It’s finished! I did it!
The Log Cabin Kureyon Blanket is complete and I am in LOVE! Yesterday was a perfect sunny day to take pictures, and last night was the perfect night to have a nice wool blanket. The temperature dropped to approximately BONE-CHILLINGLY COLD last night, and we had left our windows open while over at our friends’ apartment. The bedroom was freezing when we got in, but I was prepared with my brilliant 100% wool blanket. The strict-vegan husband shivered a good deal longer than I did. There may have been a Schadenfreude-ish cackle in my head as I drifted off to sleep in warm cozy comfort.
The blanket is definitely a one-person blanket, perfectly sized for me at about 68″ long (maybe shorter… I’m about 65″ to 66″ tall) and probably about 45″ wide (?) maybe? I haven’t measured it, I just know it fits.
Pattern: None. I mean, my own. I improvised on the Log Cabin pattern in Mason Dixon Knitting, and came up with this pattern. It’s down at the bottom of this page if you’re interested. (UPDATE on November 1, 2010 — pattern now available in French, courtesy of Tricomondesophie of Ravelry and of Le Tricomonde de Sophie and also available at Penelope’s Sisters)
I took the blanket to the park for a photo shoot, and it wanted to play. It played on the swings…
Inspiration: The Lizard Ridge blanket was my first inspiration, and the reason I bought the first 3 skeins. Then I saw the No-Sew Noro blanket by Yarnerinas and became totally enchanted with the idea of squares with a strong border. The squares on Cinamaknits‘ blog pushed me over the edge.
…it climbed up the curvy ladder…
Yarn: 19 skeins of Noro Kureyon in 19 different colors; 2 skeins of Cascade EcoWool (for the insanely good yardage) in dark brown (8095).
Needles: Many, many circulars in 5.0mm / US 8, because there are lots of stitches on those long edges.
…it steered the ship/playground…
Time Spent: Started Thursday, June 28th 2007 and finished 11:00pm Monday, October 8th 2007. I don’t have a clue how many hours I spent on it, but they were all delightful. Except maybe the brain-eating slog through the long edges on the borders, knitting 18 rows of garter stitch.
…and it beat me in tic-tac-toe, the slyboots…
Money Spent: This is not a topic I want to dwell on, but my husband and a friend were wondering how much it’s worth, with the cost of yarn plus all my time, just to see. Well, if you pay retail for 19 balls of Kureyon (which I didn’t have to, thank gourd), plus the $30 I paid at WEBS for my two skeins of EcoWool… [shudder]. Let us speak no more of it.
…and then it reposed gracefully against a stone couch.
What I Learned:
I’m including the pattern after the jump (if all goes well and I actually manage to create a jump). If you do decide to make it (or something like it with whatever customizations), drop me a line — I’d love to see what you make! And if you find yourself in need of an extra ball of Kureyon, I’ve got one to give away to the first person to ask for it. Colorway 194.
Again, I improvised a version of the Mason-Dixon Knitting log cabin pattern. And this is my first written-out pattern, so forgive the chatty format.
The Paintbox Kureyon Log Cabin Blanket. Or Quilt. Or Whatever.
For The Blocks:
Using a 5.0mm needle and Kureyon, cast on 15 sts. Work 20 garter ridges (40 rows). * BO on RS, leaving last loop on needle. Turn clockwise (NOT back-to-front) and pick up 1 st in each garter ridge on the side of the original rectangle. Knit 6 garter ridges (12 rows). Repeat from *, picking up a st in each garter ridge of the stripe you just made, plus 15 stitches in the cast-on edge of the original rectangle. Knit 6 garter ridges (12 rows), and repeat BO / pickup process around the rectangle.
One skein of Kureyon will make the central rectangle and 2 rounds of strips, with about 5g left over. The block will be approximately 9 1/4″ wide by 11″ tall. Make 19 blocks from each of 19 colors, and make the 20th block out of the leftovers (trust me, you will have plenty).
Put The Blocks Together Into Strips:
Arrange your blocks into a pleasing color wheel, or alternate between light and dark, or lay them out in chronological fashion in four strips of five blocks each. Just know which block will go on top of the next. This part goes really quickly. Using a 5.0mm needle, attach your Eco Wool at the bottom of the block, picking up a stitch in each garter ridge and in each bound-off stitch. Knit 3 garter ridges (6 rows). Leave these stitches live on a needle or large stitch holder. Break yarn. Take up your next block. Again, use a 5.0mm needle to attach the Eco Wool to the top of this block. Knit 3 garter ridges (6 rows). Join these live stitches with the live stitches of the first block via 3-needle bind off (or Kitchener if you really want to show off). Continue down the column of blocks by picking up stitches in the bottom of the second block, the top of the third, bottom of the third, etc. Repeat process for remaining columns of blocks. Weave in ends. (Don’t worry if the number of stitches you pick up on one side does not equal the stitches on the other side. This happened to me a bunch. Just decrease on one side during the 3-needle bind off.)
Put The Strips Together Into A Blanket:
This takes a little longer. Put on a nice long movie to help with the mindlessness. These directions assume you are working with the strips from the left side of the blanket first, moving to the right. Using the Eco Wool pick up stitches along the right-hand side length of your first strip (you may have to use many circular needles!). Knit 3 garter ridges (6 rows). Keep these stitches live and break yarn. Pick up stitches along the left-hand side length of the second strip. Knit 3 garter riges (6 rows). Join these live stitches with the live stitches of the first strip via 3-needle bind off (again, you Kitchener lovers may do as you please, but it’s beyond my powers to Kitchener that many stitches). Repeat on the other side of the second strip, joining with the 3rd strip, etc. Weave in ends.
Put A Border On Your Blanket:
This is the fun part, because there’s no 3-needle bind off involved and because you’re almost done. Whee! Pick an edge to begin your border. I started with the top of my blanket (the short edge), because I didn’t want to jump right in to another length-wise run of garter stitch. Attach Eco Wool as before, picking up stitches along the length of the side. * Knit 9 garter ridges (18 rows). Bind off, leaving last loop on needle. Turn clockwise (NOT back-to-front) and pick up stitches along the length of the next side. Repeat from * all around, until you reach the end. Bind off. Weave in ends. Bring the closest significant other you can find to the room where your blanket is spread out on the floor, couch or bed, and insist that they admire it. Parades in your honor, joyful hugs, and offering to make your favorite nori rolls are merely three ways for your significant other to show his/her delight.
Make the blanket bigger by adding more blocks, or a deeper border. Customizable!!
That blanket is totally awesome! If I stumle across a fabulous sale on Noro I will definitely make myself one.
It’s stunning, Kathy! And I’m excited to see my square- I hope you don’t mind that I’ve taken ownership of it.
Seriously, dude, this is so kick ass (so much so that I just types “dude.” What?!). Your blanket’s awesomeness is rocking me so hard that I called Big Cat over to the computer to gaze at the blanket in all its wonderfulness. Congrats!
Damn, Big cat likey. It looks so comfy… but i can’t be sure from the pictures. I think you’ll have to send it to me for a test snuggle before I can get behind it 100%. Yeah… a test snuggle.
Huh?!
It looks awesome! Absolutely amazing. We are going to be two warm women this winter.
Congratulations! It is a thing of beauty!
I had the location from the first picture! Have walked the labyrinth a few times with a silent bunch of women. Highly recommended. Takes about 25 minutes to walk slowly in and 20 minutes to walk slowly out. The way out is always quicker.
Really beautiful blanket. What an accomplishment.
WOW! What beautiful work! You’ll be in love for a long while. I really like that it enjoyed the park and all the fun activities.
That is absolutely stunning! I’m amazed at how well all of those colors go together.
Really gorgeous! Congratulations for sticking with a long project!
Holey moley – I am impressed. And thrilled that my blanket could have been the seed that grew into such a thing of beauty. Great post, great blanket. And such a playful blanket, too. My blanket is currently away at college and not playing too much, I hope!
The blanket is awesome! And I see it is intellegent, as it beat you at tic-tac-toe. All that “Lord of the Rings” watching must have been good for it. 🙂
The blanket is beautiful!
Congratulations! It’s really beautiful!
I love that it is so curious about the playground equipment, and knows how beautifully it will look sunbathing on a rock. Smart blanket!
The blanket is absolutely beautiful! Awesome work, you will definately enjoy it!
This is absolutely beautiful! Great work!!
I’ve never worked with Noro of any sort.. but your blanket is so beautiful.. I might be inspired to make one of my very own. I wonder how I could do it on the cheap… LOL. Beautiful… I’m afraid of big projects too.. (they take soooooooo long)… and I’m proud of you for sticking it out and finishing it. I love it!!!!!
You could try Drops Big Delight which is about half the price. Colours are good too
BEAUTIFUL!
I’ll join the chorus of compliments and say it looks wonderful! Also, incredibly cuddly and cheerful, perfect for fall evenings. 🙂
WOW, it is soooooo beautiful! I love all the pics of it too. Enjoy!
It’s so pretty that I have to urge to write your blanket a love letter…but I won’t that would just be weird. The more projects I see using this yarn the more I fall in love with it. Thanks for sharing, seriously, my creative juices are overflowing now!
not only is your blanket beautiful and awesome, but very active and friendly, too! i wish i could’ve played on the swings with it.
also, i agree with Big Cat. if you need someone to run a test cuddle with it to make sure, for example, that it would also be compatible with a 68-inch tall woman, then i’m your girl!
p.s. ever since i looked at cheaply made sweaters with you at jcpenney, i feel like a newly empowered sweater-shopper thanks to your fabric expertise! i bought 3 sweaters recently and checked all the labels to see what types of fabrics were used… it’s amazing how ubiquitous acrylic is! it just freaks me out that a sweater could be made of the same compounds as, say, acrylic nails or acrylic paint. is it just me or is that creepy?
I’m using the powers of my mind to call that blanket to me – to me – come to me oh Noro Log Cabin of Beauty – come and snuggle with me under Southern Stars – oh. Ooops. I forgot – I don’t have any mind powers – I will just have to sit here and yearn *sigh*
(BTW Congratulations on a truly astoundingly gorgeous blanket)
Stunning afghan. I found your blog though ravelry where I joined the afghan group. This is inspiring. I must start collecting this yarn. Thank you for sharing the pattern.
Wow!! It is absoutley beautiful! I bet you are glad to be done and have a finished product to show!
i’m catching up on all the blog posts i’ve missed…
i just wanted to say (better late than never) that this came out great! someday i will make one, i hope!
Amazing!!!
It’s absolutely glorious! And you know, I think accidentally getting brown worked out better than if it had been black. I too would have gone for black, but now that I’ve seen the brown. I’m actually making a little blanket out of that lovely Eco Wool — the Hemlock Ring Blanket of Jared Flood fame.
Thanks again for sharing so much, this has been really fun and very inspiring!
It’s beautiful!
Kathy, I adore your blanket. I covet your blanket. I hate the fact that I feel the need to knit your blanket, because I know that the colours would never turn out so well as yours – plus I know it would take me years to complete – but it’s definitely going onto my wish list of things to make. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and I’ll let you know if I ever get the courage to have a go.
I love the blanket. I have made two of the Lizard Ridge 2nd version and I have yarn for the first version but just can’t get into it – now I know what I will be doing with the yarn! Thanks for such great inspiration.
I love this, it is awesome.
OH NO I am making a log cabin out of leftover sock yarn….LOL that will take me years….and now I want to make one just like yours….oh no…..:)
That is fantastic – a really beautiful blanket
Great job!!!! And amazing joining technique!!! Congratulations!!!
OH MY that is amazing! I am hooked and want to make one, I’ll buy a little at time and see where it brings me.
I am speechless – that is absolutely stunning. Congrats on a fantastic job. May have to make one for myself in Noro – like Lana, one skein at a time 🙂
Hi, came here from a mention in Knit and chat over at delphiforums.
This blanket is yummy and gorgeuos.
Now a question to you husband, does vegan mean he is not allowed to use any animal products?
I thought fruitarian was the strictest, and even those would be allowed to cuddle under a woolen blanket, since it does not kill to get the wool, it is a kind of fruit of the sheep 🙂
food for thoughts? I am sad for him that he can not share this yummy blanket with you to keep warm in style.
this is amazing…I love the chocolate border and all the yummy kureyon. Beautiful photos too!!!
I realize I am late to the party, but I am in love with this blanket.
I’ve started hoarding Noro already!
It’s really late to comment, but this blanket is the most amazing I’ve ever seen… So beautiful!
BREATHTAKING!!
TFS!!
xox
thanks so much for your pattern notes! my knitting group made a blanket using your pattern as a wedding gift. we finally presented the blanket after a year of secret knitting! if you’re interested, there are some photos of the gifting here:
Your blanket is beautiful and thanks for sharing your pattern. My mother and I just started knitting again after about 20 years and we were just taking about how my grandmother (her mother) who was an avid knitter used to make blankets using this type of lincoln log pattern with all of her left over yarn.
Someone on Ravelry linked to this post today and I just had to say….that is just a stunning, stunning blanket! It makes me want to start hoarding Noro!
Beautiful job.
[…] any rate, I think I’m going to change my plans slightly for this blanket, and do this wonderful log cabin afghan-style blanket I found through Geri’s blog. How wonderful is this blanket? Look at all the purdy colours she […]
Your afghan is beautiful, the nicest I have seen so far using the log cabin pattern. I am knitting a log cabin afghan now for my 14 year old granddaughter, using Red Heart washable and dryable yarn. I love the way you used a dark color yarn to divide the blocks, and for the border. I will do the same after seeing your amazing afghan. I hope my completed project will be as beautiful as yours. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Your blanket is nice, I love it so much !
I’ve just finished with the 20 blocks and I would like to know if you have washed and blocked before putting them together ?
My first block isn’t the right size…. it is 8 1/2 by 9 1/2 ….. grrrrr
I love this blanket. Mine, 15 squares for a wall hanging, is almost done. From the instructions it seemed like you log-cabinned the border as well, is that right? And, can we see your backside???
For Sooky, above, I soaked & blocked my squares before attaching them. It helped to even out slight differences in the size (because I didn’t use all Noro, I used some Wisdom Poems and some K1C2 Paintbox).
And to jacqui, it doesn’t matter if they’re the same size as the pattern, as long as they’re the same size as EACH OTHER.
🙂
I’m “webspinster” on Ravelry, you can see my project there.
[…] betting that’s not true! I’ve been knitting squares with Noro Kureyon to make Paintbox Log Cabin […]
I found your post today and I love this blanket. I will do the same.
Liebe Grüße
Jana
Absolutely gorgeous!!! Definitely would love to make one! Great colors!!!
Hi, I found your post on the Mitered Crosses for Japan group on Ravelry. Thanks so very much for posting this pattern. I plan to knit this after I finish my Mitered Crosses blanket which I just started. It is very generous of you to share this. Your blanket is absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful work!
I have Ravelry to thank for discovering this glorious blanket. Instead of using the recommended Noro, I’m knitting in King Cole Riot Chunky. This is mainly because it’s a fifth of the price of Noro and I have a nine month old baby, so machine washing will be a necessity. So far (six blocks) it’s a joy to knit and I’m loving every minute of it. If my blanket turns out to be half as gorgeous as yours, I’ll be a very happy bunny. Thank you for sharing!!!
I was not familiar with the King Cole Riot Chunky but I love the colors and the price! Can’t wait to make this blanket now in that yarn. Any problems? LOVE the pattern, thank you so much for sharing.
[…] Noro wool yarn from Japan. This is her photo of the finished work. She posted the instructions available for free on her blog “Get your hook […]
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
I just started this last night. I have made my first turn and am trying to figure out which exact part of the stitch between the ridges to pick up for the first row on the long side. Probably as long as I do the same thing consistently, right?
Absolutely beautiful!! Must do something with my Noro, might even consider using Manos or Debbie Bliss: http://www.yarnloft.co.uk. A to-do for 2012!!
[…] bag for months waiting for inspiration to hit. Then I bought two more skeins, and then I saw this pattern. The yarn and the pattern ran toward each other in slow motion in a dewy* field while Michael […]
Hello from france, magnifique, superbe, wonderfull, bravo, where can I find the exact list of the noro colours you used, because there are more than 19 choice in Kureyon ? best regards
Yes, me too! I would love to know the exact Kureyon colors you used 🙂
your blanket is GREAT ,
Reblogged this on Wild Violets and commented:
Check this log cabin blanket out, she made it out of 19 noro silk yarn and the 20th square was leftovers from the other skeins, what a good way to make a project. I love it.
I love, love, love, love this blanket!!!! Did I mention how much I LOVE THIS BLANKET!!! its gorgeous!
[…] blanket: … and finally the real show stopper: The Paintbox Log Cabin Blanket. This pattern is available for free and it gave me my favourite knitting project of all. This […]
I am in LOVE with this blanket. I’m going to change it up a little bit and use Noro Silk Garden instead. The gauge and yardage is the same as Kureyon, but it’s a little softer. I’m very excited to start my first square today.
I just came across your blanket on Pinterest / Raverly ~ Oh! my goodness!!!!! It is stunning!!!!! I am new to crochet ( started this past Aug.) and am starting to try our knitting also but have yet to make anything from my needles, just my hooks…lol! Your blanket has given me a reason to start figuring out this knitting thing!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!! =) Also, as I was reading your story of it, you mentioned an extra skein of Noro sitting around waiting to be scooped up by the first one to ask for it…well, I’m asking for it, if no one else has ( even though it was forever ago! lol!)!!! =) Seriously though, thank you for sharing your creativity and the pattern!!!! In about 2 years when I finish this attempt, I will send you pictures! hugs!
Did you change your yarn balls and or colorway at each of the different sections within one block? Or did you knit the entire square with one skein of one colorway?
This is the Most nicest log cabin blanket i have ever seen!!!!
Would love to try to knit this !!
The blanket is so beautiful! The minute I saw it I grabbed a ball of yarn and started my own. My first blanket! I love your style of writing. Totally enjoyed learning about you! I just have two squares down. Seems it takes me about three hours per square. Thank you for the pattern!
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[…] in favor of Boxy. Amelia is working on My Cup of Tea Socks in Wicked Witch. Kayte started another Log Cabin Blanket in Universal Yarn Classic Shades and is working on some amigurumi for a craft fair in […]
[…] on various washcloths. Kayte finished the Drop Stitch Scarf (finally!!) and is working on another Log Cabin Afghan in Bernat Mosaic, and on the Triceratops […]
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Thank you for this beautiful pattern. I bought the Noro yarn and finished three squares so far. Do you block each one individually and does the blocking makes it softer? Do ou block again after knitting the edge? The Noro yarn is pretty rough.
I love your blanket and have modified it, just 9 squares, for a baby blanket. One question: on the finishing, having a hard time visualizing how to pick up stitches on the long side after you’ve done the 18 row border on top side. Won’t you pick up along the edge of those 18 rows to get to the unfinished border?
Please could I have this pattern in English as I would love to make the throw
Thank you Deneise Henderson
[…] Paintbox Log Cabin Blanket: This stunning design morphed from the previously mentioned Moderne Log Cabin and Lizard Ridge blankets, as well as style elements from two other blankets. […]
[…] Paintbox Log Cabin Blanket: I love this clever idea for an afghan: take the Log Cabin blanket referenced in the first pattern, condense it into small squares rather than an entire blanket, and voila: a gorgeous blanket that uses up your yarn and creates a stained glass look. […]
You are a knitting rock star!!! Awesome blanket!! I love to make Log Cabin blankets too–I have made 7 Log Cabins in the last 5 years, the biggest being a 30 square (6 blocks by 5 blocks) bedspread. I made it for my husband on our 30th wedding anniversary! Any chance that you have any of Kureyon paintbox yarn to spare? I would love to start on of these for my family…
TY for pattern i was thinking of doing one already. but still deciding on yarn type.love your work good job!
This blanket is so gorgeous! Congratulations on the adaptation and finishing a big job and doing both so well. Most inspiring!
[…] pattern I’m following for assembling is based off this wonderfully inspiring Log Cabin Kureyon Blanket. My version’s “blocks” are made using the Ten Stitch Blanket pattern, and I hope […]
[…] Click here for the free knitting pattern! […]
How many skeins of eco wool for the boarder of 24 squares. My knitting shop closed, we did this as a group project. The square were knit many years back. I am not a very experienced knitter I can’t figure out the boarder directions and will have to crochet.
[…] original free pattern on getyourhookon.com, or read more about it on Ravelry. This particular version is […]