Igby Blanket Pattern

Skill Level: Intermediate Materials: Needles: #17 straight or circular needles (circular recommended, at least for the border); #15 if you want a slightly smaller, more tightly knit blanket Yarn: 4 skeins Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick, pine (color A)   4 skeins Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick, wood (color B)

Gauge: Not that important for a blanket, but if you wish: ~2 stitches per inch ~3 rows per inch Stitch Explanation: K—knit P—purl st(s)—stitch(es) St st—stockinette stitch RS—right side WS—wrong side inc—increase Note: I did not create a legend for these charts since there are only two colors. The blank squares represent the respective background color, while the slashed squares represent the letter's color. Pattern: Letters: Each of the four squares is 40 sts across and 60 rows tall, not counting the cast on and cast off edges. Each letter is 30 rows tall. Each letter except the I is 20 sts across at its widest point; the I is only 14 sts across. I: These are the charts for the I. With color A, cast on 40 sts. Rows 1-15: Work St st; row 1 will be a K row. Rows 16-45: Work chart for I, beginning with a WS row. Use color B for the letter. Center the I over the middle 20 sts (begin first row of chart after 10 sts). Rows 46-60: Work St st. Cast off. G: These are the charts for the G. With color B, cast on 40 sts. Rows 1-15: Work St st; row 1 will be a K row. Rows 16-45: Work chart for G, beginning with a WS row. Use color A for the letter. Center the G over the middle 20 sts (begin first row of chart after 10 sts). Rows 46-60: Work St st. Cast off. B: These are the charts for the B. With color B, cast on 40 sts. Rows 1-15: Work St st; row 1 will be a K row. Rows 16-45: Work chart for B, beginning with a WS row. Use color A for the letter. Center the B over the middle 20 sts (begin first row of chart after 10 sts). Rows 46-60: Work St st. Cast off. Y: These are the charts for the Y. With color A, cast on 40 sts. Rows 1-15: Work St st; row 1 will be a K row. Rows 16-45: Work chart for Y, beginning with a WS row. Use color B for the letter. Center the Y over the middle 20 sts (begin first row of chart after 10 sts). Rows 46-60: Work St st. Cast off. Weave in all loose ends and block each square. Arrange the four letters in a larger square (two letters per side) with the I in the top left, the G in the top right, the B in the lower left, and the Y in the lower right. The contrasting background colors should create a checkerboard effect. Sew seams (take care that the middle intersection of all four squares is especially neat); block again if desired. Border: The border is worked in garter stitch with increases on every other row. It's a basic pick up and knit along each edge with the same contrasting color method as used in the squares. Top edge: Along the top edge of the G, with color A, pick up and knit 40 sts. Along the top edge of the I, with color B, pick up and knit 40 sts. Not forgetting this color change, work the following: Row 1: K1, inc 1, K to last st, inc 1, K1. Row 2: K across. Row 3: K1, inc 1, K to last st, inc 1, K1. Row 4: K across. Row 5: K1, inc 1, K to last st, inc 1, K1. Row 6: K across. Row 7: K1, inc 1, pass knit st over. Cast off to last st, inc 1, pass inc st over, Cast off last st. Bottom edge: The bottom edge is the same as the top edge, only you will be viewing the letters upside down. Along the bottom edge of the Y, with color A, pick up and knit 40 sts. Along the bottom edge of the B, with color B, pick up and knit 40 sts. Not forgetting this color change, work the following: Row 1: K1, inc 1, K to last st, inc 1, K1. Row 2: K across. Row 3: K1, inc 1, K to last st, inc 1, K1. Row 4: K across. Row 5: K1, inc 1, K to last st, inc 1, K1. Row 6: K across. Row 7: K1, inc 1, pass knit st over. Cast off to last st, inc 1, pass inc st over, cast off last st. Left edge: Along the left edge of the I, with color B, pick up and knit 60 sts. Along the left edge of the B, with color A, pick up and knit 60 sts. Not forgetting this color change, work the following: Row 1: K1, inc 1, K to last st, inc 1, K1. Row 2: K across. Row 3: K1, inc 1, K to last st, inc 1, K1. Row 4: K across. Row 5: K1, inc 1, K to last st, inc 1, K1. Row 6: K across. Row 7: K1, inc 1, pass knit st over. Cast off to last st, inc 1, pass inc st over, Cast off last st. Right edge: Along the right edge of the G, with color A, pick up and knit 60 sts. Along the right edge of the Y, with color B, pick up and knit 60 sts. Not forgetting this color change, work the following: Row 1: K1, inc 1, K to last st, inc 1, K1. Row 2: K across. Row 3: K1, inc 1, K to last st, inc 1, K1. Row 4: K across. Row 5: K1, inc 1, K to last st, inc 1, K1. Row 6: K across. Row 7: K1, inc 1, pass knit st over. Cast off to last st, inc 1, pass inc st over, Cast off last st. Sew seams of increased edges for mitered corners. Weave in loose ends; block.