Norma by Meghan Jones

Norma

Knitting
Aran (8 wpi) ?
18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette
US 7 - 4.5 mm
US 6 - 4.0 mm
1075 yards (983 m)
one size
English
This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download

Please note that full charts have been added to the free download that are errata free, you must use these charts in conjunction with the pattern on Knitty.

This blanket was created as an homage to my grandmother, Norma Jones, who recently had to move into a nursing home. As I live more than 12 hours away, cannot visit regularly and phone conversations aren’t possible, I wanted to design and knit something comforting for her to use daily.

This design begins at the centre and branches out with 4 quadrants representing her 4 children, each quadrant grows tiny vines and leafy columns, the branches and leaves of our family tree. This blanket is the perfect lap size cover, or fold it diagonally for an extra-warm double-layer shawl. Worked in Superwash Merino in a worsted weight, this project is a fast knit with easy care.

Needles
US #7/4.5mm double-point needles or long circular
1 24-inch US #7/4.5mm circular needle
1 47-inch US #7/4.5mm circular needle
1 47-inch US #6/4.0mm circular needle

Gauge
18 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
16 sts/27 rows = 4 inches over chart

The original charts 2-3 published for Knitty are worked to Row 82, the sample was only worked to Row 38. Knitty has changed the charts to end on Row 38 but the larger charts are still available here. Please note that the finished size of the larger chart is 45x45” and will require 7 skeins.

More Information here

How to assemble the chart: the first and second links are for the right and left sides of chart 1, they go together with the point of the V at the bottom. Attach the right and left sides fo Chart 2 together, and then repeat for Chart 3.

Chart 2 goes to the upper right of Chart 1, and Chart 3 goes to the upper left of Chart 1. When all three charts are assembled they make one big inverted triangle, of course you can work them without attaching them all together and the pattern indicates to work Chart 1 and then work Charts 2-3.

“Can you repeat the charts to make the blanket bigger”: Because this blanket does not have a simple repeat repeating the charts will not work out to make a bigger blanket, if you have a charting program you could cut and paste areas of the chart to create another larger one, but simply directly repeating wouldn’t work.

Another question: Making the Blanket Smaller

I would say that the best bet for making this smaller is using a smaller gauge yarn. This way you won’t lose any patterning but the final result will be smaller. To figure out just how small that will be you need your stitch count per inch from the new yarn. The final stitch count is 732 sts, divide that by 4 = 183 sts per side, take the new yarn gauge per inch (let’s say 5.5 per inch for a DK), divide 183 sts by 5.5 stitches per inch and the new side will be 33 inches long for a blanket 33 inches square.

If your desire is to still use a worsted weight but knit less of the charts you can stop anytime as the border eyelet rows are based on an even number of stitches and since the blanket starts with 2 sts between each corner stitch and there are always 2 sts added to each side every RS row there will always be an even number of stitches in the blanket. To calculate final size choose the row you are to end on, take the stitch count from that row and multiply it by the sts per inch on your gauge which may or may not be what the pattern states as gauge is not vital for this pattern.

Errata: Chart 3 Row 41 stitches, 52, 53, 55 and 56, should be k2tog yo

Errata Chart 3 on Knitty: Row 17 upwards stitches 52-53, 55-56, correct to match stitches 49-50

Errata Chart 1 on Knitty: Rows 53-59, stitches 56-59 change all k2togs to ssk

Errata Charts 1-2 Row 85: there should be 4 sts between the k2tog and the yo at the beginning of the row and the end of the row.