Crochet Pattern: Tadley’s Diagonal Blanket

Tadley's Diagonal Blanket, free double-ended crochet pattern by Underground Crafter

My regular blog readers know I have a soft spot in my heart for baby blankets. I actually love crocheting blankets in general, but by the time I get about halfway through a full sized blanket, I’m usually questioning my own sanity. Baby blankets are much faster to make, and they always seem to be cherished by parents and babies alike.

Last year, one of my dearest friends was expecting her first born, and I knew I had to make something special. I had recently finished the sample for the Checkerboard Cable Scarf that was published in Love of Knitting‘s Holiday, 2013 issue.

This post contains affiliate linksThe yarn for the sample was generously provided by King Cole.

blog LoK Checkerboard Cable Scarf
Photo (c) Creative Crafts Group, LLC.

The generous folks at King Cole had sent me quite a lot more Merino Blend Aran than what was required for the scarf, and I knew my friend was having a boy.

King Cole Merino Blend Aran
I had 9 skeins in each color left after knitting the scarf!

The white and blue seemed like just the right colors for his blanket, and the easy care of the superwash wool seemed a great fit for a newborn.

Tadley's Diagonal Blanket, free double-ended crochet pattern by Underground Crafter

I used double-ended crochet because it looks great – but different – on both sides, and it makes a nice, thick blanket. After all, Tadley was due in late December, so I thought he might need something very warm for his stroller or car seat during the winter.

Tadley's Diagonal Blanket, free double-ended crochet pattern by Underground Crafter

To combat the love-hate relationship I develop with all of my crocheted blankets during the last few rows, I crocheted this on the bias, increasing towards the center and then decreasing until the end. Once I reached the center, each row was shorter than the one before it, so finishing the blanket was a breeze.

Tadley's Diagonal Blanket, free double-ended crochet pattern by Underground Crafter

Well, almost a breeze. On the last few rows, I ran out of yarn. I ordered one extra skein in each color, and by some strange miracle, both skeins were from the same dye lots as the yarn I received from King Cole almost five months before.

Tadley's Diagonal Blanket, free double-ended crochet pattern by Underground Crafter

This blanket is very lush and thick, and works equally well as a playmat in the spring or a stroller blanket in the winter. Gauge isn’t critical, and it can be easily resized (though you may need more or less yarn).

Tadley's Diagonal Blanket, free double-ended crochet pattern by Underground Crafter

I used a flexible double-ended crochet hook made from my Denise2Go interchangeable crochet hook set, but my pattern testers used other types of double-ended crochet hooks, including long, straight hooks. Enjoy!

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Tadley’s Diagonal Blanket

Double-Ended Crochet Pattern

by Underground Crafter

02-easy 50US terms 504-medium 50A simple reversible project crocheted on the bias with a double-ended crochet hook!

Finished Size: Adjustable. Photographed sample is 36” (91.5 cm) square.

Materials: 

  • King Cole Merino Blend Aran (100% superwash wool, 1.75 oz/50 g/88 yd/80 m) – 10 skeins each in Denim 778 (CA) and in Aran 776 (CB), or approximately 840-1,000 yd (770-915 m) in each of 2 colors in any medium/worsted weight yarn.
  • I/9 5.5 mm flexible double-ended crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge. (I recommend the Denise2Go Crochet for a Cure 2-Hook Set.)
  • Yarn needle.

Gauge: 18 sts x 18 rows in Tss = 4” (10 cm). Exact gauge is not critical for this project.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern:

  • CA – color A
  • CB – color B
  • ch – chain
  • ea – each
  • rep – repeat
  • Rnd(s) – Round(s)
  • sc – single crochet
  • sk – skip
  • sp – space
  • st(s) – sts
  • Tfs – Tunisian full stitch (used to increase 1 st in this pattern) – Insert hook under horizontal bar (between 2 vertical bars), yo and draw up loop onto hook.
  • Tss – Tunisian single stitch – Insert hook under next vertical bar, yo and draw up loop onto hook.
  • Tss2tog – Tunisian simple stitch 2 together (used to decrease 1 st in this pattern) – Insert hook under next 2 vertical bars, yo and draw up loop onto hook.
  • yo – yarn over

Pattern notes:

  • Always sk first vertical bar (below first loop on hook) at beginning of row.
  • Blanket is crocheted in rows on the bias, increasing to the center and then decreasing to end. Border is crocheted in the round.
  • Weaving in ends in double-ended crochet projects can be challenging. Change colors at beginning or end of rows when possible.
  • For edging, a stitch marker or piece of scrap yarn can be used to indicate corner st.

Pattern Instructions

Blanket

  • With CA, ch 3.
  • Set Up Row: Sk 1st ch. (Insert hook in next ch, yo and pull up a loop) twice. (3 loops)

Increase stitch count to center

  • Row 1: Slide loops to other hook, turn, with CB, ch 1, *yo and draw through 2 loops; rep from * across.
  • Row 2: Tfs in first sp between vertical bars, Tss in each vertical bar across to last sp, Tfs, Tss in last st. (Increase by 2 sts)
  • Row 3: Slide loops to other hook, turn, with CA, ch 1, *yo and draw through 2 loops; rep from * across.
  • Row 4: Rep Row 2.
  • Rep Rows 1-4 until sides measures approximately 34”/86 cm (or desired length), ending after Row 3.

Decrease stitch count to end

  • Row 5: Tss2tog, Tss in ea vertical bar across to last 3 sts, Tss2tog, Tss in last st. (Decrease by 2 sts)
  • Row 6: Rep Row 1.
  • Row 7: Rep Row 5.
  • Row 8: Rep Row 3.
  • Rep Rows 5-8 until 3 sts remain on hook, ending after Row 3.
  • Final Row: With CB, (insert hook in next vertical bar as for Tss, yo, draw through both loops on hook) twice. Fasten off.

Edging

  • Rnd 1: Facing side where CA is more prominent, join CB with sc in corner, 2 sc in same st, *sc in edge st of ea row across to next corner,** 3 sc in corner; rep from * around twice, then from * to ** once. Fasten off.
  • Rnd 2: Turn, facing side where CB is more prominent, join CA with sc in corner st, 2 sc in same st, *sc in each st around to next corner,** 3 sc in corner; rep from * around twice, then from * to ** once. Fasten off.
  • Rnd 3: Rep Edging Rnd 1.
  • Rnd 4: Rep Rnd 2.
  • With yarn needle, weave in ends.

Add to Ravelry

© 2014 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use it to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: http://undergroundcrafter.com/2014/05/21/free-pattern-tadleys-diagonal-blanket/. Thanks for supporting indie designers!

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