Oftentimes I don't really think anyone pays attention to social media, specifically when I post about my own work. I remember messaging with Arica (@skeinsnsticks) back in October 2018 because I was going to be in her area and obviously needed to find my #lys. She recently asked me to participate in this Traveling Knit Afghan 2021 project in partnership with Lionbrand.
The concept of this project is "Paying it Forward". I'm sure each designer has their own interpretation of the overall concept. I'm thinking that each designer creates a little bit of a framework, or foundation, for the next designer as we all support one another in the process of logistics, communication, social media, designing, seo, marketing calendars and the business of knitting. (Seriously, 5% of what we do is actually knitting.)
Here are the first two squares!
Here are a few ways that you can participate in the project which officially launched on January 1, 2021. If you follow us and knit along with each designer, by the end of 2021 you will have your own afghan measuring 60" x 80" with 12 unique squares!
(instructions from Arica's blog)
1. Purchase the yarn now for the Traveling Afghan so you have everything you need to get started with us when the first square pattern is released in January. Note: you’re welcome to use any yarn you like, including what you already have in your stash! But it is recommended you use Lion Brand It Feels Like Butta (you’ll need 2 skeins each month) along with size US 7 (4.5mm) knitting needles. The main blanket will use Feels Like Butta in colors #158 Lemon and #108 Dusty Blue.
2. Visit this page for the itinerary and master list of all designers of the afghan and links to the designers’ sites so you can follow along as it travels around and new patterns get released.
3. Follow the designers on social media to get updates on their pattern releases and learn about their maker journeys.
4. Host a KAL with your local maker friends! Get together throughout the year virtually until we can get together in person and create with friends – community!! We would love to see YOUR life in yarn too, so make sure to tag Lion Brand Yarn and My Life in Yarn in your posts and use the hashtags #travelingknitafghan2021 #lionbrandyarn and #mylifeinyarn #purlitfoward #purlitforward2021 and #impurlingitforward. You can also post your projects to Ravelry.
Here is the pattern for square #2:
Yarn: MC Feels Like Butta, #108 Dusty Blue; CC #158 Lemon; 218 yards/199m; 100g; 100% polyester
Needles: US 7/4.5mm or whatever needed to obtain gauge of 24 sts & 34 rows = 4”/10cm
Notes: Working in stockinette stitch, you are making 9 small squares and stitching them together using the mattress stitch. Each square should be 7.5” (allowing for ¼” seam allowance all around) giving the finished piece measurements of 20” x 20”
Instructions:
Make 5 squares
Using long tail cast-on method, cast on 32 stitches in MC
Row 1 (WS): Purl
Row 2 (RS): Knit
Rows 3-15: Rep Rows 1 & 2
Row 16: change to CC for 15 rows
Row 31: With MC, Purl
Row 32: Knit
Rows 33-45: Rep Rows 31 & 32
Row 46: cast off in pattern-should be knitwise
Make 4 squares
Using long tail cast-on method, cast on 32 stitches in CC
Row 1 (WS):Purl
Row 2 (RS): Knit
Rows 3-15: Rep Rows 1 & 2
Row 16: change to MC for 15 rows,Row 31: With CC, Purl
Row 32: Knit
Rows 33-45: Rep Rows 31 & 32
Row 46: cast off in pattern-should be knitwise
Seam all 9 squares together (see photo above for placement). I would recommend lightly steaming each individual small square to help flatten out the edges before you stitch all of the squares together.
You can also download the pattern for square #2 on Ravelry here or under Patterns here on my site. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at ryan@ryandebonville.com with "Pattern Help" in the subject line.