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Skylar Blanket
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It seems I’ve been on a baby blanket kick lately. There is something very appealing to me about a textured center with a pretty border and I keep experimenting with different combinations. The center of this blanket is created with a one row repeat that results in a pretty texture. The border is added in rounds with different textures and a pretty (and easy) puff stitch for a final impact. I love the contrast from one stitch pattern to another, but don’t worry, they are all basic stitches that even a beginner can handle.
I love to design patterns that are basic guidelines and can be customized in many ways, I call them “recipes”. This allows each crocheter to customize to their own needs and tastes. This particular blanket has a lot of opportunity for customization. The texture is strong enough to make it shine in a solid color or choose several colors for endless stripes and combinations.
I made my sample as a small receiving blanket or perfect stroller size, but this pattern can easily be adjusted to just about any size! You can find my blanket sizing chart HERE if you need help with sizing. Work as many rows as you like to achieve the length you desire, then add the border. The border can be customized too by changing the number of repeats if you like!
Click here for a handy blanket sizing chart!
I made this beauty with Red Heart Soft Essentials in two colors. This blanket could really be worked in just about any yarn, but of course the sizing would vary based on yarn weight and hook size. If you don’t want to make it in a bulky such as Red Heart Soft Essentials, try Red Heart Baby Hugs Medium or even Red Heart Super Saver – you could even use two strands to make these yarns thicker if you like!
You can read some of my favorite Red Heart Yarn reviews HERE.
Thank you to Red Heart for providing the yarn for this project!
Soft Essentials
I hope you’ll give this pattern a try. Let me know how you like it and be sure to share your finished photos on my Facebook page or tag me on Instagram @patternparadise!
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Pattern Instructions
Size: Approximately 36″ x 36” – Size is easily adjustable – Get blanket sizing chart HERE
Materials:
- Red Heart Soft Essentials Yarn (131 yards per skein) or similar #5 weight bulky yarn:
- Color 1 (sugar plum) – 6 skeins
- Color 2 (white) – 1 skein
- Hooks:
- Hook 7.00 mm for body of blanket
- Hook US J/6.00 mm
- Hook US H/5.00 mm for border
- Tapestry Needle for weaving ends
Gauge: Gauge is not critical for this project, but I got approximately 16 sts x 15 rows in 5” in the blanket pattern.
And to store my crochet hooks, I love this case!
Abbreviations (US Terms):
BLO = back loop only
ch = chain
hdc= half double crochet
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch
st(s) = stitch(es)
YO = yarn over
Special Stitch:
Puff St = *YO, insert hook in designated stitch, YO and pull loop through to height of a double crochet* (3 loops on hook); repeat between * 2 times (7 loops on hook); YO and pull through all 7 loops, ch1 to finish stitch.
Notes
- Weave ends as you work.
- Stitch count is in ( ) at the end of the Row/Round.
- Beginning ch1 does not count as a stitch.
- Fasten off at color changes.
Blanket – work with 7.00mm hook
The blanket pattern is a one-row repeat worked in rows. The border is worked in rounds after the center of the blanket is complete. I made my blanket square, but you can make it any size you like with the following adjustments:
- Increase/decrease the beginning chain in increments of 2 chains to make the blanket wider or narrower.
- Add/delete rows to make the blanket longer or shorter.
The blanket will have 84 stitches in each row.
Row 1: With Color 1, ch85, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch to end. (84)
Row 2: Ch1, turn, sc in first st, [sc2tog, ch1], repeat between [ ] until there is 1 st remaining, sc in last st. Ch1 spaces following the sc2tog count as a st for future rows.
Repeat Row 2 until blanket is the desired size minus the border (border will add approximately 4” to each side).
Border – work with Hook J/6.00mm
- Join rounds with sl st to first st of round.
Round 1: Ch1, turn, starting in first st, *3 sc (corner formed), skip next st, sc in each st until 1 remains, 3 sc in last st (corner formed), working down side of blanket, 1 sc in side of each row until 1 remains (be sure to have an odd number of sts)*; repeat between * to end, join. Note: It is important to have an odd number of sts between corners in this round.
Round 2: Sl st into corner st, ch1, *[working in both loops, sc, ch2, sc] in corner st, working in BLO, sc in each st to next corner*; repeat between * to end, join. (stitch count will increase by 8 from previous round)
Round 3: Sl st into corner ch2 space, ch1, *[sc, ch2, sc] in corner ch2 space, working in BLO, sc in each st to next corner*; repeat between * to end, join. (stitch count will increase by 8 from previous round)
Round 4: Join Color 2, sl st into corner ch2 space, ch1, *{sc, ch2, sc} in corner ch2 space, [ch2, skip1, sc in next st] repeat between [ ] until there is 1 st left before corner ch2 space, ch2*; repeat between * to end, join.
Rounds 5 to 9: Sl st into corner ch2 space, ch1, *{sc, ch2, sc} in corner ch2 space, [ch2, sc in next ch2 space] repeat between [ ] to last ch2 space before corner, ch2*; repeat between * to end, join.
Round 10: Join Color 1 in any corner ch2 space, ch1, *{2hdc, ch2, 2hdc} in corner ch2 space, sc in next ch2 space, [3sc in next ch2 space, sc in next ch2 space], repeat between [ ] to corner*; repeat between * to end, join.
Round 11 (work with Hook H/5.00mm): Sl st next hdc, sl st into corner ch2 space, ch1, *{Puff St, ch1, Puff St, ch1, Puff St} into corner ch2 space, skip 2 hdc, [Puff St in next sc, skip 1], repeat between [ ] to last sc, skip next 2 hdc*; repeat between * to end, join.
Round 12: Ch1, work sc in each st and ch1 space around; be sure to work 3 sc into corner Puff St, join.
Round 13: Turn to work from wrong side, working loosely (you may want to change back to the larger hook size), sl st in each st all around, join. Fasten off.
Be sure to check future posts for coordinating pieces to make a lovely layette set!
You can find lots of blanket and afghan patterns at AllFreeCrochet.com too!
Want more blankets from Pattern Paradise?
(click on photo to get more info on pattern)
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I am making the Skylar blanket. Is the pattern correct? The number of stitches in the row keeps decreasing. I keep ripping it out, but it keeps happening. Any ideas?
The pattern is correct, be sure that after row 2, you are counting the ch1 between the sc2tog as a stitch.
When working on the border and you get to the sides of the blanket are you putting a single crochet in both the row and the chain spaces from the turn or just the rows. I made my blanket a little linger so it’s more of a rectangular shape .
When you get to the last stitch of the sides, work that as a corner.
I am working on the Skyler blanket. I am unsure about the border, when you get to row 5-9 do I do 1 sc and ch 2 all the way around? And what do you do in the corner? Thanks in advance!
Yes, you repeat the sc, ch2 between the corners as noted in the pattern, in the corners, you would then repeat the instructions between *, which would mean you will have a (sc, ch2, sc) in each corner. Just pay attention to the repeats in the brackets and between the * and you will see it works out.
I love this pattern! But, for clarity, can you describe the sc2tog stitch please?
Hi, nevermind, I believe I have it.
sc2tog is a way to make a decrease, it means that you sc two stitches into one. This is done by inserting the hook into the first stitc and pulling up a loop, then the second stitch and pulling up a loop then pull through all the loops to complete the stitch. If you look on YouTube you will find several video tutorials that can show you how to do it.
Do you know when you will post the patterns for the full layette set? The Skylar afghan is just lovely! Thank you for making the pattern available!
It’s on my “to-do” list, but it’s a long list! Soon I hope 🙂
If I wanted to use a lighter-weight yarn such as Lion Brand Baby Soft in pastel yellow and white, do you have a recommendation of how many stitches to start with, the gauge, and about how many skeins I might need?
I’m sorry I haven’t tested it in any other size/yarn combinations.
When repeating Row 2, I know to make the sc2tog includes the ch1 as well as the sc2tog from the previous row, but do we go into the actual ch1 STITCH OR the ch1 SPACE (under the stitch)?
The ch1 space 🙂
Hey,
I’m about to start working an Afghan with this pattern. About how many base stitches would you recommend for a lap blanket?
Thank you.
That depends upon your gauge. Using the gauge I got for this pattern, you would get approximately 3.2 stitches per inch. If you wanted to the finished size to be approximately 45″ (see my handy sizing guide here: https://pattern-paradise.com/2018/03/29/blanket-size-chart-from-lovey-to-king-sizes/) and assuming the border is approximately 4″ on each side, you would need to make the center of the blanket about 37″ wide (45″ total – 4″ for each side of the border). 37″ divided by 3.2 stitches per inch would = 118 stitches, so that’s what I’d try 🙂
Should there be a ch1 after every puff stitch in round 11?
Thank you!
No. If you look at the definition of the Puff Stitch for this pattern (at the beginning of the instructions) you will notice there is already a ch1 to close the Puff Stitch. The reason there is an extra in the corners is to allow for the turn.
Hi! I am confused with the first round of the border. I did it and counted all my stitches and while they happen to all be odd numbers, they aren’t the same numbers per side. Will this make a difference?
Yes the stitch count will be slightly different. If you take a look at the gauge, the stitches (width) work out to about 3.3 stitches per inch, while the rows (length) work out to about 3 stitches per inch. The important thing if you want a square is to work enough rows so that the blanket looks square and then work the border from there keeping to the guidelines in the pattern.
Hope that helps
I’m also confused. When repeating row 2 do you use the ch 1space as part of the ch2tog or do you go directly into the ch 1?
Thanks
Sue
Yes, the ch1 within a row counts as a stitch. The ch1 at the beginning of the row does not count as a stitch.
Love how this pattern looks. Thank you for sharing. I have a question about row 2… after you [sc2tog, ch1] do you skip a stitch and then repeat?
No, the stitches are worked consecutively. The sc2tog makes 2 stitches count as 1 and the ch1 counts as the 2nd stitch so every stitch is accounted for.
Dear Maria,
I started the Skylar blanket today and I’m wondering if I missed something in the pattern instructions. Please explain how it works to repeat Row 2 throughout the body of the blanket? Am I supposed to treat the chain 1 as a SC in the SC2tog?
Thanks
I don’t know, perhaps it’s the yarn you are using or differences in crochet style. The pattern I wrote is the one I made and photographed 🙂