Magnolia Leaf Blanket — An Original Advanced Lace Interpretation

Note: The commercial "Magnolia Blanket" pattern you love is not available for reproduction here (copyright), but as an advanced knitter you're perfectly suited to this original design — a pointed magnolia-leaf lace motif worked allover with a garter frame, capturing that same glossy, leafy character.

MATERIALS

• Yarn: Worsted weight (#4), smooth, well-plied yarn recommended for lace clarity (superwash wool, wool blend, or cotton/wool blend). Approx. 1550 yards (1417 m) — buy 10% extra for swatching.
• Needles: US 8 (5.0 mm) circular needle, 32–40 in (81–102 cm) cable, used flat (not joined). Adjust needle size to achieve gauge.
• Notions: Stitch markers (optional, 19 needed to separate the 20 lace repeats), tapestry needle, blocking mats, blocking pins, blocking wires (recommended for crisp lace points).

GAUGE

19 sts and 26 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in Magnolia Leaf Lace pattern (Chart A), blocked, on US 8 (5.0 mm) needles. Lace opens up significantly with blocking — always block your swatch before measuring gauge.

FINISHED SIZE

Approximately 49¾ x 66 in (126 x 168 cm) after blocking.

ABBREVIATIONS

• CO — cast on
• BO — bind off
• k — knit
• p — purl
• RS / WS — right side / wrong side
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• rep — repeat
• yo — yarn over
• sk2p — slip 1 knitwise, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over (centered double decrease, 3 sts → 1 st)
• rem — remaining
• pm / sm — place marker / slip marker
• approx — approximately

NOTES

• This pattern is an original design inspired by magnolia foliage, not a reproduction of any commercial pattern.
• Chart rows are read right to left on RS rows; WS rows are all purled straight across (left to right) except the 8 border stitches at each edge, which are always knit to maintain garter texture.
• Placing markers between each 11-st repeat is optional but recommended to catch errors early.
• Blocking is essential — the sk2p points and yarn-over eyelets will not open into leaf shapes until wet-blocked.
• Swatch in the round or work a small rectangle in the actual lace pattern (not stockinette) to check gauge.

CHARTS

Chart A: Magnolia Leaf Lace (11 sts × 8 rows)

Row 8 (WS): · · · · · · · · · · ·     (purl all sts)
Row 7 (RS): | | | | o V o | | | |
Row 6 (WS): · · · · · · · · · · ·     (purl all sts)
Row 5 (RS): | | | o | V | o | | |
Row 4 (WS): · · · · · · · · · · ·     (purl all sts)
Row 3 (RS): | | o | | V | | o | |
Row 2 (WS): · · · · · · · · · · ·     (purl all sts)
Row 1 (RS): | o | | | V | | | o |
             1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Key:

• | = knit on RS
• · = purl on WS
• o = yo
• V = sk2p (centered double decrease)
• Read RS rows (odd) right to left; WS rows (even) purl straight across

Stitch count check for every row: 11 sts in → 11 sts out (yarn overs balanced by sk2p). ✓

PATTERN

Cast on: 236 sts.

Bottom Border (Garter)

Rows 1–10: Knit every stitch, every row. [236 sts] (5 garter ridges formed.)

Main Pattern (Chart A repeated 20 times across)

Set-up note: 8 border sts + 20 repeats of the 11-st Chart A (20 × 11 = 220 sts) + 8 border sts = 236 sts.

Row 1 (RS): k8, *k1, yo, k3, sk2p, k3, yo, k1; rep from * 19 more times (20 reps total), k8. [236 sts]

Row 2 (WS): k8, p220, k8. [236 sts]

Row 3 (RS): k8, *k2, yo, k2, sk2p, k2, yo, k2; rep from * 19 more times, k8. [236 sts]

Row 4 (WS): k8, p220, k8. [236 sts]

Row 5 (RS): k8, *k3, yo, k1, sk2p, k1, yo, k3; rep from * 19 more times, k8. [236 sts]

Row 6 (WS): k8, p220, k8. [236 sts]

Row 7 (RS): k8, *k4, yo, sk2p, yo, k4; rep from * 19 more times, k8. [236 sts]

Row 8 (WS): k8, p220, k8. [236 sts]

Repeat Rows 1–8 fifty more times (51 repeats of Chart A total), ending after a Row 8 (WS row).

Row count check: 51 × 8 rows = 408 rows. ✓

BORDER

Side borders (8 sts each edge) are worked in garter stitch throughout the entire main pattern section by knitting these stitches on every row, RS and WS alike — this keeps a firm, non-curling frame distinct from the purled lace background.

Top Border (Garter)

After completing all 51 repeats of Chart A (ending after Row 8):

Rows 1–10: Knit every stitch, every row across all 236 sts.

BO all 236 sts knitwise, not too tightly (a slightly loose bind-off keeps the top edge as stretchy as the garter rows below it).

Total row count: 10 (bottom border) + 408 (lace section) + 10 (top border) = 428 rows ≈ 66 in at gauge. ✓

Optional polish: After blocking, work one round of single crochet around the entire perimeter (through all four edges, working 3 sc in each corner to keep it flat) for a clean, finished edge.

FINISHING

1. Weave in all ends securely along the garter borders, running them through several garter ridges to anchor firmly (lace fabric shows tails easily, so avoid weaving through the open lace itself).
2. Wet block: Soak the blanket fully in cool water with a wool wash until saturated, then gently press out excess water (do not wring).
3. Lay flat on blocking mats. Pin out the edges to the finished measurements (49¾ x 66 in), gently opening each yarn-over eyelet and easing the sk2p points into crisp leaf tips. Use blocking wires along the top/bottom and side edges for straight lines if available.
4. Allow to dry completely (24–48 hours) before unpinning — this is what makes the leaf lace motif "bloom."
5. Optional: add tassels or small pompoms at each corner for a decorative finishing touch reminiscent of magnolia seed pods.