The Hearthside Herringbone Throw: A Free Knitting Pattern for a Super Chunky, Textured Afghan

Introducing the Hearthside Herringbone Throw

Wrap yourself in the cozy luxury of the Hearthside Herringbone Throw, a super chunky afghan that combines a modern herringbone stitch with a rich, tonal color palette. This free pattern creates a stunning, reversible texture that's perfect for adding warmth and style to any room. The dense, woven-like fabric is surprisingly quick to knit thanks to the super bulky yarn and large needles, making it an ideal weekend project for beginners looking to create a statement piece for their home.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following supplies:

• Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick (Super Bulky, Weight 6) – 2 skeins each of 'Fisherman' (Color A) and 'Oatmeal' (Color B), 1 skein of 'Charcoal' (Color C).
• Needle: US Size 15 (10 mm) circular knitting needle, 32-inch length (or size needed to obtain gauge).
• Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, measuring tape.
• Gauge: 8 stitches and 12 rows = 4 inches in Herringbone Stitch pattern (worked flat). Always check your gauge before starting.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Finished Size & Adjustments

The finished blanket measures approximately 50 inches wide x 60 inches long. To adjust the width, cast on any multiple of 2 stitches plus 1 extra stitch (e.g., 101, 121, 141). To adjust the length, simply repeat the stripe sequence more or fewer times.

Stitch Pattern: Herringbone Stitch (Worked Flat)

This stitch creates the signature zigzag texture. Practice on a small swatch first.

• Row 1 (Right Side): *Knit 2 together (k2tog), but do not drop the first stitch from the left needle. Knit the first stitch again (the one still on the left needle), then drop both stitches from the left needle. Repeat from * across to the last stitch, knit 1 (k1).
• Row 2 (Wrong Side): Purl all stitches.
• Repeat Rows 1-2 for the pattern.

Blanket Instructions

Step 1: Cast On
With Color A (Fisherman), cast on 101 stitches loosely. Use a long-tail cast-on or a knitted cast-on for a stretchy edge.

Step 2: Begin Stripe Sequence
Work in Herringbone Stitch pattern as follows, changing colors at the end of Row 2 (WS) of each stripe:

• Rows 1-10: Work in pattern with Color A (Fisherman).
• Rows 11-20: Work in pattern with Color B (Oatmeal).
• Rows 21-30: Work in pattern with Color C (Charcoal).
• Rows 31-40: Work in pattern with Color B (Oatmeal).
• Rows 41-50: Work in pattern with Color A (Fisherman).

Step 3: Repeat Stripes
Repeat these 50-row stripes (Rows 1-50) until the piece measures approximately 58 inches from the cast-on edge. End after completing a Row 2 (WS) of a stripe. This ensures the final row is a purl row, making the bind-off edge match the cast-on edge.

Step 4: Bind Off
Bind off loosely in pattern on a Right Side row. To do this: Work Row 1 of the Herringbone stitch across, but instead of knitting the last stitch, bind off each stitch as you go. For a stretchy bind-off, use a needle one size larger or use a sewn bind-off method.

Step 5: Finishing
Weave in all ends using a tapestry needle. Block the blanket gently to measurements: lay it flat, mist with water, and smooth out any uneven edges. Allow to dry completely before use.

Pro Tip: The Herringbone stitch is dense and uses more yarn than stockinette. If you want a larger blanket, purchase an extra skein of each color. For a smaller lap blanket, cast on 81 stitches and repeat the stripe sequence 3 times.