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Chamomile Blanket
As comforting as a cup of tea in our exceptionally soft cotton Serif yarn, our Chamomile Blanket pattern is a joyful nod to classic chenille and hobnail bedspreads. Sprinkled flowers take on a dimensional charm with a super simple no-turn bobble technique you will love!
This blanket is so easy to knit, all knits and purls with sweet little bobbles. You can choose whether to work from written instructions or a chart, and if you’re new to knitting charts, this is a great project to try it out—you’ll learn all the basics, with nothing to trip you up!
With our nifty no-turn bobble method, there’s no need to turn your work (such a pain with a big project like a blanket!) and you’ll look forward to each one. And in plump, squishy Serif, each bobble is as round as a floret of dried chamomile, standing out clearly against the stockinette fabric for a deeply satisfying embossed texture.
Soft as an heirloom, easy to care for, and a joy to knit, Serif’s unique structure—a roving-like single ply of cotton wrapped with a thin cotton thread—creates an undulating strand that knits into an irresistible, slightly knobbly fabric. Its smooth feel and subtle luster are a reminder that Peruvian Pima cotton is one of the highest grades of cotton available. Serif’s gauge spans DK and worsted weight, and we knit the Chamomile Blanket right at the middle of the range, balancing supple drape with dimensionality and substance.
Cast on with classic Heirloom White for a true coverlet callback, or pick from a palette of 15 lovely colors, each with an innate glowing beauty. In any color and any size from Crib to Throw, your Chamomile Blanket will feel both vintage and timeless for generations to come!
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 55 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
Pattern designed and written by Purl Soho designer, Gaby Bush.
Story written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.
Want to print this pattern? On desktop, find the “print” icon in the right margin, and on mobile, scroll to the end of the pattern for it. Use the on-screen instructions to remove anything you don’t want to print!
Materials
- 7 (11, 18) skeins of Purl Soho’s Serif, 100% Peruvian Pima cotton. Each skein of this light worsted/dk-weight to worsted/aran-weight yarn is 164 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 1025 (1750, 2910) total yards required. We used Heirloom White.
- US 6 (4 mm), 32- or 47-inch circular knitting needles
- Stitch markers
GAUGE
20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, blocked
SIZES
Crib (Small Throw, Large Throw)
- Finished Dimensions
- Crib: 28¼ inches wide x 36¼ inches tall
- Small Throw: 36¼ inches wide x 48¼ inches tall
- Large Throw: 48¼ inches wide x 60¼ inches tall
Sample: We knit the Small Throw size.
NOTES
STITCH MULTIPLE
This pattern works over a multiple of 20 plus 21 stitches.
BOB (NO-TURN BOBBLE)
This nifty bobble is worked without turning your work. To do it, you’ll make 2 new stitches, then work the same 3 stitches repeatedly—knitting them, then slipping them back to the left needle. You’ll finish by decreasing the 3 stitches back down to 1. Here’s how…
Knit into front, back, and front of next stitch*, slip resulting 3 stitches back to left needle, [k3, slip 3 stitches back to left needle] 2 times, k1, knit 2 together (k2tog), pass second stitch on right needle over first and off needle.
*Just like a knit front and back (kfb), but knit into the front one last time before letting the stitch slip off your needle.
PATTERN
Cast on 141 (181, 241) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1 (wrong side): *P1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Row 2 (right side): *P1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 five more times, ending with a right-side row.
Continue to work from Written Instructions or Chart, both below.
WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS
Set-Up Row (wrong side): [P1, k1] 3 times, p1, place marker (pm), purl to last 7 stitches, pm, p1, [k1, p1] 3 times.
Row 1 (right side): [P1, k1] 3 times, p1, slip marker (sm), knit to next marker, sm, p1, [k1, p1] 3 times.
Row 2 and every wrong-side row: [P1, k1] 3 times, p1, sm, purl to next marker, sm, p1, [k1, p1] 3 times.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Row 5: [P1, k1] 3 times, p1, sm, k3, *BOB (see Notes), k4, BOB, k9, BOB, k4, repeat from * to 4 stitches before next marker, BOB, k3, sm, p1, [k1, p1] 3 times.
Rows 7, 9 and 11: Repeat Row 1.
Row 13: [P1, k1] 3 times, p1, sm, k3, *BOB, k19, repeat from * to 4 stitches before next marker, BOB, k3, sm, p1, [k1, p1] 3 times.
Row 15: Repeat Row 1.
Row 17: [P1, k1] 3 times, p1, sm, k3, *k10, BOB, k9, repeat from * to 4 stitches before next marker, k4, sm, p1, [k1, p1] 3 times.
Row 19: [P1, k1] 3 times, p1, sm, k3, *k8, BOB, k3, BOB, k7, repeat from * to 4 stitches before next marker, k4, sm, p1, [k1, p1] 3 times.
Row 21: Repeat Row 17.
Row 23: Repeat Row 1.
Row 25: Repeat Row 13.
Rows 27, 29 and 31: Repeat Row 1.
Row 32: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat Rows 5–32 seven (10, 13) more times, then repeat Rows 5–10 one more time.
Go on to Finishing, below.
CHART INSTRUCTIONS
NOTE: New to reading charts? Unravel the mysteries with our Reading A Chart Tutorial!
Starting in the bottom left corner of the Chart below, work wrong-side (even number) rows from left to right and right-side (odd number) rows from right to left.
Work the Set-Up Row, then Rows 1–4, then work Rows 5–32 eight (11, 14) times, then repeat Rows 5–10 one more time.
Go on to Finishing, below.
KEY
CHART
NOTE: Want to see it bigger? Download this chart (and key) as a PDF!
FINISHING
Row 1 (right side): *P1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Row 2 (wrong side): *P1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 five more times, ending with a wrong-side row.
With right side facing you, bind off loosely in pattern (knitting the knits and purling the purls) to end of row.
Weave in ends, and machine wash gentle and tumble dry low to block. (If your blanket comes out of the dryer a bit biased, we recommend steaming it with an iron or steamer and giving it a little stretch to return it to its rectangular shape.)
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho. We can’t wait to see what you make!
LEARN ABOUT SERIF + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
Serif brings a distinctive voice to this project! A 100% Peruvian Pima cotton yarn, Serif is a super soft beauty with a charming wave and subtle luster. This light worsted/DK-weight yarn knits up with gently nubbly texture and is machine-washable and durable, too. Definitely soft enough for babies (and for everyone else, too!), you’ll love knitting with Serif!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our collection of Serif knitting patterns and cast on!
More Light Worsted/DK-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of light worsted/DK-weight yarns (What does DK-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to DK yarn will answer your questions and demystify.)
- 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, our Yarn Substitution article, and our Complete Guide To Yarn for lots of helpful information.
More Yarns With Similar Fibers
- Shop cotton yarn (What helps cotton keep its cool? Learn all about this soft, natural fiber in our guide to cotton yarn!)
- Shop machine-washable yarn
- Shop plant-based yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of 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!
Beautiful and easy to knit
Thank you so much for your kind words, Ruth! I’m so glad you’re loving the Chamomile Blanket as much as we do.
Happy knitting!
Hills
Thanks for the pattern for this lovely blanket. I would like to knit to large throw size, but I don’t really enjoy knitting seed stitch. If I were to do the borders in garter stitch, would that have any effect on the dimensions? Overall, do you think it would still look as nice? Thanks very much for your help.
Hi Ashlyn,
Thanks so much for reaching out! I am so glad to hear the Chamomile Blanket caught your eye!
I totally understand preferring a border pattern that isn’t seed stitch, and this sounds like a lovely modification! The only thing you might notice when substituting with garter stitch, is that garter stitch tends to have a tighter row gauge (meaning more rows per inch). It’s possible this might tug on the edges of the patterned section (or warp) due to this change in row gauge between seed stitch and garter stitch.
To accommodate for this row gauge difference, you could try swatching (and blocking) it out and swap out your needles for larger needles on the border edge only (you can transfer your stitches back to the same needle with which you’re working the project to get them all on one needle for your next row).
I hope this helps, and please feel free to reach out with any other questions you might have!
Happy knitting,
Hills
Hi, I love this pattern, it is, as you say, a nod to the classic Chenille blankets. I have always wished I still had my childhood Chenille bed-spread so I was excited when I saw this beautiful take on the classic.
I have 7 skeins of Picnic Cotton that have the same yardage as Serif but a smaller recommended size, I know needle size can be ‘other than’ recommended and think 7 skeins of Picnic Cotton would make a smaller(than crib size) throw but do you think it will work and have enough size to use as a lap-throw? If so what needle size would give me the best finished project? The given sizes are 2-4, I have not worked bobbles in this way and needle size vs yarn weight must dictate how they will turn out??
Thank you as always for your help.
Alice
Hi Alice,
Thanks so much for reaching out. I’m so glad to hear you love the Chamomile Blanket as much as we do!
Picnic Cotton‘s stitch gauge was listed at about 7 stitches per inch, while the Serif used in the blanket is worked at a gauge of 5 stitches per inch. You’d expect see about a 20%-30% decrease in size at this tighter gauge. You’d be looking at needing around 1,242 yards to make the small lap throw size (or a little more than 7.5 skeins of Serif).
To find the right needle size, I would recommend knitting (and blocking) a gauge swatch with the different needles listed on the label to see which needle size results in a fabric with a look and feel that seems right to you. (You should be able to work the bobbles at any size).
I hope this helps, but please feel free to reach out with any other questions you might have.
Happy knitting,
Hills
Is the border done in the seed stitch? Thanks!
Hi Amy,
Great eye…this border is knit in seed stitch, yes!
Please feel free to reach out with any other questions you might have, and happy knitting!
Hills
Hi! Can I use a Cotton pure on a cone yarn instead of serif?
ps.another fantastic blanket pattern.Tnx!
Hi Marianna,
Thanks so much for writing in with your question. I’m so glad to see you’re considering the Chamomile Blanket as your next project and that you love the pattern as much as we do! Thank you so much for your kind words.
This blanket is knit at a gauge of 5 stitches per inch. Serif knits up to 4.75-5.25 stitches per inch, while Cotton Pure is listed as 5.5-6 stitches per inch. You might consider Sunshower Cotton as an alternative to Serif (listed at 4.75-5 sts/in).
Cotton Pure is just a smidge thinner. It might be possible to achieve gauge… I can’t truly guarantee the results, though. With that in mind, I would always recommend knitting (and blocking) a gauge swatch to ensure you can meet the desired gauge for the project, and that you like the look and feel of the resulting fabric.
I hope this helps, and please feel free to reach out with any other questions you might have!
Happy knitting,
Hills
Thanks a lot for your time and the useful tips! As always to the point.
Greetings from Athens, Greece
So happy to help, Marianna! Best wishes- Hills
Is there a kit?
Hi Deborah,
Thank you so much for reaching out! I’m so glad to see the Chamomile Blanket caught your eye.
We don’t currently offer a kit for this pattern, but I love this idea! I will be sure to pass it along to our team and I’m so grateful you shared your interest in a kit with us.
In the meantime, we recommend 7, 11, or 18 skeins of Serif depending on the size you’re making (Crib (Small Throw, Large Throw), respectively).
I hope this helps, and please feel free to reach out with any other thoughts or questions!
Happy knitting,
Hills
I love this pattern! I just started knitting the crib size using serif in haystack yellow, and after the first row of bobbles, my hand and forearm were hurting a lot. I’m concerned about causing an injury as I continue knitting. Any advice to make knitting the bobs easier on me? I had to go down two needle sizes to get gauge, and I’m using metal needles, though they aren’t exceptionally pointy. Maybe a different brand or type of needles? Thanks in advance!
Hi Meredith,
Thank you so much for reaching out. I’m so sorry to hear you’re experiencing pain while working with Serif.
Cotton yarn can sometimes be hard on the hands for some folks. I would suggest wooden or bamboo needles to reduce hand pain. There is also a book you can search for called “Knitting Comfortably: The Ergonomics of Handknitting” by Carson Demers, which could help you reduce pain, as well! Some surface level tips include knitting with a pillow supporting your project, hand stretches, and taking breaks through knitting other (smaller) projects.
There is also an option for making bobbles with a crochet hook or by knitting backwards (rather than turning the work) that could be easier on your hands. I’d suggest a little search in your favorite search engine to see if any of these alternatives provide some relief!
If you’re still running into trouble, please feel free to send us an email at [email protected]…we would love to help you further!
Best wishes, and we’ll keep an eye out for a reply!
Hills