Hand Knit FO
Indian Nights Blanket — 644 days (1 year, 9 months) in the making
It’s finally done! I cast on the Indian Nights Blanket in mid-October 2024, and 644 days later — 1 year and 9 months — I’m calling it finished.
I knit this in a custom colorway I put together using Knitting for Olive Merino, rather than the palette called for in the pattern. Choosing and balancing the colors was a project in itself, but I love how the combination came out.
For those who’ve followed my progress posts, the last big hurdle was the finishing. I covered the steeks with a “steek sandwich,” worked with two very long needles that ran around the entire perimeter of the blanket. I also added a folded picot hem of my own design, which gave the edges a clean, polished finish I’m really happy with. The edge was probably the most painstaking part of the project, but I feel like it really elevates the blanket with that doubled fabric making a frame.
This project pushed me on colorwork, steeking, and finishing techniques, and I learned something new at nearly every stage. Happy to answer questions about the colorway, the steek sandwich, the picot hem, or anything else.
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You are right. This was a grief therapy blanket unto itself after a tragic loss in our family due to domestic violence. So it was born of grief but does leave a hole now that it is done. Time for acceptance and to find the next thing that inspires me.
Oh wow. I didn’t realise. You are one amazing person surviving the horrible loss due to domestic violence and making something so beautiful to help deal with the grief. It is still early days with your grief too. Hugs.
OP, I'm so sorry to hear of your tragic loss. Sending condolences! You have made something monumentally beautiful and enduring. I hope that those who see your work are uplifted and comforted by the patience and dedication youve put into this piece.
Thank you—my family learned that this world has possibilities that are unthinkable for us to experience both in sadness and joy—the blanket has been a therapy unto itself and knitting is a joy.
I always feel exactly the same way after finishing a big project. The next project will find its way to you. In the meantime enjoy basking in the glory of this stunning work! Well done!
This is mind-blowing to me. Had you even done a similar image in fine yarn via crochet, I would have been in awe. Yet to see this stunning pattern in a knitted form...my brain keeps telling me it's not possible.
And the crowning glory, if a whole edging can be a crown, is indeed that edging. What an excellent choice.
I feel like you should walk through the world with this work of art draped over your shoulders. And if anyone ever gives you any lip, or tries to ignore you, or treats you in a less than respectful fashion: whip your Indian Night Blanket off your shoulders, fully revealing its beauty, and say, "I made this." And all the seas will part for you.
It really was painstaking so thanks for validating the decision. The original pattern simply calls for a fabric edge. I think the author even used cotton on hers. It just felt like after putting in all the time and effort I needed to wrap it with something that was knit. The folded edge has a little bit of heft to it, which I like.
I'm obsessed. This is absolutely stunning. I'm trying to wrap my mind around the fact that this is actually knitted and not woven. Instant heirloom piece for sure.
I’m totally in the same headspace I’m ready to cast on, but I think I’ve become a little bit more selective. I may do one smaller gift project for my son‘s girlfriend with some of my leftover yarn. I’m assuming you had quite a bit as well, I was blown away at how many odds and ends I had due to small accent colors, leaving quite a bit of residual yarn behind. I have made one of these for my sister, but I’m considering making another one as a quick filler project before I find my next “big” thing :-) https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wintering-cap?set=&_rfoff=0
I’ll have to take a photo of the entire thing flipped over. Others have asked about the same Seeman. It’s a great idea. I did snap this quick pic of just the backside of the corner. As you’ll see, I kept the floats extremely small to avoid any fingers or toes getting snagged. It does take away from some of the beauty of the longer floats on a piece, but this felt like the safest option.
Gorgeous - what an heirloom you have created!! Thanks for showing the backside! I have a box of the i think it’s Knit Picks chroma and lots of black yarn - as this is one of my, “forever” projects. Pretty sure if i start one hexagon i’ll forsake all other projects until it is done!
Thank you. I actually knit a center square with the knit picks the pattern calls for but after knitting the same center square with KfO I decide that is the direction I wanted to go. I too am pretty single threaded with my knitting projects.
It will happen when it happens—speaking about when I would finish it—my kids would frequently ask how far am I and when do I think I will be done. That was my mantra as I worked on it :). Good luck on yours.
I love ChiaoGoo needles. I have a few sets myself. I cannot imagine how you were able to make this using the darker colors like you did! I am bowing 🙇♀️ down to you.
The black required a light I would use when having to pick up stitches — I cursed my choice of black a few times while doing that but I do love the look of it now that it is done.
What pattern did you follow? Or did you design it yourself?
You have an amazing talent and an eye for beauty and detail. Well done!
What kind of yarn did you use? What is the size of your needle? What size is this blanket? Do you know how heavy it is?
I am in awe of your perseverance, talent, and your dedication to make this piece happen!
You are obviously a self-driven person. Please know I am happy you created such a gorgeous heirloom for you and your family. Are you a Native American and part of a tribe? If so, can you please share this as well?
Pattern is in the post—I definitely don’t design it but I chose my own colors using knitting for olive wool. I also designed a custom knit border. It was all done on size two needles. I am not Native American but grew up in Seattle and have a deep love of that regions Native American style of art.
Oh my god! I thought this was from the quilting sub and I was about to compliment your fussy cuts haha. This is incredible color work, it’s so even you had me convinced it was printed cotton 😂
The first cut was the hardest. My daughter helped me with her sewing machine which I issued to secure most of the stitches. I used the crochet technique for one piece but found it too bulky as I wanted a steek sandwich to close around easily.
Such very kind words—thank you. You would think I would have had plenty of time to contemplate what is next but I am in a place where I am not sure. I’ll have to cast on soon or I won’t know what to do with myself :) but I also have grown more focused on wanting it to be the right thing that really speaks to me. I need some meaning or challenge I guess.
I have yarn for both this and Persian Dreams in my stash, but I don't feel ready for them yet. After seeing your masterpiece, I feel even more intimidated. This is gorgeous!
Thank you. I thought it would be a two year project but I kicked it up towards the end in terms of time spent on it. I did think the border would never end. It took two weeks to do the cast off row as I was doing Judy magic cast off but having to painstaking pick up the right stitch on the fold over in black.
Are you putting it in the family room to be used or just as like…a folded throw that no one really touches. I’m not sure I’m understanding. Are you going to hang it on the wall? Some people do that.
I’m Tunisian crocheting something similar and it’s my holy grail project:
It will take me more than two years to finish (mostly because I have three small children, and I’m a full time student, mother, and wife).
I imagine I’m only going to let myself use it. My kids destroy everything and I just can’t imagine if it were to get messed up.
I’d love to display it but with a fresh 2 year old, a fresh 4 year old, and one that turned 7 only 2 days ago…I worry.
I think if our kids were that young I would have a hard time leaving it out as well. Our youngest just left for college so we should be safe putting it on a blanket rack that we have in our family room and then on rare occasion getting it out to show people or to use. Congrats on your holy Grail project! It takes a lot of courage to start something like this. One day at a time!
That is high praise —thank you. It is by far the largest project I have ever worked on and equal in complexity due to the construction as a lace shawl I made. One nice feature with such a large print is that now most everything is relatively smaller and seemingly “no problem”. I guess that is the befit of pushing our edge and setting a new high water mark.
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