Nature’s Palette Blanket
Earth, air, fire, and water. Forest, desert, ocean, and sky… All in one very beautiful blanket. Our Nature’s Palette Blanket is for the nature-loving, the color-obsessed, and the fiber-infatuated!
An afternoon sky peeks through a redwood forest canopy; a setting sun casts a lavender glow in the sky; and inky blue slides into deep eggplant as dusk turns to dark. The interpretations are endless, which means you can bring your own experiences to bear on this stunning blanket’s color flow.
This unfettered color play wouldn’t be possible without the 17 new colors we just added to our Linen Quill collection. Its raw blend of fine highland wool, alpaca and linen conjures nature’s rugged beauty and is the perfect foil for this blanket. In double stranded seed stitch, the texture and heft of the Nature’s Palette Blanket add a whole other layer of satisfaction.
To smoothly transition from one color to the next, we hold two different color strands together and alternate colors for a few rows at each color shift. We put together the 14 skeins you’ll need in our Nature’s Palette Blanket Bundle, making it easy for you to get started on your gorgeous blanket!
UPDATE: NOW A WRAP
OCTOBER 2022
A carefully crafted tribute to our Nature’s Palette Blanket, this wrap is smaller in size, but its artistry is expansive! It has all the same gorgeous gradient color as its namesake, now in a version that can venture out into the world with you. The Nature’s Palette Wrap Bundle packs a magnificent amount of inspiration in a smaller, more affordable package than our Blanket Bundle. Cast on and enjoy the vibrancy of nature’s palette!
Designed by Purl Soho founder and co-owner, Joelle Hoverson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoNaturesPaletteBlanket, and #PurlSohoLinenQuill. We can’t wait to see what you make!
MATERIALS
Our Nature’s Palette Blanket Bundle includes…
- 14 skeins of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. Each skein is 439 yards/ 100 grams.
- 1 skein of Kettle Black; approximately 307 yards required
- 2 skeins of Dark Iris; approximately 623 yards required
- 2 skeins of High Tide; approximately 549 yards required
- 1 skein of True Turquoise; approximately 417 yards required
- 1 skein of Vintage Celadon; approximately 356 yards required
- 1 skein of Oatmeal Gray; approximately 360 yards required
- 1 skein of Pale Oats; approximately 373 yards required
- 1 skein of Crocus Bud; approximately 356 yards required
- 1 skein of Rosewood Pink; approximately 211 yards required
- 1 skein of Kiln Red; approximately 417 yards required
- 2 skeins of Chestnut Red; approximately 492 yards required
NOTE: A few customers have been a handful of yards short of True Turquoise. Please make sure you’re getting the correct gauge and also be sparing with your True Turquoise ends! If you want to be sure you have enough, consider ordering an extra skein. If you don’t end up needing it, you can return unwound yarn for a refund within 30 days of purchase, or within 6 months, for store credit. Our Return Policy has all the details!
You’ll also need…
- US 7 (4.5 mm), 32- or 40-inch circular needles
GAUGE
19 stitches and 34 rows = 4 inches in seed stitch with yarn doubled
SIZE
Finished Dimensions: Approximately 40 inches wide x 60 inches long
NOTES
(These are notes about the pattern, and the pattern itself starts below!)
COLOR KEY
Throughout this pattern you will hold two strands of yarn as you work. The two strands will always be different colors, and we have named each combination Colors A-O. They are…
Color A: Kettle Black + Dark Iris
Color B: Dark Iris + High Tide
Color C: High Tide + True Turquoise
Color D: True Turquoise + Vintage Celadon
Color E: Vintage Celadon + Oatmeal Gray
Color F: Oatmeal Gray + Pale Oats
Color G: Vintage Celadon + Crocus Bud
Color H: Crocus Bud + Oatmeal Gray
Color I: Crocus Bud + Kiln Red
Color J: Kiln Red + Pale Oats
Color K: Pale Oats + Vintage Celadon
Color L: Crocus Bud + Rosewood Pink
Color M: Rosewood Pink + Chestnut Red
Color N: Chestnut Red + Kiln Red
Color O: Chestnut Red + Dark Iris
STITCH PATTERN
Row 1 (right side): K2, *p1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front (wyif), *k1, p1, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1, slip 1 purlwise wyif.
COLOR CHANGE ROWS
The Color Change Rows transition from the Original Color to the New Color over the course of 4 rows.
Set-Up: After completing instructions to work in Stitch Pattern in Original Color, cut yarns, leaving 10-yard tails. Wind the tails into one small ball.
Row 1 (right side): With New Color, k2, *p1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. Slide work (see below).
Row 2 (right side): With Original Color, *k1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. Turn work (see below).
Row 3: (wrong side): With Original Color, slip 1 purlwise wyif, *p1, k1, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p1, slip 1 purlwise wyif. Slide work.
Row 4: (wrong side): With New Color, slip 1 purlwise wyif, *k1, p1, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1, slip 1 purlwise wyif.
TURN AND SLIDE
When you work the Color Change Rows, you either “slide” or “turn” the work at the end of each row.
“Turn work” means to do what you would normally do when knitting rows with circular needles: Transfer the needle from your left hand into your right hand and the needle from your right hand into your left, flipping the work around so the opposite side is facing you.
“Slide work” means to keep the same side of the work facing you and to push all the stitches to the right end of the circular needles. Without turning the work, start the new row as you normally would.
You will know that you’re doing this right if the yarn you need to complete the next row is right there waiting for you!
PATTERN
With Color A (see Notes), cast on 195 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Work in Stitch Pattern (see Notes) until piece measures 4 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4 (see Notes), adding in Color B.
With Color B, work in Stitch Pattern for 3 inches, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color C.
With Color C, work in Stitch Pattern for 10 inches, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color D.
With Color D, work Stitch Pattern Rows 1 and 2 two times. [4 total rows]
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color E.
With Color E, work Stitch Pattern Rows 1 and 2 two times. [4 total rows]
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color F.
With Color F, work in Stitch Pattern for 3 inches, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color E.
With Color E, work Stitch Pattern Rows 1 and 2 two times. [4 total rows]
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color G.
With Color G, work in Stitch Pattern for 2 inches, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color H.
With Color H, work in Stitch Pattern for 2 inches, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color I.
With Color I, work in Stitch Pattern for 2 inches, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color J.
With Color J, work in Stitch Pattern for 2 inches, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color F.
With Color F, work Stitch Pattern Rows 1 and 2 two times. [4 total rows]
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color K.
With Color K, work in Stitch Pattern for 2 inches, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color L.
With Color L, work in Stitch Pattern for 2 inches, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color M.
With Color M, work in Stitch Pattern for 3 inches, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color N.
With Color N, work in Stitch Pattern for 5 inches, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color D.
With Color D, work in Stitch Pattern for 1 inch, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color O.
With Color O, work in Stitch Pattern for 4 inches, ending with Row 2.
Work Color Change Rows 1-4, adding in Color A.
With Color A, work in Stitch Pattern for 4 inches, ending with Row 2.
Bind off in stitch pattern.
Weave in all ends and block!
I would like to make this larger – for a twin bed. I looked online and a twin blanket is around 60″ x 88″.
What would be the cast on – that is, how many stitches? And how many skeins will I need (or how many bundles should I purchase)?
Is there anything else I will need to be mindful of?
Please advise, thank you so much!
Thank you.
Hi Susan,
Thanks for reaching out! We’re so excited for your blanket, that sounds fabulous! To knit up the Nature’s Palette Blanket so it measures 60″ x 88″, you will need to cast on 285 stitches instead of the original amount. I definitely recommend knitting a gauge swatch beforehand to make sure your gauge matches up with the pattern; this will ensure you do not run out of yarn, and here’s our guide on swatching if you’d like more information (https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2020/08/20/all-about-gauge/)!
To make the blanket in these larger dimensions, you will need the following number of skeins:
2 skeins of Kettle Black
4 skeins of Dark Iris
3 skeins of High Tide
3 skeins of True Turquoise
2 skeins of Vintage Celadon
2 skeins of Oatmeal Gray
2 skeins of Pale Oats
2 skeins of Crocus Bud
2 skeins of Rosewood Pink
3 skeins of Kiln Red
3 skeins of Chestnut Red
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Cat
Hello! As a massive stash buster (I’ve currently got well over 20 skeins/partial skeins of Linen Quill), I am planning to use this pattern as the template for a temperature blanket for 2024. I’m planning on using 10 shades of Linene Quill (one for each 10 degree increment from 0-100 degrees because we’ve got quite a range in NY) and will knit each day’s rows with the corresponding color for the day’s high paired with a neutral shade of Linen Quill. So my question is what shade of neutral Linen Quill would you recommend? My chosen colors (from cold temps to hot) are Crocus Bud, Purple Smoke, Dark Denim, Mountain Bluebird, Juniper Green, Golden Green, Raw Siena, Chestnut Red, Peony Pink, Bright Flamingo. Reed Grey is a lovely neutral and I’m leaning toward that but wanted to consult with the expert eyes at Purl Soho.
Thanks so much,
Megan
Hi Megan,
A stash-busting temperature blanket is such a great idea! I think Reed Gray is a really nice choice for a neutral color to tie everything together. One more option would be Wheat Flour, which is a slightly warmer neutral, if you want to go in that direction! But Reed Gray is a perfect choice too!
All the best,
Lili
Where are the “Notes” for this pattern?
Hi Molly,
You can find the Notes section directly below the Sizes section on this page! If you’re having trouble locating that, I’d recommend using the search function (control + f or command + f) on your browser.
All the best,
Lili
Hi, I bought the bundel a Long time ago for Blanket size (when the Color came out). How many Stiches do I Need to cast on for the blanket instead of the Warp.
Thanks for answer me, Marion
Hi Marion,
Thanks for writing in! We are so glad to hear you will be jumping into this project. The instructions here are the same but the update is just to let folks know that we also now offer a wrap very similar to the blanket you see here. You will cast on 195 stitches for your blanket. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Would I be able to make this blanket using the linen quill minis? Just really like the colors and got the idea from the scarf pattern.
Hi Claire,
Yes, that’s a great idea! Just a heads up though, you will need to make the dimensions of the blanket smaller. The blanket as designed takes up a little bit more yardage than is included in the Linen Quill Minis Bundle. I’d suggest casting on a few fewer stitches!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, I would Like to knit the blanket instead of the Wrap. I bought a blanket boundle back in 2018. how many Stiches do I have to cast on?
Thanks for your answer an many greetings from Switzerland
Marion
Hi Marion,
Thank you for writing in! This pattern includes all the instructions for the blanket version of this pattern. So the 195 stitch count is correct. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella