Autumn Orchard

This square is based on a memory of mine. A moment frozen in time from when I was only 13 years old. I was on my way to school in the early fall and I cut through an orchard, just after the first heavy frost. It was amazing, the grass crunched, the remaining leaves and apples were frost rimmed. And I remember picking an apple – and the first bite was so sweet and juicy – I had never tasted anything so fine. I learned later that cold and frost can intensify the sweetness of some fruits, they are often referred to as frostbitten. I have embellished the trees with a few fall leaves and late apples. The tree is striking without the embellishments as well. **Autumn Orchard** is a cabled afghan block for the knitter who wants their throw to tell a story. Rich cable panels wind across a single square, evoking the gnarled boughs and harvest textures of an orchard in October. Worked **bottom-up** from cast-on edge to bind-off, this block rewards adventurous knitters who are comfortable reading both **written instructions and cable charts** and ready to move beyond the basics. Construction and Technique -------------------------- • **Square block construction**, bottom-up, worked flat • **Cable panels** throughout: requires confident crossing of stitches with a cable needle • Suitable for building into a full modular throw or showcasing as a standalone decorative square • Both a **written row-by-row pattern** and a **cable chart** are included • Skill level: adventurous; a working knowledge of knit, purl, and basic cable crosses is expected Materials --------- • **Worsted weight yarn** recommended (sample shown in Cascade 220, a classic worsted-weight wool); fingering weight version also supported (Koigu KPPPM or Cascade 220 Fingering) • Yardage: approximately 128-160 yards (117-146 m) per block • Needles: **US 7 (4.5 mm)** for worsted weight; **US 0 (2 mm)** for fingering weight • Cable needle required • **Gauge: 20 sts over 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette** Sizing ------ • **One Size** (single square block) • Finished dimensions vary by yarn weight and gauge; blocking is strongly recommended to open the fabric and set the cables • Designed to combine with other blocks for a modular throw or afghan What's Included --------------- • English-language PDF with full written instructions • Cable chart with symbol key • Notes on yarn substitution and blocking Fall is the natural season for cables. Whether you knit this block as one square in a larger project or frame it as a statement piece on its own, **Autumn Orchard** brings a seasonal warmth to any needles-and-wool queue.