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| Photo above © Audurbjort |
Cable Square Blanket by Auður Björt Skúladóttir is a striking modular knitted blanket built from colorful cable squares with an unusual feature: the cable designs are intended to look attractive from both sides.
Originally listed under the Icelandic name Kaðlabútateppi and the English title Cable Square Blanked, the project combines reversible cable knitting, multiple colors and modular blanket construction.
Pattern Availability Note
This design is still listed among Auður Björt Skúladóttir's patterns, but we could not verify a current legitimate free download for the original pattern. For that reason, Amazing Knitting does not describe it as a free pattern or link to unauthorized archived copies.
Cable Square Blanket at a Glance
Original Name: Kaðlabútateppi / Cable Square Blanked
Designer: Auður Björt Skúladóttir
Craft: Knitting
Category: Blanket / Throw
Construction: Knitted cable squares joined into a blanket
Special Feature: Reversible cable designs
Color: Designed to work beautifully with multiple colors
Finishing: I-cord edging/bind-off is associated with the designer's blanket workshop
Current Pattern Status: Original design verified; free availability not verified
About the Cable Square Blanket
Cable Square Blanket is a modular knitting project by Icelandic designer Auður Björt Skúladóttir.
Instead of knitting one very large blanket from edge to edge, the project is based around individual knitted squares. Each square provides an opportunity to work cable textures while different yarn colors add variety across the finished blanket.
The result is particularly effective because the strong cable textures and changing colors give every section its own identity while the repeated square format holds the complete design together.
The Original Icelandic Name
The pattern appears in the designer's catalog as:
Kaðlabútateppi / cable square blanked
You may therefore encounter both this original listing and the more natural English description Cable Square Blanket when searching for the project.
Amazing Knitting uses “Cable Square Blanket” in this guide because it clearly describes the project for English-speaking knitters, while retaining the original pattern name above for identification.
Reversible Cable Knitting
One of the most interesting aspects of this project is the use of reversible cables.
Traditional cable knitting often has a very obvious right side and a much less decorative reverse side. Auður Björt Skúladóttir has a particular interest in designing knitted pieces that remain attractive when viewed from either side.
This characteristic is especially useful for blankets, scarves and shawls because both surfaces are likely to remain visible during normal use.
Why Reversible Cables Work Well for Blankets
A blanket is rarely displayed with only one side visible.
It may be folded over a chair, wrapped around someone or turned in different directions. A reversible texture therefore makes practical as well as decorative sense.
In this design, the cable structure becomes part of the appearance of both sides rather than leaving the reverse as something that always needs to be hidden.
Modular Square Construction
Working a blanket as separate squares has several practical advantages.
Individual blocks are easier to carry than an entire growing blanket, making modular knitting convenient for travel or short knitting sessions.
It also allows you to experiment with different colors without carrying all of the blanket's yarn at once.
The squares are eventually arranged and joined to create the complete throw.
Playing With Color
The original project is especially attractive when worked in several colors.
You might choose a coordinated palette of related shades, use contrasting colors for a more graphic effect, or build the blanket gradually from suitable yarn in your stash.
When planning a multi-color blanket, laying the finished squares on the floor before joining them can help distribute light, dark and dominant colors more evenly.
I-Cord Finishing
Auður Björt Skúladóttir has taught this particular Cable Square Blanket as a workshop project.
In that workshop, knitters first explored reversible cable techniques and then worked on assembling and finishing the blanket with an I-cord bind off.
An I-cord finish can give a modular blanket a clean outer edge and help visually unite the individual blocks.
Needles
A Reykjavík knitting workshop taught by the designer for this blanket asked participants to bring:
4 mm / US 6 circular needles, 60–80 cm / 24–32 inches
This is useful historical information about how the project has been taught, but always follow the specifications in any current copy of the designer's pattern rather than assuming workshop materials necessarily replace the pattern's complete requirements.
Skill Level
A Reykjavík Knitting Festival class devoted to this blanket was classified as Advanced.
That does not necessarily mean every individual square will feel equally difficult, but knitters should be comfortable managing cable techniques and following textured stitch patterns.
Skills That Help
Useful skills for a project of this type include:
- Casting on and binding off
- Knitting and purling confidently
- Working cable stitches
- Understanding cable crossings
- Following repeating stitch patterns
- Working reversible textures
- Maintaining consistent gauge between squares
- Joining knitted blocks
- Working an I-cord edge or bind-off
- Blocking individual squares
Keeping the Squares Consistent
Gauge deserves particular attention in a modular blanket.
If one square is noticeably larger than the others, joining the blocks neatly becomes much more difficult.
Try to use yarns with compatible weights and characteristics, and check the dimensions of your first completed squares before producing a large number of blocks.
Blocking Before Assembly
Blocking the squares before final assembly can make joining considerably easier.
It allows you to bring the blocks to consistent dimensions and straighten their edges before arranging the final blanket.
Follow the care instructions appropriate for your yarn and avoid overstretching the cable texture.
Planning the Final Layout
One of the enjoyable stages of a modular blanket is arranging the finished squares.
Before joining anything permanently, place the blocks together and try several layouts. Pay attention to color balance as well as the direction and visual weight of the cable motifs.
Taking a quick photograph of each possible arrangement can make the alternatives easier to compare.
Is the Original Cable Square Blanket Pattern Free?
We could verify that Kaðlabútateppi / Cable Square Blanked is an original design by Auður Björt Skúladóttir and remains associated with her pattern catalog.
However, we could not verify a current legitimate free download for the complete original pattern.
For that reason, Amazing Knitting does not label this project as a free pattern and does not reproduce or link to unauthorized copies of the designer's instructions.
Find the Original Designer
The safest place to check the current status of the original design is Auður Björt Skúladóttir's Ravelry designer catalog.
View Auður Björt Skúladóttir's Designs →
Looking for a Free Alternative?
If you mainly like the idea of building a blanket from knitted squares, you do not need to rely on an unauthorized copy of the original pattern.
Amazing Knitting has many free blanket and cable-knitting projects in the archive that you can explore instead.
Explore Free Knitted Blanket Squares →
You can also browse free cable blankets, knitted square blankets, and free blanket knitting patterns.
Before You Start
If you obtain the original pattern legitimately, read through the designer's instructions before selecting yarn or beginning a large number of squares.
Make one test square first. Check its dimensions, cable definition and appearance from both sides before committing yarn to the complete blanket.
Pattern credit: Kaðlabútateppi / Cable Square Blanked was designed by Auður Björt Skúladóttir. The existing photograph on this Amazing Knitting page is credited to Audurbjort. Amazing Knitting does not reproduce the designer's copyrighted charts or row-by-row knitting instructions.
