Easy Puzzle Blanket
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!
It’s really fun and surprising to watch this beauty unfold. Triangles that are anything but trying, a puzzle that’s anything but puzzling!
If you love the yarn used in this project, you’ll love all of our other yarn, too! Explore our 35+ lovingly created yarn collections, in nearly every natural fiber and spectacular color you can imagine… Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn shop!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!
Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoEasyPuzzleBlanket, and #PurlSohoLinenQuill. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
To knit your own Easy Puzzle Blanket, you will need 6 skeins of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca and 15% linen. Each skein of this fingering weight yarn is 439 yards/ 100 grams.
- 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 (3.25 mm), 32-inch circular needles
We’ve created three palettes for inspiration including the sample (Please Note: some colors may no longer be available)…
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. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
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.
Learn About Linen Quill + All Our Beautiful Yarns
We designed this project to highlight the uniquely beautiful qualities of our Linen Quill, a wonderful fingering-weight yarn that is a blend of 50% wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. It feels amazing in your hands, and in over 60 jaw-droppingly gorgeous colors, Linen Quill is the candy store of yarn!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our vast collection of (mostly free!) Linen Quill knitting patterns and cast on!
More Fingering-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of fingering-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fibers
- Shop wool yarn
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- Shop linen yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
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
I’m also hoping to make this blanket full-sized… looking forward to pattern modifications so I can do so. It’s a fabulous design!!
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
Were you able to figure out the math? I’m having a similar issue and would love any insight before I begin. I have a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows for 4 inches.
Also curious to know if you went ahead with the larger size. Did it worn out? I want to tell myself it’s a triangle and will all work out proportionately if my gauge is off, but I’m not sure that’s true.
Hi Jamie,
Thanks for reaching out! Although it’s tricky to figure out how many stitches to cast on if you are trying to make a particular size of blanket, the pattern still works out proportionately and will result in a square no matter how many stitches you start with.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi Liz, did you do this? Use the worsted?
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
Hi I’m joining triangle 4 to triangle 1 the way you suggested but I just doesn’t look like it’s gonna work. I’m picking up on the cast on edge of triangle 1 1 stitch after another if this makes sense and decreasing on the other end every 2nd row. How does it fit together because ever I’m doing something wrong cos it just doesn’t look like it’s gonna fit.
Hi Lily,
Hopefully I can clear this up for you! Just to back up a bit to make sure everything is where it should be, you should have begun Triangle 4 by picking up stitches along the top edge of the just completed Triangle 3, beginning at the center of the blanket and ending at the outside edge. When beginning Row 1 of Triangle 4, you will then be knitting from the outside back to the center, stopping when you have one stitch left, and slipping this last stitch knitwise. Before doing the next step you should still have the wrong side of the blanket facing you, with all of your stitches on your right hand needle and an empty left hand needle. Next, insert the tip of the right hand needle into the first cast on stitch of Triangle 1, just past the center point of the blanket, from the wrong side to the right side, wrap your yarn as if to knit and pull up the new stitch. Pass your slipped stitch over this new stitch and you are ready to turn and start Row 2, and you will decrease at the end of Row 2!
Continue in this manner, moving up one stitch along the cast on on each wrong side row, until you have run out of stitches. I hope this makes more sense! If it is still giving you trouble, you can always complete the triangle without joining as you go and use mattress stitch to seam the blanket instead.
Best,
Julianna
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
Hello,
I would like to try this first as coaster. How many stitches should I start with?
Hi Wren,
Thanks for reaching out! I would suggest starting with 20 stitches for a coaster-sized mini blanket!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I, too, would like to make coasters. Casting on 20 stitches is a good start, but what about the other dimensions for triangles and stripes? etc. Could you provide them ? I am very anxious to get started, Thank you Love your web site.
Hi Marilyn,
Thanks for writing in! Because of how the blanket is constructed, you don’t need to change any other dimensions. Each triangle will start with 20 stitches, and you will decrease at the same rate by following the pattern until you are down to 1 remaining stitch. We don’t have specific instructions for the stripes in the coasters as they do vary from swatch to swatch, but each triangle will be 40 rows long, and the stripes in Jake’s swatches vary from 4 to 30 rows per colors. By switching colors randomly whenever you like (or whenever you run out of a scrap!), your coasters will look very similar to Jake’s!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hi! I am well on my way to finishing the first triangle, but I’m not super happy with my edge. It’s looking just a tad messy on the decrease edge. Do you have any suggestions or am I being too critical? Thanks!
Hi Nicole,
Thanks for reaching out! It’s hard to say without seeing your work, but blocking always improves things! Since the decrease edge will be the outside edge of the blanket, you can slightly stretch or shape it while it is damp, and hopefully it will stay nice and tidy.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Thanks, Julianna! Just wanted to make sure I shouldn’t be slipping the first stitch or something. I’m probably just too critical and I bet it’ll be less noticeable as the project gets bigger. Thank you for all the lovely patters!
What cast-on method do you recommend?
Thanks!
Hi Greyson,
Thanks for reaching out! You could use either a Long Tail Cast On or a Cable Cast On for this blanket.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, could I use burnish instead of linen quill for the puzzle or 4 points blanket and would I need to adjust stitch count or needle size? Thx!
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, Burnish should be an excellent yarn to substitute for either blanket! I would still recommend knitting a gauge swatch, especially any time you are substituting a different yarn, but I don’t think you will have any problem obtaining the correct gauge.
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
What a beautiful pattern! I am hoping to make the throw size in saltwater taffy and have 2 questions:
1) I see that oatmeal heather is out of stock. Is there a substitute color you recommend to get as close to the original as possible? Maybe pale mushroom or stonewall gray?
2) Will the 32 inch circular needles work for the throw size as well?
Many thanks!
Hi Tami,
Thanks so much for the kind words and for writing in! I would recommend substituting Stonewall Gray instead. It should go well with the other colors in the palette and give an overall similar look to the blanket. When knitting the throw blanket, you will have at most 282 stitches on your needle at one time, which should still fit comfortably on a 32 inch needle since Linen Quill is a light weight yarn, but you could get a 40 inch if you prefer.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
I bought the Salt Water Taffy kit and it’s so lovely. However, I’m struggling to get the swatch to the right dimensions. I’ve tried a different size needles (several different ones in fact) and it’s coming out either way too small or just slight bigger than a 4” square – close to 4.25” square.
If I were to just simply work this up based on my gauge, how should I adjust each section of the pattern? I’m concerned that one side of the triangle would be too long and so the end result wouldn’t be a square shape. So for example, in the first triangle we’re supposed to work up Color A for 3inches. Would I need to make that longer and by how much?
Hi Susan,
Thanks for reaching out! Although the dimensions of some stripes might end up different from ours, the overall shape of the blanket will still turn out as a square even if your gauge is a bit off. As long as you are happy with how the fabric looks, there is plenty of extra yarn to knit a slightly larger blanket at your gauge without making any modifications!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Is it possible to give instructions for the swatch that is shown for the easy puzzle blanket? I would like to use the information to make wash clothes.
Thank you,
Laraine Karl
Hi Laraine,
Thanks for reaching out, and what a lovely idea! We don’t have the full details on our swatches unfortunately, but this blanket pattern will work with any cast on number, and for our swatches, we started with 24 stitches and then followed the pattern as written.
Happy knitting!
Julianna
If I wanted to make this out of 6 skeins of Super Soft Merino, would I follow the pattern as-is on larger needles and have it just be a larger blanket? Would 6 skeins be enough yarn if I did that?
Hi DD,
Thanks for reaching out, and what a wonderful idea! We have already scaled up the original version of this pattern to create our Four Points Baby Blanket in Super Soft Merino, so I think it would be really exciting to add the stripes that make our Easy Puzzle Blanket so fun. You might want to purchase a few extra skeins, as our Super Soft version uses 8 skeins and only measures 29″ square, and I’m not sure if you would want to go much smaller than that. I would recommend casting on 60 stitches for each triangle, as we did in our Super Soft blanket, and then playing around with the stripe length to create the look you want!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Can I substitute Posy for the Linen Quill? I’m looking for a washable wool for a baby blanket. If so, is required yardage comparable?
Thanks,
Anna
Hi Anna,
Thank you for writing in! Posy would make a lovely substitute for Linen Quill in this pattern as a machine washable option. I would still recommend knitting a gauge swatch, especially when substituting a different yarn, but you shouldn’t have a problem getting gauge. Posy does have less yardage per skein, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough for your project by referencing the yardages listed above under Materials. I hope that helps!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
Hi. Has anyone figured out a modification to make this a larger blanket yet? I really want to make this. thanks!
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for reaching out! One of the staff at the New York store made an Easy Puzzle Blanket out of Worsted Twist for a really easy upsizing of the pattern! I think that it would also look great in Super Soft Merino for an even larger gauge and size option.
I hope this helps – happy knitting!
Cassandra
I bought this kit and started knitting this blanket for my best friends baby before realizing the blanket is not machine washable. What will happen to this yarn if it is washed and dried?
Hi Alexis,
Thank you so much for writing in! It’s true that Linen Quill is not machine washable, so it requires a little extra TLC in the form of hand-washing (we have a great tutorial for washing non-superwash items here). If your blanket does accidentally make it into a machine and through a tumble dry there are two things that might happen: 1) it might shrink, and 2) it might felt. A little shrinkage isn’t awful, especially considering this is a stretchy garter stitch blanket, but felting changes the density, shape, and texture of the item permanently. The best we knitters can do is to stress that these gifts need to be hand washed (whether it be by sharing our hand-wash tutorial or writing up a little “Care Card”) and accept that if the blanket does end up in a washing machine it just means it was well used and well loved! I hope that helps, and please know you are in good company in caring about your knits!
Happy knitting!
Gaby
Please can you let me know how I download the pattern only, I love this blanket but am not sure what colours I want to knit it in for my neice or nephew to be.
Can you let me know how to download the pattern only.
Kind Regards
Julie Flack
Hi Julie,
Thanks for reaching out! You can use our print function to either print the pattern or download a PDF! If you’re on a desktop version of the site, you will find a “print” icon in the right column just below the date and tags. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find a “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
Follow the easy on-screen instructions to delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print or save. For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials. To remove images, click the drop down next to the image icon and change from 100% to 0%.
All the best,
Julianna
Hi, what would hapoen to the look of the blanket edge if I were to knit the first triangle from the point up?
I want to do it this way so that I can knit until I achieve the dimension I want. 2 reasons,
1. 30 inches is a bit too small and I don’t want to take any chances with bad math and wrong number of cast on stitches.
2. I am going to use scraps I have on hand here in Africa.
I hope you are well and coping ok in this uncertain time.
Hi Eve,
Thanks for writing in! If you start at the triangle point (which will be in the middle of the blanket when you are done) you would need to bind off that entire edge when you are finished with the triangle while all the other triangles would have garter stitch edges. We do have a throw size version of this blanket that measures 55″. Other blanket options might be the Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket or the Half Log Cabin Blanket . Both of these are adaptable to increasing and using multiple colors. I hope this helps!
Happy Knitting
Jessica
I am wanting to do the salt water taffy version and see that you are still out out of the oatmeal grey. Will it be available soon or do you have a suggestion for a substitute color? Thank you.
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for writing in! Although we will be restocking Linen Quill as soon as we can, we unfortunately do not have an ETA. Our mills and shipping partners are all experiencing delays due to Covid-19, so we really can’t say when Oatmeal Gray will be back in stock, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that it will arrive soon! In the mean time, if you would like to get started now, you could substitute Stonewall Gray instead. It is a little darker than Oatmeal Gray, but the overall feel of the blanket should be the same!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
I’m absolutely loving this project! I’m working on it in linen quill and it’s been so much fun. I was just wondering what method of blocking you recommend? I thought with the linen component I might do a light steam block, but I don’t want to accidentally felt it!
Hi Hannah,
Great question! I usually wet block everything I knit out of Linen Quill and it responds beautifully, but as long as you don’t handle the fabric roughly while it is damp, you can certainly steam block it without worrying about felting!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I’ve got a lot of Blue Sky Worsted Cotton and was thinking of making this pattern with it in the throw size? Is that a bad idea? I guess I’m concerned the cotton will be too heavy and the blanket will end of stretching out of shape. I’d appreciate your thoughts!
Hi Suzanna,
Thanks for writing in! We love Blue Sky Worsted Cotton for blankets, so I think that’s a fantastic idea! It’s true that cotton can stretch out a bit with use, but as long as you choose a needle size that will give you a nice firm fabric, it should hold up wonderfully, and if it does stretch a little, a trip through the washer and dryer will tighten things right back up. I would start by knitting a gauge swatch on a US 7 or 8, whichever gives you a fabric that is fairly tight but still comfortable for you to knit. You can then multiply your stitches per inch by 39 inches to determine how many stitches to cast on for the first triangle and pick up for each subsequent triangle!
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
I would love to make this blanket in the Salt Water Taffy palette, but in a worsted weight yarn. What yarn do you recommend and how would I need to adapt the pattern?
Thanks!
Hi Diane,
Thanks for writing in! I would suggest using our Linen Quill Worsted – it comes in nearly all the same colors as Linen Quill, so you can order the exact same colors that we used for our Salt Water Taffy palette! To figure out how to modify the pattern, you will need to start by knitting a gauge swatch using US 7 or 8 needles. You can then multiply your stitches per inch by either 21.5 for the baby blanket or 39 inches for the throw to determine how many stitches to cast on! It’s a bit trickier to estimate yardage when altering the gauge of the pattern like this, but I think you will need about 1,020 yards for the baby blanket or 3,195 yards for the throw, divided between your colors.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
I’m using larger needles and yarn (8 gauge) and and wondering how to size it down? Thanks for the help
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for writing in! I’m not familiar with an 8 gauge yarn, but with a tiny bit of math, you can easily adjust the cast on for this blanket to suit a different gauge! To start, you will need to knit a gauge swatch using the needle size recommended on your yarn label. You can then multiply your stitches per inch by either 21.5 for the baby blanket or 39 inches for the throw to determine how many stitches to cast on!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
I assume the blanket is knitted in 1 strand of yarn and not two strands as in the mitered corner blanket. I wanted to be sure before I cast on.
Thanks
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, this blanket is knit with a single strand of Linen Quill!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi Purl Soho,
Hope all is well with you in New York.
Please advise re colour for this lovely blanket in throw size – for a small boy.
If I use the colour ‘Parade’ but substitute Kiln Red for the Red Poppy, do you think I need to change any of the other shades to harmonise? I love the pop of the Red Poppy but might be a bit much for a boy as he grows older. Hard to be sure of the exact hues online.
Many thanks
Caroline in Brisbane
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for writing in! I think Kiln Red would look great with the bundle in the place of Red Poppy and I don’t think you would need to change out any of the other colors! If you like the Red Poppy, I do think it would it would age nicely as the boy grows!
Please let us know how this turns out!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi Gianna
Thank you.
All the best
Caroline
I love this blanket and am currently crocheting the 4 points blanket. Do you have instructions for this blanket in crochet? Or do you think I could use the crochet instructions for the 4 points and just add in the few rows of color changes? Thank you! Love your work.
Hi Amelia,
Thanks for writing in! Unfortunately we don’t currently have this blanket available as a crochet pattern, but luckily the foundation of this blanket is the exact same foundation as our Four Points Baby Blanket! So you can easily follow the Four Points pattern adding in the color changes like we have in this blanket!
I hope this helps, happy crafting!
Gianna
I have been having such fun with this pattern! But now that I am on Triangle 4, I am having such a tough time with Row 1 when you pick up a stitch from the adjacent cast-on stitch. The edge just looks really raggedy compared to the clean lines of everything else. Any tips on how I can pick up that stitch more cleanly? Thank you!
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for reaching out! We have an excellent Picking Up Stitches tutorial that shares some great techniques to maintain clean lines!
All the best,
Gianna
Thank you Gianna!
I’ve had the same issues as described by Caroline. Unfortunately your tutorials don’t help when the pattern instructions direct you to pick up the cast on edge whilst working on the wrong side (not the right side) and it does affect the appearance. It’s tough for a beginner knitter like myself and I do wish there were clearer instructions on how to pick up stitches when working the wrong side so that the appearance is still neat. Disheartening because I love the look of this pattern 🙁
Hi Penny,
Thanks for reaching out, although I’m so sorry to hear that you’re having a difficult time picking up stitches from the wrong side of your work! In the Easy Puzzle Blanket, you will always be picking up stitches from the right side though. Are you knitting a different pattern? If so, let me know the name, and I’d be happy to take a look to see what advice I can give!
All the best,
Lili
Thanks Lili! I am working the Easy Puzzle Triangle 4 section of the pattern; “ Row1(wrong side)…. pick up and knit 1 st from adjacent cast on edge of triangle 1”
– the instructions are to pick up and knit one stitch when on the wrong side of the work. I am a beginner so have I misunderstood this part of the instructions?
Like Caroline, I had no problems picking up any stitches on Triangles 2 & 3, nor the top edge of Triangle 3 – it’s the single st pick up at the end of the wrong side row that spoils the look of my project. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance 🙂
Hi Penny,
Apologies for my incorrect advice! You’re right, when you’re attaching Triangle 4 to Triangle 1, you will be picking up stitches from the wrong side. I would recommend picking up this stitch by inserting your right needle through both the purl bump and the horizontal strand just above that purl bump from the cast-on. We actually have a photo tutorial of this in our Four Points Baby Blanket pattern, which might be useful to help visualize it! You can find that right here.
All the best,
Lili
Thanks Lili! I’ve checked the photo tutorial and discovered I’ve done exactly as suggested (and relieved it was not my “knitting rooky” error!)
So, to fix the “ragged” appearance of that one row I think I’ll have to find alternative solutions. I’m thinking maybe I should just knit Triangle 4 without attaching at end of row and sew it together afterwards with an invisible mattress stitch … or maybe pick up on the right side of the work then K2tog? I’ll experiment to see if I can get a nicer looking finish – worth the effort for such a lovely pattern, right?!
Thanks for trying to help and for the speedy replies!
You’re very welcome, Penny! I’m glad that taking a look at the tutorial helped confirm that you’re picking up the stitches correctly. You’re right though, this step creates a slightly different-looking “seam” between triangles compared to the other 3. It may look a bit ragged for the first few rows, but it evens out very smoothly once you get further along! But seaming the two triangles together with mattress stitch (or whip stitch might actually work better for these edges) is definitely another good option.
All the best,
Lili
Hi,
I would like to make this in the larger size in linen quill worsted. I am thinking to do it in four colors , like the “windy day blanket. How do I figure out the yardage? Is it just a question of using the gauge of the heavier weight yarn and calculating what I need to make a 55 by 55 inch piece?
Hi Miriam,
Thanks for reaching out! That sounds like a great idea and yes it is just a matter of calculating! I would work up a gauge swatch with Linen Quill Worsted with an appropriate sized needle and from there you can figure out your cast on amount and the amount of yardage you will need!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi I wanted to make this blanket in the Salt Water Taffey. The kit was sold out so I purchased the yarn individually. I ordered the Linen Quill. It seems a little scratchy, was i supposed to order the Linen Quill worsted? Of course I have started the project and rolled up all the skeins. Any infor/advice greatly appreciated
Hi Shelley,
Thanks for reaching out! We knit this blanket in Linen Quill not Linen Quill Worsted so you have the correct yarn! The yarn is a bit more rugged fresh from the skein but as you begin to knit with it, it will soften up a great deal! Blocking the final blanket will also add to the overall softness!
All the best,
Gianna
Really love the look of this blanket. What color combinations would you suggest for someone looking at a gray, green, white scheme? Also, is there a pattern variation for the linen quill worsted twist? Thanks!
Hi Ashley,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend:
Color A: Fresh Pickle
Color B: Pale Oats
Color C: Juniper Green
Color D: Oatmeal Gray
Color E: Salt + Pepper
Color F: Trout Brown
We don’t have this pattern available for Linen Quill Worsted, but you could easily adjust it the pattern by working a gauge swatch and calculating the cast on from there!
I hope this helps and please feel free to reach out with any more questions going forward!
Warmly,
Gianna
Is there a washable yarn you could recommend for this pattern? I’m considering making for a friend with a new baby and prefer something machine washable.
Hi Kim,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend using our yarn Posy or MADELINETOSH Tosh Merino Light! They are both fingering weight yarns like Linen Quill and are machine washable! I do recommend working a gauge swatch prior to beginning to insure you are consistent with the pattern!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
I need serious help!! So I’m finishing my last color on triangle 1 and it’s wayyyy too long and I don’t understand where I went wrong. I knit three first color 3 in, 2nd 10.5 in and 3rd is over 12 in and still have a few stitches left. Can I fix this without scrapping the whole thing? I definitely cast on the correct amount too so I really have no idea what happened 🙁
Hi Leah,
Thanks for reaching out! My best guess is that your gauge is likely off, I always recommend working a gauge swatch prior to beginning to insure that you are consistent with the pattern! Luckily, this pattern is straight forward enough that having the gauge off wont cause too many problems besides being a bit bigger and the color sections will be a bit different and wont measure the same as they are supposed to in the pattern. If you don’t mind this you can keep going and you can adjust the color sections working each color a bit more to keep the proportions the same. If you do mind this then I would suggest starting over with the correct gauge! Out tutorial All About Gauge is an excellent resource to use!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Warmly,
Gianna
Thanks Gianna, I’m guessing that’s the issue too! I’m never good at gauging correctly. My triangle is perfectly shaped if you fold in half so would I just do the other triangles with the same measurements as I’ve been using? Or would I need to adjust the length you think? I don’t mind that it’s bigger as I have more than enough yarn and who doesn’t like a nice big blanket 🙂
Hi Leah,
You can actually keep going without making any adjustments since the length of the triangle is directly based off of how many stitches you cast on or pick up!
Warmly,
Gianna
WAIT! I figured it out. I hope. I think. I have exactly twice the number of rows as the number of stitches I cast on. Which means when I cast on the next side… it’ll be the right number of stitches. I might end up with a rhombus-shaped blanket though/ not sure how I’ll link up my final too-long size with my short cast-on side. Anyway, I’d still love your thoughts Gianna. Thank you! 🙏
Hi Kate,
Thanks for reaching out! For this blanket, the cast on amount directly relates to the amount of stitch you will pick up. For example, you cast on 156, and then because you decrease at the end of every row 156 times (or 156 rows) until you have 1 stitch left, you will then have exactly 156 stitches to pick up on that side.
If your gauge was slightly bigger than the gauge of the pattern, that is totally fine! However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to adjust the number of stitches, and in this case, I would not suggest changing the cast on amount, to ensure you have consistent triangles. If you would like to adjust your gauge to be consistent with the pattern then I would recommend changing your needle size instead!
If you have double the stitches, that just means you are doubling your triangle (this is actually just making the larger throw size of this blanket), not making both sides at once! If you bought the yarn for the crib size then you won’t have enough for the throw size, so if you would like to make the throw size then you will need a bit more yarn! But if you want to stick with the crib size then I would suggest starting over with the correct cast on amount (156 stitches) that way you can guarantee that you have enough yarn, the correct dimensions, and proportions. You will also be able to follow the pattern as written without needing to make any complicated adjustments.
I hope this clears things up and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Gianna
Looks like in the past you’ve recommended Posy as a washable yarn for this pattern, but it’s on sale and doesn’t have enough colors. Is there another yarn you might recommend?
Hi Kate,
Thanks for reaching out! We’re currently in the process of transitioning our full size Posy and Pocket Posy skeins into 50g skeins this year. We’re hoping to launch this new size around mid-spring but in the meantime we’re having a clearance sale for any remaining colors! For another washable alternative I would recommend MADELINETOSH Tosh Merino Light!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hello! I am excited to start this pattern. I am not familiar with a set up row for garter stitch. I saw your video on set up rows for Brioche, and that made sense, but is it the same method for this project? Thank you.
Hi Kate,
Thanks for reaching out! Unlike brioche that requires a set up row for the stitch pattern to begin, this is just simply knitting across your cast on stitches to establish one row before you begin the shaping (decreasing on one side!) So after you cast on you will knit across the row, this will become your wrong side, you will then begin the pattern with row 1 working on the right side of the fabric: knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog.
I hope this clears things up!
Warmly,
Gianna
I want to make this with a cotton yarn I have used for several blankets in the past. But I really like the design of this one and the way the different colors play with each other. Could you let me know which colors are ABCDE & F on this pattern so that I can choose colors accordingly. Thank you
Hi Jane,
Thanks for reaching out! You can find this information under the materials section of the pattern! We used Linen Quill:
Color A: Eggshell Blue
Color B: Bright Flamingo
Color C: Oatmeal Gray
Color D: Pale Oats
Color E: Super Orange
Color F: Dandelion Yellow
Warmly,
Gianna
My question is related to the final seaming of triangle #4 to triangle #1.
As an option is it possible (or advisable) to do a provisional cast-on for Triangle #1, and complete the final seaming using the Kitchner stitch to join Triangle #4 to Triangle #1?
I am looking forward to starting this interesting and colorful blanket.
Thank you!
Hi Susanna,
Thanks for writing in! I would recommend sticking to the original instructions since each triangle will be going in a different direction. For example, Kitchener stitch wouldn’t work since you are connecting the cast on edge to the salvage edge of the triangle!
I hope this clears things up and please feel free to reach out with any more questions!
Gianna
I’d like to make this with the Super Soft Merino that you recommend for the Four Points Baby Blanket. Can you recommend the proper yardage/# of skeins please?
Hi Ethel,
Thanks for reaching out! You will need 8 skeins total of Super Soft Merino for a crib size blanket! I don’t have the exact yardage available in each color since the pattern is a bit different with a fingering weight yarn, But depending on which colors you would like to use for each section you will want 1-2 skeins, just be sure you have 8 skeins total.
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
After a color change, when you say to repeat a color for 10 1/2 inches, for example, do you mean from the cast-on edge or 10 1/2 inches of that actual color?
Hi Wendy,
Thanks for reaching out! When we give a measurement, for example, 10 1/2″ that will be for that specific color, so you will measure from the beginning of that color, not from the cast on edge!
I hope this clears things up, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi Wendy,
When measuring do we measure the slanted edge or do we measure the middle. I’m on Triangle 1, Color 2. The slanted edge is 10.5 and middle is about 6.25. Where are we to measure?
Hi Cynthia,
Thank you for writing in! You will want to measure directly in the middle of your triangle starting from the cast on edge! I hope this helps but please let me know if you have any other questions!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella
Hello! I saw that you recommended Posy or Tosh Merino Light as a machine washable alternative. Do you know how to adjust the quantities of either of these to have enough yarn (ie if Color A in Linen Quill requires 1 skein, how many would you need if using Posy)? And would you recommend using the same size needles? Thank you!
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for writing in! You can find the yardage breakdown of each color under the MATERIALS section of the pattern! For the crib size, we used: Color A: 334 yards, Color B: 198 yards, Color C: 190 yards, Color D: 131 yards, Color E: 190 yards, Color F: 310 yards. Posy comes with 159 yards per skein (we recently changed the skein sizing) so you would need 3 skeins each for A and F, 2 skeins each for B, C, and E, and 1 skein for D (13 skeins total)
Alternatively, we now have two wonderful new yarns that are both machine washable, and would be beautiful with this pattern, Santolina and Buttercup Cotton! For either of those, they have a similar yardage per skein as Linen Quill, so you would just need 1 skein of each of the 6 colors.
For any of these options, you should be able to use the same needle size but I do recommend working a gauge swatch with whichever yarn you choose to make sure you are consistent!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any other questions!
Gianna
Hello, I have one more question – when switching from Color A to Color B, should I be binding off Color A, then picking up the stitches for Color B? Or should Color B just be the next yarn I knit with after I reach 3” with Color A (for the first triangle)? Thank you!
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for reaching out! In Triangle 1, after you’ve completed the last row of Color A you will not need to bind off any stitches; instead, you’ll cut Color A, and then continue knitting as you have been using Color B. You won’t need to pick up any stitches until you complete Triangle 1 and begin Triangle 2.
I hope this helps clear things up!
Warmly,
Kelsey
Hi! I am wondering if washable Morning might be a suitable yarn for this pattern? I know I would need to make adjustments for the DK/Light worsted yarn since the pattern is written for Fingering weight. Any thoughts?
Hi Cristina,
Thanks for reaching out! If you would like to make the adjustments Morning could work for this blanket! I would recommend starting off by working a gauge swatch and then you can adjust the cast-on amount from there. Alternatively, I would suggest using Buttercup Cotton or Santolina! Both are machine washable options that are fingering weight yarns like Linen Quill so you can follow the pattern as written without needing to make any adjustments!
I hope this helps and please let us know what you end up going with!
Gianna
Hi there,
I’m knitting this left-handed and have just got to Triangle 4 joining to cast-on edge of Triangle 1. I’m finding I can’t get the seam to look right. Any hints? Is there anything else I need to change to do it left-handed?
Hi Carla,
Thanks for writing in! If you can, please send a photo of your seam and the information above to our customer service team at [email protected] and they can assist you further from there!
Warmly,
Gianna
If I were to knit this on an entirely different yarn and needles (much bigger), and just use the pattern as a base… is there a number of stitches I need to cast on a multiple of? I can’t see why there would be for basic garter stitch but wanted to check.
Also, if I’m modifying as above, is there an easy way to calculate how far to knit of each colour before changing (e.g. instead of “X inches”, it would be “1/5 the width”), or should I just stick with my lazy but inaccurate backup approach of peering at the photos and taking a guess?
Hi Caitlin,
Thanks for writing in; that’s a very good question! You can absolutely knit this blanket with a different yarn and different needles, and you’re right, there isn’t a cast-on multiple since it’s just garter stitch.
I think the most accurate way to calculate the length of each color would be to base it on the length of the half diagonal, rather than the width. Your half diagonal length is just how wide your cast-on edge is, which you can figure out directly from your gauge! This length is also the height of each triangle, so with that information, you can compare the lengths of each color segment to this measurement. For reference, the length of the half diagonal in the original pattern is approximately 21.5 inches for the smaller version and 38.9 inches for the larger.
I also think that your other strategy of just taking a guess based on our photos is perfectly good! This pattern was designed to have an almost improvisatory feel to it, and each color section is supposed to be different from the others, so exact-ness isn’t necessary. I hope all this helps you get started on your blanket!
All the best,
Lili
I’m thinking of making this in Buttercup Cotton using Saltwater Taffy-like colors. From the Buttercup Cotton page, here are the colors I came up with: A = Bluebird Egg; B = Summer Melon; C = Woodland Gray; D = Heirloom White; E = Tomato Orange; F = Jonquil Yellow. Am I in the ballpark or do I need to change anything? Thanks!
Hi Dyan,
Thanks for writing in. I definitely think that most of the colors you picked are very close substitutes for the Saltwater Taffy color palette! The only one that I feel isn’t close enough is Summer Melon, mainly because it’s lighter than Woodland Gray, whereas the colors we used in Linen Quill have the opposite effect. Bright Flamingo is definitely a hard color to match though, since we really don’t have a bright pink like that in Buttercup Cotton! Summer Melon would be okay, but I would maybe go with Rosy Red instead. Or you could even use Purple Aster, which would definitely change things up since it’s purple, but I think it would match the lightness/darkness of Bright Flamingo better than Summer Melon. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
The Purple Aster is a very intriguing option. Just to make sure I’m clear on what you’re suggesting: A = Bluebird Egg; B = Rosy Red or Purple Aster; C = Woodland Gray; D = Heirloom White; E = Tomato Orange; F = Jonquil Yellow.
Hi Dyan,
Yes, that is what I’m suggesting! I think using either Rosy Red or Purple Aster as Color B will work nicely with the rest of the color palette.
All the best,
Lili
How many stitches would I cast on if I wanted the throw to be 65” square?
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for reaching out! For 65 inches square, and if your gauge is consistent with the pattern, you will want to cast on 334 stitches for the first triangle, and pick up the same number for each subsequent triangle!
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Gianna
Thank you for your quick reply!
I am waiting for my yarn order while I work in the tails on the Windy Day throw I’m making for Sam and Katie.
Cannot wait!!!!!
Follow-up: With 334 stitches at the beginning of each triangle, please advise how much of each color I would require if I’m making it as pictured.
Thank you for your help
What other adjustments will I need to consider making?
Originally I thought making this bigger would be a matter of casting on more stitches, but now I’m coming to the conclusion there is more involved.
Hi Cathy,
The only other modification you would need to make to knit this blanket with dimensions of 65″ by 65″ is to knit each color for a different number of inches so that the stripes remain proportional to our original design. To figure out exactly how many inches you’ll need to knit with each color, you can use a ratio. For example, the approximate height of one triangle in the throw size version of this blanket is 39 inches, whereas the height of one triangle in your version would be approximately 46 inches. In the first triangle of the throw size, you knit with Color A until the stripe is 5.5 inches, and this is how you would figure out how many inches to knit for your version: (46 x 5.5) / 39 = 6.5. So you would need to knit for 6.5 inches with Color A to achieve a proportional stripe. You can figure out the heights of all the other stripes this way as well!
In answer to your question about yardage in your previous comment, that requires far more complex calculations. We unfortunately do not have the time and resources to do that for you at the moment. I hope you can understand! As an estimate though, I’d recommend buying one extra skein of each color.
All the best,
Lili
If you pick up a stitch on every row for the 4th triangle won’t you always have 156 stitches? I am decreasing one stitch but also picking a stitch up so how will I decrease the triangle? I must be doing something wrong! Help!
Hi Jessica,
Thanks for writing in! For the 4th triangle, you are decreasing on one side, and on the side that you are picking up a stitch, you are not actually adding another stitch to your row, but using that picked up stitch to secure triangle 1 to triangle 4:
Row 1 (wrong side): Knit to the last stitch, slip the last stitch knitwise to the right-hand needle, then pick up and knit 1 stitch from the adjacent cast-on edge of Triangle 1, pass the slipped stitch over the last stitch as if you were binding off.
I hope this clears things up!
Gianna
Hi there! I was thinking of making this blanket in Posy, but I just noticed that the throw size is less than double the size of the crib size, but requires three times the yardage? Is that correct? Since Posy only comes in 159 yard skeins, that would be… a lot of skeins. Would you be able to recommend another yarn that also comes in bright colors that is not scratchy like Linen Quill? I have sensitive skin so I am nervous about the potential discomfort of Linen Quill. Thank you!
Alternately, could I use a mix of Santolina and Posy? So I could still get a few of those very bright colors?
Hi Bernadette,
Thanks for reaching out! Santolina and Posy are both great, super soft options to use in place of Linen Quill! The textures are quite different from each other, but I think it could be really cool to use the two together. Another excellent option would be Buttercup Cotton, it has yardage similar to Linen Quill so you will need fewer skeins than with Posy. As always I would suggest working a gauge swatch prior to beginning to ensure your gauge is consistent with the pattern!
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any more questions!
Gianna
I am making this wonderful blanket. I am making it all in wool and making it 63” square. Just completed my first triangle. I was going to leave a pic, but can’t find a way to do it.
Hi Naseem,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, we don’t have an option to share photos here on WordPress, but we would absolutely love to see your work! If you are on Instagram you can share with us by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoEasyPuzzleBlanket, and #PurlSohoLinenQuill. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi! I’ve made several baby blankets from this pattern. Now I’m interested in making this pattern in a throw size in Linen Quill worsted. Can you recommend how many stitches to cast on and how many skeins I will need of each color? Thank you!
Hi Jane,
Thanks for reaching out. To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the length of the half-diagonal of the throw size (approximately 39 inches) and cast on the nearest whole number. Then you can follow the pattern as written, just keeping in mind that you’re working with a different starting stitch count!
It’s quite a bit more difficult for us to estimate the yardage and number of skeins though, since you’re altering the weight of the yarn. I would recommend purchasing the following:
4 skeins of Color A
3 skeins of Color B
3 skeins of Color C
2 skein of Color D
3 skeins of Color E
4 skeins of Color F
This is certainly an overestimate, so keep each skein unwound until you’re ready to work with it. This way, you can send any skeins that you don’t end up using back to us in exchange for store credit! I hope this helps you plan your project.
All the best,
Lili
I’m using a provisional cast on (with waste yarn), and I’ve heard that when I pull out the cast on yarn I will lose a stitch. If I cast on an extra stitch to account for the lost one, won’t that mess up the stitch count? How can I avoid this? It’s my first time using a provisional cast on so I’m not familiar with how it works. Please help!
Hi Devon!
Thank you for your question! For the Easy Puzzle Blanket, you will only need to use a Basic Long Tail Cast On, but if you are working on another project with a provisional cast on, you are correct, you will lose a stitch after you pull out the cast on yarn. To fix this, we suggest using the tail of the cast on yarn to recreate the lost stitch so that your stitch count stays correct. We also have a full tutorial for both the Provisional Cast On Method here!
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Margaret
If I wanted to do this blanket in Morning, how can I figure out the yardage/number of skeins I would need? and what needle size would you recommend (US 5 as a starter for my swatch?). I understand I would have to do a swatch and adjustments, but as I am trying to figure this out while the sale in on, I would appreciate your help if possible. Thank you!
Hi Catherine!
Thank you for writing in! This pattern can definitely be knit in Morning, however Morning is a thicker yarn than Linen Quill, so your Morning version will not match the gauge of the pattern version, resulting in a larger blanket (which can be good!). Morning works well on a size US 5 needle, so I would recommend making a gauge swatch on a US 5 to determine how many stitches you get per inch, which will then help you match the measurements in the pattern using an adjusted cast-on amount.
I hope this helps, but please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] if you would like to discuss this further, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Margaret
What length circular needles do I need for the throw size? Thanks!
Hi Emily,
Thanks for reaching out. We recommend using 32-inch circulars for either size of this blanket!
All the best,
Lili
Do you think the Picnic Cotton yarn could work for this? Thanks!
Hi Natasha!
Thank you for commenting! Picnic Cotton could definitely work for this blanket, however when substituting yarn for any pattern, we strongly recommend making a gauge swatch to double check that everything will turn out as intended.
I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Margaret
This may seem like a silly question, but in the “NOTE: To Make the Trow Size you will need an additional “….
Is this on top of the yardage for the crib size?
Hi Marcia,
Thanks for reaching out to us! For the throw-sized Easy Puzzle Blanket, you will need those skeins in addition to the amount needed for the crib size.
You will need the following amounts in Linen Quill:
3 skeins of Color A; approximately 1,083 total yards
2 skein of Color B; approximately 638 total yards
2 skein of Color C; approximately 610 total yards
1 skein of Color D; approximately 421 total yards
2 skein of Color E; approximately 610 total yards
3 skeins of Color F; approximately 1,000 total yards
Please let us know if you have any questions!
All the best,
Carly
Hi there,
I’m at the very beginning of this blanket, and I’m at around 2 inches high but noticed that I made a mistake :'( : I’ve been knitting two together at the end of every row, not one row out of two…
I’m really hoping I don’t have to start everything over since this is a very long project. Could I just knit a small triangle in that color and add it at the side of the edge that should be a “square” ? Or will it mess up the next color I will add ?
Thank you so much for your answer !
Floriane
Hi Floriane!
Thank you for writing in, though I’m sorry to hear that happened! While you could make another triangle to fill in this gap, unfortunately I think the best way to get your project back on track is to rework this section with the decrease every other row. I know ripping back work, especially in such a large project, is a big decision, however I think you’ll be happier overall with the result if you rework this section.
Alternatively, you could continue on, and start working the decreases every other row from this point forward, relying on blocking to help shape this section into its final shape, however this initial triangle does set up the rest of the blanket, so the stitch counts for the rest of your blanket will have to be adjusted if you continue on from here without ripping back.
I hope this helps with your decision for the next steps in your blanket, and please let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Margaret
Hello —
I’d like to knit this as a throw with size 8 needles. How do I figure out how many stitches to cast on?
Hi Lori,
Thanks for reaching out. 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 of the cast-on edge (21 3/4 inches). Then you can follow the pattern as written!
All the best,
Lili
Hello! I want to try out a couple different color schemes for this blanket before I cast on for real. Can you share the stitch count for how you did the miniature samples shown for the colorways Parade and Radicchio? I figure I’ll have a couple cute little coasters at the end of it!
Thank you,
Georgia
Hi Georgia,
Thanks for writing in! I’m afraid that I’m not sure exactly how many stitches we cast on for the sample swatches, but I can absolutely give you directions to modify the size of this pattern to however small or large you’d like!
First, decide on how large you’d like the coaster to be (length of each edge, or the hypotenuse of each triangle). Then, figure out the length of the “half diagonal” by using the Pythagorean theorem to solve for the length of each triangle leg. For example, if you wanted each edge of a coaster to be 4 inches long, then the leg of each triangle would be approximately 2.83 inches long.
Once you know this length, you can multiply that number by the number of stitches per inch (which is 7.25 stitches, according to the gauge) and cast on the nearest whole number. Then you can follow the pattern as written, but switching colors after far less distance! Going back to our example of a 4 x 4 inch coaster, you would need to cast on 21 stitches to achieve these dimensions. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi. I knitted this blanket in the throw size a couple of years ago and absolutely love it. However, I was wondering if there is anyway I can add on to it to turn it into a rectangle? I really would love it to drape down either side of my bed as more of a bedspread / bed runner. Is this possible at all do you think?
Hi Anna,
Thanks for reaching out. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the construction of this blanket, it can’t be easily modified into a rectangular shape. You may be interested in our Windy Day Blanket though, which uses many small squares of the four points motif, so you can definitely make it rectangular!
All the best,
Lili
Do you think this puzzle baby blanket would look good made with different colors of the Santolina yarn?
Thank you
Hi Julie,
I think this blanket would look wonderful in Santolina! Let us know how it turns out if you end up trying this!
All the best,
Lili
Would like to make this Easy Puzzle Blanket in a machine washable version. Looking at Cotton Pure. Will it work well?
If I do the Salt Water Taffy colorway, how about A Crystal Blue, B. Lemon Mint (wasn’t sure what to put instead of Bright Flamingo), C. Gray Birch, D. Heirloom White, E. Tomato Orange, F. Jonquil Yellow. Your ideas? Also, how many skeins of each in Cotton Pure? Thanks in advance for your advice.
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for writing in! You can absolutely make this blanket in Cotton Pure, but you will need to make some modifications to the pattern since Cotton Pure is thicker than Linen Quill. First, you’ll need to cast on fewer stitches so that it comes to the correct dimensions.
To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in pattern with Cotton Pure. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width of the cast-on edge (about 21.5 inches) and cast on the nearest even number. Then you can essentially follow the pattern as written! Just keep your original cast-on number in mind when picking up stitches for each subsequent triangle.
As for colors, I love your idea! Substituting Lemon Mint for Bright Flamingo is super creative, as that color still really works with the overall palette. Yardage is a bit hard to estimate, since you’ll be changing the weight of the yarn (and gauge of the project), but you’ll likely need 2 skeins each of Colors A and F, and 1 skein of all the other colors.
Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
thanks
Hello! I’ve already made this blanket (Puzzle Blanket) before in the first set of recommended colors and love it! I want to make it again, but am eyeing the colors in the Rosebush Prism Blanket Bundle. Would you be able to recommend colors of Linen Quill that would achieve that look? I don’t mind going a little brighter either. Thank you!
Hi Lana,
Thanks for writing in! A palette inspired by the Rosebush colorway sounds so fun and we’d be happy to help! To make something similar I recommend Juniper Green, Fresh Pickle, Golden Green, Peony Pink, Lychee Pink, + Rhubarb Pink in Linen Quill.
We hope you have fun mixing and matching the colors and would love to know how it turns out!
All the best,
Zha Zha
thanks so much, Zha Zha!
btw, I live in NY and really miss your store! Hope some day it works out to open another shop- it was always SO beautiful.
Hi, I don’t see Heirloom White on the product page anymore. Is there a color that is similar? I am interested in the Parade scheme.
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for reaching out. I’m so sorry to say that we’ve discontinued Linen Quill in Heirloom White! The reason was actually because it was a little too close in shade to Pale Oats, so that color would be the best option for your project! Pale Oats is just a bit warmer and brighter than Heirloom White was. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I don’t know if this will help anyone still struggling with neatly joining triangle 4 to triangle 1 (because, like many commenters, when I attempted to join per the pattern I ended up with a very loose, sloppy looking stitches no matter how hard I tried. And the lazy part of me really didn’t want to have sew a seam after i finished the blanket…haha). So, after playing around, I found this pattern adjustment to work pretty well:
Row 1 (wrong side): Knit across. Pick up 1 stitch from adjacent cast-on edge of triangle 1**. Turn work.
Row 2 (right side): Slip the first 2 stitches as to knit (picked up stitch and 1st knit stitch) one-by-one onto right needle wyib. Pass 1st slipped stitch on right needle (picked up stitch) over 2nd stitch on right needle (knit stitch). Knit across to last 2 stitches, K2tog. [1 stitch decreased]
**for the last row before you change color: knit across until 1 stitch remains. Knit the last stitch with the NEW yarn color. Pick up 1 stitch from adjacent cast-on edge of triangle 1 with the OLD yarn color. Work Row 2 with the new yarn color.
It may feel odd, but it works! Wish I could upload a picture to demonstrate. Happy knitting!
Hi Cece,
Thanks for letting us know what worked for you! Hopefully other knitters will find this helpful as well!
All the best,
Lili