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KAL Blanket Afghan: Fifth Date with Polka Dots and Dashes
Apr
KAL’s most playful tile is finally here!
If you have been following our KAL Blanket Afghan since the first date, you already know that each tile brings with it a surprise: a new stitch, a new technique, a new satisfaction to add to the project. But the fifth date has something really special, something that will make the hearts of all lovers of the most creative and playful knitting beat faster. Welcome to the Polka Dots and Dashes tile-the liveliest, the most three-dimensional, the most fun KAL tile!
A tile that tells a story
The name already says it all: polka dots and dashes. Two simple and iconic graphic elements that, when translated into knit stitches, become an extraordinarily rich and dynamic texture. The dashes are obtained with sequences of backward knits on a straight ground, creating small, well-defined horizontal reliefs. The polka dots, on the other hand, are the real stars of this tile: small three-dimensional peanuts that pop out of the fabric like buttons, soft and rounded, capable of transforming a simple square of wool into a piece of great personality.
This combination makes the fifth tile one of the most recognizable in the entire blanket. Placed on the sofa or used as a centerpiece, it certainly does not go unnoticed – which is precisely why it appears no less than four times in the final diagram of the blanket, strategically distributed to give rhythm and movement to the whole.
The yarn: still our Nordica
As with all KAL tiles, we use Nordica yarn with 4.5 mm needles (US 7) for Polka dots and dashes. Two colors are needed for this square: Color A (2 balls of 50 g) and Color B (1 ball of 50 g). The reference sample is 20 knits and 27 needles every 10 cm worked in fancy stitch, and the finished square measures 20 × 20 cm as usual.
LalanaNordica is a perfect choice for highlighting peanuts: its firm texture and smooth surface bring out every three-dimensional detail, making polka dots crisp and well-defined. Choosing fine yarns for a project like this is not a whim-it’s the difference you can see and feel.
NB: for those who are new to this project remember that we have created a Blanket KITwhere you can buy at a discount the amount of wool you need by combining the colors you like best
The leading technique: MB, the peanut
The technical heart of this tile is the abbreviation MB, which stands for Make Bobble-that is, make peanut. This is one of the most fascinating techniques in traditional knitwear, one that allows you to create small three-dimensional reliefs directly in the fabric, without additions or subsequent appliqués.
Here’s how it’s done: in the same knit you work (1 right, 1 cast off, 1 right), resulting in three meshes from one. You turn the work over and knit these three stitches inside out, then turn again, slip one stitch, knit 2 stitches together on the right side, and pass the slipped stitch over. The result is a small, compact, perfectly round bump that emerges from the fabric as a raised polka dot.
It is a technique that requires some practice the first few times, but once understood it becomes almost hypnotic. Each peanut is a small satisfaction, a detail that gives character and depth to the work. And when you see them all together, evenly distributed among the backhand dashes, the result is simply beautiful.
The step-by-step instructions
Start 41 stitches with the 4.5-mm needles and knit in lace stitch for 5 needles, creating the bottom edge of the square. On the next row (reverse side of the work) set the 3 side rights that will remain fixed throughout the work as the frame of the square.
The pattern is developed in 8 repeating needles:
Iron 1 (right side of work) introduces dashes: 4 straight, then in sequence 3 backhand and 3 straight to last stitch. Iron 2 and all even-numbered needles are service needles: 3 rights, backhand to last 3 knits, 3 rights. Iron 3 is all straight. Iron 5 is the most expected one: here the peanuts appear – 5 rights, then the sequence with MB, 1 right and 3 reverses, repeated until the last 6 stitches, where one last peanut is worked before the final 5 rights. Iron 7 is like Iron 3, all straight. Iron 8 ends the pattern like Iron 2.
These 8 needles are repeated until 42 total rows of pattern are completed, ending with iron 2 and right side facing. Finish with 5 knit stitches and close the stitches on the reverse side.
Creativity and colors: customize your tile
One of the most beautiful aspects of the KAL Blanket Afghan is the freedom of customization it offers. For the Polka Dots and Dashes tile, the use of two different colors opens up really interesting possibilities: you could work the main body in Color A and the nuts in Color B, creating an even more vibrant polka dot color effect. Or keep everything in one color for a more elegant, monochromatic result, where the texture speaks for itself.
Looking at the color diagrams of the KAL-both the 5-color and 9-color versions-the dot 5 tile fits perfectly into the overall balance of the blanket. Its rich texture and playful character balance the more geometric and linear tiles, adding that note of creativity and movement that makes each afghan blanket unique and unrepeatable.
A few tips to succeed the best
Working with peanuts for the first time may seem complex, but it only takes a few tricks to achieve perfect results. Before starting the actual tile, it is advisable to practice on a small sample: try two or three peanuts on a test piece until the movement becomes smooth and natural.
Keep an accurate stitch count: with cast-ons and multiple knits in the same stitch, it is easy to lose count. Mark each repeat on a sheet or use an iron counter. After each MB make sure you always have the same number of meshes as in the previous needle.
Choose a yarn that enhances three-dimensionality: fine yarns with good structure and pronounced twist-such as Nordica-enhance the nuts by making them compact and well-defined. Yarns that are too soft or hairy tend to flatten the three-dimensional effect.
If you need accessories such as Marker or Tachometer you will find everything here: The Unmissable Accessories
The fifth piece of a collective masterpiece
Each tile we add to our collection is one more step toward the finished blanket-that blanket that will bear the mark of our hands, our patience, and our passion for knitting. The Polka Dots and Dashes tile is perhaps the one that most of all tells the story of the joy of making: little peanuts that are born stitch by stitch, dashes that follow one another with rhythm, and at the end a square of wool that almost seems to smile.
Share your fifth tile with the KAL community-in the comments, in dedicated groups or with the project hashtag. Seeing everyone’s colors and interpretations is a wonderful source of inspiration every time.
The next appointment awaits us with a new challenge. In the meantime, happy knitting to all! 🧶✨
Yarn: Nordica – Needles: 4.5 mm (US 7) – Size: 20 × 20 cm – Sample: 20 m × 27 f = 10 cm