purlJam

# CELTIC HEIRLOOM CABLED BLANKET
### Advanced Machine Knit Throw with Interlaced Celtic Knot Panels

A richly textured throw featuring three vertical cable panels: two outer **Celtic Plait** columns flanking a central **Closed Celtic Knot (Trinity Ring)** motif. Hand-manipulated cables are worked on a standard gauge machine with worsted weight yarn at maximum tension. Finished with a live-stitch garter border picked up on all four sides.

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## FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
- **Width:** 132 cm (52 in)
- **Length:** 162 cm (64 in)

## MATERIALS
- **Yarn:** Worsted weight, smooth plied wool or wool blend (cables show best in plied yarns). Approx. **1,800 m / 1,970 yds** total.
- **Machine:** Standard gauge (4.5 mm) — works at very loose tension. *Mid-gauge (6.5 mm) recommended for easier cable manipulation; tension adjustments noted.*
- **Tools:** 3-prong transfer tool (×2), single transfer tool, latch tool, claw weights (4+), cast-on comb, ravel cord, waste yarn, tapestry needle, blocking pins/wires.
- **Optional:** Ribber not required.

## GAUGE
- **SG @ T10:** 18 sts × 26 rows = 10 cm over stockinette (post-blocking).
- **Mid-gauge @ T7:** Same gauge target — swatch and adjust.
- ⚠ **Swatch a 40-st × 60-row sample including one cable cross-over before starting.**

## ABBREVIATIONS
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| RC | Row Counter |
| COL / COR | Carriage on Left / Right |
| NWP / WP / HP | Non-Working / Working / Hold Position |
| MT | Main Tension (T10 SG) |
| C4F / C4B | 2 sts over 2 sts, front / back cross |
| C6F / C6B | 3 sts over 3 sts, front / back cross |
| WY | Waste yarn |
| MY | Main yarn |
| k | Knit row (one carriage pass) |

## CABLE STITCH KEY (hand-tool, carriage at COR before crossing)
- **C4F:** Remove left 2 sts on transfer tool, hold in front; remove right 2 sts on second tool, place onto vacated left needles; replace held sts onto right needles.
- **C4B:** As C4F but hold left 2 sts **behind** the work.
- **C6F / C6B:** Same logic with 3 sts × 3 sts using two 3-prong tools.

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## PATTERN NOTES
- Blanket is knit as **3 vertical panels** (Panel A — Plait, Panel B — Knot, Panel A — Plait), then mattress-stitched together. Border is added last by hanging panel edge loops on needles.
- Always cross cables with **COR** so the next pass to the left settles the crossing.
- Hang a **claw weight every 20 sts** along the bottom; reposition every 30 rows. Cables pull dramatically — without weights, sts will pop off.
- Reduce tension to **T9** for 2 rows after each cable cross if your machine struggles (then return to T10).
- Total panels = 3. Total stitches across blanket body = 216. Borders add 11 sts each side (22 sts) → 238 sts visual width.

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## PANEL A — CELTIC PLAIT (make 2)

**Width:** 72 sts | **Length:** 390 rows | **Finished:** 40 cm × 150 cm

### Stitch layout (L→R, 72 sts)
- 6 sts reverse stockinette (purl side facing — achieved by hand-purling? **No** — on SG use stockinette throughout; "reverse" sections will be created by alternating cable direction visually. For true reverse-st background, transfer to ribber — omitted here.)
- 60 sts plait field (3 interlocking 6-st cables: **C6B / C6F / C6B** sequence)
- 6 sts plain stockinette edge

### Setup
1. Bring **72 needles** to WP, centred on bed (needles 36L–36R).
2. Cast on with WY for 10 rows at T8, ending **COR**. Insert cast-on comb, hang claw weights.
3. Knit **2 rows ravel cord**, ending COR.
4. Change to **MY at T10**. **Set RC = 000.**
5. Knit **6 rows** plain stockinette (hem turn). End COR. **RC 006.**

### Plait Sequence (16-row repeat)
Mark cable columns: from left edge skip 6 sts (edge), then sts **7–12 = Cable 1**, sts **13–18 = Cable 2**, sts **19–24 = Cable 3**, sts **25–30 = Cable 4**, sts **31–36 = Cable 5**, sts **37–42 = Cable 6**, sts **43–48 = Cable 7**, sts **49–54 = Cable 8**, sts **55–60 = Cable 9**, sts **61–66 = Cable 10**, then sts 67–72 = edge.

*(10 cable columns × 6 sts = 60 sts + 12 edge sts = 72 ✓)*

**Rows 1–8 of repeat (offset A):**
- Knit 7 rows plain. End **COR** at RC +8 from start of repeat. *(Wait — recount: knit 8 rows ending COR.)*
- Actually: knit **8 rows** in stockinette ending COR. **At RC = repeat start + 8:** cross Cables **1, 3, 5, 7, 9 as C6F**.

**Rows 9–16 of repeat (offset B):**
- Knit **8 rows** plain ending COR. **At RC = repeat start + 16:** cross Cables **2, 4, 6, 8, 10 as C6B**.

This staggered F/B crossing produces the classic over-under Celtic plait.

### Panel A Execution
- After hem (RC 006), work **Plait Sequence repeats × 24** = 384 rows.
- **RC 006 → RC 390.** ✓ (6 + 384 = 390)
- Knit **0 additional rows** — last cable crossing falls at RC 390 exactly.

### Finish Panel A
1. With COR at RC 390, knit **2 rows WY** at T10, then **6 rows WY at T8**.
2. Release from machine. Do not bind off — edge will be picked up for border.
3. Mark top and bottom with thread for orientation.

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## PANEL B — CELTIC KNOT (CLOSED RING) (make 1)

**Width:** 72 sts | **Length:** 390 rows

### Stitch layout (L→R, 72 sts)
- 6 sts stockinette edge
- 60 sts knot field
- 6 sts stockinette edge

### Setup
1. Bring **72 needles to WP**. Cast on WY 10 rows T8 → ravel cord 2 rows → MY T10.
2. **RC = 000.** Knit **6 rows** plain stockinette hem. **RC 006. COR.**

### Closed Celtic Knot — 30-row Motif (repeated 12× + 30 row close + 6 row top hem = 396… adjusted to 384 main rows)

**Adjusted plan: 24-row motif repeated 16 times = 384 rows. RC 006 → RC 390.**

### Knot Motif (24-row repeat)
Field divided into **5 cable columns of 6 sts each = 30 sts**, with **6 sts purl-like background** between each (5 columns × 6 sts cable + 4 spacers × 6 sts + 2 outer spacers × 3 sts = 30 + 24 + 6 = 60 ✓).

Columns labelled **K1, K2, K3, K4, K5** from left to right.

| RC offset | COR action |
|---|---|
| +4 | C6B on **K1, K3, K5** |
| +8 | C6F on **K2, K4** |
| +12 | C6F on **K1, K3, K5** |
| +16 | C6B on **K2, K4** |
| +20 | C6B on **K1, K3, K5** |
| +24 | C6F on **K2, K4** |

This produces interlinked closed-ring "Trinity" knots stacked vertically.

### Panel B Execution
- Work **16 repeats × 24 rows = 384 rows** from RC 006 → RC 390.
- Knit between crossings in plain stockinette at T10.
- **Weight check:** add a claw weight to each cable column every 48 rows.

### Finish Panel B
- At RC 390 (COR): knit **2 rows WY T10**, **6 rows WY T8**, release. Mark orientation.

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## ASSEMBLY

1. **Block all 3 panels** to 40 cm × 150 cm using wires/pins. Steam lightly (avoid crushing cables). Allow to dry fully.
2. Lay flat in order: **Panel A — Panel B — Panel A**.
3. **Mattress stitch** vertical seams using MY and tapestry needle, matching row-for-row. Seam in the **edge-stitch ditch** (between sts 5 & 6 from edge) to leave a 6-st flat margin on outermost sides.
4. Total assembled body: **216 sts wide × 390 rows tall** ≈ **120 cm × 150 cm**.

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## LIVE-STITCH GARTER BORDER

Worked in 4 strips, mitred at corners.

### Top & Bottom Borders (make 2)

1. Bring **216 needles to WP** at T10.
2. Remove WY from one long edge of assembled body and **hang live loops** evenly across 216 needles (one loop per needle; ease in any slack).
3. **RC = 000.** Knit **1 row** to secure. **COL.**
4. **Garter effect by hand:** every 2 rows, remove fabric from machine and re-hang with **opposite side facing** (true garter on SG without ribber). *Alternative simpler finish: work 16 rows stockinette — produces a rolled stockinette border, also attractive.*

   **Recommended for advanced knitter — Hand-manipulated garter:**
   - Rows 1–2: knit 2 rows T10. COR.
   - Release from machine, flip, rehang all 216 loops with purl side facing.
   - Rows 3–4: knit 2 rows. Flip and rehang.
   - Repeat until **16 rows total** (8 ridges). **RC 016.**
5. **Bind off** using **latch-tool bind-off** loosely along all 216 sts.

### Side Borders (make 2)
1. Pick up **390 loops** along one long side edge of body (1 loop per row — use latch tool to pull through edge bumps; if too many, pick up 4 loops per 5 rows = 312 loops).
2. Hang on **312 needles** at T10. **RC = 000.**
3. Work 16 rows hand-manipulated garter as above. **RC 016.**
4. Latch-tool bind off.

### Corner Finishing
- Mattress-stitch the four short border ends together at each corner using MY. Tuck and tack any flare.

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## FINISHING

1. Weave in all ends on WS using tapestry needle; split plies for invisible joins.
2. **Wet block** the entire blanket: soak in cool water + wool wash, roll in towels, pin to final dimensions **132 cm × 162 cm**. Use blocking wires along all 4 edges. Allow 48 hrs to dry.
3. Steam cables lightly from WS only if needed — never press cables flat.
4. Optional: line back with cotton flannel for an heirloom finish; whipstitch around perimeter.

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## MATH VALIDATION

| Check | Value | Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Gauge | 18 sts × 26 rows / 10 cm | ✓ |
| Panel sts | 72 sts ÷ 18 × 10 = 40 cm | ✓ |
| Panel rows | 390 ÷ 26 × 10 = 150 cm | ✓ |
| 3 panels seamed | 3 × 40 = 120 cm body | ✓ |
| Body + borders | 120 + (2 × 6) = 132 cm | ✓ |
| Length + borders | 150 + (2 × 6) = 162 cm | ✓ |
| Plait repeats | 24 × 16 rows = 384 + 6 hem = 390 | ✓ |
| Knot repeats | 16 × 24 rows = 384 + 6 hem = 390 | ✓ |
| Cable column count Panel A | 10 × 6 + 12 edge = 72 sts | ✓ |
| Cable column count Panel B | 5 × 6 + 4 × 6 spacer + 6 edge spacer + 12 edge = 30 + 24 + 6 + 12 = 72 | ✓ |

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**Designer's note:** Worsted weight on a standard gauge machine pushes the bed near its limit. If the carriage jams during cable rows, reduce panel width to 60 sts, work **4 panels** instead of 3, and adjust border pickup accordingly (240 sts top/bottom). The intricate Celtic interlace rewards patience — work one panel per week and enjoy the meditation of the cables.