Taos Lap Blanket
In March of this year I took a road trip from LA to NY with my friend Paige (yep, still gotta edit all the photos …). We stopped a few times along the way, and absolutely fell in love with New Mexico. Our favorite place was the city of Taos, a little village in NM’s high desert that’s home to an abundance of artists and makers and the most beautiful textiles, jewelry, ceramics, and art you’ve ever seen. We ended up staying an extra day and having to drive like 20 straight hours through the middle of the country because of it (which, TBH, was not such a bad thing haha).
Southwestern motifs are iconic and have been exploding on the design scene lately. I knew I wanted to create something using these traditional shapes in memory of our trip and that special town, and when I got the opportunity to make a special gift for a friend’s new baby I knew it was the perfect time to do so. The Taos Lap Blanket is a smallish throw that’s well suited for the car or the couch and makes an excellent gift for a winter baby. I’ve provided the free pattern below but as always you can purchase a printer-friendly PDF here or grab the full yarn kit from Lion Brand Yarn here.
Like many of my other home designs inspired by various cultures, this pattern is part of the "Purposeful Patterns" initiative - a series of designs benefiting a variety of causes. $1 from the sale of each Taos Lap Blanket pattern will be donated to Partnership With Native Americans, a nonprofit organization committed to championing hope for a brighter future for Native Americans living on remote, isolated and impoverished reservations. PWNA is the only Native-serving charity to work on 60 reservations year-round. Donate directly to PWNA here.
You may have seen a sneak peek of this blanket on my recent episode of Tea With Shira where we talked about my exclusive fall/winter Cityscape Collection for Lion Brand Yarn. I used my favorite Wool-Ease Thick & Quick color in this design (Slate) but I’d love to see what other color combos you guys come up with! I think something peachy would be beautiful as well.
This is an intermediate level knitting pattern and the techniques involved are the knit stitch, purl stitch, color changes, stranded knitting, intarsia, color chart reading, and picking up and knitting along an edge.
MATERIALS:
2 skeins Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Fisherman for color A
2 skeins Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Obsidian for color B
1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Oatmeal for color C
2 skeins Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Slate for color D
1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Grey Marble for color E
Size US 15 (10mm) circular knitting needles, 32”/80cm long
Tapestry needle
FINISHED SIZE:
Width: 37”/94cm
Length: 42”/107cm
(dimensions taken after blocking)
GAUGE:
9 sts + 12.5 rows = 4”/10cm in stockinette
ABBREVIATIONS:
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms
CO – cast on
K – knit
P – purl
Rep – repeat
RS – right side
St(s) – stitch(es)
WS – wrong side
Notes: Blanket is worked using both intarsia and stranded colorwork. Charts are included to indicate color changes, which are also provided in the written instructions. Charts begin in lower right hand corner. Right side rows are worked in knit and read right to left, and wrong side rows are worked in purl and read left to right. Side border is picked up and knit after blanket is complete.
CO 77 sts with color A.
Rows 1-4: K.
Change to color B.
Row 5 (RS): *K 2 with color B, K 2 with color C, rep from * to last st, K 1 with color B.
Row 6 (WS): P 1 with color B, *P 2 with color C, P 2 with color B, rep from * to end of row.
Change to color D.
Row 7: K.
Row 8: P.
Rows 9-12: Rep rows 7 and 8.
Change to color B.
Row 13: *K 2 with color B, K 2 with color C, rep from * to last st, K 1 with color B.
Row 14: P 1 with color B, *P 2 with color C, P 2 with color B, rep from * to end of row.
Change to color C.
Row 15: K.
Row 16: P.
Change to color D.
Row 17: K.
Row 18: P.
Begin Color Chart 1.
Row 19: K 4 with color D, K 22 with color C, K 22 with color B, K 22 with color E, K 7 with color D.
Row 20: P 6 with color D, P 22 with color E, P 22 with color B, P 22 with color C, P 5 with color D.
Row 21: K 6 with color D, K 22 with color C, K 22 with color B, K 22 with color E, K 5 with color D.
Row 22: P 4 with color D, P 22 with color E, P 22 with color B, P 22 with color C, P 7 with color D.
Change to color A.
Row 23: K.
Row 24: P.
Change to color D.
Row 25: K 7 with color D, K 22 with color C, K 22 with color B, K 22 with color E, K 4 with color D.
Row 26: P 5 with color D, P 22 with color E, P 22 with color B, P 22 with color C, P 6 with color D.
Row 27: K 5 with color D, K 22 with color C, K 22 with color B, K 22 with color E, K 6 with color D.
Row 28: P 7 with color D, P 22 with color E, P 22 with color B, P 22 with color C, P 4 with color D.
End chart.
Row 29: K.
Row 30: P.
Change to color C.
Row 31: K.
Row 32: P.
Change to color B.
Row 33: *K 2 with color B, K 2 with color C, rep from * to last st, K 1 with color B.
Row 34: P 1 with color B, *P 2 with color C, P 2 with color B, rep from * to end of row.
Change to color D.
Row 35: K.
Row 36: P.
Rows 37-40: Rep rows 35 and 36.
Change to color B.
Row 41: *K 2 with color B, K 2 with color C, rep from * to last st, K 1 with color B.
Row 42: P 1 with color B, *P 2 with color C, P 2 with color B, rep from * to end of row.
Change to color A.
Row 43: K.
Row 44: P.
Rows 44-48: Rep rows 43 and 44.
Begin Color Chart 2.
Row 49: K 29 in color A, K 19 in color B, K 29 in color A.
Row 50: P 30 in color A, P 17 in color B, P 30 in color A.
Row 51: K 31 in color A, K 15 in color B, K 31 in color A.
Row 52: P 32 in color A, P 13 in color B, P 32 in color A.
Row 53: K 33 in color A, K 11 in color B, K 33 in color A.
Row 54: P 9 in color D, P 15 in color A, P 29 in color B, P 15 in color A, P 9 in color D.
Row 55: K 8 in color D, K 17 in color A, K 27 in color B, K 17 in color A, K 8 in color D.
Row 56: P 7 in color D, P 19 in color A, P 25 in color B, P 19 in color A, P 7 in color D.
Row 57: K 6 in color D, K 21 in color A, K 23 in color B, K 21 in color A, K 6 in color D.
Row 58: P 5 in color D, P 23 in color A, P 21 in color B, P 23 in color A, P 5 in color D.
Row 59: K 14 in color D, K 5 in color A, K 10 in color B, K 19 in color E, K 10 in color B, K 5 in color A, K 14 in color D.
Row 60: P 13 in color D, P 7 in color A, P 10 in color B, P 17 in color E, P 10 in color B, P 7 in color A, P 13 in color D.
Row 61: K 12 in color D, K 9 in color A, K 10 in color B, K 15 in color E, K 10 in color B, K 9 in color A, K 12 in color D.
Row 62: P 11 in color D, P 11 in color A, P 10 in color B, P 13 in color E, P 10 in color B, P 11 in color A, P 11 in color D.
Row 63: K 10 in color D, K 13 in color A, K 10 in color B, K 11 in color E, K 10 in color B, K 13 in color A, K 10 in color D.
Row 64: P 10 in color D, P 13 in color A, P 10 in color B, P 11 in color E, P 10 in color B, P 13 in color A, P 10 in color D.
Row 65: K 11 in color D, K 11 in color A, K 10 in color B, K 13 in color E, K 10 in color B, K 11 in color A, K 11 in color D.
Row 66: P 12 in color D, P 9 in color A, P 10 in color B, P 15 in color E, P 10 in color B, P 9 in color A, P 12 in color D.
Row 67: K 13 in color D, K 7 in color A, K 10 in color B, K 17 in color E, K 10 in color B, K 7 in color A, K 13 in color D.
Row 68: P 14 in color D, P 5 in color A, P 10 in color B, P 19 in color E, P 10 in color B, P 5 in color A, P 14 in color D.
Row 69: K 5 in color D, K 23 in color A, K 21 in color B, K 23 in color A, K 5 in color D.
Row 70: P 6 in color D, P 21 in color A, P 23 in color B, P 21 in color A, P 6 in color D.
Row 71: K 7 in color D, K 19 in color A, K 25 in color B, K 19 in color A, K 7 in color D.
Row 72: P 8 in color D, P 17 in color A, P 27 in color B, P 17 in color A, P 8 in color D.
Row 73: K 9 in color D, K 15 in color A, K 29 in color B, K 15 in color A, K 9 in color D.
Row 74: P 33 in color A, P 11 in color B, P 33 in color A.
Row 75: K 32 in color A, K 13 in color B, K 32 in color A.
Row 76: P 31 in color A, P 15 in color B, P 31 in color A.
Row 77: K 30 in color A, K 17 in color B, K 30 in color A.
Row 78: P 29 in color A, P 19 in color B, P 29 in color A.
End chart.
Row 79: K.
Row 80: P.
Rows 81-84: Rep rows 79 and 80.
Change to color B.
Row 85: *K 2 with color B, K 2 with color C, rep from * to last st, K 1 with color B.
Row 86: P 1 with color B, *P 2 with color C, P 2 with color B, rep from * to end of row.
Change to color D.
Row 87: K.
Row 88: P.
Rows 89-92: Rep rows 87 and 88.
Change to color B.
Row 93: *K 2 with color B, K 2 with color C, rep from * to last st, K 1 with color B.
Row 94: P 1 with color B, *P 2 with color C, P 2 with color B, rep from * to end of row.
Change to color C.
Row 95: K.
Row 96: P.
Change to color D.
Row 97: K.
Row 98: P.
Begin Color Chart 3.
Row 99: K 7 with color D, K 22 with color E, K 22 with color B, K 22 with color C, K 4 with color D.
Row 100: P 5 with color D, P 22 with color C, P 22 with color B, P 22 with color E, P 6 with color D.
Row 101: K 5 with color D, K 22 with color E, K 22 with color B, K 22 with color C, K 6 with color D.
Row 102: P 7 with color D, P 22 with color C, P 22 with color B, P 22 with color E, P 4 with color D.
Change to color A.
Row 103: K.
Row 104: P.
Change to color D.
Row 105: K 4 with color D, K 22 with color E, K 22 with color B, K 22 with color C, K 7 with color D.
Row 106: P 6 with color D, P 22 with color C, P 22 with color B, P 22 with color E, P 5 with color D.
Row 107: K 6 with color D, K 22 with color E, K 22 with color B, K 22 with color C, K 5 with color D.
Row 108: P 4 with color D, P 22 with color C, P 22 with color B, P 22 with color E, P 7 with color D.
End chart.
Row 109: K.
Row 110: P.
Change to color C.
Row 111: K.
Row 112: P.
Change to color B.
Row 113: *K 2 with color B, K 2 with color C, rep from * to last st, K 1 with color B.
Row 114: P 1 with color B, *P 2 with color C, P 2 with color B, rep from * to end of row.
Change to color D.
Row 115: K.
Row 116: P.
Rows 117-120: Rep rows 115 and 116.
Change to color B.
Row 121: *K 2 with color B, K 2 with color C, rep from * to last st, K 1 with color B.
Row 122: P 1 with color B, *P 2 with color C, P 2 with color B, rep from * to end of row.
Change to color A.
Rows 123-126: K.
Bind off.
Secure and weave in all ends and holes at color changes.
Edging:
With right side facing up, pick up and knit evenly along one side of blanket (approx. 3 sts for every 4 rows). K 3 rows and bind off. Rep on other side of blanket. Secure and weave in remaining ends.
Purchase the printable, ad-free pattern here.
Purchase the kit from Lion Brand Yarn here.
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The pattern and photographs of this design are the property of Two of Wands. This pattern and design are subject to copyright, and are for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not distribute or sell this pattern or any items created using the directions in this pattern without consent. Please visit my policies for more information.
