Double Seed Stitch Blanket in Cotton Pure
Linus was right, happiness really is a warm blanket, and our Double Seed Stitch Blanket in Cotton Pure really is happiness! Like a firm handshake or a tight bear-hug, there is something so satisfying about sleeping under the weight of a soft, beautiful cotton blanket.
Double Seed Stitch’s alternating knits and purls are simple, meditative, and reversible. We used the same stitch pattern for our original version of this blanket in Super Soft Merino (also wonderful), but this one in Cotton Pure is machine washable (hello, baby blankie!) and creates an even more delicate, nubbly texture, incredibly tactile and nice to touch!
To make either a large throw or 2 crib size blankets, you’ll need either 5 skeins or 10 skeins of our Cotton Pure. A classic throw or an heirloom blanket for baby, a Double Seed Stitch Blanket in Cotton Pure is all about sweet dreams!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoDoubleSeedStitchBlanket, and #PurlSohoCottonPure. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
To make one Throw size or two Crib size blankets, you’ll need…
- 1 Cotton Pure On A Cone, 100% organically grown cotton. Each cone is 2,789 yards/ 1000 grams; approximately 2,570 yards required. We used the color Freshwater Pearl.
- US 4 (3.5 mm), 32-, 40-, or 47-inch circular needles
PLEASE NOTE: If you prefer skeins and want to make just one Crib Blanket, you’ll need 5 skeins of Purl Soho’s Cotton Pure. Or if you want to make the Throw, just pick 10 skeins!
Gauge
24 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in Double Seed Stitch Pattern
Size
Crib Size (Throw Size)
Finished Dimensions: 29 inches wide x 38 inches long (42 inches wide x 55 inches long)
SAMPLE: The Blanket shown here is a Throw size.
Note
Double Seed Stitch can be worked over any odd number of stitches.
Pattern
Cast on 173 (251) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1 (wrong side): *K1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 2 (right side): Repeat Row 1.
Row 3: *P1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Row 4: Repeat Row 3.
Repeat Rows 1-4 until piece measures 40 (55) inches from cast-on edge, or to desired length, ending with Row 4.
Bind Off Row (wrong side): P1, *k1, pass stitch over, p1, pass stitch over, repeat from * to end of row.
Weave in ends.
Machine wash cold and tumble dry low, if desired.
I purchased 4 skeins of the Buttercup cotton. I’m a newbie knitter. Could I make the crib size blanket with this yarn. If so would I need to change anything like the needle size? I thinking I would knit on a circular need but not sure what length. Thanks for your help
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for reaching out! You could use Buttercup Cotton for this pattern but you will definitely need to use a different needle and adjust the gauge and cast on since this was originally made in a sport weight and Buttercup is a fingering weight! I would suggest starting out by working a swatch on a US 2 or 3 needle. For the blanket, you will want a US 2 or 3 40″ circular needles. Based on the gauge of your swatch you can calculate your cast on amount from there! Our tutorial All About Guage is an excellent resource to use.
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Gianna
Thank you for your help. I purchased 4 skeins do you think this will be enough?
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for your response! 4 skeins should be okay but you may want an additional skein or two just to be safe! In the event, you don’t need them you can return the skeins for store credit or exchange them within 6 months!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi, I would like to knit this blanket on worsted weight yarn size 8 needle. Could you recommend a yarn and suggestions to change the pattern accordingly?
Thank you!
Hi Helane,
Thanks for reaching out! This is such a great blanket and it is luckily very easy to adjust! For a worsted weight yarn, I have a few suggestions that would be great! Depending on what fiber you would like to use, I would recommend our Worsted Twist (100% merino wool) or Linen Quill Worsted (50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen) they are both excellent choices, or if you would like to stick with a cotton option like the original pattern I would recommend our Campo (50% wool and 50% organically grown cotton) or Blue Sky Fiber’s Worsted Cotton (100% certified organic cotton!)
Once you decide on the yarn, to adjust the pattern you will work a gauge swatch on the US 8 needle, measure your gauge, and then calculate your cast on from there! Just be sure to keep in mind that Double Seed Stitch can be worked over any odd number of stitches. I would also suggest checking out our tutorial All About Gauge, it is an excellent resource to use when re-gauging patterns!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions, happy knitting!
Gianna
This blanket is lovely! How do you get the edges so neat? I tend to knit loosely and my edges seem “loopy”!
Regards,
Teriza
Hi Teriza,
Thanks for writing in! The best way to keep your edges neat is to maintain an even tension throughout the row, but I also like to keep the edges a bit tighter than normal for the best result!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Beautiful! I love the simplicity of the stitch and solid color.
I’m a little hesitant to use cotton due to inelasticity. Will it stretch out and not bounce back?
Hi Paige,
Thanks for reaching out! I haven’t heard of anyone experiencing stretching out with the yarn, I believe with the correct care, the blanket should be able to maintain the same shape and dimensions!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi, I want to make this blanket in a size twin. What modifications would I make as far as yardage and # of cast on stitches?
Hi Emma,
Thanks for reaching out! An average twin size blanket is about 65 inches by 90 inches, so if your gauge is accurate with the pattern (24 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in Double Seed Stitch Pattern) I would suggest casting on 391 stitches (keep in mind the pattern only works over an odd multiple of stitches.) From there you can knit in pattern till you reach 90″ or your desired length! You will also need 2 Cotton Pure Cones to finish.
I hope this helps and please let us know how this turns out!
Gianna
Hi. I ‘m having trouble with the yarn. (Cotton pure on a cone). It keeps twisting the yarn and I can’t figure how to prevent or even fix the problem. I usually when my yarn gets twisted I just have it dangling and it spins and untwist. This doesn’t and if I get it to look like it’s not it just goes back to being twisted. Any ideas? Cuz this baby blankets r going to drive me nuts to finish them🤣 thank you for ur time
Hi Donna,
Thanks for letting us know about this issue! We really want you to enjoy your project, so I’ll let you know of one trick that might help mitigate the twisting: If you knit off the cone normally for a few rows, and then flip the cone upside-down and knit for a few more rows, the yarn often untwists itself. While it’s normal to experience a little twisting, if you feel that what you’re experiencing is excessive, I’d recommend emailing us at customerservice@purlsoho.com, and sending photos of your yarn (and the dye lot number, if possible). We would be happy to take a look at them and advise you from there! Hope this helps, and please feel free to email us.
All the best,
Lili
Hello.
I have about 900 yards of sock yarn that I’d like to make this blanket with. How many stitches should I cast on with? I’m thinking that I’ll at least get a lap blanket out of it. But I’m really struggling with the math! Should I stick with the US 4 needle?
Thanks for the advice.
Shelley
Hi Shelley,
Thanks for writing in. To figure out what needle you’ll need to use with the yarn you have, I’d recommend making a gauge swatch in pattern! If you’re able to achieve the gauge with US 4 needles, then you can stick with them, but you may have to use different needles if you’re not able to get the gauge with the US 4s.
To figure out your cast-on number, you will also want to first knit a gauge swatch! Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like and cast on the nearest odd number. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I just knitted this using a whole cone of cotton pure and now that it’s done and laid flat, it looks like at some point at the halfway mark my tension became super loose in comparison to the first half of the blanket…not sure what happened. Is this something that washing will balance out? Blocking? Any advice to hide it? Thanks!
Hi DD!
Thank you for sharing your question! There are special powers in the magic of blocking; I highly recommend blocking your blanket first to see how that evens out the tension difference. If, after blocking, there is still a noticeable difference, you have some creative options: embroider a design across the area you wish to hide, crochet a patch over it in some fun colorful motifs, or embrace the beauty of a uniquely handmade heirloom. Whichever you choose, don’t forget to be proud of all your hard work!
Hope this helps!
All the best,
Margaret
Hi, I’d like to use Buttercup Cotton for this blanket. Can you please advise as to how many skeins (8?) for the throw size, needle size (3.25mm?) and number of stiches to cast on?
Thanks very much!
Hi LJ,
Thanks for reaching out. It’s a bit difficult to estimate yardage when you’re using a different weight yarn, but my best estimate is that you’ll need to use 10 skeins of Buttercup Cotton for the throw size of this blanket! That’s because, while there is more yardage per skein, you’ll also be knitting more stitches and more rows, so the overall yardage will end up being more than what’s originally noted in the pattern.
To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern with Buttercup Cotton. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width of the throw (42 inches) and cast on the nearest odd number. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
All the best,
Lili
Hello!
I started this blanket in the throw size for my daughter before I even knew I was pregnant with my son and pivoted to make it for him- he’s now 8 months old and it is still not done! Can I cast off at 29 inches and have it be a crib size blanket or will the edges look funny the other way?
Thanks!! Your gorgeous patterns have kept me in love with knitting.
Hi Miriam,
Thanks for writing in! You can absolutely turn this into a crib size blanket by binding off early. I think that will turn out great!
All the best,
Lili
I am not an experienced knitter by a long shot. My first project a Lopi sweater in the 80s ended up being to the knees because no one told me when to stop. I have since made a shawl from a book I have. It was just knit and purl in different patterns on circulars with a super wash wool so it looks very complicated but wasn’t. It was just easy to lose one’s place. I want to make a shawl /wrap for a therapist friend when she consults with clients in the winter season and I do love this stitch.. Could this blanket be made into a wrap by altering the size? Thank you!
Hi Toby,
Thanks for writing in! You can absolutely use the double seed stitch pattern to make a wrap. All you would need to do is adjust the stitch count at cast-on so that you end up with a wrap that’s the size you intend for it to be!
To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern (if this is daunting, we have a wonderful tutorial called All About Gauge). Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like and cast on the nearest whole number. Then you can follow the pattern as written and knit until the wrap is as long as you want!
All the best,
Lili
Hi again! I am looking to bind off but I don’t understand what it means by wrong side- are you meant to bind off in place of the wrong side row?
Thanks!
Hi Miriam,
The bind-off row in this pattern is a wrong side row because it occurs when you have the wrong side of the blanket facing you! It’s also made up of purl stitches so that it matches the texture of the wrong side. Hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Lili
Hi Lili! How do I tell which is the wrong side?
Thanks!
Miriam
Hi Miriam,
You can tell what side you’re on based on the row you just knit. The final row you knit before binding off should be a Row 4, which is a right side row. That means that when you start the bind off right after finishing Row 4, you will automatically be on the wrong side!
All the best,
Lili
Got it! Thanks so much Lili!!
How would you make this a multi-colored piece? Is there a logical place (places) to change yarns?
Hi Sue,
Thanks for writing in! Were you thinking doing horizontal stripes? In general though, this stitch pattern is symmetrical and reversible, so it will look pretty much the same no matter where you switch colors!
All the best,
Lili
I bought this yarn 2 years ago and I’m finally getting around to working with it! My swatch, 24 stitches on a 3.5 mm needle, measures 4-3/4″ after blocking. The piece looks nice, though, not too loose, and having a larger blanket would be fine. Should I continue, or should I size down with the needle? (I’m not an experienced knitter.)
Hi Kim,
Thank you so much for writing in! If you want to follow the pattern exactly as we have knit here, you will want to adjust your needle size to meet the pattern gauge of 24 stitches and 36 rows per 4 inches in Double Seed Stitch Pattern. We have a wonderful tutorial that covers everything you need to know about gauge and adjustments that can be found here.
If you decide you’d like to modify the pattern to the gauge you have already made, you will want to measure your stitches per inch and multiply that number by the desired width of your blanket and that will give you your cast on number. One thing to keep in mind is that this blanket pattern is worked over an odd number of stitches, so you will adjust your cast on number accordingly. I hope this helps but please let us know if you have any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
I am also having trouble with the yarn twisting. I am using Cotton pure on a skein that I have hand wound (not using a mechanical winder) into a ball. I seem to have to stop after every row to let the knitted blanket dangle/spin until it untwists. The blanket is now too heavy to spin and untwist. Any ideas as to why this is happening and how I can stop it.
Hi Rosie,
I’m so sorry to hear that Cotton Pure is giving you trouble! It sounds like the yarn is over-twisting, which, although frustrating, naturally happens to some yarns tightly spun with multiple plies going in the same direction.
You may feel the urge to smooth out any irregularities in the texture before knitting each stitch, but this actually causes the twisting to build up further. I’d recommend letting the slight twists of the yarn go into your stitches as they appear. This will make a huge difference without altering the appearance of the knitted fabric! And even if you do notice some odd stitches, these will even out once you block your finished project.
And here’s another tip for working with yarns that tend to over-twist! Pulling from the center of the cake adds more twist to the yarn than pulling from the outside does. If you pull from the outside and let the cake spin as you pull from it, the over-twisting should be much less of an issue!
I hope this helps make Cotton Pure more enjoyable to knit with, and please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.
All the best,
Gavriella