Book lovers meet knitters! The design for our Library Blanket takes a page from a brimming bookshelf filled with fanciful books, dreamed up in a world where blues and purples meet pinks and oranges… A pretty wild tale!

Library Blanket | Purl Soho

As much as stories, we love color. By pulling two yarns together, we grew our palette exponentially and were able to create all these glorious marles that blend and contrast, blur and delineate, whisper and shout!

Library Blanket | Purl Soho

One strand is our single-ply Line Weight merino wool, a soft and cozy little filament that adds a downy glow. And the other is Linen Quill, a fine highland wool, alpaca, and linen blend that brings down-to-earth texture and stunning color.

Library Blanket | Purl Soho

Making this blanket is just as absorbing as a juicy novel. All in simple garter stitch, you work the horizontal stripes as you’d imagine, but for the “books” (aka the vertical stripes), you work the stripes while picking up from the top edge of the last horizontal stripe. Easier done than said, but the long and short is no sewing!

Library Blanket | Purl Soho

A full cast of colors and an epic knitting adventure, curl up with this good knit! Our Library Blanket Bundle writes the book on beauty with its selection of absolutely gorgeous yarn… Pick one up and cast on!

Library Blanket | Purl Soho

UPDATE: SAME CONSTRUCTION, NEW DESIGN

FEBRUARY 2022

Library Blanket | Purl Soho

Borrowing a page from the Library Blanket’s clever construction, our Side Street Blanket moves from the library to the streets with its beautiful bird’s-eye view of a city neighborhood. We used the same combination of Linen Quill and Line Weight to create an entirely new map of gloriously marled colors! You can find the Side Street Blanket here!

Designed by Purl Soho founder and co-owner, Joelle Hoverson.

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

Materials

Library Blanket | Purl Soho

Our Library Blanket Bundle makes one Throw-size blanket and includes (shown above, top to bottom and left to right)…

  • 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Line Weight, 100% merino wool, in Heirloom White. Each skein is 494 yards; approximately 484 yards required. (We used almost an entire skein. Make sure you knit on gauge, or pick up an extra skein of Heirloom White if you’re nervous about running out. If you don’t wind it into a ball and don’t use it, you can return it for store credit!)
  • 1 skein of Line Weight in Bright Flamingo, approximately 267 yards required.
  • 1 skein of Line Weight in Red Plum, approximately 385 yards required.
  • 2 skeins of Line Weight in Lotus Flower, approximately 588 yards required.
  • 2 skeins of Line Weight in Blue Jeans, approximately 558 yards required.
  • 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen, in Pale Oats. Each skein is 439 yards; approximately 404 yards required.
  • 1 skein of Linen Quill in Super Orange, approximately 259 yards required.
  • 1 skein of Linen Quill in Dark Iris, approximately 237 yards required.
  • 1 skein of Linen Quill in Crocus Bud, approximately 119 yards required.
  • 4 skeins of Linen Quill in Cobalt Blue, approximately 1378 yards required.

NOTE: For a Crib-size blanket, you’ll need just one skein of each color, except Linen Quill in Cobalt Blue. For that color, you’ll need two skeins!

You’ll also need…

NOTE: Want to try out your own color combinations? One of our wonderful customers designed this Color Preview Tool to help visualize your own creative color mixing. Thank you Liz!

Gauge

20 stitches and 40 rows (or 20 ridges) = 4 inches in garter stitch, holding one strand of Line Weight and one strand of Linen Quill together

Note: We recommend swatching in a Color Combo that doesn’t require much yarn for the blanket, like Color L: Super Orange LQ + Bright Flamingo LW.

Sizes

Crib (Throw)

Finished Dimensions: 40 inches wide x 33½ inches long (40 inches wide x 58 inches long)

Sample: The blanket pictured here is Throw size.

Notes

Yarn Doubled

You will double the yarn throughout this pattern, pulling one strand of Linen Quill and one strand of Line Weight together.

Cutting Yarn

When you switch to a new color and the pattern says “cut yarn,” cut both strands of the colors you are dropping, unless the following color combination uses one of the same colors. In that case, you should just cut the one color you won’t be using.

Color Combo List

A: Cobalt Blue Linen Quill (LQ) + Red Plum Line Weight (LW)
B: Super Orange LQ + Heirloom White LW
C: Cobalt Blue LQ + Lotus Flower LW
D: Cobalt Blue LQ + Blue Jeans LW
E: Pale Oats LQ + Heirloom White LW
F: Dark Iris LQ + Red Plum LW
G: Pale Oats LQ + Bright Flamingo LW
H: Cobalt Blue LQ + Bright Flamingo LW
I: Crocus Bud LQ + Lotus Flower LW
J: Dark Iris LQ + Blue Jeans LW
K: Cobalt Blue LQ + Heirloom White LW
L: Super Orange LQ + Bright Flamingo LW
M: Dark Iris LQ + Lotus Flower LW
N: Pale Oats LQ + Lotus Flower LW
O: Dark Iris LQ + Heirloom White LW
P: Crocus Bud LQ + Bright Flamingo LW
Q: Pale Oats LQ + Blue Jeans LW
R: Pale Oats LQ + Red Plum LW
S: Super Orange LQ + Lotus Flower LW
T: Dark Iris LQ + Bright Flamingo LW

Horizontal Stripe Section

Knit every row.

Vertical Stripe Section

Row 1 (right side): Knit to marker, slip marker, slip last stitch of Vertical Stripe Section, knit next stitch of Horizontal Stripe Section, pass slipped stitch over to join Vertical Stripe Section to Horizontal Stripe Section, turn work.

Row 2 (wrong side): Move working yarn between needles to back of work, knit to end of row, slipping marker when you come to it.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2.

Pick Up For Horizontal Stripe Section

Orient blanket with cast-on edge at the bottom and Vertical Stripe Section across the top. With right side facing you and with specified color, pick up and knit one stitch between each garter ridge along selvage edge, starting with upper right hand corner of blanket. Be sure to start picking up between cable-cast-on row of Vertical Stripe Section and first garter ridge, and finish picking up between last garter ridge and bind-off row from the Vertical Stripe Section. [200 stitches on the needle]

NOTE: For help with picking up stitches, please visit our tutorial and scroll down the page to the Along A Vertical Edge: Garter Stitch video.

Schematic

Library Blanket | Purl Soho

Want to see it bigger? Click here and view the schematic as a PDF!

Pattern

NOTE: As you work, always hold together one strand of Linen Quill and one strand of Line Weight (see Notes, Yarn Doubled). The Color Combo List (see Notes) tells you which two colors to hold.

With Combo A, cast on 200 stitches.

Horizontal Stripe Section 1

With Combo A, work Horizontal Stripe Section (see Notes) for 4 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn (see Notes).

With Combo B, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo C, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 2½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

Vertical Stripe Section 1

At the beginning of next row, with right side facing you and Combo D, use a cable cast on to loosely cast on 1 stitch, place marker (pm), loosely cast on 19 stitches. [220 stitches]

Work Vertical Stripe Section (see Notes) until Combo D measures 6 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo E, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo F, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo G, work Vertical Stripe Section for 4 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo A, work Vertical Stripe Section for 3 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo E, work Vertical Stripe Section for 5 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo H, work Vertical Stripe Section for 2½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo I, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo B, work Vertical Stripe Section for 2 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo D, work Vertical Stripe Section for 3 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo E, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo J, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo K, work Vertical Stripe Section for 4 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo L, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo C, work Vertical Stripe Section until all stitches from previous Horizontal Stripe Section have been worked, removing marker on last row and ending with a right-side row.

Next Row (wrong side): Bind off knitwise and cut yarn.

Horizontal Stripe Section 2

With Combo K, work Pick Up For Horizontal Stripe Section (see Notes). [200 stitches]

With Combo K, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo L, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 1½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo M, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo D, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 2 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo E, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo I, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 1½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo D, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

Vertical Stripe Section 2

At the beginning of next row, with right side facing you and Combo H, use a cable cast on to loosely cast on 1 stitch, place marker, loosely cast on 49 stitches. [250 stitches]

Work Vertical Stripe Section until Combo H measures 2½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo B, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo E, work Vertical Stripe Section for 9 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo N, work Vertical Stripe Section for 2 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo J, work Vertical Stripe Section for 2½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo K, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo L, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1½ inches, ending with a wrong side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo O, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo D, work Vertical Stripe Section for 4 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo P, work Vertical Stripe Section for 3 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo C, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo Q, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo B, work Vertical Stripe Section for 2 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo F, work Vertical Stripe Section for 3 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo G, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo E, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo A, work Vertical Stripe Section until all stitches from previous Horizontal Stripe Section have been worked, removing marker on last row and ending with a right-side row.

Next Row (wrong side): Bind off knitwise and cut yarn.

Horizontal Stripe Section 3

With Combo D, work Pick Up For Horizontal Stripe Section. [200 stitches]

With Combo D, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 3 inches, ending with a wrong-side row.

If you’re making the Crib size, bind off and weave in ends. If you’re making the Throw size, leave stitches on needles and cut yarn.

Vertical Stripe Section 3

At the beginning of next row, with right side facing you and Combo C, use a cable cast on to loosely cast on 1 stitch, place marker, loosely cast on 7 stitches. [208 stitches]

Work Vertical Stripe Section until Combo C measures 6½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo L, work Vertical Stripe Section for 2 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo G, work Vertical Stripe Section for 4 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo A, work Vertical Stripe Section for 10 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo B, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo E, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1½ inches, ending with a wrong side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo K, work Vertical Stripe Section for 8 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo D, work Vertical Stripe Section until all stitches from previous Horizontal Stripe Section have been worked, removing marker on last row and ending with a right-side row.

Next Row (wrong side): Bind off knitwise and cut yarn.

Horizontal Stripe Section 4

With Combo A, work Pick Up For Horizontal Stripe Section. [200 stitches]

With Combo A, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 2 inches, ending with a wrong-side row.

With Combo N, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo C, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 3 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

Vertical Stripe Section 4

At the beginning of next row, with right side facing you and Combo A, use a cable cast on to loosely cast on 1 stitch, place marker, loosely cast on 34 stitches. [235 stitches]

Work Vertical Stripe Section until Combo A measures 4½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo B, work Vertical Stripe Section for 2 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo H, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo F, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo Q, work Vertical Stripe Section for 4 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo I, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo G, work Vertical Stripe Section for 3 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo C, work Vertical Stripe Section for 2 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo K, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo P, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo E, work Vertical Stripe Section for 6 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo L, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo R, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo N, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo S, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo J, work Vertical Stripe Section for 2 inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo B, work Vertical Stripe Section for 1½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row. Cut yarn.

With Combo D, work Vertical Stripe Section until all stitches from previous Horizontal Stripe Section have been worked, removing marker on last row and ending with a right-side row.

Next Row (wrong side): Bind off knitwise and cut yarn.

Horizontal Stripe Section 5

With Combo T, work Pick Up For Horizontal Stripe Section. [200 stitches]

With Combo T, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row.

With Combo B, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row.

With Combo J, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 1 inch, ending with a wrong-side row.

With Combo C, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 3 inches, ending with a wrong-side row.

With Combo D, work Horizontal Stripe Section for 2 inches, ending with a wrong-side row.

Bind off loosely and cut yarn.

Weave in the ends and you’re done!

Library Blanket | Purl Soho