Optical Art Blanket

"Optical Art is a method of painting concerning the interaction between illusion and picture
plane, between understanding and seeing." [John Lancaster. Introducing Op Art, London: BT
Batsford Ltd, 1973, p. 28.] The Op Art movement of the 1960s played with perspective in very
simple shapes, taking advantage of the way that the brain interprets images. The art they
produced created optical illusions, making the flat surface of a painting appear to bend and twist.
Black and white were especially popular in this movement, as the high contrast helped make the
illusions more convincing.
In this blanket, I have done the same thing. By starting at the center and making increases every
row in the same spot, the increases end up making a spiraling square. By making the lines thin at
the center, and increasing in width as they move outwards, an illusion is created that the center is
further away from the viewer than the outside edge. Pretty cool, don’t you think?
This pattern also appeals to the developmental process of infant vision. Babies are born color
blind, and with very poor vision (about 20/400 for a normal infant at birth. They are naturally
attracted to high contrast, black and white images, since these are more distinct to them. From a
distance of a foot or so, a newborn will be able to distinguish only the larger stripes on the edge
of the blanket, with the thinner ones fading away into a solid gray, as the baby matures, the
thinner stripes will become distinct. To an adult, however, it’s a fun, funky pattern with an
optical illusion of a square tunnel spiraling away.
The yarn, Knit Picks Swish DK is a very soft, superwash, merino wool. I used slightly larger
than recommended needles, both to allow for severe blocking, and to make sure the blanket
wouldn’t be too warm. The breathable, absorbent, and antibacterial qualities of wool make it an
ideal fiber for infants, and the fact that it’s machine washable is fantastic for new parents. If the
parents are interested in art, vision, or infant development, it’s even better! SIZE Small[Large]
(Black and white shown in size Small, pink and white shown in size Large.) FINISHED
MEASUREMENTS Small: 38 inches square
Large: 48 inches square MATERIALS Knit Picks Swish DK [100% superwash merino;
123yd/112m per 50g ball ]; 4[6] balls each color
[A] Coal [Petal]
[B] White (both versions)

Recommended needle size:

2 US #7/4.5mm circular needles, 32 inches or longer
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]

2 stitch markers
Safety pin or split ring marker (optional) GAUGE 20 sts/42 rounds = 4 inches in garter stitch,
before blocking PATTERN NOTES[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be
found here].
This pattern is written for knitting in the round on 2 circular needles. If you prefer, it can be
started using double-point needles, or using one long circular needle and the Magic Loop
method. However, as work progresses, it will be necessary to use two long circulars to
accommodate the large number of sts.
Don’t be alarmed when the blanket comes off the needles looking all wonky. It will require fairly
severe blocking to achieve its square shape.
Information about blocking can be found here and here.
DIRECTIONS
Using A, CO 4 sts onto one needle. Slip 2 sts to second needle and join to begin working in the
round, being careful not to twist. After working a few rounds, you may wish to place a safety pin
or split ring marker in the work to indicate beginning of round.
Set-up Round: [Pfb, place marker, pfb] twice. 8 sts.
The work is now divided into four sections. Each needle holds 2 sections; ends of first and third
sections are indicated by stitch markers, and ends of second and fourth sections are at ends of
needles.
Using B, work as follows:
Round 1: [Kfb, k to end of section] four times. 12 sts.
Round 2: [Pfb, p to end of section] four times. 16 sts.
These 2 rounds form Increasing Garter Stitch Pattern.
Continue in pattern, working rounds using colors as follows. After the next 2 stripes, break old
color and join new color at each color change.
Work 2 rounds A. 24 sts.
Work 2 rounds B. 32 sts.
Work 4 rounds A. 48 sts.
Work 4 rounds B. 64 sts.
Work 4 rounds A. 80 sts.
Work 4 rounds B. 96 sts.
Work 6 rounds A. 120 sts.
Work 6 rounds B. 144 sts.
Work 6 rounds A. 168 sts.
Work 6 rounds B. 192 sts.
Work 8 rounds A. 224 sts.
Work 8 rounds B. 256 sts.
Work 10 rounds A. 296 sts.
Work 10 rounds B. 336 sts.
Work 12 rounds A. 384 sts.
Work 12 rounds B. 432 sts.
Work 14 rounds A. 488 sts.
Work 16 rounds B. 552 sts.
Size Large Only:
Work 18 rounds A. 624 sts.
Work 20 rounds B. 704 sts.
Work 22 rounds A. 792 sts.
Work 24 rounds B. 888 sts.
All Sizes:
Loosely BO all sts using A.
FINISHING
Weave in all ends, neatening color-change corners.
Wet block to dimension listed in “Finished Measurements”, above.
[Blanket at right is shown before blocking.] ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Melissa studied human visual development as part of her dissertation, and is now a very proud
new mom to Trella. She finds that ‘knit when the baby sleeps’ is much more entertaining that
‘sleep when the baby sleeps’.

Her home on the web is here.