The circle afghan Pattern

I have had requests for my pattern on the circle afghan. If you have the MDK book -- it is based on the technique used for the circle of fun afghan -- I just use stockinette stitch instead of all knit and did a knit only border as I went. I hope you enjoy it -- and if you have questions let me know!!

Circular Afghan Pattern

I used Worsted weight yarn and size 8 needles. My gauge was about 4 stitches to 1 inch. I used this to decide how wide to make this afghan – keeping in mind that the number of stitches I casted on is half of the actual size of the afghan. So if you want to adjust the number of stitches or type of yarn – keep in mind that the stitch count should be divisible by 2.

Cast on 100 stitches.

Row 1 – Knit all stitches
Row 2 – Purl 92, knit 8
Row 3 – repeat row 1
Row 4 – repeat row 2

There is a border of stitches that we will be keeping all the way through. I did 4 stitches originally – I am writing the pattern for 8 stitches to be used on the outside border. These stitches will always be done as knit stitches while the body is done in stockinette stitch. I am using the colors in my afghan as a guide to where the stop and starts are – but you can use any color!!!

Row 5 – K2 in black, turn work
Row 6 – Sl1, K1
Row 7 – K4 in black, turn work
Row 8 – Sl1, K3
Row 9 – K6 in black, turn work
Row 10 – Sl1, K5
Row 11 – K8 in black, turn work
Row 12 – Sl1, K7
Row 13 – K8 in black, K2 in red, turn work
Row 14 – Sl1, P1 in red, K8 in black
Row 15 – K8 in black, K4 in red, turn work
Row 16 – Sl1, P3 in red, K8 in black
Row 17 – K8 in black, K6 in red, turn work
Row 18 – Sl1, P5 in red, K8 in black

Continue adding 2 more stitches to pattern until you have K8 in black and K88 in red. You will have 4 black stitches at the end unworked. I left those to make the center cleaner looking. After purling back those stitches you will have done about 96 rows in the first “pie”, you’ll be at row 100 in pattern.

Now will start decreasing the color “pie”

Row 101 – K8 in black, K 86 in red, turn work
Row 102 – Sl1, P 85 in red, K8 in black
Row 103 – K8 in black, K84 in red, turn work
Row 104 – Sl1, P83, K8 in black

Continue decreasing the color by two stitches on odd row until you are back at 2 stitches done – row 200. Remember you will always have the 100 stitches on the needle – you are just not working all of them every row.

Row 201 – Knit all stitches in black
Row 202 – Purl 92, k8
Row 203-208 – repeat 201 and 202 three more times

Repeat rows 5 to 208 four more times. Choosing different colors for the “pies”

On the fifth time (there will be 6 sections to the afghan) – repeat rows 5 to 204.

Bind off stitches – but do not cut yarn. Turn work and pickup 48 stitches along the inside edge of the afghan; you will have 49 stitches counting the last bind off stitch. Then follow pattern –

Row 1 -- knit to last 2 stitches K2 tog. – 48 stitches
Row 2 – K2 tog across row – 24 stitches
Row 3 – Knit all stitches
Row 4 – K2 tog across row – 12 stitches
Row 5 – knit all stitches
Row 6 – K2 tog across row – 6 stitches

Cut yarn and weave end through the last 6 stitches and tighten yarn. This will close the circle up. Then sew edge of purple to edge of red – this will be the spoke so the seam will be slightly hidden. Weave in ends and you are done!!!!


The pattern is copyrighted by Sarah McDonald and may be use for personal use only.

the circle part II

here is the picture of the circle afghan -- I couldn't get it in the last post right.

the circle of creativity

it is amazing how one thing can spark our creativity. After getting into the MDK book this summer I started working on the circle of fun rug and making into a tree skirt for my MIL for christmas this year, I remembered a circular afghan my brother had as a baby. shown below.

And I got thinking what if I did my own circular afghan for my daughter. the one my brother had was crocheted and I haven't seen a lot of good ideas for circular afghans. I took the pattern of the circle of fun from MDK and adapted it. At first I did the straight knit like it called for and when i did all of the stitches I realized that I didn't want to stop there and I decreased back down the other side. I also decided to add spokes to break up the colors a little as well. My first try...

I didn't like the look of the straight knit and since I was testing with dishclothes I played with another. This time I did stockinette stitch and added a knit border as I went. Then when I finished I figureed a way to do a center with out binding off. This try made me realize I don't want the extra strings to weave in -- but it was a great start. As follows.

So now I was ready to start the afghan and get going. I decided to make this like a color wheel and use black to break up the colors. I then decided that I would use black as the outside border thus allowing my to carry the color along and I didn't have a lot of black ends to weave in. The only thing I would do differently is make the outside border thicker as it curls to much still. I use a variety of yarn that I was able to find at Joann's on my one shop. The red and blue are carons simple soft (1 ball each), the purple is Red hearts soft yarn (1 ball), the black, orange, yellow and green is Bernat Satin Yarn (2 each -- but if border was thicker 3 balls of black). The satin was the best to work with -- but Joann's didn't have the right shades I needed and I of course wanted to start right way!!! I hope you enjoy the results.

My Knitting history

Since I am going to focus a lot of this blog to my knitting and other crafts I decided that I needed to give a history of my knitting.

My mom taught me to knit when I was about 10 or 11 years old. This was because I wanted to learn how to make sweaters. She learned to knit when she was 8 (and now has been knitting for 55 years!!). She taught me to crochet first, but I wanted to make sweaters and I didn't like the look of crochet. My first completed project was a pink v-neck vest which I wore for my 6th grade school picture. shown here to the left.

I keep knitting all through school and I could be found working on projects in school at the end of the year or on school trips.

For a while I worked on a yarn shop in high school. That is where I really got going on my knitting and then I also sold a design (the black and white) to Ungar yarn company. They never did anything with the pattern but it was a great feeling. I also did other designs like the sweater dress copying the hottest sweater pattern motif that was around at the time.


I sort of put my needles away for college and after college for a bit. one I didn't have as much time, two I could find yarn as available and three I couldn't afford what I did find. Then one major thing happened -- the chains started carrying Lion Brand yarns and they were making fashion yarn more affordable and you didn't have to use the awful arylic yarns. After that I was set again. I was working for Michaels at the time and after I left management there I started teaching more and I have been playing with more patterns and playing with more styles. And what fun it has been.

Mason dixon Bibs

A friend showed me the new Mason Dixon Knitting book the other day and I had a blast looking at it. I couldn't wait to get home and start playing. I started with the baby bib since I have a 3 month old and alot of sugar and cream yarn to play with. I loved the pattern, but I didn't like one thing. My daugther doesn't like things digging into the back of her neck when she is laying down. So I decided to play with the pattern and instead of two straps I made one long strap that wraps around her neck and then buttons in front. Plus it is easier because we don't have to go back and make the second strap.

Ok world -- I am starting a blog

After hearing about blogs and seeing them get started I decided it was time to satrt one. Mostly I how to concentrate on my crafts and knittting as well as my pride and joy - my daughter and all that she does.

As I have more time I'll get going on this