Pattern Inspiration:

This year, 2016, is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. Smart Knits - a knitting group out of Logan, Utah - thought that a great way to celebrate the National Park Service and the sublime lands that it protects was to design a National Parks blanket. The blanket is made up of 60 blanket squares - one to celebrate each of the 59 National Parks and one square to celebrate the National Park Service itself.

Hot Spring National Park considers itself the longest preserved area in the national park system. Although it did not officially become a national park until 1921, the land had been set aside as a special reservation by President Jackson and congress in 1832; 40 years before Yellowstone became the first national park. Hot Springs National Park contains at least 47 thermal hot springs which supply water to bathhouses and water fountains where people can stock up on potable mineral water. This square represents Hot Water Cascade, a section where tufa, a mineral deposit, builds at the rate of 1/8 inch a year and a rare hot water loving algae grows.

This Pattern:

If you purchase this pattern, you will receive only the pattern for the Hot Springs National Park blanket square. If you would like to purchase a subscription to all of the blanket squares please buy the eBook.

All proceeds from this pattern will be donated to the National Park Foundation in celebration of the National Park Service Centennial.