Mystery Blanket Club 2025: post 6, July
Debbie AbrahamsHELLO AND WELCOME TO THE SIXTH INSTALMENT OF THE 2025 MYSTERY BLANKET CLUB! And as the UK sizzles with Summer in full swing, we begin the second half of our 2025 mystery adventure, with another six squares revealed this month!
Above: the lovely ladies taking a break from knitting at Hurds Hill to sample some local cider!
June was a very busy month for me with the launch of the Mystery Cushion KAL, another trip down to Somerset to join a group of very lovely ladies at the fabulous Hurds Hill in Langport for a knitting holiday, and now I am busy planning all my projects for the Autumn which include the kits for my forthcoming Stitchtopia holidays to County Kerry and Morocco, plus some new kits for our online shop. So there’s hasn’t been a dull moment or much time to do anything else but immerse myself in my knitting!
Below: the Ring of Kerry, Ireland.
So let’s turn our attention to what I have in store for you this month. And I begin with the exciting news that there are two new tech vids in our Tutorials, which means that there are now nineteen in total. My tech vids are a great way to check up on a knitting technique, or learn a new one from scratch – it’s like having me there in your front room but with the added bonus of being able to rewind, pause and replay!
The two new tech vids are:
This is a list of all the other tech vids we have available in our Tutorials:
· How to carry yarns up the side of the work (Tutorials: Knitting Basics)
· How to pick up stitches to knit the next square (Tutorials: Knitting Basics)
· How to thread beads onto yarn (Tutorials: Beading Techniques)
· Slip-stitch beading (Tutorials: Beading Techniques)
· How to cable (Tutorials: Fancy Stitches)
· Mattress stitch (horizontal) (Tutorials: Knitting Basics)
· Understanding lace stitches (Tutorials: Fancy Stitches)
· Square 37, Barnacles (Tutorials: Knitting Basics)
· How to knit contrast-coloured bobbles (Tutorials: Fancy Stitches)
· How to knit fairisle (Tutorials: Colour Knitting Techniques)
· How to knit Intarsia (Tutorials: Colour Knitting Techniques)
· Hooked-in beads (Tutorials: Beading Techniques)
· Chain stitch (Tutorials: Embroidery On Knitting)
· Square 2, Gentle Waves (Tutorials: Mystery Blanket 2025)
· Square 3, Shells (Tutorials: Mystery Blanket 2025)
· Square 16, Sandy Squiggles (Tutorials: Mystery Blanket 2025)
· Square 17, Fishbones (Tutorials: Mystery Blanket 2025)
THE PRINTED PATTERNS HAVE BEEN POSTED TO THE MEMBERS WHO OPTED FOR THEM. However, due to several issues (including me being away last week in Somerset), we were a little late getting them posted this month which means for the overseas members, your patterns may not arrive for a few days after the 1st July. But you do have access to the digital version in your Debbie Abrahams account, so if you want to make a start you can take a look at the patterns before your brochure arrives.
The first square is actually a repeat of one you have knitted before (Erosion), so you could work from your May brochure for this (just check the pick-up instructions as they will be slightly different). The UK printed patterns were posted on the 27th and 28th June, so they should arrive just in time for the 1st, or very soon after. Apologies to anyone whose printed patterns are delayed.
OUR BABY BLANKET KIT PROMOTION IS NOW UNDERWAY, PLUS WE ARE OFFERING FREE SHIPPING FOR ALL UK ORDERS ON EVERYTHING IN OUR ONLINE SHOP! So if you have a brand new little one to knit for, our two baby blanket designs would make the most special and unique gift. We have two colourways available in the ABC’s blanket (Pink or Grey) and one colourway (Classic) available in Love You To The Moon & Back (unfortunately the Contemporary colourway is no longer available).
Above: Love You To The Moon & Back blanket (Classic colourway).
Below: Now I Know My ABC's (Silver colourway).
We are offering 10% off each of these kits, and in addition to that you get free shipping (UK sales only) on all our kits, beads, books and yarn. So you can really make a saving while stocking up on new projects for the season ahead. Our promotion began on 27th June and runs for two weeks until the 11th July. So if you’re quick, there is still time to grab yourself a real bargain!
WITH AUGUST FAST APPROACHING IT’S NOT LONG NOW UNTIL SIGN-UPS LAUNCH FOR THE 2026 MYSTERY BLANKET CLUB! It may seem too early to start thinking about the next blanket club, but my design ideas are already well underway, and I have been busy sampling yarns and planning the colour palette for it – which is my most favourite and most exciting part of the process!
Above: 2021 Mystery Blanket, '1001 Nights'.
If you tune in to my next Mystery Blanket blog at the beginning of August I will have some teasers to give you about next year’s theme, plus I will give some hints about the colour palette and yarns that are going to be used in it. All I will say for now is that if you love love love colour then you will love love love the 2026 Mystery Blanket! So you’d be wise to mark the 29th August on your calendar and get yourself signed up nice and early so that you can enjoy all the benefits of being an Early Bird.
Above: 2018 Mystery Blanket, 'Casa Battlo'.
Our Early Bird offer will be given to all members who sign up by the end of September, and is available to everyone, including members who opt to pay in instalments.
Interested?!? Then don’t forget to come back to read my August blog to find out more!
THE TITLE OF THE MYSTERY BLANKET HAS ALMOST BEEN REVEALED IN FULL AS MY LETTER PUZZLE HAS VERY FEW SPACES LEFT TO FILL IN. However, we have had a trickle of correct answers this month, which include Sharon Diamond, Maria Didonna, Jenny Jaeger, Marguerite Curran, Karen Bass, Deborah Blair, Robyn Tommasini and Lesley Seddon, so very well done to all of you - for you the ‘mystery’ is now revealed!
But if you are still trying to work out what the title is, here is one final clue in the letter puzzle. After this I am not going to give you any more letters until the reveal at the end of the project in November, so this is your last clue…
The letter I am giving you this month is “S”. Almost all of the letters have now been revealed, so you might get that lightbulb moment – fingers crossed!
T H _ / S _ A S H O R _
Please send your guesses to me at debbie@debbieabrahams.com - there are no prizes for the correct answer, it is simply a bit of fun each month. And if you do get it right, with your permission I will include your name in the next blog. Good luck everyone!
THERE ARE SIX SQUARES TO KNIT THIS MONTH:
Square 4, Erosion – reverse stocking stitch stripe with hooked-in beads (same for both options):
Square 5, Glimmer 2 – stocking stitch pattern with hooked-in beads (same for both options):
Square 6, Gentle Dunes (opt 1) – garter stitch, moss stitch and fairisle stripes with hooked-in beads:
Square 6, Gentle Dunes (opt 2) – embroidered waves with hooked-in beads and textured stitches:
Square 7, Mudflats – cables and moss stitch (same for both options):
Square 38, Seaweed (opt 1) – intarsia motif with slip-stitch beads, Swiss-darning and chain stitch embroidery (same for both options):
Square 38, Seaweed Stripe (opt 1) – stocking stitch stripes with contrast-coloured stitches:
Square 39, Salt Water – ribbed cable pattern in a three-colour stripe:
On each pattern page there is a list of Pattern notes and tips that are worth reading before you start to knit each square. These bits of advice will help you and give pre-warnings as to what to look out for in the pattern instructions. Also take note of the description under the title of each square as this tells you what the stitch structure is.
Some of these squares are repeats of what you have knitted before. However, you can still access all the tech vids we have in Tutorials if you need some reminders of the techniques.
In this instalment there are a few repeats or variations of squares you have knitted before, however, there are three new squares to knit too…
SQUARE 4, EROSION: you should find this one easy to knit – just think back to the May instalment when you knitted it the first time round, it’s identical to Square 46.
Videos to watch for assistance with this square:
- Picking up stitches to begin a new square (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- Mattress stitch (horizontal) (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- How to carry yarns up the side of the work (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- Hooked-in beads (Tutorials: Beading Techniques).
Just a few reminders for this square then. The needle is smaller than the main recommended size, which you can see in the boxed information on the far left-hand side of page 6 (3.25mm).
The beads are hooked-in, so there’s no pre-threading to do. But they may be difficult to see in the image on page 6, so take care when reading the pattern instructions – they are hooked in on Row 13 and its subsequent repeats.
Block this square with the right side of the work facing as it will be easier to pin out.
SQUARE 5, GLIMMER 2: this all-over beaded pattern with hooked-in Clear and Blue beads is similar to Square 45, but with a subtle difference to the vertical wavy pattern, which is reversed.
Videos to watch for assistance with this square:
- Picking up stitches to begin a new square: (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- Mattress stitch, horizontal: (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- Hooked-in beads (Tutorials: Beading Techniques).
The first thing I want to point out is that the image on page 8 has been cropped at the bottom and at the top, so you cannot see the first and last three rows of beads. So just stick to the chart and it will knit up correctly.
The needle size used for this square is smaller than the main recommended size, it’s 3.25mm which is one metric size smaller than the recommended needle size for the project.
There are just a couple of rows to work from worded instructions before the start of the chart on page 9. If you’ve managed to master the hooked-in beading technique then this square will be a straightforward one to knit. However, you will need to keep a sharp eye on the chart to ensure that you hook-in the correct colour bead in the right place.
SQUARE 6, GENTLE DUNES (opt 1): this is an exact repeat of Square 44, Option One from the April Mail Out.
Videos to watch for assistance with this square:
- Picking up stitches to begin a new square: (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- Mattress stitch, horizontal: (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- How to knit fairisle (Tutorials: Colour Knitting Techniques).
- Hooked-in beads (Tutorials: Beading Techniques).
- Square 2, Gentle Waves (textured slip-stitch pattern) (Tutorials: Mystery Blanket 2025).
- How to carry yarns up the side of the work: (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
You might be wondering whether you need to stick to the same option that you knitted for Square 44, and I would advise that because both options look so similar, you could, if preferred, swap over to the other option for this square. For my blanket I stuck to Option One for every square, but there is no reason why you can’t mix yours up a bit if you want more variety in your blanket.
Just a reminder that are some needle size changes in this square - the fairisle sections are knitted on 3.50mm needles, while all the other rows are knitted on 2.50mm needles. This change in needle size is to accommodate the differences in tension between the different stitch structures, so it’s important that you follow these instructions if you want super neat knitting.
If you need a reminder of how to knit fairisle then take a look at the tech vid for this technique which you will find in Tutorials under ‘Colour Knitting Techniques’. My demo shows you to how to strand and weave-in, which are the two fundamental techniques used in fairisle knitting.
The Shell and Clear beads are difficult to see in the image on page 12, so just be extra careful that you use the correct ones when instructed. Shell are in the lower and upper sections, and Clear are in the middle section.
SQUARE 6, GENTLE DUNES (opt 2): this is the easier option if you don’t fancy tackling fairisle, with the wavy contrast-coloured lines replaced with chain stitch embroidery. It is identical to Square 44, Option Two.
Videos to watch for assistance with this square:
- Picking up stitches to begin a new square: (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- Mattress stitch, horizontal: (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- Hooked-in beads (Tutorials: Beading Techniques).
- Square 2, Gentle Waves (textured slip-stitch pattern) (Tutorials: Mystery Blanket 2025).
As I mentioned above for Option One, you could mix up your options here and choose the option you did not knit for square 44. However, I will leave this decision entirely up to you. If like me, you prefer symmetry, then go for the same option. But if you like things to be a little different, then go for the other option.
If you need a reminder of chain stitch embroidery then take a look at my tech vid in our Tutorials which shows a short and snappy demo of how to do it.
SQUARE 7, MUDFLATS: these softly twisted cables were first knitted way back in February in the first instalment. So for this square, it’s a trip down memory lane – the cables twist in the same way and the colour of the square is the same as Square 43.
Videos to watch for assistance with this square:
- Picking up stitches to begin a new square: (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- Mattress stitch, horizontal: (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- How to cable (Tutorials: Fancy Stitches).
Note the smaller needle size used for this square - it is one size smaller than the main recommended size which you can see in the boxed information on the far left-hand side of page 14, it’s 3.25mm.
The pattern is presented in both words and as a chart, so you can choose whichever you prefer to work from. Personally I love a chart because it gives you a visual picture of what you’re knitting - you can see where you are, what is coming up on the next row (and beyond that), and you can tick off the rows at the side of the chart as you progress up the chart.
The cables in this chart are c8f and c8b, which are different to the cable abbreviations for Square 1 (which are c8f* and c8b*). So just be sure to read the correct ones from the Abbreviations list on page 27.
Just one last word of advice about the chart, make sure that you read the cable symbols correctly as there are two different slanted lines on the chart which represent them. They alternate across each row to create cables which twist to the right and twist to the left. You can see this if you look at the image on page 1.
SQUARE 38, SEAWEED (opt 1): this is the second picture knit in the blanket and includes some Swiss-darning and chain stitch embroidery, as well as a sprinkle of beads.
Videos to watch for assistance with this square:
- Picking up stitches to begin a new square: (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- Mattress stitch, horizontal: (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- How to knit intarsia (Tutorials: Colour Knitting Techniques).
· How to thread beads onto yarn (Tutorials: Beading Techniques)
- How to bead, the slip-stitch method (Tutorials: Beading Techniques).
· Chain stitch (Tutorials: Embroidery On Knitting).
- NEW! How to Swiss-darn (Tutorials: Embroidery on Knitting).
There are two options for this square, but it does not matter which option you choose, and it does not have to be the same as your choice for the Square 22, Crab. You can choose to mix it all up a bit if you want!
You are only using two colours to knit the seaweed motif - the rest of the colours are added to the square with embroidery and beads. However, as each separate area of colour should be knitted with a separate ball (or bobbin) of yarn, this means that you will still have several balls of yarn on the go at any one time. I prepped my yarns before I cast on by winding off several balls of Linen and Silt, and then I wound off more as and when they were needed. I knitted mine entirely as single thickness, ie, no carrying across of yarns at the back of work, apart from where there is a single vertical line of Linen beginning on chart row 34. At this point I used one ball of Silt and carried it across the back of the single stitches of Linen.
The colours in the image of this square on page 16 are a little distorted - Linen looks quite yellow. It is very tricky to get the colours uniform across all of the images as the photography has been done in stages and not all in one go. So you need to reference the knitting instructions for the colours and not go by just looking at the image.
It's always a good idea to take a good look at the chart before you make a start and decide where you are going to join in new balls of yarn. It may be extremely tempting to use one bobbin of Silt for some of the seaweed where it splits into two ‘arms’, however this would mean stranding the yarn across the back of the work, from one area to the other, and in intarsia knitting this is something that should really be avoided. It could result in the knitting puckering and not sitting flat, so it is best to use separate bobbins and avoid this potential problem from happening.
All of the embroidery should be added to the square after it has been blocked and pressed as it is far easier (and more pleasing) to embroider onto a smooth, flat surface rather than onto one that is slightly uneven – however neat your intarsia is, there will be some slight discrepancies. Use the chart for positioning and colours of yarn to be used, but feel free to go off-piste if preferred and do your own thing instead. The chart serves as guidance only and does not have to be followed to the exact stitch.
The stitches in Coast on the Seaweed (embroidered on top of Silt) are Swiss-darned. And the swirls and little circles embroidered onto Linen in the background are chain stitch. If you need assistance for either of these techniques, there is a tech vid for each of them in Tutorials.
Just one last thing to point out, the beads on the ends of some of the embroidered swirls are sewn on and not knitted in, as instructed in the key below the chart on page 17. These are the Grey and Clear beads on the chart. I sewed on my beads at the end of the chain stitch embroidery (not at the beginning), and threaded on the bead when the embroidery was complete then took the sewing needle into the back of the work and secured the loose end by sewing it in. It’s easy to do and finishes off each embroidered swirl beautifully!
SQUARE 38, SEAWEED STRIPE (opt 2): this is the easier option if you don’t fancy tackling intarsia, and combines stocking stitch stripes with textured contrast-coloured stitches.
Videos to watch for assistance with this square:
- Picking up stitches to begin a new square: (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- Mattress stitch, horizontal: (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- How to carry yarns up the side of the work (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- Square 2, Gentle Waves (textured slip-stitch pattern) (Tutorials: Mystery Blanket 2025).
As I mentioned above for Option One, it does not matter which option you choose for this square, so feel free to go with whichever one you prefer.
This is by far the easier option to knit as it is basically a stocking stitch stripe with rows of textured contrast-coloured stitches. It uses a smaller needle size than the main recommended size, so that’s 3.25mm, as stated in the boxed information on page 18.
On rows 3-4 and 13-14 and their subsequent repeats, you are knitting stitches in alternate colours on the first row (which is a very basic fairisle row), and then on the next row you are slipping stitches and working with one colour only to create a textured pattern with contrast-coloured stitches. If you need some guidance with this then check out the tech vid for Square 2, Gentle Waves, and this should help you through these two rows.
SQUARE 39, SALT WATER: the final square to knit this month is a ribbed cable knitted in a three-colour stripe to create a variegated look.
Videos to watch for assistance with this square:
- Picking up stitches to begin a new square (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- Mattress stitch, horizontal (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
- NEW! Square 38, Salt Water (Tutorials: Mystery Blanket 2025).
- How to carry yarns up the side of the work (Tutorials: Knitting Basics).
If you look closely at the image on page 20 you will see that this cable is knitted in a rib stitch which gives it extra texture, so you are following a new cable abbreviation for this, c7f (see page 27). This makes it a little trickier to knit than a standard cable, so if you need some guidance then my new tech vid will point you in the right direction – you’ll find it in Tutorials in the Mystery Blanket 2025 category.
The needle size used for this square is two sizes smaller than the main recommended size, and you can see it in the boxed information on the far left-hand side of page 14, it’s 3.00mm.
You can choose to knit this square from either worded instructions or from a chart. The worded instructions are on pages 21-22, and the chart is overleaf on page 23 along with the casting off instructions for both worded and chart.
It’s always a bit tricky at the beginning of a square like this to get the stitches in the correct sequence as you cannot see the pattern until a few rows have been completed. But once you’ve worked a few rows, you should be able to see which stitches you are knitting and which stitches you are purling to keep the cable pattern correct.
A three-colour stripe pattern rotates throughout the whole of this square, so once you’ve joined in all three yarns, do not cut them off until the square is completed. Take extra care to swap to the next colour yarn at the beginning of each new row so that you don’t knit two rows in succession using the same colour – which I can tell you from experience is very easy to do (and very frustrating too!). The yarns are all shades of blue, with Moon and Fav Denims very close in colour. So just be super careful and hopefully you won’t make the same mistake as me!
Happy knitting everyone, I hope you enjoy your July squares!
THERE IS JUST ONE MEMBER STORY TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS MONTH, AND IT’S FROM LISBETH PERSSON FROM ANGELHOLM IN SWEDEN. This is an interesting story as it throws a bit of light on the struggles that some of the members have had with knitting Square 23, Tranquil Shores. I received quite a few emails about this square, the main problem being the tricky rows where there is a mini lace panel between the cables. The recurrent problem was the number of stitches there were at the ends of some of these rows. So Lisbeth’s words may go some way to explain why this happened.
Lisbeth says: “It is all about vocabulary. We have one word (in Swedish) for a stitch that is not knitted, just yarn round the needle. You have three or four expressions.
‘Omtag’ covers all. Yarn from left or right round the needle depends on the following stitch.
Soon July and new squares. I will try to finish square 23 in a Day or two!”
I think you’ve hit the nail on the bead Lisbeth – it is all to do with vocabulary. In English lace knitting patterns we spell out exactly what you do to make an increase – there’s yf (yarn forward), yrn (yarn round needle), yon (yarn over needle) and yfrn (yarn forward and round needle). And as Lisbeth mentioned, it is all to do with what stitch you have just knitted and what follows it as to how the yarn is moved to create the increase. In US patterns the term ‘yarn over’ (yo) is commonly used for lace pattern increases. But essentially whether you are reading Swedish, American or English written knitting patterns, we are all doing the same thing – it is just the vocabulary which is different. So thanks so much Lisbeth for sharing this with us, it could help a lot of the members when they knit the repeat of this square later on in the blanket (oops, so I’ve told you there’s going to be another one, but you may have already guessed that!)
OUR NEXT MYSTERY CLUB MEETING AT YARN LOFT IN NOTTINGHAM IS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY 2ND JULY!
Unfortunately I had to miss the June meeting as I had training booked at the vets that afternoon to treat my diabetic elderly cat (which, by the way, is going well). However, I am planning to be there at our next meeting.
Now that the 2025 Mystery Cushion Club is underway, you can bring along your cushion and/or blanket projects to these meetings. I would love to see how both projects are progressing. It’s useful as well for me to hear any feedback you might have about them which can be passed onto the members or used to improve the patterns I am creating. So don’t forget to bring them with you if you are planning to come along.
Yarn Loft is at 118 Hucknall Road, Carrington, Nottingham, tel number 07825 702433, website: www.yarnloft.co.uk. Meetings are held between 4-6pm and to cover the costs of hosting the meeting there is a small sub to pay (£3.00), which can be paid to Doreen on the day.
I hope to see you there!
FOLLOW US AND JOIN IN ALL THE FRIENDLY BANTER ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS!
If you are not already a Ravelry member, then it is very easy (and free!) to join. Just follow the instructions on their website: http://www.ravelry.com
The Debbie Abrahams Mystery Knitters group on Facebook is another fun way to keep in touch with other members. It was set up a few years ago and has grown in size to over 800 members, so that’s well worth joining too.
We also have our own Facebook page where you will find regular updates on everything we are doing from knitting kits to workshops and events!
Instagram: debbieabrahams_knitting
Pinterest: debbieabrahams@debbieabrahamsk
Facebook: Debbie Abrahams Mystery Knitters
Facebook: Debbie Abrahams Handknits
Ravelry: Debbie Abrahams Handknits
AND FINALLY, IT’S TIME TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNER OF THE SIXTH 2025 MYSTERY BLANKET CLUB PRIZE DRAW!!! Each month a member is picked at random to win a Debbie Abrahams prize. So it is worth reading right the way to the end of each blog to see if you are that lucky member!
PRIZE DRAW SIX (JULY): this month’s winner is member 64, Susan Elghamry from Bromley in Kent, UK. Well done Susan! Please choose a prize from the following selection:
- Your choice of one of Debbie’s knitting kits up to the value of £30.00 (take a look at them in our online shop).
- Six packs of Debbie Abrahams Beads (size 8/0 or 6/0) from the selection on http://www.debbieabrahamsbeads.co.uk
- A £30 voucher towards the 2026 Debbie Abrahams Mystery Blanket membership
- A Mystery bag of five gifts!
We will notify Susan to let her know the good news!
So now it’s time to grab your knitting needles and yarn and make a start on the July squares. There’s certainly plenty to keep you busy, but if the weather is hot where you are, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got plenty of cold drinks to keep you and your knitting hands cool!
Next month I will tell you more about the 2026 Mystery Blanket Club so be sure to come back here for that and all the latest news about the club. I look forward to seeing you in a month’s time!
Until then, take care and have a fabulous July! Debbie x
