Squares in Harmony: Scrap Yarn Motif Afghan

Free Blanket Knitting Pattern

All knitters and crocheters have a stash of leftover yarn from past projects. I decided to put my collection of worsted- and aran-weight scraps to good use by creating a cozy throw. To unify the colorful motifs, I chose a solid dark brown yarn of the same weight.

This throw is worked in square blocks. Each large block consists of four smaller bias-knit squares worked in garter stitch, which are then sewn together. The large blocks are sewn to one another to form the finished afghan. Because the throw is made up of individual motifs, you can easily adjust the size to fit your needs.

Measurements: Any size desired.

One small block measures approximately 4" x 4"(10 × 10 cm).

Materials: scrap worsted and aran weight yarn (CC)

Lion Brand (affiliate link) Fishermen's Wool aran weight yarn 465 yd (425 m) / 227g, Color Nature’s Brown (MC) -amount needed will depend on the size of your throw

Needles: straight needle US #8 (5.00 mm).

Gauge: One small block = 4" × 4" (10 × 10 cm)

Exact gauge is not critical. Note that using heavier or lighter yarn or different needle sizes will produce blocks of different dimensions.

Abbreviations:
K – knit
P – purl
St – stitch
Sts - stitches
sl - slip the 1st st
k2tog – knit 2 together
sl1, k2tog, psso : slip next stitch, knit 2 together, then pass slipped stitch over.
P3tog – purl 3 sts together
co – cast on
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
m 1 - make 1 increase - make a backward loop over the right-hand needle and in the next row/round purl/knit it as a regular stitch.
MC – main color
CC – contrast color


Small Block (make 4 for each Large Block)

With MC cast on 3 sts.

Row 1 (WS): Knit. (3 sts)

Row 2 (RS): Sl, m1, k1, m1, p1. (5 sts)

Row 3: Sl, k3, p1.

Row 4: Sl, m1, k3, m1, p1. (7 sts)

Row 5: Sl, k5, p1.

Continue in this manner, increasing 2 sts every RS row and working the WS rows as Sl 1, knit to last st, p1, until you have 25 sts (Row 23).

Row 22: Sl, m1, k21, m1, p1. (25 sts)

Row 23: Sl, k23, p1.

Change to CC yarn

Row 24: Sl, k24.

Row 25: Repeat row 23.

Begin decreases:

Row 26: Sl, k2tog, k19, k2tog, p1. (23 sts)

Row 27: Sl, k21, p1.

Row 28: Sl, k2tog, k17, k2tog, p1. (21 sts)

Continue decreasing 2 sts every RS row (Sl 1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, p1) while working WS rows as established, until 3 sts remain.

Final rows:

Row 46: Sl, sl1, k2tog, psso, p1. (3 sts)

Row 47: P3tog. (1 st)

Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitch. Weave in ends later.

Large Block

Knit 4 small blocks. For a pleasing look, I recommend making two small blocks in one scrap color and the other two in coordinating scrap colors..

Arrange the blocks as shown in the photos and sew them together to form one large block.

Make as many large blocks as needed for your desired throw size, then sew the large blocks together.

Finishing:

Weave in the ends.

Have fun!