Brightsides is worked from the centre out with a slipped stitch texture and garter stitch stripes, ending in a garter mosaic stitch border. With mosaic stitch, you work with one colour at a time, slipping stitches in the other colour, so it’s an easy way to get a two-colour pattern without stranding. If you can knit, purl, and work in the round, you can make this blanket. All instructions are both charted and written, and include information about adjusting the blanket’s size (for instance, to make it as a shawl).

You will need:

• MC: 1010 yds/924m (O-Wash Sport, Appalachian Stone: 4 skeins)
• CC1: 371 yds/340m (O-Wash Sport, Barn Owl: 2 skeins)
• CC2: 71 yds/65m (O-Wash Sport, Arrowgrass: 1 skein)
• US6/4.0mm: 5 DPNs; 24”/60cm circular; 40”/100cm circular (see note about gauge
• US7/4.5mm: 40”/100cm circular (see note about gauge)
• US6/4.0mm/G crochet hook (if using Emily Ocker cast on)
• stitch markers: 1 for the beginning of the round, 4 for centre stitches, 3 for the other corners, plus 48 for pattern repeats, if desired

Exact gauge is not essential, though differences in gauge will affect the blanket size and the amount of yarn required. It is more important to match the mosaic stitch gauge to the main body gauge so that your blanket lies flat.

About the yarn: O-Wool O-Wash Sport is a softly plied, machine-washable merino yarn. Its 4-ply construction plumps up during washing and fills in any gaps between stitches, which
is helpful with mosaic stitch patterns. The gentle plying angle preserves the softness of the merino, while the many plies help protect against pilling. (This construction won’t completely pre- vent pilling—that’s just what merino does—but it does help.) At the gauge used here, O-Wash Sport makes a soft, drapey fabric that shows off the textures and mosaic stitch pattern. Recommended stockinette gauge for this yarn is 24-26 sts = 4”/10cm on US3-5/3.25-3.75mm.