Make The Lion Brand Traveling Knit Afghan!

I’m so excited to be adding my own unique square to the LionBrand YARNS Traveling Knit Afghan. Are you participating in this project too?

Below are the details for how you too can participate in this really cool project. Trust me, it’s not too late to join!

Here’s how you can participate:

1. Purchase a yarn kit now for either the knit or crochet Traveling Afghan so you have everything you need to get started with us when the first square pattern is released in January. Note that you do not need to purchase a kit to join – you’re welcome to use any yarn you like, including what you already have in your stash! You’ll need worsted weight yarn and size US 8 (5mm) knitting needles or a J/10 (6mm) crochet hook.

2. Visit this page for the itineraries of the afghans below along with the master list of all designers and links to their sites so you can follow along as they travel around the world 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. There may even be some giveaways to enter!

4. Host a CAL or KAL with your local maker friends! Get together throughout the year in person or online to add your squares. 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 #travelingafghans #lionbrandyarn and #mylifeinyarn and either #travelingknitafghan or #travelingcrochetafghan. You can also post your projects to Ravelry (see FAQ below for Ravelry details and step by step instructions).

1 – 1/1-1/13 – New York City, USA – Alexandra Tavel of Two of Wands
#2 – 1/15-1/28 – Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria – Sandra Gutierrez of Nomad Stitches
#3 – 1/29-2/11 – Dublin, Ireland – Katie Moore of The Queen Stitch
#4 – 2/12-2/25 – Nova Scotia, Canada – Kelly Brooks of Knitbrooks
#5 – 2/26-3/10 – Alberta, Canada – Stephanie Lau of All About Ami
#6 – 3/11-3/24 – Alberta, Canada – Chantal Miyagishima of Knitatude
#7 – 3/25-4/7 – BC, Canada – Christie Bodden of Christie Bodden Designs
#8 – 4/8-4/21 – Oregon, USA – Makenzie Alvarez of Hanks and Needles
#9 – 4/22-5/5 – California, USA – Phanessa Fong of Designs by Phanessa
#10 – 5/6-5/19 – California, USA – Angie Bivins of Whistle & Wool
#11 – 5/20-6/2 – California, USA – Jane Tsou of Gorilla Knits
#12 – 6/3-6/16 – Nevada, USA – Chenoa Wilcox of jellyKNITTING
#13 – 6/17-6/30 – Utah, USA – Rachel Misner of Evelyn & Peter
#14 – 7/1-7/14 – Colorado, USA – Jessica Potasz of Mama in a Stitch
#15 – 7/15-7/28 – Kansas, USA – Jerica Tompkins of Yarn Hook Needles
#16 – 7/29-8/11 – Kansas, USA – Mary Lee of Fifty Four Ten Studio
#17 – 8/12-8/25 – Minnesota, USA – Kaitlin Barthold of Originally Lovely
#18 – 8/26-9/8 – Minnesota, USA – Julia Anastasi of Northern Loop Knitwear
#19 – 9/9-9/22 – Winona, MN, USA – Trista Ziemendorf of While They Dream
#20 – 9/23-10/6 – Illinois, USA – Heidi Gustad of Hands Occupied
#21 – 10/7-10/20 – Illinois, USA – Jewell Washington of Northknits
#22 – 10/21-11/3 – Michigan, USA – Destiny Meyer of Knifty Knittings
#23 – 11/4-11/17 – Virginia, USA – Nathan Bryant of Loop N Threads
#24 – 11/18-12/1 – Rhode Island, USA – Jake Kenyon of Kenyarn
#25 – 12/2-12/16 – New Jersey, USA – Vanessa Coscarelli Black of Vanessa Knits

How To Have Success With This Pattern:

• Be sure and watch the video tutorial if you look at the written pattern and feel like you’re gonna have issues
• pay attention to your gauge/tension when creating this square, be aware, it draws in quite a bit due to the nature of the trellis stitch
• if things are looking crisp and perfect, be sure you block your square(s). This will ensure you have perfectly defined, 10″X10″ squares

Materials

• 5MM knitting needles (my favorite needles)
• 1/2 skein of LionBrand Wool-Ease
• scissors
• tapestry needle

GAUGE: 16sts X 20rows

***this pattern is a 12 row repeat

Traveling Afghan Square #15

Cast on 47

r1 – (right side) K1, p3, *keeping your yarn at the front of your work SL 3 purl wise, p3, repeat from * to the last stitch; K1.

r2 – P1, k3, *keeping your yarn at the back of your work SL 3 purlwise, K3; repeat from * to the last stitch; P1.

r3 – K1, p3, *k3, p3; repeat from * to last stitch; K1.

r4 – P1, k3, *p3, k3; repeat from * to last stitch; p1.

r5 – K5, *K1 ULS – insert the point of right-hand needle upward under the 2 strands in front of the slipped stitches and knit the next stitch, then lift the 2 strands off over the point of the right-hand needle. K5; repeat from * to the end.

r6 – repeat row 3

r7 – P1, *keeping your yarn at the front of your work SL 3 purlwise, p3; repeat from * to last 4 stitches, SL 3 purlwise, P1.

r8 – K1, *keeping your yarn at the back of your work SL 3 purlwise, k3; repeat from * to last 4 stitches, SL 3 purlwise, k1.

r9 – repeat row 4

r10 – repeat row 3

r11 – K2, *K1 ULS (under loose strands), k5; repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K1 ULS, k2.

r12 – repeat row 4

***repeat rows 1-12 for a total of 7 times for a total of 84 rows.

r85 – cast off

BLOCKING & ATTACHING YOUR SQUARE:

After you have completed your square, you’re going to want to block your square. In the video I explained how I did this:

• dampen your square after weaving in your ends
• using push pins, lay out your square to measure a 10″ X 10″ square
• pin everything down and allow the square to fully dry
• once done, you can sew it on to your blanket!

Here’s a finished look of the blanket with 15 squares attached!