Play with Stripes in this Squishy Blanket Pattern

One of the easiest ways to use a bunch of yarn, whether you’re getting rid of stash or just want to make a big project, is by knitting a blanket. Adding stripes is an easy way to use lots of different colors in a blanket, and you can give it a more harmonious look by alternating stripes of a neutral (or just a different) color to tie it all together.

That’s the concept of the True Stripes blanket from Purl Soho, but it adds a twist. By knitting some of the stripes vertically and some horizontally, you get even more fun texture and design interest, even with a simple garter stitch project.

The blanket, designed by Gaby Bush and Gianna Mueller, originally used a pretty off white for the main color and two contrasting colors for the stripes. The yarn used is a luscious wool and cotton blend that’s a light worsted weight, perfect for a spring baby or a throw to keep on the couch while it’s still a little cool in the evenings.

The free pattern is sized for babies and a throw blanket size, but you could pretty easily expand the concept to make an even bigger blanket (or make blocks in this style and sew them together when you’re done).

Because it’s me you will probably expect me to say that you could also make each of the interior stripes a different color if you’re using yarn you already have. This would be so pretty with ombre stripes in the same color family, or you can make most of a rainbow, or just use whatever coordinating yarns you have on hand.

You can grab the pattern on the Purl Soho website, where they also sell kits of the yarn for the baby blanket size.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

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Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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