
I am so excited to finally show you my newest little monkey’s baby blanket!
At the time I’m writing up this blog post, I’m 38 weeks along (although when it gets published, Baby Henry will already be born). I can feel him kicking around inside and I get the feeling he’s just as anxious to be born as I am to hold him in my arms.
For Henry’s blanket, I chose one of my favorite yarns, Cascade Longwood. It has a beautiful stitch definition that I knew would be important in a textured blanket like this. This definitely turned out to be a heavy, warm blanket, perfect for draping over the carseat of a winter baby.
When I started the blanket, I knew that I wanted to use ribbing for the ends to give it a nice finished, modern look. I started out intending to do the entire body of the blanket in herringbone half double crochet, but once I got through the first color block, I couldn’t let go of the nagging feeling that it needed a little more interest. So on a whim, I switched to one of my other favorite stitches, the SC+HDC combo for the 2nd color block. I loved the contrast between the blocks (and how it allowed me to change stitches just when I started getting bored), so I went with it! You can see the different textures – ribbing, herringbone, and SC+HDC – in the photo below.
I think this blanket would make a gorgeous, modern statement for a boy or a girl, depending on the colors you pick.
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UPDATE: He’s here!
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HENRY’S BABY BLANKET
Level: Easyish
Size: Blanket measures 30″x38″. Adjustment instructions are given in Notes section.
Hook: H (5.0mm)
Yarn: I used about 1,330 yards of Cascade Longwood (from Jimmy Beans Wool), but any #4 worsted weight yarn will work. Here’s my breakdown, and the colors as assigned in the pattern:
COLOR A (White): Cascade Longwood – 01 White (about 220 yards, or <2 skeins)
COLOR B (Navy): Cascade Longwood – 40 Midnight (about 370 yards, or almost 2 full skeins)
COLOR C (Gray): Cascade Longwood – 02 Frost Gray (about 370 yards, or almost 2 full skeins)
COLOR D (Green): Cascade Longwood – 18 Green Spruce – discontinued (about 370 yards, or almost 2 full skeins)
You’ll also need: Yarn needle for weaving in ends
Gauge: Not super important, but 14 rows of 16 HHDC = 4″.
Abbreviations Used:
ST/STS (stitch/stitches)
SL ST (slip stitch)
SK (skip)
CH (chain)
SC (single crochet)
HDC (half double crochet)
SC+HDC (this just means to put a single crochet and a half double crochet in the same stitch)
HHDC (herringbone half double crochet; see “special stitch” below)
BLO (back loops only)
Special Stitch:
HHDC – Herringbone Half Double Crochet. Here’s how you do it:
HHDC: Yarn over, insert hook into stitch. Yarn over, pull loop through stitch AND through first loop on hook (this is similar to a slip stitch motion). Two loops remain on hook. Yarn over and pull through both loops.
(If you need additional help, Moogly has an excellent video tutorial here. Please note that while her video considers the CH2 at the beginning of rows as a stitch, the pattern below does not.)
Notes:
(1) This pattern is written in American Standard Terms.
(2) Starting CHs do not count as stitches.
(3) To adjust the width of your blanket, add or subtract rows from the first ribbing section of the pattern (just be sure to end up with an even number of ribs). To adjust the length of your blanket, you can add/subtract more blocks of color, or make each block taller/shorter.
(4) Blanket is worked in one piece (except for color changes). In other words, the ribbing at the bottom is not created and sewn on separately.
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SECTION 1: TOP RIBBING
To begin: With COLOR A (white), CH9.
Row 1: SC in 2nd CH from hook and in each remaining CH. (8)
Row 2: CH1, turn. SC in BLO of each ST across. (8)
Rows 3-120 (or until ribbing measures about 30″ long, but keep it an even number): CH1, turn. SC in BLO of each ST across. (8)
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SECTION 2: BODY OF BLANKET
The body of the blanket is divided into 6 color blocks which alternate between blocks of Herringbone HDC and blocks of SC+HDC combos. Each color block is separated by a thin, 2-row block of white.
Body, Row 1: CH1, do not turn. SC evenly down the long edge of the ribbing, putting 1SC in each ribbing row (each peak and each valley). It is important to end with an even number of stitches in this row. (120)
Switch to COLOR B (navy), fasten off previous color.
Row 2: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Rows 3-18: CH1, turn. HHDC in each ST across. (120)
Row 19: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Switch to COLOR A (white), fasten off previous color.
Rows 20-21: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Switch to COLOR C (gray), fasten off previous color.
Row 22: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Rows 23-40: CH1, turn. HDC in 1st ST. (SK next ST, SC+HDC in next ST) across until 1 ST remains. SC in remaining ST. (120)
Row 41: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Switch to COLOR A (white), fasten off previous color.
Rows 42-43: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Switch to COLOR D (green), fasten off previous color.
Row 44: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Rows 45-60: CH1, turn. HHDC in each ST across. (120)
Row 61: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Switch to COLOR A (white), fasten off previous color.
Rows 62-63: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Switch to COLOR B (navy), fasten off previous color.
Row 64: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Rows 65-82: CH1, turn. HDC in 1st ST. (SK next ST, SC+HDC in next ST) across until 1 ST remains. SC in remaining ST. (120)
Row 83: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Switch to COLOR A (white), fasten off previous color.
Rows 84-85: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Switch to COLOR C (gray), fasten off previous color.
Row 86: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Rows 87-102: CH1, turn. HHDC in each ST across. (120)
Row 103: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Switch to COLOR A (white), fasten off previous color.
Rows 104-105: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Switch to COLOR D (green), fasten off previous color.
Row 106: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Rows 107-124: CH1, turn. HDC in 1st ST. (SK next ST, SC+HDC in next ST) across until 1 ST remains. SC in remaining ST. (120)
Row 125: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
Switch to COLOR A (white), fasten off previous color.
Row 126: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (120)
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SECTION 3: BOTTOM RIBBING
In this section, we will be creating the bottom ribbing by making vertical ribs and attaching them with slip stitches to the last row of the body as we go. We’ll be referring to “Row 126” quite a bit; that’s the last row of the body of the blanket we completed, and that’s what the ribbing will be attaching to.
CH9.
Bottom Ribbing, Row 1: Turn work and SC in 2nd CH from hook and in each remaining CH. SL ST in the first SC of Row 126, then SL ST in the next SC of Row 126 as well. (8, plus the 2 SL STS along Row 126)
Row 2: CH1, turn. Skipping over the 2 SL STS you put in Row 126, SC in BLO of each of the 8 STS of the ribbing to create another row of ribbing. (8)
Row 3: CH1, turn. SC in BLO of each of the 8 STS of the ribbing to create another row of ribbing. SL ST in each of the next 2 STS of Row 126. (8, plus the 2 SL STS along Row 126)
Row 4: CH1, turn. Skipping over the 2 SL STS you put in Row 126, SC in BLO of each of the 8 STS of the ribbing to create another row of ribbing. (8)
Repeat Rows 3-4 all the way along Row 126. (You should end up with 120 rows of ribbing, which is the number of stitches in Row 126).
Fasten off and weave in ends.
I am a beginner, I absolutely love this blanket. I am having an issue with the bottom ribbing. I don’t understand what you mean when you start the SL STS and what’s in the parentheses. I’m sure for those proficient in crocheting it’s understandable ?.
Could you please explain it for me. Thank you in advance
Hi Ann,
There’s a YouTube video she has that shows you how to do the bottom ribbing. Do a search for “How to Crochet Ribbing at the End of a Project.” It will show you step by step. That’s how I was able to get it done successfully. I just completed my fourth blanket with this pattern. Good luck!
Love this blanket so much, I’m having a lot of fun stitching it up. Do you have suggestions for a border around the whole thing? My sides don’t look the best and I’m kinda picky so I was contemplating putting a couple rows of sc in white around the entire thing. What do you think? Do you have Any other suggestions?
Hi Patti! I don’t generally put borders on my blankets, especially those with more than one color. But if I were to do so, I would use a simple SC border 🙂
Thanks Rebecca. I’ll finish the blanket (one more block!) and then lay it out flat before I decide whether or not to add the border.
I just finished this beautiful blanket from your pattern. It is for my new great grandson, Olsen, due this June. Your pattern is very well written and easy to follow. Thank you for sharing.
From a great-grandma in Texas.
Hi just found out what Henery’s blanket is…really like it, I just printed it so I can make it for my grandson,hope he likes it…thank you Lou
I wish u would have done a video for this blanket. I am kind of confused on how to start it and make the extra chains
I’m sorry! With young kids at home all day, making videos is one thing that I rarely have time for. I do hope to make a video for this at some point. To start the blanket, the first thing you do is crochet the ribbing. I’m not sure what you mean by “extra chains.”
What a gorgeous blanket, I’m not surprised that loves it! This Is amazing! I want one ?
Hi there. This blanket is beautiful. I’m having trouble with the bottom ribbing in that it looks different than the original ribbing. Should they be a little different?
If it’s the long edge that attaches to the end of the blanket, then it might look just slightly different because you’re crocheting it to the blanket, as opposed to the beginning, when you crocheted the blanket to it (if that makes sense). If it’s the actual ribbing that looks different… then, no, it shouldn’t look different 🙂
Love your creativity and easy to follow patterns!
Thank you so much for this pattern! It was a joy to make. You can see the blanket on my blog post: http://www.paintnknit.com/2017/12/crocheting-little-monkeys-crochets-baby.html
love your stuff in Canada
Its the most beautiful thing I saw on internet today. best wishes for the future projects
Hi Rebecca, I love this blanket so much! I would love some advice though. Im almost done with the first gray sc/hdc block but it’s just not looking anything like yours does. The squares don’t line up nicely- they’re kind of all over the place and all different sizes. The blanket is narrowing which I’m assuming is because I’m pulling the stitches too tightly. I can’t find any video or anything to confirm that I’m even doing the combo right, but I think I am. Why aren’t my squares lining up nicely? Any ideas?
Hi! Thanks for the great pattern. I made one in my alma mater’s colors as a gift. It’s my favorite one I’ve ever made.
Question about making it larger. Would you recommend increasing the hook size as well as length and height? Looking to make a throw approx 52×60.
Thanks for the gorgeous yet simple modern pattern. I will be using it often!
You won’t need to increase the hook size unless you are using a thicker yarn. 🙂
Thanks for sharing such a beautiful blanket pattern and the update of your beautiful baby! I’m so late – he’ll be one soon! ❤️
I love your pattern!, your baby is adorable ? I am going to make this for my great great grandson. Thank you very much for the pattern.