Our Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket is for lovers of fiber, in all its distinctions and possibilities. This project takes all our favorite yarns and throws them into one fiber stew, a super fun knit that is an old-time favorite around here!

Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket In New Yarns + Colors | Purl Soho

Previous versions of our Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket used colors and yarns that we no longer sell, much to everyone’s frustration! And this newest redux is a happy welcome, one that uses a truly special and sumptuous blend of Season Alpaca, Linen Quill, Worsted Twist, Cashmere Merino Bloom, Line Weight, and Mulberry Merino.

Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket In New Yarns + Colors | Purl Soho

Using these new yarns alters the pattern slightly (to accommodate new yardages), but it’s still the same basic concept: start in one corner, and knit in garter stitch to the other. The result is eye-catching bands of color along the bias, finished off with a sweet tassel at each corner!

Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket In New Yarns + Colors | Purl Soho

Each stripe is either a combination of two yarns, or one yarn on its own, making both marled and solid stripes along the way. Cleverly, all the combos have the same gauge, keeping your knitting footloose and fancy-free.

Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket In New Yarns + Colors | Purl Soho

Our new Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket Bundles come in three palettes: Marble (shown here, a real cool customer in shades from white to black), as well as Poppy and Seaside if color is your current mood. Plus, the pattern comes in two sizes: Crib, shown here, or Throw, for a larger (but just as lovely) knit!

Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket In New Yarns + Colors | Purl Soho

Originally designed for Purl Soho by Laura Ferguson and updated by Jake Canton.

Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoRectangularColorblockBiasBlanket. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

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To knit your own Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket, you will need
12 (19) skeins of Purl Soho yarn…
 
  • Yarn A: 1 (2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Season Alpaca, 100% baby alpaca. Each skein is 218 yards; approximately 218 (436) yards required.
  • Yarn B: 1 (1) skein of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca and 15% linen. Each skein is 439 yards; approximately 220 (439) yards required.
  • Yarn C: 1 (2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 164 yards; approximately 164 (328) yards required. (NOTE: We no longer offer Worsted Twist, but choose from one of our other worsted/aran weight yarns.)
  • Yarn D: 1 (2) skein(s) of Season Alpaca. Each skein is 218 yards; approximately 218 (436) yards required.
  • Yarn E: 1 (1) skein of Linen Quill. Each skein is 439 yards; approximately 220 (439) yards required.
  • Yarn F: 1 (2) skein(s) of Season Alpaca. Each skein is 218 yards; approximately 218 (436) yards required.
  • Yarn G: 1 (1) skein of Linen Quill. Each skein is 439 yards; approximately 220 (439) yards required.
  • Yarn H: 1 (2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Cashmere Merino Bloom, 75% extra fine merino and 25% cashmere. Each skein is 218 yards; approximately 218 (436) yards required.
  • Yarn I: 1 (1) skein of Purl Soho’s Line Weight, 100% merino wool. Each skein is 494 yards; approximately 247 (494) yards required.
  • Yarn J: 1 (2) skein(s) of Worsted Twist. Each skein is 164 yards; approximately 164 (328) yards required.
  • Yarn K: 1 (2) skeins(s) of Purl Soho’s Mulberry Merino, 80% extra fine merino wool and 20% silk. Each skein is 247 yards; approximately 218 (436) yards required. (NOTE: We no longer offer Mulberry Merino, but choose from one of our other sport weight yarns.)
  • Yarn L: 1 (1) skein of Linen Quill. Each skein is 439 yards; approximately 220 (439) yards required.
You’ll also need…
 

Marble

Shown above and the palette we used to knit up our sample…

  • Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Stillwater Blue
  • Yarn B: Linen Quill in Salt + Pepper
  • Yarn C: Worsted Twist in Salt + Pepper
  • Yarn D: Season Alpaca in Heirloom White
  • Yarn E: Linen Quill in Wheat Flour
  • Yarn F: Season Alpaca in Dove Gray
  • Yarn G: Linen Quill in Oatmeal Gray
  • Yarn H: Cashmere Merino Bloom in Dove Gray
  • Yarn I: Line Weight in Fieldstone Gray
  • Yarn J: Worsted Twist in Stillwater Blue
  • Yarn K: Mulberry Merino Dark Loam
  • Yarn L: Linen Quill in Kettle Black

Poppy 

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  • Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Pink Apricot
  • Yarn B: Linen Quill in Super Orange
  • Yarn C: Worsted Twist in Heirloom White
  • Yarn D: Season Alpaca in Autumn Oak
  • Yarn E: Linen Quill in Bright Flamingo
  • Yarn F: Season Alpaca in Red Pine
  • Yarn G: Linen Quill in Rhubarb Pink
  • Yarn H: Cashmere Merino Bloom in Fresh Fig
  • Yarn I: Line Weight in Lotus Flower
  • Yarn J: Worsted Twist in Bougainvillea Pink
  • Yarn K: Mulberry Merino Red Plum
  • Yarn L: Linen Quill in Dark Iris

Seaside

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  • Yarn A: Season Alpaca in Reef Green
  • Yarn B: Linen Quill in Green Turquoise
  • Yarn C: Worsted Twist in Reed Gray
  • Yarn D: Season Alpaca in Light Cerulean
  • Yarn E: Linen Quill in Vintage Celadon
  • Yarn F: Season Alpaca in Sapphire Blue
  • Yarn G: Linen Quill in Cobalt Blue
  • Yarn H: Cashmere Merino Bloom in High Tide
  • Yarn I: Line Weight in Blue Jeans
  • Yarn J: Worsted Twist in Night Blue
  • Yarn K: Mulberry Merino Gray Shade
  • Yarn L: Linen Quill in Dark Denim

Gauge

  • 19 stitches and 40 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch in every yarn combination, unblocked
  • 18 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch in every yarn combination, blocked

Size

Crib (Throw)
 
  • Unblocked Dimensions: Approximately 29½ wide x 43½ inches long (42 inches wide x 64 inches long)
  • Finished Dimensions: Approximately 31 inches wide x 46 inches long (44 inches wide x 67 inches long)

Sample: We knit the Crib size.

Notes

Schematic

Here is a visual aid for the finished, unblocked blanket…
 
Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket In New Yarns + Colors | Purl Soho

Pattern

Begin + Increase

Holding one strand of Yarn A and one strand of Yarn B together, cast on 5 stitches.
 
Row 1 (right side): K2, make 1 left (m1L), knit to last two stitches, make 1 right (m1R), k2. [2 stitches increased]
 
Row 2 (wrong side): P2, knit to last two stitches, p2.
 
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used 1 (2) skein(s) of Yarn A, ending with Row 2. Piece measures approximately 13½ (20) inches from cast-on edge.
 
Cut Yarns A and B, if necessary.
 
Join Yarn C, and using just Yarn C…
 
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used 1 (2) skein(s) of Yarn C, ending with Row 2. Piece measures approximately 4¾ (7) inches from last yarn change.
 
Join one strand of Yarn D and one strand of Yarn E, and holding them together…
 
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until there are 201 (281) stitches, ending with Row 2.
 

Continue

Still using Yarns D and E together…
 
Row 1 (right side): K2, m1L, knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1.
 
Row 2 (wrong side): P2, knit to last two stitches, p2.
 
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used 1 (2) skein(s) of Yarn D, ending with Row 2. Piece measures approximately 5 (7¼) inches from last yarn change.
 
Cut Yarn E, if necessary.
 
Join one strand of Yarn F and one strand of Yarn G, and holding them together…
 
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used 1 (2) skein(s) of Yarn F, ending with Row 2. Piece measures approximately 5 (7¼) inches from last yarn change. 
 
Cut Yarn G, if necessary.
 
Join one strand of Yarn H and one strand of Yarn I, and holding them together…
 
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used ½ (1) skein of Yarn H, ending with Row 2. Piece measures approximately 2½ (3½) inches from last yarn change.
 

Continue + Decrease

Still using Yarns H and I…
 
Row 1 (right side): K1, ssk, knit to last three stitches, k2tog, k1. [2 stitches decreased]
 
Row 2 (wrong side): P2, knit to last two stitches, p2.
 
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used 1 (2) skein(s) of Yarn H, ending with Row 2. Piece measures approximately 4¾ (7) inches from last yarn change.
 
Cut Yarn I, and put it aside for the tassels.
 
Join Yarn J, and using just Yarn J…
 
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have used 1 (2) skein(s) of Yarn J, ending with Row 2. Piece measures approximately 4½ (6¾) inches from last yarn change.
 
Join one strand of Yarn K and one strand of Yarn L, and holding them together…
 
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 5 stitches remain, ending with Row 2. Piece measures approximately 14¼ (21) inches from last yarn change,
 
Bind off knitwise.
 

Make + Attach Tassels

Use Yarn I to make a Tiny Attached Tassel at each corner of the blanket. Visit our Tiny Attached Tassel Tutorial for step-by-step instructions. We made our tassels approximately 3 inches long.
 

Finish

Weave in the ends and block as desired!
 
Rectangular Colorblock Bias Blanket In New Yarns + Colors | Purl Soho