This is a blanket that is made up of 20 patches. The pattern gives you the pattern for 10 different patches:

ABC, The Star, Sailor, Traditional Cable, Plaited Cable, Climbing Leaf, Sweetheart, The Apple Tree, The Magic Tree, Spider

The first 3 only use knit and purl stitches, the next 2 use cables, the Sweetheart uses basic lace and the final 3 are a little more complex due to combining some cabling and knit and purl. I think this would be a great pattern to learn to knit with.

Here’s the introduction to the pattern from the magazine, copyright of Rowan.

There is something very satisfying, something very personal about knitting a blanket like this, or anything else we create with our hands. We put part of ourselves into its’ making.

The blanket photograped is made up of twenty patches and uses all ten of the patch designs. You may choose to use just five designs or simply two, say the Sweetheart and the Traditional Cable. If you would prefer your blanket larger, use thirty five patches rather than twenty. Four patches together would make a great cushion.

Because the patches use different techniques it is a good way to learn new skills without tackling a whole garment and may lead on to you creating your own designs. But beginners don’t be put off, stick with the Start, ABC and Sailor designs, these are easier to knit but just as eye-catching.