Holiday Snowflake Afghan

Warm up in this cozy afghan while you wait for Santa to arrive on Christmas Eve! This knit afghan pattern from Patons has delightful snowman and snowflake detail that makes it extra special around the holidays.

MATERIALS

• Patons Decor (100 g/3.5 oz) or
• Patons Canadiana (100 g/3.5 oz)
• Main color MC (navy) 14 balls
• Contrast A (aran) 2 balls
• Contrast B (taupe) 1 ball
• Small quantity of Contrast C (orange) for embroidery.
• Knitting Needles: size 4.5 mm (U.S. 7) or size needed to obtain tension.
• Circular Knitting Needle: size 4.5 mm (U.S. 7) 36 ins [90 cm) long.
• Cable needle.

MEASUREMENTS
Approx 42 x 48 ins [106.5 x 122 cm]

TENSION
20 sts and 26 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] in stocking st.

Each Motif (before edging) = approx 6 ins [15 cm] square.

ABBREVIATIONS
C4B = slip next 2 sts onto a cable needle and leave at back of work. K2, then K2 from cable needle.
C4F = slip next 2 sts onto a cable needle and leave at front of work. K2, then K2 from cable needle.

INSTRUCTIONS
MOTIF A (make 12).
Note: When working from chart, wind small balls of the colors to be used, one for each separate area of color in the design. Start new colors at appropriate points. To change colors, twist the two colors around each other where they meet, on WS, to avoid a hole.
With MC, cast on 31 sts. Knit 3 rows (garter st) noting that first row is WS.
Work Chart I in stocking st to end of chart reading knit rows from right to left and purl rows from left to right.
With MC, knit 2 rows.
Cast off knitways (WS).
Work embroidery on Snowman as illustrated.

MOTIF B (make 12)
Note: When working from chart, carry yarn not in use loosely across WS of work but never over more than 5 sts.
When it must pass over more than 5 sts, weave it over and under color in use on next st or at centre point of sts it passes over. The colors are never twisted around one another.
With MC cast on 31 sts. Work 3 rows garter st noting that first row is WS and inc 4 sts evenly across last row. 35 sts.
Work Chart II in stocking st to end of chart reading knit rows from right to left and purl rows from left to right.
Next row: With MC, knit, dec 4 sts evenly across. 31 sts.
Next row: Knit.
Cast off knitways (WS).

MOTIF C (make 24)
With MC cast on 31 sts.
Knit 3 rows, noting that first row is WS and inc 13 sts evenly across last row. 44 sts.
1st row: (RS). P4. K4. P2. K8. P2. K4. P2. K8. P2. K4. P4.
2nd and alt rows: Knit all knit sts and purl all purl sts as they appear.
3rd row: P4. (C4B. P2. C4F. C4B. P2) twice. C4B. P4.
5th row: As 1st row.
7th row: P4. (C4B. P2. C4B. C4F. P2) twice. C4B. P4.
9th row: As 1st row.
11th row: As 7th row.
13th row: As 1st row.
15th row: As 3rd row.
16th row: As 2nd row.
These 16 rows form pat.
Work a further 21 rows pat, ending with WS facing for next row.
Next row: Knit, dec 13 sts evenly across. 31 sts.
Next row: Knit.
Cast off knitways (WS).
Motif Edging:With RS of work facing and MC, pick up and knit 35 sts along side of Motif.
Next row: (Wrong side). Knit.
Next row: Knit.
Cast off knitways (wrong side).

FINISHING
Block squares to measurement. Join Motifs as illustrated in Diagram 1.
Side edging: With RS of work facing, circular needle and MC, pick up and knit 240 sts along side edge. Do not join. Working back and forth across needle, work 6 rows in garter st, inc 1 st at each end of row. 252 sts. Cast off knitways (WS).
Rep along opposite side edge.
Top and Bottom Edging: With RS of work facing, circular needle and MC, pick up and knit 174 sts along top edge. Do not join. Working back and forth across needle, knit 6 rows, inc 1 st at each end of row. 186 sts. Cast off knitways (WS).
Rep along bottom edge.
Join mitred corners of edgings.
Fringe: Cut 14 inch [35.5 cm] lengths of yarn. Taking 10 strands tog knot into fringe across top and bottom edges as shown.