http://www.erssieknits.com erssiemajor@yahoo.co.uk Macmillan Appeal Blanket Square Design Boa MeNa MeMmoaWoSquare Help Me, and Let me HelpYou By ErssieMajor
In association with The Knitter magazine, the Macmillan foundation are asking knitters to knit up squares 8 inches x 8 inches to be sewn into comfort blankets Blankets that are donated to Macmillan will be used to support and raise awareness of the charity's campaign to freeze out fuel poverty for cancer patients This square was specifically designed for this purpose and uses an African theme as inspiration. The bold shades and the graphics are inspired by African woven textiles but the central motif is adapted from a specific symbol from the African Andinkra language. Specifically it means: Boa Me Na Me Mmoa Wo Translated from Andinkra this symbol means: Help Me, and Let me Help You And the literal meaning of this is Strength through Unity, Co-operation and Mutual Benefit. I think the sentiments of this Andinkra symbol are a perfect description of the work that the Macmillan nurses do with families helps to empower the patient and enables the family to be able to make difficult choices .
Chart
Red (MC) Black (A) Green (B) Yellow (C
Materials
AssortedleftoversofDKyarns #DarkRed:YarnMC #Black:Yarn A #Green: Yarn B #Yellow:Yarn C Needles: 3.25mm straight needles and a 3mm crochet hook Gauge 24sts x 28 rows on 3.25 mm needles in stranded coloured pattern
Finished Measurements
47 sts x 57 rws Inc Border (43 x 53 inner ex border) 8 inches x 8 inches including the border
Pattern Notes
The motifs are knitted using a stranded knitting technique, mixed with intarsia. Use Fair Isle type stranding for the first row of motifs, then use intarsia (i.e. a separate bobbin for each area of colour) for the two vertical yellow motifs on the edge and the green/black Andinkra symbol in the centre The border is knitted by picking up stitches around the edge, and increasing by 1st in the corner to make mitred corners.
Square
Using MC and 3.25mm long straight or circular needles CO 43 Sts and following the chart above from R to L for 1st and all odd rows, from L to R for 2nd and all even rows; K 3 rws in Stocking Stitch Row 4: P9MC [P1A, P3MC] 6 timeS, P1A, P9MC Row 5: K8MC [K3A, K1MC, K1A, K1B, K1A, K1MC] 3 times, K3A, K8MC Row 6 onwards: continue to work back and forth in rows like this, following the chart above until all 57 of the chart have been completed.
Border
Using Yarn A and a 3mm crochet hook; Rnd 1: \*Make 28 dc down one side of the square, then make another 3 dc into the corner, and 28 dc along another side of the square Rep from \* for 2 other sides (124 dc) Rnd 2: \* Using Yarn B make 30 dc down one side of the square, then make another 3 dc into the corner, and 30 dc along another side of the square Rep from \* for 2 other sides (132 dc) Rnd 3: \* Using Yarn MC make 32 dc down one side of the square, then make another 3 dc into the corner, and 32 dc along another side of the square Rep from \* for 2 other sides (140 dc) Fasten off Formoresquarespatternssee http://www.macmillan.org.uk/GetInvolved/WorldsBiggestCoffeeMorning/theknitter. aspx OronRavelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/macmillan-website--the-knitter
The Designer
has enjoyed knitting and crochet on and off since she was 4yrs old and sheloves to write simple knitting and crochet patterns for on line magazines, print magazines and books. She lives with her partner and two rescued greyhounds. Her blog Skeinspotting: A World of Erssie Knits on her website http://www.erssieknits.com documents her knitting adventures as well as knitting patterns, book and yarn reviews, links to other free patterns and craft community websites and the Erssie Knits gallery. She also writes a blog about rescued greyhounds where occasionally her interests in knitting and dogs overlap resulting in amusing photo collections of hounds in knitwear. Erssie has a long term chronic illness with disabilities and as such is committed to the idea of knitting as therapy. You can contact her via her email address; erssiemajor@yahoo.co.uk.
