One of the nicest gifts I received while recovering from an illness was a soft mint blanket throw with furry slippers and a neck pillow. It felt like a real spa-like experience every time I relaxed on the couch snuggled under the blanket with a nice warm cup of peppermint tea.

 There is so much healing that comes with a handmade blanket.

So as soon as I had enough strength to walk the aisles of Michael’s, I was off to look for the softest yarn I could find.

The yarn I used was called Bernat Baby Blanket yarn in Seafoam. (I already had a ball of off-white in regular Blanket Yarn, not in the baby section, but it’s the same weight and type, just labeled differently.)

Then, it was home to experiment with stitches. I worked around with a few and then came right back to one I’ve used before because it just stands out. I love the pretty braid it creates.

It’s called a Half Double Slip Stitch (HDSLST). Don’t panic if you don’t know it! I have a clip you can watch. And it’s really only one extra step to do than a regular slip stitch.

So all you are doing differently than a regular slip stitch is yarning over first, then inserting your hook into the back loop, yarning over and pulling through and continue pulling through the rest of the loops on the hook.

You’ll get a rhythm down after practicing it and then you’ll love it.

Materials

Bernat Baby Blanket (100% polyester, 100 g/3.5 oz, 65 /72 yds)

4 skeins Seafoam, 1 skein Vanilla

Size M/9mm hook or size N/10mm hook, tapestry needle, scissors

Sewing needle, thread

Size

Finished size 40 in x 60 in

Stitches

Half Double Crochet (HDC): Yarn over (YO), insert your hook, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through three loops on hook. 

Half Double Slip Stitch (HDSS): YO, insert your hook, YO, pull up a loop and directly through loops on hook. 

Single Crochet (SC): Insert your hook, YO and pull up a loop, YO, pull through two loops.

Pattern

Chain 102 with Seafoam. (Blanket is worked lengthwise, so if you’d like your blanket a bit longer, make a longer chain. There is no pattern repeat so any number is fine.)

Row 1: Starting in the 3rd chain from the hook, work 1 HDC in each chain. CH 1 and turn.

Row 2: Work 1 HDSS in the back loops only of each stitch across the row. CH 2 and turn. (The chain 2 will not count as a stitch now and throughout.)

Row 3: Work 1 HDC in the back loops only of each stitch across the row. CH 1 and turn.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 for a total of 56 rows. (Feel free to adjust this number to as wide of a blanket you like.)

Work a final row of HDC (Row 2) and tie off and weave in all ends.

Border

Pull up a loop in any corner with Vanilla. Work one SC into the corner and in each space down one side. Be careful to just work one SC per stitch. If you find your blanket is ruffling, your stitches are too close together.

Take them out and space them further apart so the blanket lays flat. When you get to the first corner, work 3 SC into the corner space. Work one stitch into each space on the ends.

Continue around the blanket working 3 SC into the remaining corner spaces. When you return to the starting corner, work the final two SC and slip stitch and join to the first SC. Chain 1 and turn. Repeat working SC around the blanket for two more rounds in this manner. Tie off and weave in the ends when you are finished.

Time to make a heart!

Heart Pattern

CH 2, 3 SC into the first chain. CH 1 and turn. 2 SC into the first ST, SC the next, 2 SC into the last ST. (5 SC)

CH 1 and turn. 2 SC into the first ST, SC in the next 3 stitches, 2 SC into the last ST. (7 SC)

CH 1 and turn. 2 SC into the first ST, SC in the next 5 stitches, 2 SC into the last ST. (9 SC)

CH 1 and turn. 2 SC into the first ST, SC in the next 7 stitches, 2 SC into the last ST. (11 SC)

CH 1 and turn. 2 SC into the first ST, SC in the next 9 stitches, 2 SC into the last ST. (13 SC)

(Stop increase) CH 1 and turn, SC in each ST across (13 SC) (Repeat this for 4 more rows).

CH 1 and turn. SC in the next 6 stitches. CH 1 and turn, Skip first stitch and SC into the next 5 stitches.

CH 1 and turn. Skip the first stitch and SC into the next 3 stitches, slip stitch into the last space. Tie off. Weave in end. (Weave in the tail end too while you’re at it.)

Now we will work the other side. Go back to the row you worked the 6 SC, skip a space and pull up a loop in the 8th stitch. SC in each remaining 5 SC to the end of the row.

CH 1 and turn, SC in the next 5 stitches, (there will be one left at the end, where you pulled up a loop.)

CH 1 and turn, SKIP first stitch, SC in each stitch across (4 SC).

CH 1 and continuing in the same direction, work a SC in each space around the entire heart, working 3 sc into the very bottom point. Slip Stitch into the beginning stitch, tie off and weave in all the ends.

I found that this blanket didn’t need blocking at all. I played with it and stretched it into shape where it needed it. Of course feel free to hand wash before gifting and follow the washing instructions printed on the label.

I hope you enjoy this crochet modern mint throw! It’s so puffy and comfy! I love it and I’m very happy with how it turned out. 

Come and find me on Instagram if you haven’t already! I share as I go–from my brainstorming ideas, to stitches that I’m experimenting with. Come and learn right along with me!

Have a wonderful day!

Tiffany

Click here or on image below for printable pattern