Welcome to today’s VTNS Fan Freebie Friday! As Vintage Textile and Needlework Sellers we love to share all kinds of vintage craft patterns with our Facebook Fans.
We asked the question, “What is similar to a quilt but made of yarn?” This is the answer, a Counterpane. The dictionary defines it as a quilt or coverlet for a bed; bedspread.
This image is a Fan Design knitted bedspread.
This technique takes separately knitted blocks that are then sewn together to form panels that make a pattern just like a patchwork quilt.
These patterns are popular, because you can work on each block by itself, easy to take with you on the go, and after you’ve finished the amount you need, you just sew them together to finish your project.
The nice thing about counterpane knitting is depending on how much time you have, you can decide to make a dishcloth with one, a pillow with four, knit several for a lap afghan or knit a lot and make a bedspread. Totally versatile and up to you.
Some of the vintage designs are so intricate and beautiful they look like a Matelasse bed cover. This Dahlia Design uses triangles sewn together to make a beautiful floral design.
If you get stumped on how to sew them together, check out Knit Simple magazine’s Beginner Basics on Seaming.
This particular shell counterpane pattern is popular. I found this site on the internet where the knitter has graciously interpreted the original 1860 instructions into an easier to follow format.
I have rewritten the original pattern in pdf format. You’ll need the Adobe Reader software on your computer. Most computers come with it, but it is free and can be found here.
Knitted Counterpane Shell Pattern
I almost forgot the great poem by Robert Louis Stevenson:
The Land of Counterpane
When I was sick and lay a-bed,
I had two pillows at my head,
And all my toys beside me lay,
To keep me happy all the day.
And sometimes for an hour or so
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills,
Among the bed-clothes, through the hills;
And sometimes sent my ships in fleets
All up and down among the sheets;
Or brought my trees and houses out,
And planted cities all about.
I was the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane.
Enjoy!
