All of the pieces fall into place with our Easy Puzzle Blanket. A sleight of handicraft, it’s one bright and simple solution that only appears to have many moving parts.
The construction is a clever variation on our classic Four Points Baby Blanket. We take the same basic process: knit a garter-stitch triangle by decreasing along one edge until you’re down to a point, then pick up stitches for the next triangle… But here, to each triangle, we throw in a few colorful stripes. Easy!
So the only brainteaser this blanket really presents is what colors to choose. With 47 beautiful colors of Linen Quill to choose from, play! Or for a one-stop, six-skein answer, pick up an Easy Puzzle Blanket Bundle, in this Salt Water Taffy combo here, or see below for two more options: pink and plummy Radicchio and ticker tape Parade.
It’s really fun and surprising to watch this beauty unfold. Triangles that are anything but trying, a puzzle that’s anything but puzzling!
Designed for Purl Soho by Jake Canton.
Materials
Our Easy Puzzle Blanket Bundle includes 6 skeins of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca and 15% linen. Each skein is 439 yards.
- Color A: 1 skein, approximately 334 yards required
- Color B: 1 skein, approximately 198 yards required
- Color C: 1 skein, approximately 190 yards required
- Color D: 1 skein, approximately 131 yards required
- Color E: 1 skein, approximately 190 yards required
- Color F: 1 skein, approximately 310 yards required
NOTE: To make the Throw Size you will need an additional…
- 2 skeins of Color A; approximately 1,083 total yards required
- 1 skein of Color B; approximately 638 total yards required
- 1 skein of Color C; approximately 610 total yards required
- – skeins of Color D; approximately 421 total yards required
- 1 skein of Color E; approximately 610 total yards required
- 2 skeins of Color F; approximately 1,000 total yards required
You will also need…
- US 3, 32-inch circular needles
Choose from three palettes…
Salt Water Taffy
Shown above and the palette we used to knit up our sample…
- Color A: Eggshell Blue
- Color B: Bright Flamingo
- Color C: Oatmeal Gray
- Color D: Pale Oats
- Color E: Super Orange
- Color F: Dandelion Yellow
Parade
- Color A: Green Turquoise
- Color B: Heirloom White
- Color C: Vintage Celadon
- Color D: True Turquoise
- Color E: Red Poppy
- Color F: Cobalt Blue
Radicchio
- Color A: Crocus Bud
- Color B: Dark Iris
- Color C: Pink Pop
- Color D: Chestnut Red
- Color E: Rhubarb Pink
- Color F: Wheat Flour
Gauge
29 stitches and 56 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch
Size
Crib Size (Throw Size)
Finished Dimensions: Approximately 30¾ x 30¾ inches (55 x 55 inches)
Note
For instructions and a video tutorial on how to pick up stitches along a vertical edge in garter stitch, please visit our Picking Up Stitches Tutorial.
Pattern
Triangle 1
With Color A, cast on 156 (282) stitches.
Set-Up Row (wrong side): Knit to end of row.
Row 1 (right side): Knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog. [1 stitch decreased]
Row 2 (wrong side): Knit to end of row.
Continuing with Color A, repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 3 (5½) inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 2.
Cut Color A.
With Color B, repeat Rows 1 and 2 for 10½ (18¾) inches, ending with Row 2.
Cut Color B.
With Color C, repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 1 stitch remains. [8¼ (14¾) inches]
Cut yarn and pull tail through remaining stitch.
Triangle 2
With the right side of Triangle 1 facing you, orient the 90-degree angle at the top right corner. Starting at the 90-degree corner, use Color A to pick up and knit 156 (282) stitches [see Notes, above] along the top edge of Triangle 1.
Set-Up Row (wrong side): Knit to end of row.
Row 1 (right side): Knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog. [1 stitch decreased]
Row 2 (wrong side): Knit to end of row.
Continuing with Color A, repeat Rows 1 and 2 for 9¾ (17½) inches, ending with Row 2.
Cut Color A.
With Color D, repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 1 stitch remains. [12 (21½) inches]
Cut yarn and pull tail through remaining stitch.
Triangle 3
With the right side of Triangle 2 facing you, orient the 90-degree angle at the top right. Starting at the 90-degree corner, use Color C to pick up and knit 156 (282) stitches along the top edge of Triangle 2.
Set-Up Row (wrong side): Knit to end of row.
Row 1 (right side): Knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog. [1 stitch decreased]
Row 2 (wrong side): Knit to end of row.
Continuing with Color C, repeat Rows 1 and 2 for 4¾ (8½) inches, ending with Row 2.
Cut Color C.
With Color E, repeat Rows 1 and 2 for 13 (23¼) inches, ending with Row 2.
Cut Color E.
With Color F, repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 1 stitch remains. [4 (7¼) inches]
Cut yarn and pull tail through remaining stitch.
Triangle 4
With the right side of Triangle 3 facing you, orient the 90-degree angle at the top right. Starting at the 90-degree corner, use Use Color F to pick up and knit 156 (282) stitches along the top edge of Triangle 3.
Row 1 (wrong side): Knit to last stitch, slip last stitch knitwise to right-hand needle, pick up and knit 1 stitch from the adjacent cast-on edge of Triangle 1, pass slipped stitch over.
Row 2 (right side): Knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog. [1 stitch decreased.]
Continuing with Color F, repeat Rows 1 and 2 for 15¼ (27½) inches, ending with Row 1.
Cut Color F.
With Color D and starting with Row 2, repeat Rows 1 and 2 for 2 (3½) inches, ending with Row 1.
Cut Color D.
With Color B and starting with Row 2, repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 1 stitch remains. [4½ (8) inches]
Cut yarn and pull tail through remaining stitch.
Weave in the ends and block as desired.
PRINT
How difficult would it be to make this blanket in a larger size? Could you start with a larger triangle ?
HI Mary,
Thanks for the request! We are working on instructions to make this lovely blanket larger and hope to have them available very soon!
Best,
Cassy
Thanks!
I, too, would like to make this blanket in a larger size. Will you send the pattern in a separate post or should we check back on this post? Thanks!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for writing in! We will certainly be updating here on this post when we have instructions on how to make this lovely blanket larger!
Best,
Cassy
This pattern is for 4 triangles, like the baby blanket. There are not rectangles or 6 colors like the picture. Wrong pattern?
Hi Janet,
Thanks for writing in! This lovely blanket is made by working 4 triangles and changing the colors as these triangles are worked. If you take a look at the laid out blanket image above, you can see that there are no true rectangles but rather that each color block is made up of part of one of the triangles. It is a little bit of a puzzle (thus the name) but it is a lovely take on our Four Points Blanket with some simple color changes!
Best,
Cassy
I love this easy puzzle blanket. I want to make it bigger. Gorgeous colors!
Hi Sheryl,
Thanks for the request and your kind words! We are working on instructions to make this lovely blanket larger and hope to have them available very soon!
Best,
Cassy
Is there a variation of this pattern that makes a larger size blanket…say 50×60?
I love the pattern and color schemes but would like it larger for use as a coverlet/throw.
Thank you and I LOVE linen quill! I’ve ordered it several times!
Best,
Cissy
Hi Cissy,
Thanks for the request and your kind words! We are working on instructions to make this lovely blanket larger and hope to have them available very soon!
Best,
Cassy
Beautiful. Thanks knee deep. If only I could stand and knit.😅😅♥️
I’m interested in the Easy Puzzle blanket pattern, in looking at this one, I think it might be the pattern for the 4 point baby blanket–can you please let me know if I’m mistaken? Thanks so much
This is such a fun variation on the original! Thank you so much for sharing your creativity with us.
I HOPE I MAKE IT AS NICE AS IT LOOKS IN THE PICTURE FOR OUR NEW SOON TO BE GREAT GRANDSON.
If I use worsted weight yarn, would I end up with the same shape only a larger end product?
Hi Caryn,
Thanks for reaching out! Although it’s hard to say exactly how much bigger your blanket would turn out, you could certainly knit this pattern as written using worsted weight yarn on a US 7 or 8 needle to create a larger blanket!
Best,
Julianna
I’m not sure I understand how you could make it as written with a larger yarn/needle since the pattern measures in inches, not rows. So if I’m using a worsted-weight yarn and size 8 needles, my first triangle is going to be 21.75″ high (3″+10.5″+8.25″) but more like 34″ long if I cast on 156 stitches. What am I missing?
Hello Liz,
This is a great observation and you are absolutely correct, you would only do this if you wanted your blanket to come out larger.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Sounds like some math would be required to keep the proportions correct. I might give it a go and see how I do 🙂
Hello Liz,
Yes, it is true. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
HAppy knitting,
Marilla
What other yarns could be used? The yarn used is a little high for my budget. Thank you!
Hello Lynne,
Thank you for reaching out- this is a great question! While Linen Quill is one of our most affordable options, you could knit this blanket up using just 4 colors rather than 6 and have enough yarn to complete same dimensions.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
I love the seeming complexity and modern look of this pattern. I’ve been wanting to attempt my first on the bias knit and this may be the one! I am curious if there is anyway to make it in a larger, rectangular shape?
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for the request! We are working on instructions to make this lovely blanket larger and hope to have them available very soon!
Best,
Cassy
Is the above pattern for Easy Puzzle It looks like it might be for the Four Points Baby blanket–thanks so much
Hi Jill,
Great question! At its base, this pattern is the same as the Four Points Blanket. The main difference here is that there are clever color changes that change the look of the original blanket!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I see it now! Thanks!
Love this pattern! And the colors! Is it possible to create a triangular shawl using triangles 1 and 2 (or any 2 of the 4) ? Or a rectangular version 30 3/4” by 50”? The colors and shapes make me think of Diebenkorn’s painting Ocean Park 79. Thank you for any suggestions.
Hi Linda,
Great question and thank you for your kind observation! You absolutely can knit just triangles 1 and 2 to create a shawl. In fact, several of our lovely employees have done as so! You can pick which ever color combinations that work for you and work triangles 1 and 2!
Best,
Cassy
I have roughly 413 g or 900 yards of cashmere Merino bloom left over from a previous project(color flow garter wrap). My gauge was tween 18 and 19 stitches to 4 inches) . I was wondering whether this would be enough to make this lovely blanket.I could insert stripes as I ran out of the various colors.
Many thanks for the advice. I should add that this year it was a dream to work with.
Hi Carla,
What a great idea! For this blanket we used roughly 1350 yards of yarn. To make this work, you would need to adjust your cast on (any even number will do) but figuring out that cast on could be a bit tricky given that you have quite a bit less yarn and the constructions is a bit unusual. I have done some very rough, back of the napkin math and think at a cast on (and pick up) of 140 stitches instead of 156 stitches, should work. My recommendation would be to weigh your remaining yarn as you go to be sure that you will have enough. An alternative option would be to purchase 2 more skeins of Cashmere Merino Bloom and you would have adequate yardage to make this blanket as written using needles more appropriate for this thicker yarn.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
How would you suggest scaling this pattern to make an adult version? I just finished the Nature’s Pallette Blanket and the dimensions were 40″w x 60″l. Thanks for your help.
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for the request! We are working on instructions to make this lovely blanket larger and hope to have them available very soon!
Best,
Cassy
The color change A on the easy puzzle blanket says knit 3” from the cast on edge. Are the other color changes knit the designated number of inches from the beginning rows of each of the colors or from the cast on edge.? The linen quill yarn is knitting up wonderfully.
Hi Deborah,
Thanks for reaching out, and I’m so happy to hear you are enjoying working with Linen Quill – it is one of my favorites! For the second, third, and fourth triangles, you will begin by picking up stitches from the edge of the previous triangle, and will then measure the first few stripes from the picked up edge, which will feel quite similar to measuring from the cast on edge of the first triangle.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Thank you for clarifying measuring colors for triangles 2,3 and 4. I am still confused though on triangle 1 measurements of each single color. I knit 3” in color A from the cast on edge, added color B and from the beginning of this new color alone, I have knitted 7” and 1/2”. My question is do I knit 3 “ more of color B to equal 10 and 1/2” or does the 10” and a 1/2” include the colors A and B together?
Hi Deborah,
I apologize that I didn’t understand your question! For Color A, you will measure from the cast on edge, and you will then use color B for 10 1/2 inches, so you will be measuring from the first row of Color B, not from the cast on edge. I hope that clarifies everything!
Best,
Julianna
Thank you so much for answering my question on measuring the color changes. I am back on my way to finishing triangle 1.
I appreciate your very quick return responses, awesome help!
When you say pull through at the end of each triangle are you casting off? Thank you!!
Hi Emily,
Great question! Since you decrease each triangle until you are left with just one stitch, there aren’t enough stitches left to work a cast off. You will, however, secure the final stitch the same way you would the last stitch left after casting off, by cutting the working yarn, threading the tail through the final stitch, and pulling it tight.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
So gorgeous! I would love to have this in a crochet version.
Hello Sherry,
Thank you for the suggestion- I will certainly pass it along!
Best,
Marilla
I love this blanket, can hardly wait for the larger version of this blanket, to be released. Thank you so much.
Hi Myrna-lynn,
Thanks for reaching out! We have released a larger version! Please see the pattern above where we have added information on how to make the larger blanket!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I was hoping to use your worsted cotton yarn to make this blanket. How many skeins do you think I need if I’m making the smaller size blanket (ie not the throw size)? Thanks!
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for reaching out! It’s hard to say exactly how much yarn you will need since Blue Sky Worsted Cotton is much heavier than Linen Quill, which is a fingering weight yarn, so you will have to make some pattern adjustments in order to end up with a blanket the same size as ours. To figure out how many stitches to cast on, you will need to knit a gauge swatch on US 8 or 9 needles and multiply your stitches per inch by 21.5 inches. One skein each of 6 colors of Worsted Cotton should be enough for the crib sized blanket at this gauge!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
I want to knit this beautiful blanket in a machine washable yarn. What do you recommend?
Thanks!
Hi Lee,
Great question! This blanket would be just lovely in Posy, which is machine washable!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I love the linen quill – have made the nature’s palette. I would like to make the larger version of this Easy Puzzle Blanket with the linen quill but using a larger needle. If I double the yarn (like the Nature’s Palette) and use a size 7 needle, how much of each color would I need?
Thanks for your help.
Hello Rita,
Thank you for reaching out! To do this you will need to double the amount of yarn to maintain the ratios needed for the shapes.
I hope this helps and let us know how it goes!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
The gauge will be different with the size 7 needle and the yard doubled. Can you help me determine how many stitches I should cast on initially and then when I am picking up the stitches for the other triangles?
Your help and wonderful service is much appreciated.
Rita
Hello Rita,
You are absolutely correct, this will take some calculations. I recommend knitting a gauge swatch to see what your gauge is. Once you have this you can begin the process of translating this pattern to your new gauge. You will need to do all of your stitch calculations before beginning the process. I would write out a diagram like ours, but with your desired measurements and then plugging in your gauge.
I hope this helps and good luck!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
I love this bright, cheerful blanket! Thank you for sharing it online.
What machine washable yarn would you suggest? I will be knitting
it for a new baby joining our family.
Thank you.
Hi Lee,
Great question! I think Posy would be a delightful yarn for an easy-care version of this blanket!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
If I knit this using a worsted weight yarn with size 7 or 8 needles and follow the pattern as written (i.e., casting on 156 stitches), do you think one 200 yard skein of each color would be sufficient?
Thanks
Hi Lee,
Thanks for reaching out! Using a larger needle will require more yardage, since each stitch will take more yarn to wrap around the larger needle, so unfortunately 200 yards of each color will not be enough. I would recommend getting about 50% more yardage of each color to be on the safe side, so you will need 501 yards of Color A, 297 yards of Color B, 285 yards of Color C, 197 yards of Color D, 285 yards of Color E, and 465 yards of Color F.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Is the yardage you list for worsted weight yarn?
Thanks
Hi Lee,
Yes, that is for knitting the pattern as written, casting on 156 stitches for the first triangle and picking up 156 for each subsequent triangle, but using worsted weight yarn on a larger needle.
Best,
Julianna
Hi,
What is the dimensions of the Blanket (NOT the throw size)?
Hi Jumu,
Thanks for writing in! The crib blanket version measures 30¾ x 30¾ inches.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
This may be a stupid question but there are no instructions on the pattern for the final seam, between triangle 4 and triangle 1. What joining method would you recommend .
Hello Jane,
Thanks for writing- there are no stupid questions! You will be joining triangle 4 to triangle 1 as you knit triangle 4. For example – “Knit to last stitch, slip last stitch knitwise to right-hand needle, pick up and knit 1 stitch from the adjacent cast-on edge of Triangle 1, pass slipped stitch over”.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Re instructions: when working with color B, do I work for 10.5 inches from cast on or for color B?
Hi Michelle,
Great question! You will be working Color B for 10.5 inches from the first row of Color B, not from the cast on of the triangle.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I am knitting this blanket using wool Phildar Charly, needle US 8 for a 4” square sample (20 stitches and 28 rows). I have a problem with the triangles. T 1 is smaller than T2 and T3. I followed the pattern instructions and don’t get why I have this problem. I have not done T4 yet. Your suggested wool would have a different gauge than the wool I used and I did not make a test gauge. How can you help me solve this problem. Many thanks.
Hi Rita,
Thanks for reaching out! Even in a different weight of yarn, all the triangles should turn out the same size, since they all start with the same number of stitches and have the same number of rows. Is it possible that you either picked up the wrong number of stitches to begin Triangles 2 and 3, or missed a few decreases so you ended up working more rows than you did in Triangle 1? Either way, I would recommend going back to the beginning of Triangle 2 and double checking that you are using the same needle and that you are starting with the exact same number of stitches you did for Triangle 1.
I hope that helps!
Julianna