Custom Hand-Knitted Afghan Throw Blanket

I want to commission a large hand-knitted afghan throw blanket for our living room sofa, and I am looking for a skilled knitter who genuinely enjoys working with needles and yarn on a big, cozy project. This is not a baby item and not a sewn quilt — I need a proper knitted throw, worked stitch by stitch with knitting needles or a knitting machine, big enough to drape over the back of a three-seat sofa or cover the foot of a queen bed. I have been picturing this piece for months: a chunky, textured throw that becomes the centerpiece of the room, something guests comment on the moment they walk in.

I already have a rough idea of the palette — warm oatmeal and rust tones with a cable or waffle stitch pattern, but I am open to suggestions from someone with real experience choosing yarn weight and stitch combinations that hold their shape over time. I care about the finished drape: the blanket should be dense enough to feel substantial and warm, not floppy or full of holes, and the edges need to lie flat rather than curl after washing. I would like a swatch or a couple of progress photos partway through so I can confirm the gauge and color before the whole piece is finished, since redoing a throw this size would be a real setback for both of us.

Here is what matters most to me for this project:
— Finished size roughly fifty by seventy inches, generous enough to fully cover a sofa or bed
— Soft, durable natural or blended yarn safe for everyday use and machine washing
— A clearly defined stitch pattern agreed on before work begins, with a swatch sample first
— Neat, secure finishing on every edge and seam, no loose ends or visible knots
— Careful, protective packaging for shipping so the throw arrives clean and unstretched