fibre space™

That 70s Baby Blanket

When I was little, I had a blanket that I loved more than all the others. It was the stereotypical cream color with pastel blue, yellow, and pink woven stripes, and it had an awesome ribbon border that made it somehow superior to my little sister’s similar blankets. I haven’t seen blankets like this in years, and with so many of my friends having babies lately, I wanted to somehow recreate the magic in a crochet pattern. Since we have a little obsession with plaid at fibre space™, it seemed like a great place to start.

I am definitely a child of the 80s, but when Jane christened the pattern “That 70’s Baby Blanket,” the name stuck. I think we can blame Danielle for choosing the colors! Still, this will make a great addition to a special nursery, or even a nice couch blanket for your living room.

That 70s Baby Blanket

by Lesley Packel

Materials

• Main Color (MC): 5 skeins of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in White (designer’s note: the sample used up every single inch of the 5 skeins. If you are a loose crocheter, or would like extra fringe, you may want an extra skein)
• Contrast Colors (CC1-4): 1 skein each of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in Lemon (CC1), Orange (CC2), Blue (CC3), and Gray (CC4)
• Size G Crochet hook
• Darning Needle

Note: This blanket is constructed by making a mesh base, and then weaving crochet chains in the opposite direction to create the plaid look. Anyone who has taken the Intro to Crochet class with us will easily conquer this pattern, as the base is similar to the second round of the edging on the baby blanket!

Gauge

2 spaces per inch across / 2 rows per inch

To create a gauge swatch: ch 19. Work Row 1 of pattern, you will have 8 ch sps. Work Row 2 of pattern 7 times. Fasten off. Your swatch should be approximately 4 inches by 4 inches.

Pattern Key

• ch: chain
• sc: single crochet
• dc: double crochet
• ch sp(s): chain space(s)
• sl st: slip stitch
• sk: skip

Instructions

Blanket Base

This is what your base will look like!

With MC, ch 180.

Row 1: dc in 5^th ch from hook, *ch 1, sk 1 ch, dc in next chain, rep from * to end. 88 ch sps.

Row 2: ch 4 (counts as first dc and ch 1 sp), dc in next dc (sk the ch 1 sp), *ch 1, dc in next dc, repeat from * to end.

Repeat Row 2 throughout, working (8 rows of MC, 4 rows of CC1, 4 rows of MC, 4 rows of CC2) twice, and then 8 more rows of MC. Break yarn and fasten off. Weave in ends.

Weaving in your chains….

Weaving

To create the plaid stripes in the opposite direction, join yarn with a sl st to ch-sp on the bottom edge of the blanket base, leaving a 4 inch tail (this will become part of your fringe because no one wants to weave in 176 ends). Ch 100 (Note: This should be the approximate length of your blanket from top to bottom. If you need to adjust this number for your gauge, please do so! If the chain is too short, the blanket will pull, and if it is too long, the blanket will pucker). Your chain should run perpendicular to the stripes on the blanket base. Break yarn, leaving a 4 inch tail, but do not fasten off. Using your handy crochet hook, weave your chain lengthwise through the blanket, and fasten to the opposite end with a sl st. For excellent plaid results, weave the chains in the following pattern: (8 rows MC, 4 rows CC3, 4 rows MC, 4 rows CC4) 4 times, and then 8 more rows MC.

Finishing

Cut your leftover yarn in 8 inch lengths, and add fringe by inserting your crochet hook into the space, pulling up a loop of the cut yarn, and then pulling the tail from your chain and the cut yarn through the loop. For more information on crochet fringe, check out this video.