Bob’s! Easy Tweed Blanket (free pattern)

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This year my goal was to make a blanket for everyone in my family. I made it in at the last second with my final blanket for my dad (Bob!). I wanted to make this one simple and fuss free just like my dad so I let the kiddos pick the colors (I think they did an exceptional job) and I picked a simple stitch.

 

 

The pattern below is for a throw size but first I’m going to explain how I made the pattern so that you can size yours up or down or even use a different weight yarn or hook. If you just want to follow my pattern skip this next part and go straight to the pattern 🙂

For my pattern I chose the seed stitch. I’ve also seen it referred to as the moss or tweed stitch. The kiddos picked out Bernat Super Value in Denim Ragg and Grey Ragg (a worsted weight yarn) and I chose to go with a K hook for a lighter fabric. Like every design I make I first started with a gauge swatch and this is how I did it.

*Be sure to change color every other row*

With color 1, ch an even number. In this case I did 22 but make sure you have 5 or more inches.
Row 1 – sc in 2nd ch from hook, * ch 1, sk next ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * across, turn.
Row 2 – ch 1, sc in 1st sc, sc in next ch-1 sp, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next ch-1 sp; repeat from * across to last sc, sc in last sc, turn.
Row 3 – ch 1, sc in 1st sc, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next ch-1 sp; repeat from * across to 2 last sts, ch 1, sk next sc, sc in last sc, turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 changing color every other row until the swatch is 5 or more inches long.
For my swatch I then did a boarder of sc (adding 3 sc in each corner) because I wanted to have an idea of what the finished blanket was going to look like.

Next, I threw my swatch into the wash and ended up with this lovely little square. One quick note, I like to wash my swatches before I measure my gauge or start a new project. For one, it gives me the most accurate gauge and it also gives me an idea of how the yarn will wear overtime. In this case it came out much softer than before and it didn’t fuzz up too much so I knew it would work out great for my project. You can read more about gauge here.

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At this point you’ll need to grab a ruler and do some math (don’t worry it’s not too bad).

By measuring my gauge I found out I had 14 sts by 14 rows in a 4″ square. Keep in mind you don’t have to use 4″. For my swatch 4″ worked out great but if you are using a different hook and/or yarn it may work out better to do 3″ or 5″ or something completely different. Make it easy and pick whatever works best.

Before you start calculating anything pick your blanket size. I decided to go with a throw which is about 38″ by 50″. If you’re not sure here’s a handy chart to help you out.

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Now for the calculations.

Remember my gauge is 14 sts by 14 rows in a 4″ square. I first want to figure out how many stitches I will need to get 38″ (this will tell me how many chains to start with). I can figure this out with a simple calculation. I know 14 sts = 4″ so to figure out how many stitches are in 38″ my calculation is this:

38″ * 14 sts /4″ = 133 sts

Now, I need to look back at my pattern to choose how many chains to start with. I know I need to start with an even number so at this point I choose to go with 132 chains. I will be adding a simple single crochet boarder so that will add the extra width I need to get to 38″. For your calculations you make the call. There’s no rules here so do whatever you want.

The next step is to figure out how many rows I will need. You can make this easy and completely skip this calculation. When you’re making your blanket you can simply measure as you go but I like to figure it all out.

I need 50″. I know 14 rows = 4″ by looking at my gauge so to figure how many rows are in 50″ my calculation is this:

50″ * 14 rows/4″ = 175 rows

Here, I get to make another decision. For my pattern I have 2 rows per stripe so I just know I’ll need an even number of rows. I decided on 174 rows because again, I know that single crochet boarder will add the length I need.

One last calculation to make it a but easier. I have 2 rows per stripe so I can take 174 rows and divide that by 2 to tell me how many stripes I need.

174 rows / 2 = 87 stripes

This just lets me know that I need 87 stripes. That way I don’t have to count all the way to 174 when I’m making my blanket.

Bob’s! Easy Tweed Blanket

Hopefully this all makes sense. If you are making a different size simply plug in your numbers to my calculations. Now to the pattern.

Bob’s! Easy Tweed Blanket

This pattern is copyrighted by KT and the Squid. You may NOT copy, share, change or sell the pattern itself.

If you’d like to sell finished items from this pattern please do! Finished items belong to you and you may do what you wish with them. If you choose to sell them on online please credit me (KT and the Squid) as the designer.

All KT and the Squid patterns are tested by wonderful volunteers. If you have any questions just ask! 

Materials

Worsted weight yarn

    • 2 skeins Bernat Super Value Denim Rag
    • 2 skeins Bernat Super Value Grey Rag

K/6.5mm hook

Gauge

14 sts by 14 rows = 4″ square

Pattern for Gauge

Ch an even number.
Row 1 – sc in 2nd ch from hook, * ch 1, sk next ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * across, turn.
Row 2 – ch 1, sc in 1st sc, sc in next ch-1 sp, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next ch-1 sp; repeat from * across to last sc, sc in last sc, turn.
Row 3 – ch 1, sc in 1st sc, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next ch-1 sp; repeat from * across to 2 last sts, ch 1, sk next sc, sc in last sc, turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until length desired is reached.

Abbreviations

Ch = chain

Sc = single crochet

Size

Throw (38″ by 50″)

Notes

  • Read all instructions before beginning
  • Change color every other row. Carry yarn, do NOT fasten off when changing color.

Instructions

*Remember to change color every other row*

Ch  132
Row 1 – sc in 2nd ch from hook, * ch 1, sk next ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * across, turn.
Row 2 – ch 1, sc in 1st sc, sc in next ch-1 sp, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next ch-1 sp; repeat from * across to last sc, sc in last sc, turn.
Row 3 – ch 1, sc in 1st sc, *ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next ch-1 sp; repeat from * across to 2 last sts, ch 1, sk next sc, sc in last sc, turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 (changing color every other row) until you have 174 total rows or 87 total stripes.

Finishing

With boarder color sc evenly around the blanket adding 3 sc to each corner, fasten off, weave in all ends.