How fun is this Sunshine Throw Knit Pattern?
During the winter months, I’m always looking and drawn to the sun, so that’s why I designed this knit throw!
I am so over-the-moon excited to have been accepted to design this knit pattern in collaboration with Lion Brand Yarn!
I have been wanting to create a kit with them for years, and after being rejected several times, they finally said yes!
If you want to learn more about getting accepted to design kits for Lion Brand Yarn, you can see this blog post HERE.
And I’ve had so many people ask for a CROCHET version of this blanket, that I finally made one! Click HERE to check out the Sunray Throw Crochet Pattern.
DESCRIPTION
The Sunshine Throw is a knit pattern made using only purl and knit stitches. The majority of the blanket is made in stockinette stitch, with small contrasting stripes made in garter stitch. The blanket has a garter border, which really frames the simplicity of the throw nicely. The clean, simple design makes for a beautiful knit blanket.
3 sun charts are used for the suns, and an easy-to-track digital chart is included in the PDF copy as well as the kit, or view the chart below.
YARN
The Sunshine Throw is made using Basic Stitch Anti-MIcrobial yarn.
It was my first time working with the Anti-Microbial line of Basic Stitch, and I loved the ease of knitting with it.
The color selection is great. I used “Spice” and “Vintage” for the Sunshine Knit Throw, and it feels like these two colors were just made for each other.
The color “spice” is the perfect shade of orange. Subtle and muted with pink undertones. “Vintage” looks so nice with it because it is also a muted white.
These two hues really play nicely with the simplicity of the blanket design. Simple, clean, but fun.
I have used Basic Stitch Yarn many times, but the Anti-Microbial line is a nice addition.
The yarn is made from 65% recycled polyester and 35% amicor acrylic.
Amicor is an anti-microbial fiber which provides protection against odor, allergens, and bacteria.
It is also GRS (Global Recycling Standard) certified because of the large amount of recycled product.
To learn more about the line, check it out here.
DIFFICULTY
The Sunshine Throw is considered intermediate knit because of the colorwork.
I used intarsia knitting techniques for the center of the sun and horizontal sun rays, and stranded knitting techniques for the vertical sun rays.
This means that I had an individual bobbins of Color B for the center of the sun, and 2 bobbins of Color A for either side of the sun. I did not carry Color A (“Vintage”) across the back of the center of the sun.
However, I did carry colors for the vertical sun rays due to the small size of the rays.
Only garter stitch and stockinette stitch is used, so it really is a relaxing knit to meditatively make.
MATERIALS
- US 9/5.5 mm knitting needles
- 1000 yds of Basic Stitch Anti-Microbial weight 4 yarn in “Spice“
- 545 yds of Basic Stitch Anti-Microbial weight 4 yarn in “Vintage“
- Tapestry Needle
- Scissors
- Stitch Markers
- Optional: Steamer for Blocking
GAUGE
16 sts and 21 rows = 4″
FINISHED SIZE
45 x 56 inches
TERMINOLOGY
US Knit Terms Used
- A – color A
- B – color B
- blo – back loop only
- beg – beginning
- BO – bind off
- CO – cast on
- gs – garter stitch
- k – knit
- p – purl
- pm – place marker
- rep – repeat
- RS – right side
- sl1p – slip 1 purlwise
- sm – slip marker
- st/sts – stitch/stitches
- St st – stockinette stitch
- wyif – with yarn in front
- WS – wrong side
NOTES
- The throw is knit flat from the bottom up and garter stitch frames the throw to prevent curling.
- Two stitch markers are placed to differentiate the garter border and the stockinette stitch sections.
- For clean vertical edges, slip the first and last stitch purlwise with the yarn in front on right side rows. For wrong side rows, knit the first stitch of the row in the back loop.
- There are 2 sections that use a repeating chart. Before beginning the chart, work garter border, 1 stockinette stitch, repeat the chart 2 times, 1 stockinette stitch, and end in garter border.
- Every block of the chart represents 1 stitch.
- The right-hand side of the chart has odd numbers (RS) and the left side has even numbers (WS). Knit the odd rows and purl the even rows.
- A combination of intarsia/stranded knitting is used. For the vertical sun rays, Color B is carried. For the horizontal rays/center of suns, individual bobbins are used.
- When changing colors, twist the old color over the new color to prevent holes.
If you want to track your individual progress of the chart digitally, you can purchase the Lion Brand Yarn Kit, or buy the ad-free version of the pattern.
PATTERN
Using the long tail CO and Color A, CO 180 sts
Row 1 (RS): k across (180 sts)
Row 2 (WS): k across
Row 3: sl1p wyif, k across to last st, sl1p wyif
Row 4: k1 blo, knit across
Rows 5-8: rep Rows 3-4
Row 9: Rep Row 3
Work in St st, but continue to frame the throw with gs at beg and end of rows
Row 10 (WS): k1 blo, k4, pm, p170, pm, k5
Row 11 (RS): sl1p wyif, k4, sm, k170, sm, k4, sl1p wyif
Row 12: k1 blo, k4, sm, p170, sm, k5
Rows 13-26: rep Rows 11-12
Change to Color B, Gs Stripe
Row 27: sl1p wyif, k4, sm, k to marker, sm, k4, sl1p wyif
Row 28: k1 blo, k4, sm, k to marker, sm, k5
Rows 29-34: rep Rows 27-28
Change to Color A, St st
Rows 35-40: rep Rows 11-12
Change to Color B, Charts Section
Row 41: sl1p wyif, k4, sm, k170, sm, k4, sl1p wyif
Row 42: k1 blo, k4, sm, p170, sm, k5
Row 43: sl1p wyif, k4, sm, k1, follow chart changing color as needed, rep chart 3 times, k1, sm, k4, sl1p wyif
Row 44: k1 blo, k4, sm, p1, follow chart changing color as needed, rep chart 3 times, p1, sm, k5
Rows 45-78: rep Rows 43-44
Change to Color A, St st
Rows 79-84: rep Rows 11-12
Change to Color B, Gs Stripe
Rows 85-92: rep Rows 27-28
Change to Color A, St st
Rows 93-148: rep Rows 11-12
Row 149: rep Row 11
Change to Color B, Gs Stripe Exposed
Row 150: rep Row 28
Rows 151-160: rep Rows 27-28
Row 161: rep Row 27
Change to Color A, St st
Row 162: rep Row 12
Rows 163-218: rep Rows 11-12
Change to Color B, Gs Stripe
Rows 219-226: rep Rows 27-28
Change to Color A, St st
Rows 227-232: rep Rows 11-12
Change to Color B, Charts Section
Row 233: sl1p wyif, k4, sm, k170, sm, k4, sl1p wyif
Row 234: k1 blo, k4, sm, p170, sm, k5
Row 235: sl1p wyif, k4, sm, k1, follow chart changing color as needed, rep chart 3 times, k1, sm, k4, sl1p wyif
Row 236: k1 blo, k4, sm, p1, follow chart changing color as needed, rep chart 3 times, p1, sm, k5
Rows 237-270: rep Rows 235-236
Change to Color A, St st
Rows 271-276: rep Rows 11-12
Change to Color B, Gs Stripe
Rows 277-284: rep Rows 27-28
Change to Color A, St st
Rows 285-300: rep Rows 11-12
Row 301: rep Row 11
Gs Border
Row 302: rep Row 4
Rows 303-308: rep Rows 3-4
Row 309: rep Row 3
Row 310: BO knitwise
Secure and weave in all ends.
Block blanket.
And that’s how you make the Sunshine Throw!
Make sure that when you post to social media or another platform, please refer back to me as the designer. If you are on Instagram, tag @CozyNooksDesigns and use #SunshineThrow for a chance to be featured!
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Cozy Nooks Designs
Rachel Alford from Cozy Nooks Designs was on the PBS TV show Knit and Crochet Now! season 13. She also designs for Lion Brand Yarn, has been in several crochet/knit magazines, and freelances by filming videos for Annie’s online episodes. Be sure to check out her YouTube Channel for tips, tricks, & tutorials!
