Turn your living room into a perpetual party with this joyful blanket by Becky Skuse

YOU WILL NEED

Q Sirdar Stories (60% cotton, 40% acrylic, 50g/140m) 3 balls of each:

All Nighter (823)

Beach Club (834)

Moonlight (822) 2 balls of each:

Pool Party (819)

After Glow (830)

Skinny Dip (824)

Gin Fizz (826)

Q A4mm (US G/6) hook

For yarn stockists contact Sirdar 01924 231682 www.sirdar.com

TENSION

Tension is not critical, but it may affect the yarn quantities required

MEASUREMENTS

Blanket measures approx 130x83cm (51 x32 in) excluding Fringe

ABBREVIATIONS

v-st (Tr, ch, tr) in st/sp indicated

tr2Vtog Work a tr2tog with the first leg in the first v-st ch-sp and the second leg in the next v-st ch-sp For a full list, see page 94

Wrap this cheerful throw around your shoulders for a fun night in, or give it to a friend to celebrate something fantastic!

NOTES

Blanket is worked in rows throughout.

There is no need to weave in the ends as these are used to form the fringed edging.

BLANKET

Using All Nighter and leaving a 7cm tail, ch172 (or a multiple of 14 plus 4).

Row 1 (RS) Tr in fourth ch from hook (counts as ch1 and tr2tog), *(skip 1 ch, v-st in next ch) twice, skip 1 ch, (v-st, ch1, v-st) in next ch, (skip 1 ch, v-st in next ch) twice, skip 1 ch, tr2tog over next 3 ch working first leg in next ch, skipping 1 ch and second leg in next ch); rep from * across to end, turn. [12 patt reps] Fasten off leaving a 7cm tail.

Change to Beach Club.

Row 2 (WS) Ch2, tr in next ch-sp (counts as tr2tog), *v-st in next 2 ch-sps, (v-st, ch1, v-st) in next ch-sp, v-st in next 2 ch-sps, tr2Vtog; rep from * across to end working the final leg of last tr2Vtog in the final st turn.

Fasten off leaving a 7cm tail.

Repeat Row 2 until Blanket measures 130cm working in the following sequence: Moon Light, After Glow, Pool Party, All Nighter, Beach Club, Moon Light, Gin Fizz, Skinny Dip, All Nighter and Beach Club.

FRINGE Cut 15cm lengths of yarn from your leftovers.

Join to the edge of the Blanket with a matching tail. Repeat for all yarn tails on the row-ends of the long edges.

Trim to desired length.

The zigzag striping is created by working increases and decreases in strategic places

Cut 15cm lengths of yarn to make fringing, and match the colours to the stripes

SIMPLE STEPS HOW TO ADD FRINGING

1 Follow the instructions in the pattern, or try this method. Cut 2 pieces of yarn, twice as long as you want the fringe to be. Fold in half.

2 Insert hook through the edge of the fabric, where you want the first piece of fringing to be placed. Loop the yarn lengths over the hook and pull back through the fabric.

3 Pull the yarn lengths to make a small loop next to the fabric. Pass the ends of the yarn lengths through this loop and pull tight to secure.

4 Repeat from step 1 along the edge of the fabric, as close together or far apart as you wish. Use a matching or contrasting yarn colour. Trim any uneven lengths of yarn to create a neat finish.