*  You can purchase the INEXPENSIVE AD-FREE PDF of this pattern on Etsy! This printer friendly, stylishly formatted PDF that is a total of 12 pages with the cover page, includes 16 sizes ranging from lovey to king size, a crochet chart, a checklist to keep track of where you’re at. *

Over the years I have made so many crochet blankets and I just can’t seem to stop. There’s something quite comforting about working on a “bigger” project, especially when it gets long enough to keep you warm as you work on it. I’m also a firm believer that you can never have too many blankets. 

We recently purchased a cottage that needs major renovations which will spread over a few years and while spending weekends there is still far off, dreaming of those weekends isn’t. I have this wild dream of an old wooden armoire filled with handmade quilts and crochet/knit blankets; blankets for beds, for snuggling under in the living room on cozy game or movie nights, for sitting around the firepit outside, for looking up at the stars, for picnicking, for forts and for just about anything you can think of. 

The William Blanket was originally designed in worsted weight for my second son, but I just had to make it in a bulky version which was almost immediately claimed by my eldest.

Pattern description: The William Blanket is worked flat in one piece from the bottom up. It features a main colour that acts as the background, 3 contrast colours that are used alternately to create two textured stripes; a large one comprised of two rows of puff stitches and a small one which looks like little hearts from the right side.

Skill level: Advanced beginner

Materials:

Hook

6,5mm (K/10,5)

Notions

• Scissors
• Darning needle

Yarn

I used Lion Brand Yarn Cover Story Posh Twist yarn which is a chenille Bulky weight/size 5 yarn in colours Vanilla Bean (MC), Blueberry (CC  A), Chocolate Fudge (CC B) and Kale (CC C). You will need: 

• 1,153 yds (1,054 m / 990 g) of Main Colour (MC);
• 163 yds (149 m / 140 g) of Contrast Colour A (CC A);
• 163 yds (149 m / 140 g) of Contrast Colour B (CC B); and
• 156 yds (143 m / 134 g) of Contrast Colour C (CC C).

If you are using Posh Twist that translates to 5 skeins of MC and 1 skein for each of the Contrast Colours. 

Not ready to knit just yet? Pin it so you can come back to it later!

Gauge: In hdc using 6,5mm (K/10,5) hook: 4”x4” = 11 stitches across x 8 rows high.

Final measurements: The finished blanket detailed here is a crib size, measuring 45”x60”. 

If you wish to make a different size, the ad-free PDF which you can find here features 15 other sizes ranging from lovey to king-size. 

Notes:

• I highly recommend counting your stitches frequently to make sure you have the correct number. I found it particularly helping to count stitches at the beginning of each section or after rows 5, 9, 13 and 14. 
• Cut the yarn and attach new yarn every time there is a colour change. This will result in a fair number of ends to weave in but will create a nice clean edge, even without a border (no border is planned in this pattern, of course, you are welcomed to add one if you wish to do so). 

Abbreviations and special stitches:

This pattern is written using standard US crochet terms. 

• Ch: Chain
• Hdc: Half-Double Crochet
• St(s): Stitch(es)
• Sc: Single Crochet
• Ps: Puff Stitch: [yarn over, insert hook into the chain space of the row below, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops] (2 loops on hook), repeat process in [] twice more (you will have 4 loops on your hook), yarn over and pull through all loops. 

Pattern: 

With Main Colour and 6.5mm (K/10,5) hook, ch 118.

Row 1: Hdc in second ch from hook, and in each ch across. Turn. (117 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1 (counts as first st), skip the first st, hdc in each st across. Turn. (117 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1 (counts as first st), skip the first st, hdc in each st across making sure to place your last hdc in the top of the turning chain from the previous row. Turn. (117 sts)

Row 4: Repeat row 3.

Row 5: Ch 1 (doesn’t count as first st), sc in first st, *ch 1, skip one st, sc in next st; repeat from * ending in top of turning chain from the previous row. Turn. (117 sts)

Switch to your next Contrast Colour

Row 6 (RS): Ch 2 (counts as first st), skip the first st, *ps into next ch space, ch 1, skip one st; repeat from * until there is one ch space left, ps, hdc in the last st. Turn. (117 sts)

Switch to Main Colour

Row 7 (WS): Ch 1 (doesn’t count as first st), sc in first st, *ch 1, skip one st, sc in next ch space; repeat from * ending in top of turning chain from the previous row. Turn. (117 sts)

Switch back to the same Contrast Colour as row 6

Row 8: Repeat row 6.

With Main Colour

Row 9: Ch 1 (counts as first st), skip the first st, hdc in the next st, *hdc into the next ch space, hdc in the next st; repeat from * until there is one st left, hdc in top of turning chain from the previous row. Turn. (117 sts)

Row 10: Ch 1 (counts as first st), skip the first st, hdc in each st across making sure to place your last hdc in the top of the turning chain from the previous row. Turn. (117 sts)

Row 11-12: Repeat row 10.

With your next Contrast Colour

Row 13 (WS): Ch 1 (doesn’t counts as first st), sc in first st, *ch 1, skip one st, sc in next st; repeat from * ending in top of turning chain from previous row. Turn (117 sts)

With Main Colour

Row 14: Ch 1 (counts as first st), skip the first st, *hdc in the ch space st, hdc into the next st; repeat from * until end of row. Turn. (117 sts)

Row 15: Ch 1 (counts as first st), skip the first st, hdc in each st across making sure to place your last hdc in the top of the turning chain from the previous row. Turn. (117 sts)

Row 16-18: Repeat row 15.

Repeat rows 3 to 16 an additional 8 times making sure to keep alternating your 3 contrast colours. You will now have worked a total of 128 rows. 

Repeat rows 3 to 12 continuing to alternate contrast colours. This is done so that your blanket, no matter the size ends with a section of puff stitches and a section worked in main colour. You will now have worked a total of 138 rows. 

Fasten off, weave in ends and voilà!

It was my first time working with Posh Twist (or any bulky weight chenille yarn) and I was honestly so impressed! This yarn is SO soft. I pictured it being the similar as Bernat Blanket just thinner but it’s not. It has similarities but it’s also quite different, more of a buttery softness if that makes any sense. A perfect yarn choice for a cozy blanket.   

Striped blankets are always a good choice, especially for beginners or anyone who have a squirrel brain like me and are always thinking of the next thing as you’ll inevitably want to just get to the next color and then the next and the next. Before you know it, your blanket will be almost complete. 

To make things even better, the color options for Posh Twist are so fun! They have a great base of neutrals, and a solid range of colours from softer pastels to bright and bold neon colors. I’m dying to make another but using a darker main colour and lighter contrast colours instead. I can’t wait to see what colours you’ll pick!

If you like this pattern, please share on social media using #WilliamBlanket and tag @KnitalieCo.

If you would like to purchase the INEXPENSIVE AD-FREE PDF of this pattern, here’s the link! Purchasing the printer friendly, stylishly formatted PDF which includes 16 sizes ranging from lovey to king size, a crochet chart and a checklist to keep track of where you’re at helps me continue sharing free content.

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