 

Game Time...is a chilly afternoon in late November at the championship game where the bleachers are packed with fans...all huddled together for warmth...while the game is played in drizzle and snow.

Game Time...is relaxing at home on a Sunday afternoon...cuddled up under a warm blanket watching a favorite team on television.

Game Time...is pulling out an easy knitting project to enjoy making while watching the game.

The Game Time knitting pattern is very easy to knit while watching a game...or make a blanket or scarf to keep warm at the game!

Game Time chunky scarf knitting pattern by Fifty Four Ten Studio

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SCARF + SIX BLANKET SIZES:

The Game Time knitting pattern includes instructions for six blanket sizes, plus a scarf.

Approximate sizes after blocking...

Scarf: 8.5" wide x 64" long

Baby Blanket: 30.5" wide x 33" long

Small (Crib/Lap) Blanket: 36" wide x 40" long

Medium Throw: 41" wide x 45" long

Large Throw: 44" wide x 49" long

XL Afghan: 47.5" wide x 54.5" long

XXL Afghan: 51.5" wide x 57" long

It is very easy to make any of the sizes longer by adding additional pattern repeats.  Each pattern repeat adds about 1" - 1.25" to the length of the project.

The pattern instructions include estimates of how much additional yarn is required to add length to size. 

Game Time blanket knitting pattern by Fifty Four Ten Studio

SUPER BULKY YARN:

This blanket pattern is designed for super bulky yarn.  

Amount of yarn needed for each size:

Scarf: 205 - 225 yards

Baby Blanket: 440 - 465 yards

Small Blanket: 630 - 660 yards

Medium Throw: 800 - 850 yards

Large Throw: 970 - 1020 yards

XL Afghan: 1200 - 1250 yards

XXL Afghan: 1350 - 1450 yards

Solid color yarn is recommended to show the stitch pattern best.

Click here to see my worsted weight version of this design - Quality Time scarf and blanket knitting pattern.

I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in 'Mustard' for the blanket and 'Pumpkin' for the scarf.  I loved using these fall inspired colors...they are beautiful!  I have used Wool-Ease Thick & Quick for many chunky knitting pattern designs.  There's a reason why I return to this yarn again and again...great color choices, dependable quality and great stitch definition.  The yarn is an acrylic / wool blend that has a pleasing 'woolly' feel.  Some of my favorite colorways in the Wool-Ease Thick & Quick are 'Denim' (dusty dark blue), 'Glacier' (icy blue) and 'Fisherman' (classic ivory).

If you prefer a softer yarn without any wool content...this project would work great with Lion Brand Hometown USA.  If you prefer a more neutral colorway...I'm a big fan of 'Dallas Gray'...which I used for my Westport Blanket knitting pattern.  

REVERSIBLE!

The Game Time pattern design is reversible!  The stitch pattern does not appear exactly the same on both sides but it looks attractive on both sides.

Game Time knitting pattern - it looks great on both sides!

EASY KNITTING PATTERN:

The Game Time blanket and scarf is very easy to knit!  

You will need to know how to cast on stitches, knit and purl confidently, read a row by row knitting pattern, bind off stitches and weave in ends.  The two stitch techniques in this design are garter stitch and a K1, P1 repeat (like used for ribbing).

A couple of stitch markers (ring and clip-on style) are helpful for keeping track of the pattern.

WHERE TO PURCHASE THE PATTERN:

Game Time blanket knitting pattern is available on Ravelry.  

The pattern is also available on Etsy, Craftsy and LoveKnitting.

Game Time chunky blanket knitting pattern by Fifty Four Ten Studio

We're enjoying an absolutely beautiful fall here in Kansas City....gorgeous fall color and bright sunny days.  I've enjoyed knitting on the deck and taking walks everyday to soak up all the pretty fall colors.  

I loved knitting the Game Time blanket and scarf...inspired by the beauty of fall and the fun of going to a game. 

Have a wonderful day!  Happy knitting!

Mary Lee

Fifty Four Ten Studio

Stones in the Road blanket knitting pattern - updated!

I'm happy to announce that I have updated one of my favorite blanket knitting patterns - Stones in the Road.  The updated pattern includes new photos and instructions for six sizes!

The Stones in the Road blanket knitting pattern is available on Ravelry, Craftsy, LoveKnitting  and in my Etsy shop.

Stones in the Road blanket knitting pattern by Fifty Four Ten Studio

INSPIRATION FOR THE PATTERN NAME:

The name for my Stones in the Road blanket knitting pattern was inspired by a beautiful fall day spent biking the Katy Trail in Missouri.  The trail was built on an old railroad right-of-way which is paved with crushed stones...stones in the road.  I happened to bike the trail for the first time in the fall of 2016....when I was working on this blanket design.  Here's a photo of the Katy Trail:

Katy Trail - bike path in Missouri

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIX SIZES:

The Stones in the Road blanket knitting pattern includes instructions for six blanket sizes.

Approximate blanket sizes after blocking...

Baby Blanket: 29" wide x 29" long

Small (Crib/Lap) Blanket: 35" wide x 39" long

Medium Throw: 37.75" wide x 46.5" long

Large Throw: 41.25" wide x 51.5" long

XL Afghan: 49" wide x 59" long

XXL Afghan: 53.5" wide x 61.5" long

It is very easy to make any of the blankets longer by adding additional pattern repeats.  Each pattern repeat adds about 2.5" to the length of the blanket.

The instructions include estimates of how much additional yarn is required to add length to each blanket size. 

SUPER BULKY YARN:

This blanket pattern is designed for super bulky yarn.  For the gray blanket in the photos...I used Sprightly Acrylic Wool Super Bulky sold exclusively by Craftsy.  This yarn is available in a beautiful selection of colors. I love this 'Grey Heather' colorway! The stitch definition for this yarn is excellent!  The yarn is a machine washable wool / acrylic blend that has a 'woolly' feel and is very sturdy.  The yarn seems to soften up a bit after washing. 

Yarn needed for each blanket size:

Baby: 350 - 370 yards

Small: 550 - 590 yards

Medium: 740 - 770 yards

Large: 880 - 930 yards

XL: 1170 - 1270 yards

XXL: 1450 - 1550 yards

Solid color yarn is recommended to show the stitch pattern best.

Stones in the Road blanket knitting pattern - knit with super bulky yarn.

EASY BLANKET KNITTING PATTERN:

The Stones in the Road blanket is very easy to knit!  You will need to know how to cast on stitches, knit and purl confidently, read a row by row knitting pattern, bind of stitches and weave in ends.  The two stitch techniques in this design are stockinette stitch and seed stitch.

A couple of stitch markers are helpful for keeping track of the pattern.

I used Sprightly Acrylic Wool Super Bulky in the color 'Grey Heather'. 

I recommend blocking the finished blanket.  This takes a bit of time but it really improves the appearance of the blanket.  For tips on blocking...see this blog post.

Stones in the Road - chunky blanket knitting pattern

WHERE TO PURCHASE THE PATTERN:

Stones in the Road blanket knitting pattern is available on Ravelry.  This pattern is also available on Craftsy, LoveKnitting and in my Etsy shop.

Have a wonderful day!  Happy knitting!

Mary Lee

Fifty Four Ten Studio

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

Across the Diamond - Chunky Blanket Knitting Pattern

Hi knitters!  This month I used my Across the Diamond blanket knitting pattern to knit a cozy little blanket for a baby gift.  I love how it turned out! 

Across the Diamond blanket knitting pattern is available on Ravelry, Craftsy, Etsy and LoveKnitting.

Across the Diamond - blanket knitting pattern for super bulky yarn.

Our dear family friends welcomed a new baby to their family a couple weeks ago and this soft blue blanket will be the perfect gift for their little guy.  (They live in the northern part of the US where cooler temperatures are the norm and a thicker, cozy blanket will be perfect most of the year!)

The new dad is a huge baseball fan so I thought my baseball inspired blanket design would be the perfect choice.  The texture of this pattern has sets of four purl stitches in a diamond arrangement.  This stitch pattern reminds me of the bases on a baseball field!  And...this pretty bright blue yarn makes me think of clear blue sky on a beautiful spring day at the ballpark.

Across the Diamond - chunky blanket knitting pattern.

The blanket design has a seed stitch border...I love the chunky texture!

Seed stitch border on the Across the Diamond blanket design.

I used Lion Brand Hometown USA in the 'Charlotte Blue' colorway.  This yarn is easy-care, 100% acrylic and very, very soft!  The yarn has a bit of a silky texture and sheen that gives it a clean, modern appearance.  I have used this yarn for so many knitting projects and have always been very pleased with the results.  Visit the Lion Brand Yarn website to see all the pretty colors offered in Hometown USA.

Chunky blanket knit with Lion Brand Hometown USA in 'Charlotte Blue'.

FIVE BLANKET SIZES:

The pattern includes instructions for five blanket sizes.  Approximate sizes after blocking:

Baby Blanket: 30.5" wide x 32" long
Small (Crib/Lap) Blanket: 34" wide x 37" long
Medium Throw: 37.5" wide x 42" long
Large Throw: 41" wide x 47" long
XL Afghan: 48" wide x 52" long

It's easy to make any of the blanket sizes longer by adding additional pattern repeats.  The pattern includes estimates for additional yardage needed to make each size longer.

I used Lion Brand's Hometown USA super bulky yarn.

SUPER BULKY YARN:

Baby: 380 - 410 yards
Small: 500 - 540 yards
Medium: 620 - 670 yards
Large: 740 - 800 yards
XL: 1000 - 1100 yards

Solid color yarn is recommended to show the texture of the pattern best.

When shopping for super bulky yarn...look for the #6 yarn symbol on the yarn label.

As noted above, I used Lion Brand Hometown USA to make my blanket.  This lovely bright blue is called 'Charlotte Blue'.

Other yarn options include Lion Brand's new Thick & Quick Bonus Bundles which are 100% acrylic and have a lot of yardage for an economical price.  If you prefer a bit of a woolly feel and texture for your yarn...check out Lion Brand's Wool-Ease Thick & Quick which is available in many colors in the standard skein size.  Wool-Ease Thick & Quick is also available in Bonus Bundles (lots of yardage...great for blanket knitting!) in a limited selection of colors.

I recommend circular needles for knitting blankets.

Blocking of the finished blanket is suggested...but it's not essential with this pattern.  If you would like tips on blocking...click here to see my blog post about blocking a blanket.

WHERE TO GET THE PATTERN:

Across the Diamond blanket knitting pattern is available on Ravelry, Craftsy, Etsy and LoveKnitting.

--> Pin this to your Pinterest knitting board to save this knitting pattern idea...

Across the Diamond chunky blanket knitting pattern.

Today is opening day for baseball in Kansas City! Our Kansas City Royals are celebrating their 50th year of major league baseball.  I'm looking forward to knitting while watching lots of games this season. :)

Thanks for stopping by and for your interest in my knitting projects.

Have a fabulous day!  Happy knitting!

Mary Lee
Fifty Four Ten Studio

My first visit to WEBS - America's Yarn Store!

This month I spent a week in the New England area visiting dear friends and family...as part of a college visit tour for my teenage daughter.  We packed in tours of six colleges, relaxing time with our friends in Vermont, dinner with my cousin and his family in Boston, and a visit to WEBS Yarn Store in Northampton, Massachusetts. (And...somehow we managed to successfully dodge two big snow storms during our trip!)

Though I am very familiar with the WEBS on-line store, this was the first time I have had the opportunity to visit their beautiful store in Northampton...it was such a treat!

WEBS has a huge inventory of yarn in every imaginable color.  The store is large, spacious, extremely well organized and has great lighting.  The WEBS team is very welcoming!  My only wish is that I had been able to spend all afternoon checking out every corner of the store!

WEBS - America's Yarn Store

WEBS has a number of my most popular Fifty Four Ten Studio knitting patterns available for sale on their website.

And...WEBS included my Westport Blanket knitting pattern in their beautiful 2018 spring catalog!! (If you have the catalog...see page 63.)  I'm so honored to be included in this publication!

If you are interested...click here to request a WEBS catalog.

They knit up the Westport Blanket pattern using their lovely Valley Yarns Valley Superwash Super Bulky in the 'Burgundy' colorway and offer a kit to make the blanket as shown in your choice of five sizes.

It was so fun to see the Westport Blanket sample in person when I visited the WEBS store...I love it!  I took a couple of quick photos shown below...thanks to my daughter for serving as the model outside on a cold New England day!

Westport Blanket knit in Valley Yarns Valley Superwash Super Bulky for a kit!

A note about the yarn color....this yarn is definitely a classic burgundy shade!  In the photos here and in the WEBS listing for the kit, the blanket can appear more of a pinkish, raspberry shade....but this yarn is a deep, rich burgundy.

You may also purchase the Westport Blanket knitting pattern separately from WEBS and then choose your own Valley Superwash Super Bulky yarn color!  This yarn is available in so many beautiful colors!  And, I love the stitch definition of this yarn...as shown here...

Westport Blanket - knitting kit from WEBS Yarn Store

Westport Blanket in Valley Superwash Super Bulky - Kit

I'm so appreciative of the WEBS team for offering my Westport Blanket as a kit in their store and online.  I'm really touched that they selected my pattern to feature in their catalog! 

You can also find my Westport Blanket knitting pattern on Ravelry and Etsy....and read more about the pattern here on my blog.

WEBS - On the Map Blanket Kit:

WEBS also offers a kit to knit my On the Map blanket in their Valley Yarns Valley Superwash in the beautiful colorway 'Colonial Blue' that I used (photo below).  This yarn is a worsted weight and it's simply lovely!

The kit includes the pattern and enough yarn to make your choice of six sizes: Baby, Small (Crib/Lap blanket), Medium Throw, Large Throw, XL & XXL Afghan.

On the Map blanket - kit available from WEBS Yarn Store

The On the Map knitting pattern is also available to purchase on WEBS, Ravelry or Etsy. 

Valley Yarns Valley Superwash is a worsted weight yarn that is available in a beautiful selection of colors on the WEBS website.

Happy Spring!

I've been home for a few days and enjoying the beautiful spring weather here in Kansas City.  I love seeing the bright sunshine!  

Spring always gets me inspired to do a little rearranging of things...tucking away heavy blankets and pulling out a few favorite lighter colored accent pieces.  In the photo below...I added one of my favorite hand knit pillows to the guest bedroom decor - The Parkway Pillow. 

I knit The Parkway Pillow using Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in the lovely shade 'Glacier'.  See all the beautiful shades of this yarn on the Lion Brand Yarn website.

The Parkway Pillow - easy to knit with super bulky yarn

Read more about The Parkway Pillow here on my blog.  The pattern is available on Ravelry, Etsy and LoveKnitting.

Plans for the week...

In the knitting department...I'm finishing up a baby blanket using my 'Across the Diamond' knitting pattern. (Photos of this finished blanket coming soon!)  I'm currently reading (and enjoying) The Bartender's Tale by Ivan Doig.  Tomorrow, I'm planning to head to my favorite local plant nursery to pick up some pansies...my favorite for this time of year.  And...this week we'll be cheering on our favorite basketball teams in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament...the University of Kansas and Kansas State University!   

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!

Mary Lee

Fifty Four Ten Studio

State Line Blanket Knitting Pattern Updated - Now Six Sizes!

My State Line Blanket knitting pattern was one of the first blanket patterns I designed...back in 2015.  I'm happy to announce that I have completely updated the pattern to include instructions for six blanket sizes!

State Line Blanket knitting pattern is available on Ravelry.

You can also find the State Line Blanket knitting pattern on Craftsy, LoveKnitting and Etsy.

State Line Blanket knitting pattern by Fifty Four Ten Studio

The State Line Blanket is easy to knit!  You will need to know how to cast on stitches, knit and purl confidently, read a row by row knitting pattern, cast off stitches and weave in ends.

The border of this blanket design is simple garter stitch.  The center of the design is mainly stockinette stitch with purl stitch 'stripes' of alternating lengths.

The simple, linear design of this blanket will add nice texture to any decor style...modern, eclectic, traditional, etc.  Plus...this chunky blanket is very cozy!

SIX BLANKET SIZES:

The updated pattern includes instructions for six blanket sizes.  Approximate sizes after blocking blanket:

Baby Blanket: 30" wide x 31" long
Small Crib/Lap Blanket: 33" wide x 36" long
Medium Throw: 37" wide x 46" long
Large Throw: 41" wide x 51" long
XL Afghan: 45" wide x 56" long
XXL Afghan: 49" wide x 61" long

It's easy to make any of the blanket sizes longer by adding additional pattern repeats.  Each repeat adds about 5" to the length of the blanket.

SUPER BULKY YARN:

Amount of yarn needed for each blanket sizes...

Baby: 350 - 370 yards
Small: 450 - 475 yards
Medium: 650 - 680 yards
Large: 800 - 830 yards
XL: 960 - 1000 yards
XXL: 1150 - 1200 yards

Be sure to purchase additional yarn if you plan to make your blanket longer than the dimensions listed above.  The pattern includes estimates of how much yarn is needed to make each size longer.

State Line Blanket - knitting pattern for super bulky yarn.

I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in the color 'Fisherman' for the blanket shown in the photos.  This ivory color yarn reminds me of a classic fisherman style cable sweater I had back in college! Wool-Ease Thick & Quick is available in a wide range of colors.  A solid color or subtle tweed yarn will show the texture of the blanket best.

Another great yarn option for this blanket is Lion Brand Hometown USA...I have used this yarn for many of my other blanket designs.  It has a soft silky texture...with a subtle sheen that gives it a modern vibe.  This yarn is available in so many colors! Choose a solid color or subtle tweed yarn for this blanket design to show off the pattern best. Some of my favorite colorways in Hometown USA are 'Dallas Grey', 'Chicago Charcoal', 'Washington Denim' and 'Houston Cream'.  The tweed options like 'Aspen Tweed' and 'Cape Cod Tweed' are also lovely...I can't want to try those soon!

If you are looking for the most economical option for your blanket project...check out Lion Brand's new bonus yarn bundles in Wool-Ease Thick & Quick...as well as their 100% acrylic Thick & Quick bonus bundle.  These yarn skeins are giant!

KNITTING NEEDLES & GAUGE:

This blanket is knit flat, in one piece, back and forth on long circular knitting needles.  Circular needles are highly recommended to accommodate the large number of stitches.  You may use either US size 13 or 15 knitting needles with super bulky yarn.

Approximate gauge in stockinette stitch (after blocking): 8 stitches & 12 rows = 4"

Exact gauge is not essential for this project.

Select the needle size that gives the best appearance for your yarn and knitting tension. Try a little test knitting of 20 stitches in stockinette stitch.  (Cast on 20 stitches.  Knit one row. Purl next row. Repeat until knitting is about 4" long.)

Preferably, you don't want the knitting to be too loose...but at the same time if your stitches are really tight your finished blanket could be a bit stiff.

State Line Blanket knitting pattern - easy to knit with super bulky yarn.

BLOCKING OF BLANKET RECOMMENDED:

Confession...when I designed and knit this blanket back in October 2015, I did not block the blanket!  I didn't discover the benefits of blocking a blanket until the following year.

Last week...I soaked this blanket in some cold water and finally blocked it!  While my State Line Blanket looked fine without blocking...I think it looks much better after blocking!  (The photos in this blog post are all new...showing the blanket after blocking.)

Click here to see my blog post with lots of tips on blocking a blanket.

Blocking of finished blanket recommended.

WONDERING ABOUT THE NAME OF THIS BLANKET?

In case you are wondering....the name for my State Line Blanket knitting pattern is inspired by one of the key streets in Kansas City...my hometown.

One of the first things to know about Kansas City is that about half of the two million people in the K.C. metropolitan area live in the state of Missouri and the other half live in the state of Kansas.  As the name implies, State Line Road is the dividing line between the two states (at least in the southern part of the city).

I grew up just a couple blocks east of State Line Road on the Missouri side.  As an adult, I've always lived in Kansas....a couple blocks west of State Line Road.

There are times State Line Road really is a "dividing line" for our big city...different state governments, different public schools, different taxes, etc.  But, most of the time it's not a big deal....we drive back and forth from one state to the other...across State Line Road...just about every day.

State Line Road in Kansas City

WHERE TO BUY THE PATTERN...

State Line Blanket knitting pattern is available on Ravelry.

You can also find the State Line Blanket knitting pattern on Craftsy, LoveKnitting and Etsy.

I can't believe it's already February!  I'm looking forward to watching the Olympics starting next week and...of course...I'll be knitting while I'm watching!  I'm also making plans for other knitting projects to work on this year.  My list of ideas is longer than I can probably accomplish!

Thanks so much for your interest in my knitting adventures!  Happy knitting!

Mary Lee
Fifty Four Ten Studio

State Line Blanket - chunky throw/afghan knitting pattern