Traveling Afghans Knit Square 20 & Triangle Rib Tutorial

Traveling Afghans is brought to you by Two of Wands & Lion Brand Yarn.

In a year where we all feel more apart than ever, it feels really nice to be participating something called Traveling Afghans. A group of 49 knit and crochet designers, led by the wonderful Two of Wands, worked together to design a pair of patchwork afghans. Throughout 2020, each afghan has been on a journey from designer to designer. This week I’ve played host to the Traveling Knit Afghan as I added my square (Square 20) to the mix. Read on for all about Traveling Afghans, find the pattern, and also catch a tutorial on how to work Triangle Rib Stitch, which is featured in my square!

About Traveling Afghans

From the organizers: “In conjunction with Lion Brand’s “My Life in Yarn” 2020 campaign, the Traveling Afghans will be a collaborative effort amongst 49 knitwear designers and bloggers from seven different countries!

Starting in January, the Traveling Afghans will set sail from NYC and journey to a new designer every two weeks. Each designer will create a 10″x10″ square to add to either the knit or the crochet blanket before sending it off to the next person to add theirs. They will each publish their pattern for free online so YOU can follow along with us and create your own knit or crochet afghan! This year-long collaborative effort will feature stories from the designers about their paths as makers, and will give you the opportunity to learn new stitches and make new friends in the community along the way.”

Learn ALL about the Traveling Afghans project HERE. (There’s also a crochet one with whole ‘nother pattern too!)

Find a kit for the Traveling Knit Afghan HERE.

Knit Designers List

#1 – 1/1-1/13 – New York City, USA – Alexandra Tavel of Two of Wands
#2 – 1/15-1/28 – Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria – Sandra Gutierrez of Nomad Stitches
#3 – 1/29-2/11 – Dublin, Ireland – Katie Moore of The Queen Stitch
#4 – 2/12-2/25 – Nova Scotia, Canada – Kelly Brooks of Knitbrooks
#5 – 2/26-3/10 – Alberta, Canada – Stephanie Lau of All About Ami
#6 – 3/11-3/24 – Alberta, Canada – Chantal Miyagishima of Knitatude
#7 – 3/25-4/7 – BC, Canada – Christie Bodden of Christie Bodden Designs
#8 – 4/8-4/21 – Oregon, USA – Makenzie Alvarez of Hanks and Needles
#9 – 4/22-5/5 – California, USA – Phanessa Fong of Designs by Phanessa
#10 – 5/6-5/19 – California, USA – Angie Bivins of Whistle & Wool
#11 – 5/20-6/2 – California, USA – Jane Tsou of Gorilla Knits
#12 – 6/3-6/16 – Nevada, USA – Chenoa Wilcox of jellyKNITTING
#13 – 6/17-6/30 – Utah, USA – Rachel Misner of Evelyn & Peter
#14 – 7/1-7/14 – Colorado, USA – Jessica Potasz of Mama in a Stitch
#15 – 7/15-7/28 – Kansas, USA – Jerica Tompkins of Yarn Hook Needles
#16 – 7/29-8/11 – Kansas, USA – Mary Lee of Fifty Four Ten Studio
#17 – 8/12-8/25 – Minnesota, USA – Kaitlin Barthold of Originally Lovely
#18 – 8/26-9/8 – Minnesota, USA – Julia Anastasi of Northern Loop Knitwear
#19 – 9/9-9/22 – Winona, MN, USA – Trista Ziemendorf of While They Dream
#20 – 9/23-10/6 – Illinois, USA – Heidi Gustad of Hands Occupied
#21 – 10/7-10/20 – Illinois, USA – Jewell Washington of Northknits
#22 – 10/21-11/3 – Michigan, USA – Destiny Meyer of Knifty Knittings
#23 – 11/4-11/17 – Virginia, USA – Nathan Bryant of Loop N Threads
#24 – 11/18-12/1 – Rhode Island, USA – Jake Kenyon of Kenyarn
#25 – 12/2-12/16 – New Jersey, USA – Vanessa Coscarelli Black of Vanessa Knits

My Life in Yarn

As part of Traveling Afghans, we are encouraged to share our stories as makers, so for new friends, hi! I’m Heidi Gustad. I’ve recently written about my journey to Hands Occupied’s recent tenth birthday, but for new friends, here’s an overview. Like many, my grandmother taught me to knit as a child. At the time, I was beginning to learn to cope with what would become a lifelong companion: anxiety! (Many makers and yarn crafters in particular understand anxiety in my experience. ❤️ ) Fast forward twenty-five years, and I’m a full time craft book author, yarn crafts designer, and content creator based in my Chicago studio. Feel free to look around, I’m glad to have you!

-Heidi ☺️

TRAVELING KNIT AFGHAN – SQUARE 20 PATTERN

Skill level: easy

Supplies
Lion Brand Yarn Wool Ease (Worsted) in Fisherman
US size 8 (5 mm) knitting needles
scissors
tapestry needle

Abbreviations & Terms
CO – cast on
sts – stitches
k – knit
WS – wrong side
sl – slip
p – purl
rep – repeat
RS – right side
BO – bind off

Gauge & Dimensions: 17 sts & 25 rows over 4″ (10 cm), knit in triangle rib stitch. Finished square measures 10″ x 10″ after wet blocking.

The Pattern

CO 42 sts
1. k 42.
2-3. k 42.
4. (WS) sl1, *k1, p4; rep from * to last st, k1. 
5. (RS) sl1, *k3, p2; rep from * to last st, k1. 
6. Rep row 5.
7. Rep row 4.
8-61. Rep rows 2-7.
62. k 42.
BO all sts and wet block to finish before joining to afghan.

Triangle Rib Stitch Video Tutorial

The first stitch tutorial posted to the new Hands Occupied YouTube Channel features the subtle, reversible and beginner-friendly Triangle Rib Stitch. If you’d like to learn this stitch from a video, here you go!

Please note: There are minor differences between the stitch pattern featured in the video and the afghan square pattern.

Traveling Afghans is brought to you by Two of Wands & Lion Brand Yarn.