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!
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 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.
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 customerservice@purlsoho.com 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 customerservice@purlsoho.com 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