Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket
It’s become clear over the past year that for some of you bigger IS better! Wanting, requesting, longing for more to knit… How could we not honor that? And so, I am thrilled to introduce the Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket: our beloved square Colorblock Bias Blanket stretched and extended into an adult-size rectangle!
Four of Purl Soho’s own yarns went into this texture-rich blanket: Alpaca Pure, Worsted Twist, plus Flax Down and Line Weight combined to add a playful marled stripe to its neighboring fields of crisp colors and subtle heathers. Pick up all these yarns together with our Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket Bundle, available in three classic palettes: this cool Blue, sweet Pink and warm Yellow.
I can’t claim this one is better than the original, but it’s at least equal and certainly bigger! So for all of you who wanted more blanket to knit (and own!), I heard you loud and clear. This one is for you! –Laura
Update
OCTOBER 7, 2016
We have just added over two dozen gorgeous new heather and helix colors to our Line Weight, Alpaca Pure, and Worsted Twist collections, plus six new colors of Flax Down this past spring. What does this all mean?! Four new Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket Bundles, some subtle, some bold, all beautiful!
Update: New Yarns + Pattern
February 5, 2020
Previous versions of our Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket used colors and yarns that we no longer sell, much to everyone’s frustration! And this newest redux is a happy welcome, one that uses a truly special and sumptuous blend of Season Alpaca, Linen Quill, Worsted Twist, Cashmere Merino Bloom, Line Weight, and Mulberry Merino (no longer available). Read all about it and get our updated version of this pattern here!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoRectangularColorblockBiasBlanket. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- A Purl Soho Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket Bundle, which includes 16 skeins of Purl Soho yarn…
- Yarn A: 2 skeins of Line Weight, 100% merino wool; each skein is 494 yards/ 100 grams.
- Yarn B: 2 skeins of Flax Down, 43% baby alpaca, 42% extra fine merino, 15% linen; each skein is 219 yards/ 100 grams. (NOTE: We no longer offer Flax Down, but choose from one of our other light worsted/dk weight yarns.)
- Yarn C: 2 skeins of Alpaca Pure, 100% finest alpaca; each skein is 109 yards/ 100 grams. (NOTE: We no longer offer Alpaca Pure, but choose from one of our other aran weight yarns.)
- Yarn D: 2 skeins of Worsted Twist, 100% merino wool; each skein is 164 yards/ 100 grams. (NOTE: We no longer offer Worsted Twist, but choose from one of our other worsted/aran weight yarns.)
- Yarn E: 2 skeins of Worsted Twist
- Yarn F: 2 skeins of Flax Down
- Yarn G: 2 skeins of Worsted Twist
- Yarn H: 2 skeins of Alpaca Pure
- US 8 (5 mm), 40-inch circular needles
Our Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket Bundle is available in three beautiful palettes. They are…
BLUE, pictured above
- Yarn A: Purl Soho’s Line Weight in Desert Blue
- Yarn B: Purl Soho’s Flax Down in Heirloom White
- Yarn C: Purl Soho’s Alpaca Pure in Artemisia Green
- Yarn D: Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist in Heirloom White
- Yarn E: Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist in Ash Gray
- Yarn F: Purl Soho’s Flax Down in Artemisia Green
- Yarn G: Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist in Stillwater Blue
- Yarn H: Purl Soho’s Alpaca Pure in Oyster Gray
PINK, pictured above left
- Yarn A: Purl Soho’s Line Weight in Super Pink
- Yarn B: Purl Soho’s Flax Down in Pink Grapefruit
- Yarn C: Purl Soho’s Alpaca Pure in Paprika Red
- Yarn D: Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist in Heirloom White
- Yarn E: Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist in Ballet Pink
- Yarn F: Purl Soho’s Flax Down in Heirloom White
- Yarn G: Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist in Peony Pink
- Yarn H: Purl Soho’s Alpaca Pure in Super Pink
YELLOW, pictured above right
- Yarn A: Purl Soho’s Line Weight in Storm Gray
- Yarn B: Purl Soho’s Flax Down in Toasted Charcoal
- Yarn C: Purl Soho’s Alpaca Pure in Oyster Gray
- Yarn D: Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist in Dijon Yellow
- Yarn E: Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist in Yellow Yellow
- Yarn F: Purl Soho’s Flax Down in Heirloom White
- Yarn G: Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist in Tabby Gray
- Yarn H: Purl Soho’s Alpaca Pure in Heirloom White
Gauge
18 stitches = 4 inches in garter stitch, holding Yarn A and Yarn B together
Size
42 inches wide x 72 inches long
Pattern
Begin + Increase
With one strand of Yarn A and one strand of Yarn B, cast on 5 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1 (right side): K2, make 1 left (m1L), knit to last two stitches, make 1 right (m1R), k2. [2 stitches increased]
Row 2: P2, knit to last two stitches, p2.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used both skeins of Yarn B, ending with Row 2.
Cut Yarn A, and put it aside for later.
Join Yarn C.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used the both skeins of Yarn C, ending with Row 2.
Join Yarn D.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have 251 stitches, ending with Row 2.
Continue
Still using Yarn D…
Row 1 (right side): K2, m1L, knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1.
Row 2: P2, knit to last two stitches, p2.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used both skeins of Yarn D, ending with Row 2.
Join Yarn E.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used both skeins of Yarn E, ending with Row 2.
Join one strand of Yarn F and one strand of Yarn A.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used one entire skein of Yarn F, ending with Row 2.
Continue + Decrease
Join second skein of Yarn F with the strand of Yarn A.
Row 1 (right side): K1, ssk, knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1. [2 stitches decreased]
Row 2: P2, knit to last two stitches, p2.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used the entire second skein of Yarn F, ending with Row 2.
Cut Yarn A, and put it aside for the tassels.
Join Yarn G.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used the both skeins of Yarn G, ending with Row 2.
Join Yarn H.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 5 stitches remain, ending with Row 2.
Bind off knitwise.
Make + Attach Tassels
Use Yarn A to make a Tiny Attached Tassel at each corner of the blanket. Visit our Tiny Attached Tassel Tutorial for step-by-step instructions.
Finish
Weave in the ends and block as desired!
Hi…I’m a bit confused by your pattern…as it is written in your pattern, you have noted just before the section CONTINUE, that we end with 251 stitches. In a post earlier you have said that at the end of the CONTINUE section there should be 251 stitches.
Which one is it as right now I have worked to 251 stitches by increasing one stitch at each end of row 1 of pattern.
Please clarify as I have already knit and your pattern is not very clear.
Please clarify: how many stitches should I have before I begin to decrease on one side of row 1?
Please clarify: how many stitches at end of CONTINUE section of pattern or before I begin CONTINUE + DECREASE section of pattern?
Thank you,
Rita
Hi Rita,
Thanks for reaching out! The pattern is correct as written. You should repeat Rows 1 and 2 of the BEGIN + INCREASE section until you have 251 stitches, ending with row 2, before moving on to the CONTINUE section.
I hope this clears things up!
Warmly,
Gianna
Thank you for your response.
I am knitting the blanket in one colour of a worsted weight yarn.
As I am not changing colours, I would ask if you know how many stitches I should be at before I begin decreasing at both ends of the blanket? This was not answered in your previous response and would be helpful for those using only one colour of yarn.
Thank you
Rita
Hi Rita,
You actually maintain the 251 stitches throughout the CONTINUE section since in Row 1 you are both making 1 stitch and decreasing 1 stitch at the same time! You should still have 251 stitches once you finish the CONTINUE section and move on to the CONTINUE + DECREASE section. If you are only using 1 color, I would recommend referencing the diagram shown above the pattern to keep track of the measurements of each “color section” so you know when to begin the decreasing.
I hope this clears things up!
Warmly,
Gianna
Thank you. It kind of answers my question. I guess because I am using only one colour it is a bit more of a measuring thing.
Thank you again for your quick response.
Rita
Hi Rita,
Yes that is correct, when using one color you will need to rely on measurements since once you increase to 251 stitches, the stitch count will remain the same throught the CONTINUE section until you begin decreasing on both sides.
All the best,
Gianna
Thank you.
Thank you for explaining how to keep the 251 stitches throughout the CONTINUE section. I thought these Rows 1 & 2 were the same as Rows 1 & 2 in the BEGIN + INCREASE section.
Hello
I would like to knit the pattern with 12 ply wool
Do I just go down a size in my needle to achieve the correct size
Thanks
Jan
Hi Jan,
Thanks for reaching out! I would suggest starting off by working a gauge swatch with the yarn and an appropriately sized needle, from there you can compare your gauge to the gauge of the pattern and make adjustments accordingly!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Your patterns are beautiful and enjoy so many of them. I have a question on this blanket. I am knitting with Malabrigo Rios worsted yarn that is washable, as they have animals. I wish to follow the similar dimensions (throw size), so do you start your decrease around 36″ on the top (left) long edge? The increase section works for me at 251 stitches on US 7 needles. Thank you for your help with this conversion.
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for reaching out! Perhaps the best way to visualize where to begin your decrease is by measuring along the left diagonal. If you’re looking at our measurements chart for the blanket, you’ll see that this diagonal is labeled 42″. So I would knit until your left diagonal reaches 42″, and then begin your decreases for the top left long edge! Hope this helps, and let me know if you’d like me to clarify more.
All the best,
Lili
I am about to start this blanket but the size is scaring me. I don’t see a diagram for the smaller size option and wonder if there is any way to adjust the given dimensions for something in between.
Hi Terry,
Thanks for writing in. You can absolutely knit a smaller sized blanket! The way this pattern works is that you knit until you’ve run out of yarn on each skein, so what you could do is simply knit until you’re halfway or so through a skein, and then switch colors. That way, the blanket will automatically come out smaller! Hope this helps.
All the best,
Lili
Writing this on 6/21/22.
Are there any bundles currently available that I can buy for this rectangular blanket? Specifically interested in the blue or yellow. And what is the cost of the bundle?
Thanks
Hi Terri!
Thank you for writing in! We unfortunately do not have a bundle available for this blanket as some of the yarns have been discontinued, however if you would like to reach out to us at customerservice@purlsoho.com, we would be happy to help provide some yarns and prices for this blanket!
All the best,
Margaret
Hi,
I have 9 colors of blue sky organic cotton. I was going to hold them double and try to knit a baby blanket using this pattern. Do you think if I follow the pattern and knit until each skein is gone that would make a nice size baby blanket? I don’t like them too small and to be honest, I wouldn’t mind allowing for shrinkage either because I’d be shocked if my daughter didn’t accidentally throw it in the dryer at least once. 🙂
Thanks. Cindy
Hi Cindy!
Thank you for reaching out! Since Blue Sky Fibers Worsted Cotton is a worsted weight yarn, I think holding two strands together would be too thick for this pattern. However, you could knit one stripe in each color and follow our Super Easy Baby Blanket pattern! With 9 colors instead of 7, your blanket will be larger than in the pattern too, especially since you are using a worsted weight yarn.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Margaret
I would like to knit the colorblock bias blanket in blue which is very beautiful as shown. Since you don’t have all of the colors available, would you put together a “kit” and provide other similar color options and be sure to include the light gray and off white tones. I am knitting it for my daughter’s wedding shower gift and want it to match her bedroom color pallette. Thanks!
Hi Robin,
Thank you for asking! We’re glad to hear this blanket caught your eye, and while we are currently unable to make a custom kit for this project, I have listed below the in-stock yarns and colors I suggest for this blanket:
Yarn A: 2 skeins of Line Weight in Clear Sky
Yarn B: 2 skeins of Cashmere Merino Bloom in Heirloom White
Yarn C: 2 skeins of Plenty in Mint Blue
Yarn D: 2 skeins of Worsted Twist in Heirloom White
Yarn E: 2 skeins of Worsted Twist in Ash Gray
Yarn F: 2 skeins of Cashmere Merino Bloom in Heirloom White
Yarn G: 2 skeins of Worsted Twist in Stillwater Blue
Yarn H: 2 skeins of Plenty in Ash Gray
I hope this helps you get started on your daughter’s blanket!
All the best,
Margaret
I am starting the Colorblock bias rectangular. How can I calculate to make it wider and longer than 42X72?
Thank you
Barbara
Hi Barbara!
Thank you for asking! To make a larger blanket, I suggest working more repeats of Rows 1 and 2 in the first section with Yarn A and Yarn B held together to create a triangle that is taller than 23″. Since each of the following stripes are based on this initial triangle, this is the best spot to establish a larger size! You will likely need more yarn to do this as well. To determine a specific width and length for your blanket, I would refer to your gauge swatch to determine how many stitches and rows per inch you are getting. This way, you can add a corresponding number of rows and stitches to the first triangle for your desired additional length and width.
I hope this helps you make a larger blanket!
All the best,
Margaret