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Hot air balloons are a familiar sight over Bristol every year as it is the site of the Balloon Fiesta. This fun blanket uses the modular knitting technique familiar to Horst Schulz or Alison Ellen. The first strip of balloons is knitted and subsequent strips of balloons are joined as you knit. Between the strips there are garter stitch rows.

This pattern has been tech edited and test knitted to ensure a pleasant knitting experience.

A youtube tutorial outlining how to pick up the rows along the edge of the balloons and how to join as you knit is also available: https://youtu.be/C1nhqn51Jqc

Equipment :
4 mm - US 6 (I used DPNs 15 cm long)
4.5 mm - US 7 circular needle at least 120 cm long (for adding outside border), also 100 cm long for adding vertical rows between balloons.
5 mm - US 8 (optional for loose bind off)
Wool sewing needle
8 stitch markers (7 in one colour and one odd one)

Yarn:
Stylecraft Special DK 100g/295 m (3.53 ounces/322 yards)
1011 Midnight 4(6) skeins
1054 Walnut less than 1 skein
1064 Mocha less than 1 skein
The last two are for the balloon baskets.
A further selection of colours using the same yarn or yarn of a similar weight. I used 6 different colours for the balloons themselves. I have also seen a beautiful blanket where the balloons themselves have been done in variegated yarn.

Size: This blanket is shown in size medium (90 cm wide and 95 cm deep) and instructions are included for the large size (130 cm wide and 95 cm deep).