Equal Measure Blanket
With its even blocks of color and nubbly garter fabric, our Equal Measure Blanket has a simple beauty that measures up to our summer knitting dreams!
Lines of garter stitch with a crisp slip-stich edge create a blanket that leans into the uplifting charm of an easy knit.
And the thick stripes add just enough variety to suck you in (I’ll go to bed when I finish this color… Really, I will).
Also keeping things interesting? Our soft and breezy Picnic Cotton. Colored threads wrapped around a fluffy, white core, this two-color “ingabiatto” structure (“encaged” in Italian) knits into a lovely, marled fabric.
Picnic Cotton is made from long-staple 100% Peruvian Pima cotton, which translates into a durable yarn that gets softer with age and makes a very cozy blanket!
And since it’s machine wash- and dry-able, it’s okay if a little bit of life happens to your blanket… Pop it into the washer and good as new!
There are three gorgeous Equal Measure Blanket Bundles to choose from, including the radiant Rosehip above and below.
You could also cool off your summer with Creek, above, or cultivate something gorgeous with Veggie Garden, below.
Whichever you choose, rest assured that your Equal Measure Blanket will be a joy to make and use… By every measure!
Designed by Purl Soho designers, Hiromi Glover and Keith Foster. Click here to see even more of Hiromi’s work and here to see more of Keith’s!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoEqualMeasureBlanket, and #PurlSohoPicnicCotton. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
Our Equal Measure Blanket Bundle includes…
- 17 skeins of Purl Soho’s Picnic Cotton, 100% Peruvian Pima cotton. Each skein is 164 yards/ 50 grams.
- Main Color (MC): 7 skeins; approximately 1080 total yards required
- Colors A–E: 10 skeins (2 per color); approximately 305 total yards required of each color
You will also need…
- US 8 (5 mm), 32-inch circular needles
- A removable marker or piece of scrap yarn
We knit up all 3 palettes…
VEGGIE GARDEN (top row, above)
- MC: Heirloom White
- Colors A–E: Mint Julep, Sugar Plum, Key Lime, Sweet Nectarine, Summer Hay
ROSEHIP (bottom left, above)
- MC: Heirloom White
- Colors A–E: Rose Bark, Red Poppy, Bright Flamingo, Pink Peppermint, Pink Sand
CREEK (bottom right, above)
- MC: Heirloom White
- Colors A–E: Purple Aster, Cobalt Blue, High Seas Blue, Speckled Wren, Sky + Clouds
GAUGE
20 stitches and 38 rows (19 garter ridges) = 4 inches in garter stitch, holding two strands together
SIZE
Finished Dimensions: 30 inches wide x 36 inches long
NOTES
YARN DOUBLED
Throughout this pattern, you will hold two strands of one color together. The easiest way to do this is to wind two skeins into separate balls. For the last skein of the Main Color, pull a strand from the inside and outside of the ball.
GARTER RIDGE
A “garter ridge” equals two rows of garter stitch. It looks like a prominent horizontal ridge and is an easy way to count rows!
PATTERN
With two strands of Color A, cast on 150 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
NOTE: After you knit the first row, place a removable marker or piece of scrap yarn on that row to indicate the right side of the piece.
*Row 1: With two strands of Color A, slip 1 knitwise with yarn in back, knit to end of row.
Repeat Row 1 for 4 inches, ending with a wrong-side row.**
Cut both strands of Color A.
With two strands of Main Color (MC), repeat Row 1 for 4 inches, ending with a wrong-side row.
Cut both strands of MC.***
Repeat from * to *** three more times, using Colors B–D instead of Color A.
Repeat from * to ** one time, using Color E instead of Color A.
Bind off loosely knitwise.
FINISHING
Weave in all ends and gently block as desired.
I am just curious are there two sizes for the blanket? It looks like there are but the instructions only show the 30×36 size. If there are two sizes how do you adjust for the larger size?
Hi Joan,
We’ve only designed and knit this blanket in one size! You can absolutely adjust the pattern to make the blanket larger if you want though. Just cast on more stitches! If you have a particular size in mind, I’d be happy to help with the calculations to figure out your cast-on number. Let me know!
All the best,
Lili
I’m interested in a larger size! For a standard throw(48×60), how much more yarn is required?
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for letting me know! For a 40×60 inch blanket, you would need a total of 18 skeins of the main color and 5 skeins for each contrast color. Then, you’ll need to cast on 240 stitches to begin!
All the best,
Lili
Love the look of this design. Is there an option for a large size (throw size)?
Hi Cindy,
We’re so happy to hear you’re a fan of this design! Yes, you can definitely make the blanket larger! If you double the amount of skeins in the original pattern, meaning you’d be working with 14 skeins of the Main Color and 4 skeins each of the Contrast Colors, you can make a blanket that measures about 41.5″ x 52″. That would be two of the blanket bundles (https://www.purlsoho.com/equal-measure-blanket-bundle.html) if you’re interested in those!
All you’d need to do is adjust your cast-on number of stitches to 208 stitches, making sure that you’re getting the gauge in the pattern (20 stitches and 38 rows (19 garter ridges) = 4 inches in garter stitch, holding two strands together). Then, just knit each stripe to be 5.78″ instead of 4″!
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Cat
It does! Thank you. 2 bundles ordered yesterday!
Most appreciative!
Please tell me the finished size of these blankets?
Thank you.
Hi Virginia,
The completed blanket measures 30 inches wide x 36 inches long. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Cat
Hello, I am wanting to buy the Veggie Garden bundle however, I don’t like the mint julep color. Can you please recommend a couple of other yarn colors that I could use that would look good with that bundle?
Thank you for your beautiful yarn and patterns, they are all wonderful!
Hi Carol,
Absolutely! I think that Red Poppy or Bright Flamingo would be great alternatives to Mint Julep in the Veggie Garden color palette. Red Poppy would be my preference, but both are good to consider!
All the best,
Lili
Hi there.
Looking to make a baby blanket version. How many skeins and how many to cast on? Many thanks!
Judy
Hi Judy,
This blanket is already intended to be a baby blanket! The dimensions are 30 inches by 36 inches. Did you want to make it even smaller?
All the best,
Lili
How would I enlarge this to make a throw approximately 40”x60”. How many stitches would I cast on and how much yarn should I buy? Thanks!
Hi Mindy,
For a 40×60 inch blanket, you would need a total of 15 skeins of the main color and 5 skeins of each contrast color. Then, you’ll need to cast on 200 stitches to begin!
All the best,
Lili
I’m so excited for my oder to arrive, I’ll be knitting a baby blanket. Would I be able to do an I-Cord edging as I knit this? Just to add a different look?
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for reaching out. Yes, you can absolutely add an i-cord edge to this blanket!
All the best,
Lili
Hello,
I would like to make a lighter weight blanket for a So Cal baby. Would using a single strand of Picnic Cotton and #3 or #4 needle make a tight enough weave? And if so, do I need half of each color to make a similar size as the pattern? Thank you for your help.
Sue
Hi Sue,
Thanks for reaching out! We recommend using size US 2 – 4 needles with Picnic Cotton held single, so I think either of those choices would work great. You would still probably need about the same amount of yardage since the stitches will be more dense though, so I’d recommend purchasing the full amount.
I also wanted to let you know that we accept returns of skeins in their original condition, so I’d recommend only winding each one until you’re certain you need to use it. That way, you can return any extras for store credit if you don’t end up using them!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you.
Hi there,
I am considering doin this throw doubled. Would I cast on double and work double the stripes. I’d love to make this for an adult grandchild.
Thank You
By the way, I know I would have to buy 2 kits.
Hi Teri,
Thanks for reaching out! Casting on double and doubling the stripes would actually quadruple the size of the blanket, in terms of the area, meaning that you would actually need quadruple the amount of yarn. If you just double the amount of skeins in the original pattern, meaning you’d be working with 14 skeins of the Main Color and 4 skeins each of the Contrast Colors, you can make a blanket that measures about 41.5″ x 52″. This is the largest size you can make with just 2 bundles! But if you want to quadruple the size of the blanket by doubling the length and the width, rather than the area, then you would need to use 4 bundles.
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Lili
Is this a soft yarn to work with? I’ve never worked with a cotton yarn like this. Does it feel “stringy” or soft? Thanks
Hi Janice,
Picnic Cotton is very soft! It’s comprised of a fluffy core of fiber, wrapped in delicate threads to provide structure.
All the best,
Lili
Just started working this. The instructions say “repeat row 1 for 4” ending with a wrong side row”. I’m finding this confusing. Does it mean finish a wrong side row so the right side is what is worked next? Or finish a right side row so you are working the wrong side next? Thanks!
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for writing in, and I can see how that wording is confusing! To clarify, it means to finish with a wrong side row. Then, you will being the next instruction starting with a right side row!
All the best,
Lili
I need a clarification of terms. The instructions say “Repeat Row 1 for 4 inches, ending with a wrong-side row.** “. Does this mean complete the wrong -side row and the next row is front? Or the opposite, that you are adding the new color starting on the wrong side?
This may be a duplicate, but I don’t think I ever hit send.
Hi Lisa,
I believe I replied to your question yesterday! Have you been able to see the answer yet? It should be just above this comment.
All the best,
Lili
Hi, Thank you I’m a huge fan of your patterns, yarns and customer service.
I’m confused why there are only 7 and not 8 skeins of the MC. That way we could maximize the yarn purchased. I just completed 1st CC and it was almost 5 inches.
Hi Sherri,
Thanks for reaching out! The reason we recommend 7 MC skeins is based on the yardage. It took 1080 yards of the MC to complete our samples of this blanket, and if you divide this by the yardage per skein (which is 164 yards), you get about 6.5 skeins, which we rounded up to 7!
I also wanted to let you know that we didn’t use up the entire CC skein for each CC stripe. You’ll only need to knit each stripe to 4 inches, and then cut the yarn. There will be some left over–but that’s expected!
All the best,
Lili
Hi!
Would it be possible to make the Equal Measure blanket with the tulip cotton that is on sale. I understand that the tulip cotton is worsted weight and the picnic cotton is fingering so I would just knit with a single strand of the tulip cotton, if my thinking is correct? How much of the tulip cotton would I need for a
40″ X 60″ throw?
Thank you for your help!
Hi Cathryn,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, this blanket would be lovely in Tulip Cotton, and it would definitely work held single. For a 40- x 60-inch throw (if you’re planning on maintaining the design with 9 stripes), you would need 11 skeins of the main color, and 3 skeins of each contrast color. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Would it work to use US 9, 32″ needles? If so are there other adjustments I should make or expect?
Thank you!
Hi Lissie,
To determine what needles are best for you to use, you’ll need to make a gauge swatch first! You could absolutely use size 9 needles though, but you may need to adjust how many stitches you cast on if you end up getting a different gauge from that listed in the pattern.
To figure out your cast-on number, you’ll also need to knit up a gauge swatch first. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like and cast on the nearest whole number. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
All the best,
Lili
Hi! I liked the idea someone else mentioned of using the Tulip Cotton held single. How many skeins would I need for the 30×36” baby blanket size? And would you use recommend using the same needles mentioned in the pattern, or different needles? Thanks!
Hi Katherine,
Thanks for writing in! To make this blanket using Tulip Cotton you will need 5 skeins of the main color and 2 skeins of each of the contrasting colors. We always recommend making a gauge swatch to see if the needle size in the pattern works for you and if you are happy with the fabric but you should definitely be able to use the same size needle. I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Gavriella