Along with the cooler weather comes an undeniable urge to curl up under a handmade blanket.

MATERIALS
Bernat® BlanketTM (10.5 oz/300 g; 220 yds/201 m)
Main Color (MC) Pale Grey (10046)   5 balls or 1038 yds/950 m
Contrast A Vintage White (10006)      2 balls or 440 yds/402 m

Size U.S. 11 (8 mm) circular knitting needle 40" [101.5 cm] long or size needed to obtain gauge. Size U.S. L/11 (8 mm) crochet hook for chain embroidery.

ABBREVIATIONS
Approx = Approximate(ly)
K = Knit
K5tog = Knit next 5 stitches together
Kfbfbf = Increase
4 stitches by knitting into front, back, front, back and front again of next stitch
P = Purl
Pat = Pattern
Rep = Repeat
RS = Right side
Sl st = Slip stitch St(s) = Stitch(es)
WS = Wrong side Yoh = Yarn over hook

MEASUREMENTS
Approx 52 x 62" [132 x 157.5 cm].

GAUGE
81⁄2 sts and 12 rows = 4" [10 cm] in pat.

INSTRUCTIONS
Note: Stitch count will vary throughout pat repeat.

When working K5tog ensure that you have worked through all five stitches.

With MC, cast on 127 sts. Do not join. Working back and forth across needle, proceed as follows: See chart.

Click image for larger view.

1st row: (RS). K1. *P5. K1. P1. K1. Rep from * to last 6 sts. P5. K1. 
2nd row: P1. K5. *P1. K1. P1. K5. Rep from * to last st. P1.
3rd row: As 1st row.
4th row: P1. K5tog. *P1. Kfbfbf. P1. K5tog. Rep from * to last st. P1. 123 sts.
5th row: K1. *P1. K1. P5. K1. Rep from * to last 2 sts. P1. K1.
6th row: P1. K1. *P1. K5. P1. K1. Rep from * to last st. P1.
7th row: As 5th row.
8th row: As 6th row.
9th row: As 5th row.
10th row: P1. Kfbfbf. *P1. K5tog. P1. Kfbfbf. Rep from * to last st. P1. 127 sts.
11th row: As 1st row.
12th row: As 2nd row.

Rep last 12 rows for pat until Afghan measures approx 62" [157.5 cm], ending on a 12th row of pat. Cast off.

SURFACE SLIP STITCH STRIPE
With crochet hook and RS facing, join A to with sl st to first st at bottom right corner of Afghan. Working vertically up row of knit sts (taking care to not work tightly to prevent buckling) and keeping yarn to back of Afghan, work surface sl st as follows: *Insert hook into next st and draw up a loop through loop on hook. Rep from * to opposite end of Afghan. Rep Slip Stitch Stripe along each column of knit sts running between increase and decrease sections. Fasten off.

There will be 32 Surface Slip Stitch Stripes in total including each side edge stitch.

TASSELS (make 30)
Wind A around a piece of cardboard 5" [12.5 cm] wide 12 times. Tie through loops securely at one end. Cut across other end. Wrap yarn 6 times around Tassel 11⁄2" [4 cm] down from tied end. Fasten securely. Sew Tassels to end of surface slip- stitch rows at each end of Afghan as seen in picture.

Yarnspirations.com is a Canadian online knitting and crocheting resource.