What an exciting time I’ve had creating this crochet Hudson’s Bay inspired blanket for a new little one. I’ve been collaborating with my sweet Meagan, (she babysat my kids for years and was an amazing mother’s helper,) with a design for her almost to be born little boy. Meagan was inspired by a blanket she had found in her parent’s attic. It had a vintage feel to it, and she remembered her dad using it on camping outings. She created a pin board around that theme and I studied the pictures. I kept being drawn to this pattern but for some reason never thought to Google the name of it.

It took me some time to find a yarn I liked, that had all the colors I needed to make this. Finally, I decided to use Caron Simply Soft in Gold, Charcoal Heather, Sage and Autumn Red. I knew I could possibly pick a more lemony yellow, but I couldn’t find a light teal, so I stuck with the more fall colors.

Then, I posted my progress on Instagram, and what do you know! This is a very popular pattern in Canada! A classic! As popular as the Stars and Stripes in America. I was so embarrassed I hadn’t done more research. No wonder it was popping up across Pinterest. I kept seeing the name Hudson’s Bay, but only thought it was a brand name of a store, not the name of a vintage blanket pattern.

So many of my Canadian crochet friends/followers then took the time to tell me all they could about the pattern and it’s amazing. Then I looked into the history of crochet, to find a perfect stitch to go along with this blanket, and discovered that crochet was becoming popular at about the same time, although never used together. A Hudson’s Bay Blanket is a woven wool blanket. But still, I’m glad I chose to make this blanket using the classic herringbone half double crochet stitch.

So let’s get to it:

Materials

Caron Simply Soft (100% acrylic, 170 g/6 oz, 288 m/315 yds)

1 skein each Gold, Charcoal Heather, Sage, Off White, Autumn Red

Size I/5.5mm hook, tapestry needle, scissors

Size

Finished size 26 in x 34 in

Stitches

Herringbone Half Double Crochet (HHDC): YO, insert your hook, YO, pull up a loop and pull directly through first loop on hook, YO and pull through remaining two loops on hook. 

Pattern

Chain a foundation row of 82 stitches (You may just chain 82, but I preferred the more finished look of doing a foundation chain. If you don’t know how, go here for a tutorial by B.Hooked on Youtube. You’ll be glad you did!)

In the second chain from the hook, work your first HHDC. Or, if you did a foundation chain, Chain 2 and then work your first HHDC into the first foundation row chain.

Note: I like to chain 2 at the end of every row and then work my first stitch into the first stitch of the new row. I do not treat the chain to as the first stitch. It simply adds height. This is personal preference. If you like working into the turning chain when you get to the end of the row feel free. I do not, and that is why I work into the last HHDC and not the turning chain.

I worked the first ten rows in off-white, the next ten in Charcoal Heather, the next ten in Off-White, the next ten in Gold, ten in Off-White, ten in Autumn Red, ten in Off-White, ten in Sage, ten in Off-White.

I wove in all the ends before starting the border.

Border

I pulled up a loop in any corner, with Off-White and worked one HHDC into the same place and in every stitch around the blanket. I worked 10 per each color on the sides and three into each corner. When finishing a round, I worked the final 2 HHDC into my starting space, slip stitched to the starting HHDC, Chained 2 and worked 2 more rounds around the entire blanket in HHDC, always working 3 into each corner.

Before my blankets leave the farm, I give them a nice soak in my tub! I prefer to hand wash them in warm water with ZOTE soap. It’s gentle and smells good. Then I gently squeeze out as much water as I can and roll it up into a giant beach towel. I use a second beach towel and lay the blanket out and shape it as best I can. I don’t use pins or anything, just pull a little here and there. Caron Simply Soft is a great yarn to let you do this with. I also love I Love This Cotton and might make another using that. But this again, is personal preference. There is no right or wrong way to wash a blanket. I just don’t like machine washing hand work. I prefer hand washing.

Enjoy your crochet Hudson’s Bay blanket! And come find me on Instagram @daisyfarmcrafts and share a picture of your project! Tag me!

Tiffany

Click here or on image below for printable pattern