Chic Sheep Dream Intarsia Knit Blanket || Free Intarsia Afghan Pattern by Anne Berk

My wonderful friend and talented designer Anne Berk made this amazing Chic Sheep Dream Intarsia Knit Blanket – a colorwork knit blanket using the intarsia knitting technique and all 24 colors of the Chic Sheep by Marly Bird™ yarn. Each row of the blanket randomly uses all 24 colors of Chic Sheep. Not only is this a great way to try out all of the colors in the collection but it is the perfect way to use up your ends from other projects you are making with Chic Sheep.

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MY CHIC SHEEP DREAM INTARSIA KNIT BLANKET

When I had a dream about this blanket I knew that Annetarsia was the person to turn my intarsia blanket dream into a reality. I called her up and told her all about my dream of a blanket in all my yarn colors that looked like a stained glass window with triangles. Anne loved the idea and took it from there. She designed it, made it, and loved it so much she made one for herself!!!!

DREAM INTO INTARSIA BLANKET REALITY

Anne used a simple triangle pattern to make the blanket and made it in random colors for each each section of triangles. She did this by first calculating how many yards of yarn each butterfly should have in each color by doing some math <learn how to do that here>. Then, making the yarn butterflies and putting 1 butterfly for each color in a plastic bag.

As she worked on each section of triangles, she then randomly selecting one color out of the bag for each triangle of the row making this truly a random colored pattern.

HOW MUCH YARN?

Although some may think purchasing one ball of each color is a lot of yarn to get, but let me help a little here. One of the great things about this pattern is that it can be your go to pattern as you continue to make other patterns with Chic Sheep. Each time you make a pattern and have some left over yarn, save it and then you can make this blanket with your extras.

Also, it is important to note that Anne made this entire blanket and had yarn left over with just one ball of each color for the body of the afghan to make another blanket! That’s right, I mentioned that Anne made two of these blankets and she did it with the yarn remaining from each ball of color she used on the first blanket. The only color she needed to buy more of was the border color.

That also means this is a great stash busting project. Grab those scraps of yarn you have and get to work. Instead of a mitered square blanket why not make the Chic Sheep Dream Intarsia Knit Blanket? BY THE WAY: did you see all these 20 Stash Busting Knitting Patterns?

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

➸Do you need to know how to do intarsia? Not a problem, Anne and I did some instructional videos to help you out in that area.

➸Waiting on a pattern? Okay, here is this blanket pattern or you can check out the Chic Highlander Argyle Cardigan. Both of these patterns are free on the Marly Bird Website.

➸No way, are you waiting on an invitation? Consider this it 🙂

So grab your yarn and let’s get started!

CHIC SHEEP DREAM INTARSIA KNIT BLANKET MEASUREMENTS

FINISHED MEASUREMENT: Blanket Measures 55.5″ (141 cm) in width and 52.5″ (133.5 cm) in length.

GAUGE: 20 sts = 4″ (10 cm); 28 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in Layer Chart, after blocking. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge. 

Although this is not an item you will wear and gauge is not a crucial element you will still want to check your gauge to the pattern. Checking your gauge to the pattern will tell you if you will have enough yarn. If your gauge is much larger than what Anne got you may run out of yarn before completing the blanket. If your gauge on the other hand is much smaller the finished size of your blanket will not be what Anne got, rather it will also be much smaller.

However, if you are using another yarn and need to calculate if you have enough, follow Anne’s simple steps to figure out how much yarn you need for any knit or crochet project. The full written instructions with pictures are in her book or you can watch the video she and I did here.

CHIC SHEEP DREAM INTARSIA KNIT BLANKET MATERIALS

YARN

Red Heart Chic Sheep by Marly Bird— 100% washable merino wool, 186 yds per ball.

• 3 balls: Velvet Color (A)-used for the border
• 1 ball each: Fairy Tale Color (B), Dragon Fruit Color (C), Sangria Color (D), Vineyard Color (E), Regal Color (F), Royal Color (G), VIP Color (H), Suite Color (I), Poolside Color (J), Creme De Mint Color (K), Green Tea Color (L), Polo Color (M), Lipstick Color (N), Sunset Color (O), Mai Tai Color (P), Mimosa Color (Q), Stiletto Color (R), Sterling Color (S), Platinum Color (T), Lace Color (U), Linen Color (V), Suede Color (W), Leather Color (X), or approximately 87 yards (79.5 meters) of 23 other colors.

NEEDLES

US 4.5mm [US 7] 32″ (81 cm)

NOTIONS

Stitch Markers, plastic bags to put the butterflies in after you prep them, yarn needle

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES

INTARSIA

Intarsia is a method of color knitting that uses a new strand of yarn for each block of color. When changing colors, the yarn strands must be wrapped in a way to prevent a gap.

Knit Row: Knit to the color change, behind the work, bring old color yarn (the color you just finished using) over the new yarn to the left and bring the new yarn up from below on the right, then continue to knit with the new color.

Purl Row: Purl to the color change, in front of the work, bring old color yarn over the new yarn to the left and bring the new yarn up from below on the right, then continue to purl with the new color.

GET THE BOOK! Hey, it’s Marly. I want to highly recommend that you grab the Annetarsia book by Anne Berk. It is an amazing book and you will not be disappointed in it at all. It is so much more than a book about intarsia knitting. There are lessons in there that will really improve your general knitting as well. Order if from Amazon or directly from Anne. Simply click the links.

INTARSIA VIDEOS BY ANNE BERK

Determining Yarn Amounts for Butterflies: https://youtu.be/swsoUuKQOes

Winding butterflies: https://youtu.be/P-i2T5IxL3Q

How to Finish Perfect Intarsia: https://youtu.be/hxYe0gNIUww

How to Knit Straight Intarsia: https://youtu.be/hLbfjLV1PIc

How to Bury In Ends: https://youtu.be/8_NBGUKjO-E

For more information and patterns, check out  “Annetarsia Knits: A New Link to Intarsia (available at www.annetarsia.com)

CHIC SHEEP DREAM INTARSIA KNIT BLANKET PATTERN NOTES

When adding any new yarn: always leave a 5” end, which will anchor the stitch and give you enough yarn to adjust tension and bury the end, in finishing. Add yarn within 1 st from the link, for ease in finishing.

How to read the chart: Chart rows are worked from right to left on RS rows and left to right on WS rows. Each row begins and ends with 1 st MC selvedge.

Avoid holes when knitting intarsia: To link between motifs, lay the old color over the new color, then work the next stitch with the new color to link the old yarn gently with the new color yarn. Do not overtighten, as the link and stitches need room to breathe.

When 3 colors come together and one will not be used lay both the old and the unused color over the new piece of yarn, then make the stitch with the new color, locking in the other 2 colors, which will be in position to be worked on the next row.

Keep control of the butterflies: When yarn supplies tangle, first pull the loose strands of AC away. As you knit, the yarn butterflies will get smaller and can also be converted to loose strands. ALL yarn supplies can be converted to loose strands if you choose, you will just need to add new yarn more often. As you practice, you will gain confidence and the butterflies will become faster and easier to use. Using smaller lengths of yarn in the beginning might be less stressful, and your fabric will be just fine, so don’t hesitate to try that method.

• Each full triangle uses 6 yards (5.5 meters), and each half triangle uses 3 yards (2.75 meters).
• While working the Layer Chart, choose the color bobbins in the order as shown in the Layer Diagram, or choose them randomly as follows: There are 25 full triangles and 2 half triangles per layer. On each layer, work each of the 24 colors once, then choose random colored bobbins for the extra full triangle and the 2 half triangles. Arrange the colors in order so they are randomly dispersed in relation to the colors on the previous layers. There will be a few bobbins of color leftover when the blanket is finished.
• On each row, as each color is changed, use the intarsia method to prevent any gaps from forming between colors.
• 312 yarn bobbins (butterflies) 6 yd lengths
• 72 yarn bobbins (butterflies) 3 yd lengths

STITCH PATTERNS

SEED STITCH

(Worked over a multiple of 2 sts + 1)

Row 1: K1, *p1, k1; repeat from * to end.

Repeat row 1 for Seed st.

CHIC SHEEP DREAM INTARSIA KNIT BLANKET PREPARATION

Full disclosure, when Anne was prepping for this blanket she had the help of Lindsey from Erin.Lane Bags and myself. It was so much fun learning from the master how to make these butterfly bobbins in the absolute perfect amounts. Then bundle them up.

Seeing all the colors of yarn in my collection in one bundle was really awesome. Look at these pictures!

Here is what you need to know to prepare for your CHIC SHEEP DREAM INTARSIA KNIT BLANKET.

FULL TRIANGLES: Hold the 24 colors together and measure and cut as a unit to save time. Be careful to maintain a relaxed tension when measuring, or they may be cut too short.

Cut all 24 colors into 6 yard (5.5 meter) lengths and wind each separate length into a yarn bobbin (SEE MARLY’S VIDEO ON YARN BOBBINS). Place each set of 24 yarn bobbins into a separate bag. Make 13 sets, one for each layer of triangles

HALF TRIANGLES: Cut all 24 colors into 3 yard (2.75 meter) lengths and wind onto bobbins. Make 3 sets and place all together into a bag.  Use randomly next to each side edging, and to create one or more divided triangle on each layer.

CHIC SHEEP DREAM INTARSIA KNIT BLANKET CHART

This intarsia chart is worked over a multiple of 20 sts. Once all rows of the chart are complete, 1 set is complete.

CHIC SHEEP DREAM ARGYLE KNIT BLANKET PATTERN

With long tail method, cast on 277 with Color A, then work 14 rows in Seed stitch, ending after a right side row.

Increase Row (wrong side): Work 9 sts in Seed stitch, place a marker, kfb, purl to the last 9 sts, place another marker, work Seed stitch to end – 278 sts.

Next Row (right side): Work Seed stitch to marker as established, slip the marker, work Row 1 of the Layer Chart (see chart above) using desired colors (see Notes) to the next marker, slip the marker, work to the end in Seed stitch as established.

Work in established Layer pattern, keeping 9 edge sts in Seed stitch until Rows 1–52 of the Layer pattern have been completed 6 times, then work Rows 1–26 once more.

Decrease Row: (right side): Change to Color A only and work in Seed st to marker, remove marker, p2tog, purl to marker, remove marker, work in Seed st to end – 277 sts remain.

Work 14 rows in Seed st. Bind off all sts in Seed st.

FINISHING

Weave in all loose ends.

Block blanket to measurements.

CROCHET VERSION OF THE CHIC SHEEP DREAM INTARSIA KNIT BLANKET

Be sure to take a peek at the Crochet Sister of this blanket. The Chic Sheep Day Dream crochet blanket also uses all 24 colors of Chic Sheep by Marly Bird and is constructed in Corner-to-Corner.