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Traveling Knit Afghan – Border by Vanessa Knits
The border of the Traveling Knit Afghan, the last part of this year-long project is out and and we’re finishing with a bang!
After getting its last square in Rhode Island with Kenyarn, the Traveling Knit Afghan is in New Jersey, getting ready for the final touch. Read all about this afghan’s journey, and how far it has traveled since Square One in this post here.
Inspiration
Vanessa Coscarelli Black of Vanessa Knits is the designer of the border of our afghan.
Vanessa, as she describes herself, is the type of person who can’t sit still or do just one thing at a time. And making came naturally to her. Her grandmother taught her how to crochet and later her mother taught her to knit. And with these two crafts under her belt, Vanessa is now a maker who pours her love into each one of her creations.
Recently, Vanessa has expanded her product line and designs using unique fair trade yarns from artisans in Northern India. These yarns include recycled silk sari yarn & ribbon, and hand dyed and beaded silks and cottons. 😀
So go and have a look at Vanessa’s shop to see all her amazing creations!
Project
Before adding the border, I finally seamed all the squares together. I used a somewhat invisible seam (somewhat because I’m the worst seamstress ever) to give the afghan a more “rustic” look. Curiously enough, the seaming was quicker than I thought. 🙂 Weaving in the ends, that was another story.
For the seaming and then the border, I used Norway 10 ply yarn in Mid Brown from Morris & Sons to make my squares stand out. As for the needles, I used the same 4.0 mm knitting needles.
When everything was done, I lay the afghan over my bed and boy was I proud of this year-long project! I hope that you are too. 😀
Pattern
All the materials and other information needed for the pattern are listed in Vanessa Coscarelli Black’s Ravelry Store.
Traveling Knit Afghan – Border by Vanessa Knits
Here is the pattern for the Border of the Traveling Knit Afghan.
Contrarily to what happened with the previous patterns, this one is not available on Vanessa’s website. Don’t worry if you cannot find it there. Just head over to Ravelry and you will find it there, in Vanessa’s Ravelry Store. As usual, it is a free pattern, all you need to do is download the pattern there.
This gorgeous border features the Seed Stitch. This stitch creates a rich texture by alternating knits and purls over a 2-row repeat. Asides from the Seed Stitch, the pattern also includes a different bind-off technique. I didn’t know it, but Vanessa has included a how-to in the pattern so it was really easy-peasy.
The pattern also includes notes on how to space out your stitches evenly across all sides. And with all of that information you’ll have everything you need to add this finishing touch to your lovely afghan. 🙂
Once all this was done, Vanessa recommends steam blocking it to flatten out the edges. I don’t have a steamer, nor a big enough surface to lay it out, so I did it one side at a time and used my iron in the steam setting. If you decide to do the same, take care not to use the iron too close to the yarn.
Final thoughts on the Traveling Knit Afghan project
And with this beautiful detailed border we say goodbye to this year-long project.
I clearly remember at the end of January thinking about joining the KAL and about hosting a knitting group to do these squares with other makers. I was so happy and excited about the group. Then 2020 started to get strange with word of this virus getting around. And then everything changed. Getting together was no longer allowed and I didn’t get to set up my knitting group.
I may not have set up the knitting group, but I stayed with the project all the same. And in the end, I am happy I did.
I got to learn new stitches and techniques, which was great. But most of all, I got to “meet” new designers and their stories behind what they do and new perspectives on why each of us is a maker. It got me to thinking about my own reasons and it allowed me to do a little bit of my own self discovery. And all that while making a beautiful knitted afghan.
Thank you to Alexi, from Two of Wands who organised this project together with Lion Brand and all of the designers who participated and shared a little bit of them.
And of course, thank YOU for reading this journal and following along with me. 🙂
I’ll see you in the next project!
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