This blanket is a combo of some of my favorite stitches. I am using the wide half double crochet and a double crochet cross stitch. I made a video tutorial for anyone who has never even heard of a wide double crochet and needs a demonstration. It really is very easy and just a matter of inserting your hook between the stitches instead of working under the loops.
The double crochet cross stitch just adds that little bit of openness and texture. Together with the two rows of single crochet, I think it really made this blanket a timeless classic.
I am using my favorite cotton-blend yarn, which is perfect for babies. It washes up so well over and over and gives a modern matte finish that is so popular with young moms. I know these colors have been difficult to source, but Yarnspirations, the company that sells them, is restocking them, so if you don’t need to make it right away in this color, it should be available soon. Other colors are available.
We have also been able to find Bernat Softee Baby Cotton on Amazon in the Bernat Yarn Store.
I found the cutest little board book to gift with the blanket! I love finding beautifully illustrated books to give to the babies. This one is available as a board book and a hardback. It is a simple ABC book, but the illustrations are just adorable. Highly recommend!
I love the way the border turned out as well. I tweaked my typical ribbed border just a bit, you’ll see in the pattern and the video tutorial. It almost wasn’t going to be a ribbed border. I thought I was going to finish it off with an open DC look, but when I finished, it just needed that extra layer of texture.
I hope you enjoy making this as much as I did! I think you really could use any yarn and make it any size and it will be a great classic pattern. I can see this as a throw or a shawl.
The video tutorial is at the end of the pattern, the free printable pattern is at the end of the post.
Materials
Bernat Softee Baby Cotton (tap name of yarn to shop Yarnspirations.com)
(If sold out, try our Amazon link here.)
4 skeins Feathered Gray, 2 skeins Cotton
Size H, 5.mm hook, scissors, tapestry needle
Stitches
Single Crochet (SC): Insert hook, yo, pull loop through, yo, pull loop through remaining loops.
Wide Single Crochet (WSC): Insert hook under all loops and in between posts, yo, pull loop through, yo, pull through remaining loops.
Half Double Crochet (HDC): yo, insert hook, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull loop through all three loops.
Wide Half Double Crochet (WHDC): yo, insert hook in between post and under all loops, yo, pull loop back through, yo, pull through all three remaining loops.
Double Crochet (DC): yo, insert hook, yo, pull loop back through two loops, yo, pull back through remaining two loops.
Alternative Double Crochet (DC): Insert hook, yo, pull a loop back through, insert hook into horizonatal bar of post just made, yo, pull a loop back through, yo, pull through remaining two loops on hook.
Front Post and Back Post Double Crochet (FPDC & BPDC): work DC around the post by YO and inserting the hook from front to back and back to front, then complete the DC. (The post pops forward: Front Post DC.) Work 1 DC around the next post by YO, inserting hook from back to front and front to back, then complete the DC. (Post pops to the back: Back Post DC.)
The following graph demonstrates the Wide Half Double Crochet, where you work under all loops and between the posts.
Size
36 x 36 approximately
gauge: 1 inch = 4 WHCD and 4 rows of WHDC
Pattern
Chain 125 or any odd number to make any size with Feather Gray.
Row 1: In the second chain from the hook, work HDC. HDC into each chain across the row. CH 1 and turn. (124)
Row 2: Work WHDC in between each post of the previous row. Last WHDC is worked between the last post and turning chain. CH 1 and turn.
Row 3 and 4: Repeat row 2. Pull through with new color on the last step of the stitch of row 4, drop Feather Gray, do not cut.
Row 5: Work WSC in between each HDC of the previous row. Last WSC is worked between the last post and turning chain. CH 1 and turn.
Row 6: SC into each SC. On last step of the SC, pull through with Feathered Gray, drop Cotton, do not cut. CH 1 and tun.
Row 7-10: Work WHDC in between each post across the row. CH 1 and turn at the end of each row. On row 10, drop Feathered Gray, pull through with Cotton.
Row 11: WSC in between each HDC.
Row 12: CH 2 and turn or use the alternative DC into the first SC of the row. *Skip next sc, DC into the next sc. DC into the skipped SC. Repeat from * across the row. In the last sc, work 1 DC, pulling Feathered gray through on last step of stitch. CH 1 and turn.
Row 13-16: Repeat rows 7-10 (work the first row of WHDC in between each post of DC.)
Repeat rows 5 through 16 until you have 36 inches in height or your blanket is square or to your desired height.
Tie off and weave in all ends.
Border
Round 1: Pull up a loop at the end of a HDC row on the side of blanket. Work 2 SC in same space as join. Skip a row and work 2 SC for a total of 4 SC per each four rows of WHDC. Work 2 SC at the end of one row of Cotton. Work 1 SC around the row that ends with a DC, and 2 SC per the row SC for a total of 3 SC per the DC crossed rows. Work 3 SC into each corner. Work SC into each stitch across the bottom and top, join with a SLST to the first SC of the round. CH 1 and don’t turn.
Round 2: Work SC into each SC around, 3 SC into each corner sc. Join with a SL ST to the first SC of the round, CH 2. Don’t turn.
Round 3: Work DC into each SC around. 3 DC into each corner sc. Join with a SL ST to the first DC of the round. CH 1. Don’t turn.
Round 4: Work SC into each SC around, 3 SC into each corner DC, Join with a SL ST to the first SC of the round. CH 2, don’t turn.
Round 5: Work FPDC around next DC, BPDC around next DC. Continue alternating FPDC and BPDC to the corner. Work FPDC, BPDC, FPDC around each corner DC. (Or BPDC, FPDC, BPDC depending on what direction the preceding stitch before the corner.) Join with a SL ST to the starting DC. Tie off and weave in the ends.
The printable pdf will be coming soon, please check back!
XO, Tiffany