 |
| Photos above © DrBron |
Slip Stitch Sampler Throw by Irina Poludnenko is a colorful free knitting pattern originally published by Lion Brand. It combines slip-stitch colorwork with a modular log-cabin-inspired construction to create a large, eye-catching throw.
Six sections use the same basic log-cabin design in different color combinations, producing a sampler-style blanket without requiring complicated stranded colorwork.
The pattern is still available as a free knitting pattern, with a current downloadable version available through LoveCrafts.
✓ Free Pattern Availability
Slip Stitch Sampler Throw, Lion Brand pattern L10347, is currently available as a free downloadable knitting pattern. Use the current pattern source below for the complete instructions.
Slip Stitch Sampler Throw at a Glance
Pattern: Slip Stitch Sampler Throw
Designer: Irina Poludnenko
Publisher: Lion Brand Yarn
Pattern Number: L10347
Category: Blanket / Throw
Yarn Weight: Aran
Original Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice
Needles: US 8 / 5 mm
Gauge: 16 stitches × 24 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in slip-stitch pattern
Yardage: Approx. 3,570 yd / 3,264 m
Finished Size: Approx. 50 × 75 in / 127 × 190.5 cm
Construction: Modular squares, seamed
Techniques: Slip stitches, mosaic-style colorwork, stripes
Availability: Free downloadable pattern
About the Slip Stitch Sampler Throw
Slip Stitch Sampler Throw was designed by Irina Poludnenko for Lion Brand Yarn.
Rather than making one enormous uninterrupted panel, the blanket uses the same log-cabin-inspired design six times in different color combinations.
Once the individual sections are complete, they are assembled into a large rectangular throw.
The result is a colorful sampler blanket with strong geometric structure and plenty of visual variety.
Finished Size
The published finished dimensions are approximately:
50 × 75 inches / 127 × 190.5 cm
This is a substantial throw rather than a small lap blanket, so expect it to become a fairly large project both in knitting time and total yarn requirement.
Original Yarn
The pattern was designed using Lion Brand Vanna's Choice, an Aran-weight acrylic yarn.
The original yarn is listed at approximately 170 yards per 100-gram ball.
The published blanket uses multiple colors to create the changing combinations across its six main sections.
Original Color Plan
The published version uses nine colors:
- Dusty Blue
- Chocolate
- Rust
- Olive
- Dusty Purple
- Brick
- Pea Green
- Mustard
- Purple
The original quantities total 21 balls of Vanna's Choice.
Dusty Blue, Olive and Dusty Purple use three balls each, while the other six colors use two balls each.
Total Yardage
Ravelry records total published yardage of approximately:
3,570 yards / 3,264 meters
That large quantity reflects both the generous finished dimensions and the nine-color construction.
If substituting yarn, calculate your requirements carefully before beginning, particularly if some colors will be difficult to replace later from the same dye lot.
Needles
The published needle size is:
US 8 / 5 mm
Needle size is only a starting point. Use the size that allows you to obtain the required gauge with your chosen yarn.
Gauge
The published gauge is:
16 stitches × 24 rows = 4 × 4 inches / 10 × 10 cm
This gauge is measured in the slip-stitch pattern.
Even though a blanket does not need to fit a body, gauge still matters here because six separate sections eventually need to work together as one finished throw.
What Is Slip-Stitch Colorwork?
Slip-stitch colorwork can create surprisingly elaborate-looking patterns without requiring you to work several yarn colors across the same row at once.
Selected stitches are slipped rather than worked, allowing color from an earlier row to remain visible in the new row.
The technique can produce geometric color effects while keeping the actual knitting relatively approachable.
Why Slip Stitches Work Well Here
The strong colors already give this blanket plenty of visual energy. Slip stitches add another layer of texture and pattern without requiring complex stranded colorwork across every row.
They also complement the geometric log-cabin structure particularly well.
Keep Slipped Stitches Relaxed
One of the most important habits in slip-stitch knitting is avoiding excessive tension.
If the yarn carried past slipped stitches is pulled too tightly, the fabric can become compressed or distorted.
Allow the stitches to remain comfortably spaced on the needle as you work across each section.
Log-Cabin-Inspired Construction
Traditional log-cabin knitting builds outward in sections, creating strong geometric blocks of color.
Slip Stitch Sampler Throw uses this visual idea repeatedly, creating six versions of the same basic design in different color combinations.
This repetition is useful because once you understand how one section develops, the overall construction becomes much easier to visualize.
Six Main Sections
The throw is modular rather than one-piece.
Six major sections are knitted and later assembled to create the finished 50 × 75-inch blanket.
Modular construction has an important practical advantage: you do not need to carry the entire weight of a large blanket on your needles throughout the project.
Managing Nine Colors
A nine-color project benefits from a little organization.
Before casting on, label your colors according to the pattern and keep leftover yarn clearly identified.
Avoid relying only on memory, especially when several shades are similar.
A simple note showing the yarn name, color letter and remaining ball count can prevent confusion later in the project.
Choosing Your Own Palette
You do not have to reproduce the original Lion Brand colors exactly.
The geometric construction makes this an excellent project for creating your own coordinated palette.
Consider combining:
- Warm autumn shades
- Cool blues and greens
- Muted vintage colors
- Bright contrasting colors
- Neutrals with a few strong accent shades
Whatever palette you choose, make sure neighboring colors have enough contrast for the slip-stitch pattern to remain visible.
Substituting the Yarn
If you use another Aran-weight yarn, make a slip-stitch swatch before buying the full quantity.
Look for a yarn that provides:
- Good stitch definition
- Consistent gauge
- Comfortable drape
- Colors with useful contrast
- Care instructions suitable for a large blanket
Wash your swatch according to the yarn manufacturer's directions to see how the finished fabric changes.
Assembly Matters
Ravelry classifies the design as seamed.
Because separate sections eventually form one large geometric blanket, careful assembly is important.
Before sewing, block the sections if appropriate for your yarn and lay them out in the intended arrangement.
Check orientation and color placement before joining anything permanently.
Keep the Seams Flexible
A blanket seam should be secure without becoming a rigid ridge.
Pulling the joining yarn too tightly can cause the assembled throw to pucker along the seams.
Periodically lay the work flat while joining the sections to make sure the seam tension remains comfortable.
Important Pattern Correction
Important Before You Knit
Lion Brand published corrections for pattern L10347 on April 17, 2013. For that reason, use a current corrected version of the pattern rather than relying on an old copy saved from the original publication period.
Corrections are one of the main reasons Amazing Knitting links readers back to legitimate current pattern sources rather than reproducing old instructions.
Skill Level
Lion Brand classified the project as:
Easy+ / Level 3
The blanket is large, but the modular construction and repetition mean that project size should not automatically be confused with technical difficulty.
Skills Used in This Project
- Knitting and purling
- Slipping stitches
- Changing colors
- Reading repeating stitch patterns
- Modular knitting
- Picking up or working from existing sections as directed
- Maintaining consistent gauge
- Seaming knitted sections
- Weaving in multiple yarn ends
- Blocking and finishing a large blanket
Is Slip Stitch Sampler Throw Still Free?
Yes.
Slip Stitch Sampler Throw by Irina Poludnenko is still listed as a free knitting pattern, and a free downloadable PDF of Lion Brand pattern L10347 is currently available through LoveCrafts.
Amazing Knitting does not reproduce the designer's complete copyrighted instructions. Use the legitimate pattern source for the complete knitting directions.
Get the Free Slip Stitch Sampler Throw Pattern
The Lion Brand L10347 pattern is currently available as a free downloadable PDF from LoveCrafts:
Get the Free Slip Stitch Sampler Throw Pattern →
You can also view the Ravelry pattern record for project examples, specifications and historical pattern information:
View Slip Stitch Sampler Throw on Ravelry →
More Free Blanket Knitting Patterns
If you enjoy textured and colorful blanket projects, explore more verified free patterns in the Amazing Knitting archive:
Before You Start
This is a large multi-color project, so organize your nine colors before casting on and make a swatch in the actual slip-stitch pattern.
Pay particular attention to keeping slipped stitches relaxed and keeping the dimensions of the modular sections consistent so that assembly is easier later.
Most importantly, use a current corrected version of Lion Brand L10347 rather than an old copied version of the instructions.
Pattern credit: Slip Stitch Sampler Throw was designed by Irina Poludnenko for Lion Brand Yarn. The existing project photographs on this Amazing Knitting page are credited to DrBron. Amazing Knitting provides an independent project guide and does not reproduce the designer's complete copyrighted knitting instructions.
