Lion Brand Traveling Afghan
I am so excited to be part of the year long Traveling Afghan Free Pattern Blog Hop being hosted by Lion Brand Yarn! In this post I will link all of the designers in the order of when their square will publish as well as details on how to participate in this Free Pattern Blog Hop!!

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This year begins with Lion Brand’s “My Life in Yarn” 2020 campaign! The Traveling Afghan Project will be a collaborative effort of 49 crochet and knit designers and bloggers from seven different countries!
The Lion Brand Traveling Afghans have already set sail from NYC and will be journeying to a new designer every two weeks!! Each designer will create a 10″x 10″ square to add to either the knit or the crochet afghan before sending it off to the next person who will add theirs. They will then each publish their pattern for free so you can follow along to create your own knit or crochet afghan!
This year-long collaborative effort will feature stories from the designers about their paths as makers, and will give you the opportunity to learn new stitches and make new friends in the community! I am so excited to be part of this project, although my square doesn’t go live until November!!!
Here’s how you can join along!
- Purchase a yarn kit now for either the knit afghan or crochet afgahn to participate in Lion Brand’s Traveling Afghan Project so you have everything you need to get started!
Note that you do NOT need to purchase a kit to join! You are welcome to use any yarn you like, including what you already have in your stash! You’ll need worsted weight yarn and size US 8 (5mm) knitting needles or a J/10 (6mm) crochet hook.
I will be making mine using yarn I already have on hand! I am using a few different colors of Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca!! It’s going to be so dreamy! To make yours in Touch of Alpaca you will need, 3,152 yards or 16 Regular Skeins!

- This page will have the schedule of the traveling afghans below along with the master list of designers and links to their sites so you can follow along as new patterns get released!
- Follow all of the designers on social media to get updates on their pattern releases! You will learn about their maker journeys along the way! There may even be some giveaways to enter!
- Host a CAL or KAL with your local maker friends! Get together throughout the year in person or online to add your squares. All of us would love to see your life in yarn too, so make sure to tag Lion Brand Yarn in your posts and use the hashtags #travelingafghans #lionbrandyarn and #mylifeinyarn and either #travelingknitafghan or #travelingcrochetafghan
Master List
Crochet Afghan Designer List
#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 – Bailey Williams of Hooked on Tilly
#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
Knit Afghan Designer List
#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
Are you excited? I sure am! Having a new square to work in every other week or so for the year is an amazing way to actually finish a blanket! I just know this Traveling Afghan going to be amazing and by this time next year it will be done!!!
How many colors of yarn should we choose?
The kits from Lion Brand come in solid colors, each square will be different. You can choose one or as many as you like!
Hello! It’s January 20th and I cannot find the second pattern for the knit afghan. Has it been released?
The window for the second designer is the 15th – 28th, it should be up soon!
I found the knit pattern #2 really difficult, I must’ve knitted and undone at least 20 times. I eventually left the lace part out and made it my own. I am a beginner knitter and was becoming very disillusioned. I hope the rest are not as difficult. I loved #1. It was awesome and gave me so much confidence.
Each square will be different! If you find one troubling you can always reach out to the designer for clarity or double up on another square you enjoyed making, don’t give up, you’re doing great!
Thank you for caring.
I’m so disappointed in the crochet squares 2 and 3. While they are truly beautiful squares, this is an afghan, not a pillow or a decorative hanging. I don’t want to display this afghan, I want to use it to keep my family warm. Open squares won’t keep anyone warm. An afghan should have closed stitches. I will definitely make those squares for other projects, but I’ll switch to the knitted squares for the traveling afghan.
You are more than welcome to pick and choose which squares you do to make for your Afghan! Since they are all the same size you can easily have doubles or a combo of knit and crochet that fit the style you want! That’s the beauty of a collaborative project! Everyone can make it their own! ?
Cannot connect to crochet square #4. The error message claims that the site does not have a proper security ID. If this is not resolved, then I won’t even be able to use that square.
Hi! I updated that link and when I click it, I don’t get that message now. Try again and let me know if it works!
I was wondering why we have to wait until the designer receives the blanket in the mail to get the pattern for their square. It would be nice to work on our square and have it done by the time she receives the blanket, so we can all attach them then.
That’s the fun of a blog hop! Each designer may post slightly differently. Some may post right away in the beginning of their time slot, others may want to document their making and attaching of their square for them to share! I hope you’ve enjoyed the squares so far!
I cannot find pattern No. 6 . The link does not take me to the crochet pattern.
Square 6 doesn’t go live until sometime between March 11-24, each square has a timeframe noted ?
I was just reading the comments and I am actually pleased to read such polite and professional correspondence by both the participants and briannaiaropoli. I myself, while curious about the project, am not doing it at this time. Is this the first time a travel afghan has been attempted? Kudos to all involved, despite the challenges participants seem to be creative and find ways to make the project work & provide the designers with excellent feedback. I look forward to see how they come out. Have a great day.
You don’t know how much a comment like this means!! THANK YOU!!! Yes, this is the first time for the Traveling Afghan, so we’re all learning through the process!
@briannaiaropoli, You are very kind and considerate with your comments to everyone. I am going to start on your square tonight and hopefully I will have success! When I found a square too challenging I just made two of something else. I wondered if you did a video on this square? Thank you
I did not do a video but the diamond stitch is pretty common and I’m sure a quick search of YouTube would help to find one that you can follow! ?
I can’t find #5 All About Ami
She has until the 10th to release! I haven’t seen it yet, any day now! ?
I still dont see the newest pattern by Coco
Lee has until the 24th of this month to publish her square. Each designer has a 2 week window marked next to their names! ?
It’s March 28…..am I missing it?
Which square are you looking for? The 6th squares are up ?
how can I find knit square 11