Looking for the 2021 Traveling Afghans projects?

Arica from Skeins n Sticks is hosting a knit afghan KAL, and Angie from Whistle & Wool is hosting a crochet afghan CAL. If you follow the links to their sites you can find more info. Links to the patterns from the 2020 afghans can be found below.

The traveling afghans 2020

It was a thrill to organize this year-long project sponsored by Lion Brand Yarn called the Traveling Afghans. In conjunction with Lion Brand’s “My Life in Yarn” 2020 campaign, the Traveling Afghans was a collaborative effort amongst 49 knitwear designers and bloggers from seven different countries!

Starting in January 2020, the Traveling Afghans set sail from NYC and journeyed to a new designer every two weeks. Each designer created a 10"x10" square to add to either the knit or the crochet blanket before sending it off to the next person to add theirs. They each published their pattern for free online so YOU could follow along with us and create your own knit or crochet afghan! This year-long collaborative effort featured stories from the designers about their paths as makers, and gave you the opportunity to learn new stitches and make new friends in the community along the way.

Still have questions? Check out the FAQ at the bottom of this page!

FOLLOW THE ITINERARIES OF THE AFGHANS AND CLICK EACH SQUARE TO FIND THE PATTERN ON THE DESIGNER’S SITE

#1 - 1/1-1/13 - New York City, USA - Alexandra Tavel of Two of Wands
#2 - 1/15-1/28 - Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria - Sandra Gutierrez of Nomad Stitches
#3 - 1/29-2/11 - Dublin, Ireland - Katie Moore of The Queen Stitch
#4 - 2/12-2/25 - Nova Scotia, Canada - Kelly Brooks of Knitbrooks
#5 - 2/26-3/10 - Alberta, Canada - Stephanie Lau of All About Ami
#6 - 3/11-3/24 - Alberta, Canada - Chantal Miyagishima of Knitatude
#7 - 3/25-4/7 - BC, Canada - Christie Bodden of Christie Bodden Designs
#8 - 4/8-4/21 - Oregon, USA - Makenzie Alvarez of Hanks and Needles
#9 - 4/22-5/5 - California, USA - Phanessa Fong of Designs by Phanessa
#10 - 5/6-5/19 - California, USA - Angie Bivins of Whistle & Wool
#11 - 5/20-6/2 - California, USA - Jane Tsou of Gorilla Knits
#12 - 6/3-6/16 - Nevada, USA - Chenoa Wilcox of jellyKNITTING
#13 - 6/17-6/30 - Utah, USA - Rachel Misner of Evelyn & Peter
#14 - 7/1-7/14 - Colorado, USA - Jessica Potasz of Mama in a Stitch
#15 - 7/15-7/28 - Kansas, USA - Jerica Tompkins of Yarn Hook Needles
#16 - 7/29-8/11 - Kansas, USA - Mary Lee of Fifty Four Ten Studio
#17 - 8/12-8/25 - Minnesota, USA - Kaitlin Barthold of Originally Lovely
#18 - 8/26-9/8 - Minnesota, USA - Julia Anastasi of Northern Loop Knitwear
#19 - 9/9-9/22 - Winona, MN, USA - Trista Ziemendorf of While They Dream
#20 - 9/23-10/6 - Illinois, USA - Heidi Gustad of Hands Occupied
#21 - 10/7-10/20 - Illinois, USA - Jewell Washington of Northknits
#22 - 10/21-11/3 - Michigan, USA - Destiny Meyer of Knifty Knittings
#23 - 11/4-11/17 - Virginia, USA - Nathan Bryant of Loop N Threads
#24 - 11/18-12/1 - Rhode Island, USA - Jake Kenyon of Kenyarn
#25 - 12/2-12/16 - New Jersey, USA - Vanessa Coscarelli Black of Vanessa Knits

#1 - 11/1-1/13 - New York City, USA - Alexandra Tavel of Two of Wands
#2 - 1/15-1/28 - Barcelona, Spain - Cecilia Losada of Mamma DIY
#3 - 1/29-2/11 - Utrecht, The Netherlands - Wilma Westenberg of Wilmade
#4 - 2/12-2/25 - Gloucestershire, UK - Lindsey Newns of Lottie and Albert
#5 - 2/26-3/10 - New Brunswick, Canada - Kimberley Giggie of Lakeside Loops
#6 - 3/11-3/24 - Ontario, Canada - Lee Sartori of Coco Crochet Lee
#7 - 3/25-4/7 - Alberta, Canada - Janine Myska of Knits n' Knots
#8 - 4/8-4/21 - Alberta, Canada - Abigail Ellazar of Knits and Knots by AME
#9 - 4/22-5/5 - California, USA - Arica Presinal of Skeinsnsticks
#10 - 5/6-5/19 - California, USA - Meghan Ballmer of Meghan Makes Do
#11 - 5/20-6/2 - California, USA - Nicole Riley of Nicki's Homemade Crafts
#12 - 6/3-6/16 - Arizona, USA - Square 12 available Here
#13 - 6/17-6/30 - Colorado, USA - Jess Coppom of Make & Do Crew
#14 - 7/1-7/14 - Kansas, USA - Emily Davies of Hooked Hazel
#15 - 7/15-7/28 - Michigan, USA - Jennifer Pionk of A Crocheted Simplicity
#16 - 7/29-8/11 - Michigan, USA - Melissa Fisher of Woods and Wool
#17 - 8/12-8/25 - Ohio, USA - Toni Lipsey of TL Yarn Crafts
#18 - 8/26-9/8 - Georgia, USA - Vincent Williams of Visuvio's Crafts
#19 - 9/9-9/22 - North Carolina, USA - Tia Edwards of Simple Things Crochet
#20 - 9/23-10/6 - North Carolina, USA - Ashleigh Kiser of Sewrella
#21 - 10/7-10/20 - North Carolina, USA - Rohn Strong of Rohn Strong
#22 - 10/21-11/3 - Pennsylvania, USA - Jessica Benvenuto of Fly the Distance
#23 - 11/4-11/17 - New York, USA - Brianna Iaropoli of Life and Yarn
#24 - 11/18-12/1 - New York City, USA - Teresa Carter of Debrosse
#25 - 12/2-12/16 - New Jersey, USA - ChiWei Ranck of 1 Dog Woof

Traveling Crochet Afghan Square 2 by Mamma DIY

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What do I need to do to participate?

Just follow along on social media or through the individual designers’ blogs and newsletters to get notified when a pattern is released. I will also be linking to all of the patterns as they are published right here on this page, so you can use it as a hub to find all of the others, but note that I will not be sending out newsletters myself each time one is available. This is a major collaborative effort and a great way to learn about new designers and follow their businesses.

You can purchase a kit for all the yarn you will need for either blanket on the Lion Brand site here, or you can use a different yarn (including what you already have in your stash!). You will need approximately 3152yds / 2880m of worsted weight, CYC category 4 yarn. You will need US 8 (5mm) knitting needles for the knit afghan or a J/10 (6mm) hook for the crochet afghan. There may be a need for cable needles, stitch holders, and stitch markers in addition to scissors and a tapestry needle to weave in ends.

We are encouraging followers to form CALs and KALs with their local maker friends and groups to share in the journey together. Follow the hashtags #travelingafghans #travelingknitafghan #travelingcrochetafghan #mylifeinyarn and #lionbrandyarn as well as the new @mylifeinyarn instagram account created by Lion Brand to see updates on this project and more!

When will the patterns be released?

Each designer has a two-week window with the blanket to design and attach their square and publish the pattern online for free. You can expect a new pattern for each afghan within that window. Check the itineraries above to see where the afghans currently are!

How do I get the patterns? Can they be emailed to me?

All of the patterns will be published online for free on the individual websites and blogs of the participating designers as they are released. The best way to get the patterns into your email inbox is to sign up for the designers’ newsletters and/or follow them on social media.

Why do I have to go searching on so many different sites for the patterns?

With 49 designers contributing to this project, there has been an enormous amount of coordination to make it work smoothly and we have all put in many hours even before launching. Each designer is dedicating their precious time to designing, photographing (and in some cases videoing), editing, and publishing a pattern for others to enjoy for free. Many of these designers rely on traffic to their blogs for income, so visiting each one individually is important and fair. I will have direct links to each pattern when they are published here on this page. You’ll know when there’s a new one available as the colored box coordinating with that number will be replaced with a photo of the square. It will then be directly hyperlinked to the pattern so you just need to click on the one you’d like to see.

How difficult are the patterns? Can I participate if I am a beginner?

All of the patterns will be in the beginner-easy+ range and many will come with photo and/or video tutorials. We want this project to be as accessible as possible, and for it to be a way for you to get comfortable with a new craft! Many of the patterns will be acceptable for beginners If you come across a square that you find too challenging, you can repeat one of the easier ones until you feel more comfortable. This is a great way for more seasoned knitters and crocheters to learn new stitches as well.

I noticed the kits use Wool-Ease yarn. Can I use yarn that doesn’t have wool if I’m allergic?

Absolutely! Any worsted weight yarn of any fiber content will work.

Do I have to use all one color yarn like the kits?

You can use any combo of colors you like. With so many designers contributing to the blankets, it would be impossible for us to estimate total yardage of multiple colors so the designers are all using one color, and the kits also come in solid colors, to keep them as cost effective as possible.

Can you recommend some other Lion Brand Yarns I could use?

Of course! Here are some of my recommendations (just be sure to purchase enough yardage - approx 3152yds / 2880m):

Touch of Cashmere

Basic Stitch Anti-Pill

What other tools do I need?

You will need US 8 (5mm) knitting needles for the knit afghan or a J/10 (6mm) hook for the crochet afghan. There may be a need for cable needles, stitch holders, and stitch markers in addition to scissors and a tapestry needle to weave in ends.

What should I do with the finished afghan?

The Traveling Afghans are scheduled to be completed right around the holidays, so aside from gifting them to friends and family (or keeping them for yourself as a cherished heirloom), there are several makers and groups following along who plan to donate them to a worthy cause at the end of the year. More information on this will be shared as we get further along in the year.

What is the point of all of this?

As part of Lion Brand Yarn’s “My Life in Yarn” campaign for 2020, the Traveling Afghans project Is a way for designers and makers from around the world to come together and form a GIANT KAL/CAL where everyone is welcome and stories about how yarn has impacted our lives will be shared. We want this project to be inclusive and accessible and hope that it will inspire beginners and seasoned crafters alike! Many of the designers will be sharing touching stories about the specific stitches they’ve chosen to use for their squares, and my hope is that it will continue to generate conversations of acceptance and connectivity within our community.

How do I add my project to Ravelry?

To add a single project to Ravelry that links to all of the patterns available for either the Traveling Knit Afghan or Traveling Crochet Afghan, please follow the steps pictured below. Please note that not all of the designers use Ravelry, so you may not be able to find them all there but you can still upload your full project. By visiting the source page for each afghan, you can see all of the projects that have been uploaded. You can visit the source pages here:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/traveling-knit-afghan

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/traveling-crochet-afghan