There’s nothing better than knowing that a blanket knitted by you is giving warmth and comfort to your family and friends.

This particular design arose out of a commission by my daughter for the guest bedroom of her new house. It’s modern, stylish, yet unfussy - and it is a pattern that is simple to follow.

The throw is large enough for a UK king-sized double (see dimensions below) and is knitted with two strands at once to give that extra-chunky effect. If this is your first time knitting multi-stranded, fear not – it really is no more complicated than knitting with a single strand at a time.

Yarn: Approximately 34 balls/skeins of Sirdar Hayfield Bonus Chunky 100% Acrylic, 100g per ball/skein, shade 0814 (‘Light Grey Mix’), gauge 14 stitches and 19 rows to 4 inches (10 cm).

Needles: Quantity 2 x circular knitting needles, 7.5mm x 100cm (UK/Canadian size 1). Nearest equivalent size for US readers is 11 (8mm).

Gauge/Dimensions: Double-stranded work will obviously give a different tension to the gauge quoted on the yarn band. You should aim for approximately 22 stitches and 40 rows to 10 inches (25cm) and thus a finished blanket of width 79” (200cm) and length 67” (170cm). All dimensions are approximate and, as always, check your tension before starting (a 10 inch x 10 inch square is recommended).