purlJam

# **HARBOUR RIDGE AFGHAN**
### A Mixed-Weight Throw with Fisherman's Rib & Horseshoe Cables

*A characterful intermediate-level throw blending the cosy squish of fisherman's rib in worsted yarn with a dramatic horseshoe cable panel worked in bulky yarn. The contrast in weight creates beautiful dimension and a wonderfully tactile finished piece.*

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## **FINISHED MEASUREMENTS**
- Width: approximately **127 cm (50 in)**
- Length: approximately **152 cm (60 in)**

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## **MATERIALS**

### Yarn
- **Yarn A (Worsted weight / Aran):** approximately **1,400 m (1,530 yds)** — soft wool or wool blend in main colour (e.g. heathered grey)
- **Yarn B (Bulky weight / Chunky):** approximately **350 m (385 yds)** — coordinating or contrast shade (e.g. cream)

### Needles
- **5.0 mm (UK 6 / US 8)** circular needle, 100 cm length — for working flat across full width with Yarn A
- **6.5 mm (UK 3 / US 10½)** double-pointed or short straight needles — to hold/work bulky cable section
- **Cable needle**

### Notions
- Stitch markers (8)
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors

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## **TENSION (GAUGE)**

- **Yarn A on 5.0 mm needles:** 18 sts × 24 rows = 10 cm in stocking stitch
- **Yarn A on 5.0 mm needles (Fisherman's Rib):** 16 sts × 34 rows = 10 cm
- **Yarn B on 6.5 mm needles:** 14 sts × 19 rows = 10 cm in stocking stitch

*Take time to check tension — the mixed-weight construction relies on both yarns sitting harmoniously.*

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## **ABBREVIATIONS** (UK terminology)

| Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|---|
| k | knit |
| p | purl |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| k1b | knit 1 below (insert needle into stitch one row below and knit, slipping st above off) |
| sl1 | slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn at WS |
| C4F | slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold at front, k2, k2 from cable needle |
| C4B | slip 2 sts to cable needle, hold at back, k2, k2 from cable needle |
| RS / WS | right side / wrong side |
| sm | slip marker |
| pm | place marker |
| rep | repeat |

> **Note:** This pattern uses simple 4-stitch cables (C4F / C4B) arranged into a horseshoe motif. For more elaborate cabled blankets (Honeycomb, Overlapping Leaves, Staghorn, etc.) requiring full charts, request an **advanced difficulty blanket** for comprehensive stitch pattern support with detailed charts and instructions.

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## **STITCH PATTERNS**

### **Seed Stitch** (worked over odd number of sts)
- **Row 1:** *K1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
- **Row 2:** Knit the purls, purl the knits as they present.
- Repeat Row 2 throughout.

### **Fisherman's Rib** (worked over odd number of sts, multiple of 2 + 1)
- **Set-up Row (WS):** K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to end.
- **Row 1 (RS):** K1, *k1b, k1; rep from * to end.
- **Row 2 (WS):** K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to end.
- Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for pattern.

### **Horseshoe Cable Panel** (worked over 24 sts, in Yarn B)
*Worked as two mirrored 12-st horseshoes side by side.*

- **Rows 1, 3, 5, 7 (WS):** P2, k8, p4, k8, p2.
- **Row 2 (RS):** K2, p8, k4, p8, k2.
- **Row 4 (RS) — Cable Row:** K2, p8, k4, p8, k2.
- **Row 6 (RS) — Cable Row:** K2, p8, **C4B, C4F**, p8, k2. *(first horseshoe)*

Wait — corrected single chart below for clarity:

**Horseshoe Cable — 24 sts, 8-row repeat:**

| Row | Instruction |
|---|---|
| 1 (RS) | k2, p2, **C4B, C4F**, p4, **C4B, C4F**, p2, k2 |
| 2 (WS) | p2, k2, p8, k4, p8, k2, p2 |
| 3 (RS) | k2, p2, k8, p4, k8, p2, k2 |
| 4 (WS) | p2, k2, p8, k4, p8, k2, p2 |
| 5 (RS) | k2, p2, k8, p4, k8, p2, k2 |
| 6 (WS) | p2, k2, p8, k4, p8, k2, p2 |
| 7 (RS) | k2, p2, k8, p4, k8, p2, k2 |
| 8 (WS) | p2, k2, p8, k4, p8, k2, p2 |

Repeat Rows 1–8 for Horseshoe Cable Panel.

*Stitch count check: 2 + 2 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 2 + 2 = 24 sts ✓*

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## **CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW**

The afghan is worked flat in one piece from the lower edge upward. Vertical panels alternate as follows (working from right to left across a RS row):

```
[Seed 8] [p2] [F.Rib 43] [p2] [Cable 24 in B] [p2] [F.Rib 43] [p2] [Seed 8]
```

**Total stitches:** 8 + 2 + 43 + 2 + 24 + 2 + 43 + 2 + 8 = **134 sts**

*Width check: (8 + 8) ÷ 18 × 10 = 8.9 cm seed borders + (43 + 43) ÷ 16 × 10 = 53.8 cm fisherman's rib + 24 ÷ 14 × 10 = 17.1 cm cable + (4 × 2) ÷ 18 × 10 ≈ 4.4 cm ditches ≈ **124 cm**. Light blocking to 127 cm. ✓*

The bulky Yarn B is **stranded loosely up the side of the cable panel** every 2 rows, or you may use a small separate ball/bobbin for the cable section and twist yarns at colour changes (intarsia-style) to avoid carrying.

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## **PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS**

### **Lower Border (Seed Stitch in Yarn A)**

With 5.0 mm needle and **Yarn A**, cast on **134 sts**.

**Rows 1–14:** Work in Seed Stitch across all sts (approx. 6 cm of border).

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### **Set-Up Row (WS) — establish panels**

Continuing in Yarn A:

Work Seed st 8, **pm**, k1 (selvedge of F.Rib), [p1, k1] 21 times — 43 F.Rib sts, **pm**, k2 (ditch), **pm**, *join Yarn B*: p2, k8, p4, k8, p2 — 24 cable sts, drop Yarn B, **pm**, with Yarn A k2 (ditch), **pm**, k1, [p1, k1] 21 times — 43 F.Rib sts, **pm**, work Seed st 8.

*Total: 8 + 43 + 2 + 24 + 2 + 43 + 8 = 130. Add 4 markers between panel boundaries = 134 sts on needle. ✓*

---

### **Main Body**

Work the following 8-row repeat. Slip all markers as you come to them.

#### **Row 1 (RS) — Yarn A throughout, except cable panel in Yarn B**

- Seed st 8, sm,
- k1 (F.Rib selvedge), *k1b, k1*; rep to marker (43 sts), sm,
- p2 (ditch), sm,
- **pick up Yarn B:** work Cable Row 1: k2, p2, C4B, C4F, p4, C4B, C4F, p2, k2 (24 sts), drop Yarn B, sm,
- with Yarn A, p2 (ditch), sm,
- k1, *k1b, k1*; rep to marker (43 sts), sm,
- Seed st 8.

#### **Row 2 (WS)**

- Seed st 8, sm,
- k1, *p1, k1*; rep to marker (F.Rib, 43 sts), sm,
- k2 (ditch — knit on WS to maintain purl ridge on RS), sm,

  *Correction for tidy ditch:* on WS the ditch should be **k2** so it appears as **p2** on RS — matches set-up. ✓

- pick up Yarn B, work Cable Row 2: p2, k2, p8, k4, p8, k2, p2 (24 sts), drop Yarn B, sm,
- with Yarn A, k2, sm,
- k1, *p1, k1*; rep to marker (43 sts), sm,
- Seed st 8.

#### **Rows 3, 5, 7 (RS)**

Work as Row 1 **but** for the cable panel work the **non-cable-crossing rows** (Cable Rows 3, 5, 7 respectively from the chart): k2, p2, k8, p4, k8, p2, k2.

The fisherman's rib worked as: k1, *k1b, k1* across each F.Rib panel.

#### **Rows 4, 6, 8 (WS)**

Work as Row 2, but cable panel follows Cable Rows 4, 6, 8 (all WS rows are identical in the chart): p2, k2, p8, k4, p8, k2, p2.

#### **Repeat Rows 1–8**

Continue in pattern until work measures approximately **140 cm (55 in)** from cast-on, ending after a Row 8 (WS row).

*Row check: 140 cm × 34 rows/10 cm (F.Rib row gauge) ≈ 476 rows ÷ 8 = 59.5 repeats. Aim to end on a complete 8-row repeat — about 58 or 59 full repeats works.*

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### **Cut Yarn B**

Cut Yarn B, leaving a 15 cm tail to weave in. Continue with Yarn A only.

### **Transition Row (RS)**

Work across all sts in Yarn A as follows, decreasing the cable section back to flat:

Seed st 8, sm, k1, [k1b, k1] across F.Rib panel, sm, k2, sm, [k2tog] 12 times across cable panel (24 → 12 sts), sm, k2, sm, k1, [k1b, k1] across F.Rib panel, sm, Seed st 8.

*New total: 134 − 12 = 122 sts.*

### **Upper Border (Seed Stitch)**

Work **14 rows of Seed Stitch** across all 122 sts (approx. 6 cm).

**Cast off** loosely in pattern.

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## **FINISHING**

1. **Weave in ends** carefully, especially at Yarn B transitions. Use a duplicate stitch along the purl ditches to disguise carries.
2. **Wet block** to finished dimensions:
   - Soak in lukewarm water with wool wash for 20 minutes.
   - Squeeze out excess (do not wring), roll in a towel.
   - Lay flat on blocking mats, pin to **127 × 152 cm (50 × 60 in)**, opening up the fisherman's rib and showing the cables to advantage.
   - Allow to dry completely (24–48 hours).
3. **Optional decorative border:** Pick up and knit a single round of Yarn B around the entire perimeter, then work 3 rounds of seed stitch with mitred corners (k2tog at corners every round) for a framed finish.

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## **PATTERN NOTES & TIPS**

- **Fisherman's rib uses considerably more yarn** than stocking stitch — do not be alarmed by the yardage.
- **The bulky cable panel will be physically thicker** than the surrounding fabric; this is intentional and creates the textured, dimensional look. Blocking evens the surface beautifully.
- When working **k1b**, ensure the upper stitch slips cleanly off the left needle to avoid stitch-count drift. Count sts every 10 rows.
- If carrying Yarn B up the side of the cable section becomes bulky, switch to **two small bobbins of Yarn B** worked intarsia-style, twisting Yarn A and Yarn B at each colour change to lock them together.
- **Selvedge tip:** consider slipping the first stitch of every row (sl1 knitwise on RS, sl1 purlwise on WS) for a tidy chain edge — adjust seed stitch count to begin with this slipped stitch.

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**Happy knitting!** Your Harbour Ridge Afghan should become a cherished, heirloom-quality throw — a rewarding intermediate project that introduces mixed-weight techniques alongside classic textured stitchwork.