Waterlily Blanket

Waterlily Blanket by Nancy Hand

Project Overview

The Waterlily Blanket is an advanced-level knitting project designed by Nancy Hand that creates a finished blanket measuring approximately 32 inches (81.3 cm) square. This downloadable PDF pattern combines colorwork techniques with structural shaping to produce an elegant throw blanket suitable for experienced knitters seeking a challenging and rewarding project.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a decorative knitted blanket featuring a waterlily motif worked through colorwork charting. The design is symmetrical, with the chart representing one quarter of the overall pattern that is mirrored across the blanket. The finished piece functions as a throw blanket or decorative cover, making it suitable for home décor or gifting.

Techniques Used

• Colorwork Charting: The pattern uses a chart-based approach where stitches are worked in multiple colors to create the waterlily design. The chart is worked bidirectionally—read forward on odd rows and backward on even rows to create the pattern.
• Symmetrical Pattern Mirroring: The chart represents one quarter of the design, requiring knitters to work the pattern in reverse to complete each row and create the symmetrical waterlily motif across the full blanket.
• Seed Stitch Borders: The blanket features seed stitch worked on all borders to frame the central colorwork design and provide structural definition.
• Roman Stitch Background: The background of the colorwork section is worked in Roman Stitch, providing texture and depth behind the waterlily motif.
• Stitch Marker Placement: Strategic placement of stitch markers helps organize the pattern sections, with markers placed every 10 stitches to maintain pattern alignment and ease tracking across the 212 cast-on stitches.

Stitches Used

• Seed Stitch: Used for the initial border and hem sections, creating a textured, reversible fabric that frames the blanket edges.
• Roman Stitch: Employed as the background stitch for the colorwork chart section, providing visual interest and texture contrast.
• Stockinette Stitch (implied): The colorwork chart likely uses stockinette stitch as the base for the waterlily motif itself, allowing the color changes to create clear pattern definition.

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: Cascade Cherub DK weight yarn is used throughout the project. This yarn is worked at 180 yards (164.6 meters) per 50-gram skein. The color palette consists of four colors: one skein each of Raspberry, Classic Blue, and Key Lime, plus four skeins of Ecru for the background and borders. The DK weight classification indicates a light, versatile yarn suitable for creating blankets with good drape and definition.

Needles: US 6 (4.0mm) needles are required for this project, which pairs appropriately with DK weight yarn to achieve the specified gauge.

Gauge: The pattern specifies a gauge of 25 stitches and 34 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving the intended finished dimensions of 32 inches square.

Optional Supplies: Twenty stitch markers and twenty bobbins are recommended to assist with pattern tracking and color management during the colorwork sections, though these are listed as optional.

Pattern Structure

The pattern begins with casting on 212 stitches, which includes 16 stitches on each side for hem sections and 180 stitches for the main blanket body. Knitters work approximately 2.5 inches (about 20 rows) of seed stitch for the initial border before introducing the colorwork chart. Stitch markers are then placed strategically—after the initial 16-stitch hem, then every 10 stitches across the body, and again before the final 16-stitch hem—to organize the pattern sections. The chart is worked in rows, with the pattern reading forward and backward to create the symmetrical waterlily design. At the midpoint (Row 110), knitters reverse direction and work back down the chart (Rows 109, 108, and so on) to complete the mirrored pattern.