Cozy Cables Quick knit blanket throw

Today we celebrate my daughter’s 17th Birthday! Wow where did the time go? I know that’s so cliché, but honestly it’s something we can all seriously relate to. One minute we have our babies and then we blink and they are no longer children but blossoming young adults. Certainly I am a proud mama of my 2 “young adults” and everyday they never cease to amaze me. They have grown into such exceptional people!

My daughter is one of those people who are super thoughtful about Christmas’s and Birthday’s and is always trying to do her best to make people feel special. For years I have been the lucky recipient of little notes left by my bedside table or on my desk with “surprise” chocolates for no special reason other than she was thinking of you. You’ll find stashes in her room of goodies she buys to share with her brother and cousins and friends. She takes the time to talk with teachers and employers just to see how they are doing and takes genuine interest in the lives of everyone around her. She inspires through positive leadership in her school and gives 110% at her work as a lifeguard and swim instructor with the city as well. Truly she is a genuine giver.

She gives me bragging rights that’s for sure, but how do you give back to someone who asks for so little and is always giving so much? Even as a small child, my daughter never seemed to ask for anything for Christmas, Birthdays, whatever the occasion. It was always a response of “I don’t need anything” to the ever constant “what do you want for your Birthday” question. As a parent you’d think I would rejoice at the simplicity of that, but in actuality it was challenging always wanting to be fair parents. How do make up to the child who asks for nothing when the other child seems to have an endless list of expenses?

Well, one effort I made this year was trying to plan ahead.

As in August ahead! I know she wanted a hand knit throw for her room and I thought I would get a head start and make her this Cozy Cables Quick knit blanket throw. The only problem of course is that it has been sooooo hot here in Ontario. Not the kind of weather you want a heavy wool blanket resting on your lap as you put in your knitting hours! Solution….procrastinate!

Yes, basically I started seriously knitting on this blanket when the 30 degree weather broke here and we had a bit of chill in the air. I started it in August with good intentions of a leisurely knitting project in my spare time. When at the beginning of October it was still only at about 6 inches in length, I thought I better put a firecracker under it if it was going to be finished by today. (Last night I was casting off) Whew…that was close!

30 Hours of Knitting

I know this is accurate to my knitting speed which I would consider to be about average. It has been timed for my own sanity. I am a VERY impatient person who likes to know exactly when I am going to see my finished project. It is one hour per pattern, and I do 30 patterns in length. This makes for about a six-foot throw. Plenty big enough in my house, but you can add to it if you want longer.

Materials

10 Balls of #6- Super Bulky Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick 6 oz/ 170 g (11 if you use a 140 g ball prints, stripes)
1 cable needle
A set of round size US 15 (10 mm) needles

Easy Pattern to Follow

I cannot stress this enough! I do not like patterns!! I want to knit to shut off my brain not use it more. My promise to you is that this is super easy to follow. Aside from the top and bottom border and every third cable row, you literally knit your knits and purl your purls. You can’t get easier than that!

Cast on 106 Stitches
Knit 5 rows
Pattern 30 times or until desired length (See Below)
Knit 5 rows
Bind Off
Weave in ends ( you will only have your cast on and cast off to weave in if you use a fisherman’s knot to join balls) Here is a great link to a tutorial for this knot.

Cable Pattern

Row 1 Border K2, P2, K2, K2, K3, P3 Body (K6, P3 x9 times until 11 stitches remain), Border K3, K2, P2, K2, P2
Row 2 Border K2, P2, K2, P2, P3, K3 Body (P6, K3 x 9 times until 11 stiches remain), Border P3, K2, P2, K2, P2
Row 3 Border K2, P2, K2, P2, K3, P3 Body (Sl 3 stitches to the cable needle and hold in front, K3, K3 from cable needle, P3 x 9 times until 11 stitches remain), Border K3, K2, P2, K2, P2
Row 4 Same as Row 2
Row 5 Same as Row 1
Row 6 Same as Row 2