Oliver baby blanket

I’ve said it before – I’m a short-attention-span crafter. If I can’t finish something in a few hours, I probably never will unless I’m really determined.

When my friend Kasandra had her first son, she asked me to knit him a blanket. It took me months to make and although it’s been much loved I vowed I would never knit another blanket. It’s just too monotonous.

So when Kasandra told me no one had yet made her second boy, Oliver, a special blanket, I decided to keep my vow and crochet him a blanket.

This pattern was simple and quick. I made the whole thing in a couple of weeks. The vertical stripes are unusual and the gaps between the crocheted spaces aren’t too big so it’s a nice piece of fabric.

Here’s what you’ll need:

3 skeins of Red Heart Soft in Seafoam
2 skeins of Red Heart Soft in Wheat
2 skeins if Red Heard Soft in Mid Blue
Size J crochet hook
darning needle

Finished size: Approximately 32 x 50 inches

Abbreviations:

Ch = chain
DC = double chain

This blanket uses the diamond stitch. I used this pattern from Happy in Red as a guideline. You can make it as wide as you want, just make sure you use an odd number of stitches.

With seafoam, Ch143.

Foundation row: Chain 3 (for 1 DC) and crochet 2 DCs in the 4th chain from the hook. *Skip the next chain. 2 DC in the next chain.* Repeat * until the end of the row and end with one DC on the last chain. Chain 3 and turn.

Row 2: 1 DC in the first chain space. *2 DC in the next chain space.* Repeat across the row until you reach the 1DC from the previous row. End with 2 DC on the last single DC of the first round. Ch 3 and turn.

Repeat row 2 while following this stripe pattern:

7 rows seafoam
2 rows mid blue
3 rows seafoam
2 rows mid blue
4 rows seafoam
7 rows wheat
6 rows seafoam
3 rows mid blue
3 rows seafoam
2 rows wheat
4 rows seafoam
6 rows mid blue
5 rows seafoam
4 rows wheat
4 rows seafoam
2 rows wheat
5 rows seafoam
3 rows mid blue
5 rows seafoam

Each time you change colors, leave an 8-inch tail.

After the last row, cut the yarn and draw the end through the final loop. Weave in all the ends with your darning needle. This is the not-so-fun part, but when you’ve finished you’ll be so proud of yourself!