* 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 and a checklist to keep track of where you’re at. *
When I was pregnant with my first, I designed and knitted a baby blanket. We kept the gender a surprise until birth so I had to make something neutral that could work for a boy or a girl though I felt like it was more likely I was expecting a girl (I wasn’t). That is how the reversible everyday baby blanket was born.
Of course, when I got pregnant with my second baby, I wanted to make another special baby blanket just for this new human. It took me so long to decide on colours and a stitch pattern I liked that I didn’t start making it until after he’d entered the world.
You may have already seen the bulky version of this pattern which I posted recently, but this is the original version in worsted weight!
Construction: The William Blanket is worked flat in one piece from the bottom up. A main colour serves as the background, while three contrast colours are alternated to create two textured stripes: a bold puff stitch stripe and a smaller stripe that looks like little hearts on the right side.
Skill level: Advanced beginner
Materials and notions:
Hook
Notions
§ Scissors
Yarn
I used Lion Brand Yarn Wool Ease which is a worsted weight (size 4) yarn in colours Linen (MC), Oatmeal (CC A), Thrush (CC B) and Nightshade (CC C). You will need
§ 1,479 yds (1,351 m / 638 g) of Main Colour (MC);
§ 227 yds (208 m / 98 g) of Contrast Colour A (CC A);
§ 195 yds (178 m / 84 g) of Contrast Colour B (CC B);
§ 227 yds (208 m / 98 g) of Contrast Colour C (CC C).
If you are using Wool-Ease that translates to 8 skeins of MC and 2 skeins 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 5,5mm (I/9) hook: 4”x4” = 14 stitches across x 12 rows high.
Final measurements: The finished blanket detailed here is a toddler size, measuring 42”x52”.
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 often 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 5.5mm (I/9) hook, ch 148
Row 1: Hdc in second ch from hook, and in each ch across. Turn. (147 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1 (counts as first st), skip the first st, hdc in each st across. Turn. (147 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. (147 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. (147 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. (147 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. (147 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. (147 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. (147 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 (147 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. (147 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. (147 sts)
Row 16: Repeat row 15.
Repeat rows 3 to 16 an additional 9 times making sure to keep alternating your 3 contrast colours. You will now have worked a total of 142 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 152 rows.
Fasten off, weave in ends and voilà!
It was my first time ever working with Wool Ease despite my bestie @cj.dsgn raving about it for years and I have to say, I see the hype. The mix of acrylic and wool is perfection as it provides warmth while being machine washable and dry-able (a must for any baby item in my opinion).
Wool-Ease comes in a range of 30 beautiful colours which means the colour combos are endless and can be made to match to any style or theme making it ease to create a blanket that will please anyone – a perfect item to gift.
This was my first time playing with both colours and stitch textures in the same pattern and I’m obsessed. It takes the ever popular ”just one more row” to a whole other level, you’ll want to keep going to the next colour and then the next texture.
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, a checklist to keep track of where you’re at and helps me continue sharing free content.
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