Half and Half Throw

A Slow Journey Through Wool, Colour, and Memory

There’s something deeply comforting about reaching into your treasured wool collection, isn’t there? Each skein carries a memory, a promise, and sometimes, a spark of inspiration. That’s exactly what happened when I decided to cast on for Half and Half, a beautiful throw design by Sandi Rosner from Timeless Noro Knit Blankets.

At its heart, Half and Half is a joyful play between bold panels of colour, a design that honours the timeless art of knitting while inviting a fresh, vibrant flair. Originally worked in the lush hues of Noro Kureyon, it’s a pattern that lets the yarn do the talking, unfolding colours across simple garter stitch in a soothing, satisfying rhythm.

But here’s where my journey with this pattern took a special, personal turn:
Instead of reaching for new yarn, I decided to breathe new life into some Kauni 100% wool that had been patiently waiting in my collection, one of those treasures you tuck away because you know the right project will come along one day.

Kauni is a very rustic yarn with that unmistakable real wool feel: a little scratchy at first, sturdy, and full of character. It carries the spirit of traditional knitting, which wears like iron and softens with love. I’m hoping (and expecting, as good wool often does!) that the fibres will bloom and soften beautifully with washing and use.

I adapted the design thoughtfully since Kauni is a finer yarn than the original pattern suggested. I knitted six strips, each made up of eight pairs of triangles. For shaping, I used German short rows – a method that created smooth, seamless transitions.

All of this slow, rhythmic knitting was done on 4mm bamboo needles, which are warm and gentle in the hands and perfect for rustic wool.

As the blanket grew, I introduced Shetland wool from my collection, blending in heritage natural shades like Natural Black, Moorit, Fawn, Grey, and White. I also used soft, muted tones from 2-ply Jumper Weight yarns.

Before starting, I curated a basket of yarns, choosing to remove brighter yellows and oranges from the Kauni long repeats to maintain a gentle, earthy palette. I loved the dance of deep darks against neutral lights, creating a soft, timeless mood.

Instead of sewing the strips together, I chose a three-needle bind-off for a neater finish, and I completed the blanket with a single ridge of garter stitch and an I-cord bind-off.

Pattern:

Half and Half, designed by Sandi Rosner, featured in the book Timeless Noro Knit Blankets.

Yarns Chosen:

• Kauni Effektgarn in colourways: EQ, EF, EN, EI, EA
• Shetland Wool from my collection (mostly bought when we visited Shetland some years ago):
  • Heritage Naturals: Natural Black, Moorit, Fawn, Light Grey, Grey, White
  • Additional shades from 2-ply Jumper Weight

Colour Selection:

• Basket curated with care, removing brighter shades to preserve a natural, muted palette.
• Focus on deep darks paired with neutral lights.

Needles:

• 4mm Bamboo Needles

Now complete, the blanket is beautifully warm and cosy. Because it’s 100% wool, it must be hand-washed and laid flat to dry. With each use and wash, the fibres will soften, and the blanket will grow more beautiful, just like all the best things made by hand.

Knitting Half and Half wasn’t just about creating a blanket – it became a slow, joyful journey. It was a way to use the materials I had, the traditional techniques I love, and the spirit of making something timeless, comforting, and uniquely my own.

If you’d like to share your own woolly adventures, I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

Until next time, happy knitting,
Nicolette xx