Avalanche Cable & Bobble Blanket

Advanced Textured Crochet Blanket

A substantial, cozy throw worked in an allover advanced cable-and-bobble panel. Deep front-post cables and raised bobbles create a heavy, tactile fabric perfect for cold evenings. Intermediate-to-advanced skills required: comfort with post stitches, bobbles, and reading a multi-row repeat.

Finished Size: 52" wide × 62" long (132 × 157 cm) after blocking, including border
Skill Level: Advanced
Construction: Flat, one piece, bottom-up

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (#4), approximately 2200 yd (2012 m). Choose a soft wool or wool-blend for warmth and stitch definition (e.g., 10 skeins of 220 yd each).
  Sample color: deep charcoal or oatmeal.
• Hook: US I/9 (5.5 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
• Notions:
  – Stitch markers (at least 12)
  – Cable needle or spare hook (optional, for holding stitches)
  – Yarn needle
  – Blocking mats and pins

Gauge

14 stitches and 12 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Cable & Bobble Pattern, blocked
Make a 6" × 6" swatch (chain 30, work 18 rows of pattern) and measure the center 4".
Dense post stitches and bobbles produce a thicker fabric than plain dc; adjust hook if your swatch is stiff or loose.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch – chain
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• sc – single crochet
• dc – double crochet
• tr – treble crochet
• FPdc – front post double crochet
• BPdc – back post double crochet
• FPtr – front post treble crochet
• bobble – [yo, insert hook in st, yo, pull up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops] 4 times in same st (5 loops on hook), yo, draw through all 5 loops, ch 1 to close
• RS – right side
• WS – wrong side
• PM – place marker
• rep – repeat
• sk – skip
• sp – space

Special Stitches & Notes

Cable 4 Right (C4R): Sk next 2 sts, FPtr around each of next 2 sts, working in front of the FPtr just made, FPtr around each of the 2 skipped sts.
Cable 4 Left (C4L): Sk next 2 sts, FPtr around each of next 2 sts, working behind the FPtr just made, FPtr around each of the 2 skipped sts.

• Bobble counts as 1 stitch; the closing ch-1 does not count as a stitch.
• Always skip the stitch behind each FPdc/FPtr.
• Pattern multiple = 16 stitches + 6 edge stitches.
• Place a marker on the first stitch of every RS row and after every 16-st panel to stay oriented.
• Work all post stitches around the posts of the stitches 2 rows below when indicated (standard cable technique).

Stitch Diagram Legend

○   = chain (ch)
×   = single crochet (sc)
†   = double crochet (dc)
T   = front post double crochet (FPdc)
∩   = back post double crochet (BPdc)
▼   = bobble
CR  = C4R (cable 4 right)
CL  = C4L (cable 4 left)

(Work from bottom to top, right to left on RS rows, left to right on WS rows. Each 16-st panel is identical.)

Pattern Instructions

Foundation

With I/9 hook, ch 182.
(11 panels × 16 sts = 176 + 3 edge sts each side = 182 ✓)

Row 1 (RS): Dc in 4th ch from hook (3 skipped ch count as first dc), dc in each ch across.
— 180 dc (counting turning ch as 1). PM every 16 sts to mark panels.

Row 2 (WS): Ch 2 (does not count as st here and throughout), turn; BPdc around each st across, dc in top of turning ch.
— 180 sts.

Establish Cable & Bobble Pattern

Row 3 (RS): Ch 2, turn; dc in first 3 sts,
*FPdc around next 2 sts, C4R, FPdc around next 2 sts, bobble in next st, dc in next 3 sts, bobble in next st, FPdc around next 2 sts;
rep from * across to last 3 sts, dc in last 3 sts.
— 11 bobble pairs, 11 cables.

Row 4 (WS): Ch 2, turn; BPdc around each st across (work BPdc around the bobble itself, not the closing ch), dc in top of turning ch.

Row 5 (RS): Ch 2, turn; dc in first 3 sts,
*FPdc around next 2 sts, FPdc around next 4 cable sts, FPdc around next 2 sts, dc in next 5 sts, FPdc around next 2 sts;
rep from * to last 3 sts, dc in last 3 sts.

Row 6 (WS): Rep Row 4.

Row 7 (RS): Ch 2, turn; dc in first 3 sts,
*FPdc around next 2 sts, C4L, FPdc around next 2 sts, bobble in next st, dc in next 3 sts, bobble in next st, FPdc around next 2 sts;
rep from * to last 3 sts, dc in last 3 sts.

Row 8 (WS): Rep Row 4.

Row 9 (RS): Rep Row 5.

Row 10 (WS): Rep Row 4.

Row 11 (RS): Ch 2, turn; dc in first 3 sts,
*bobble in next st, dc in next 3 sts, bobble in next st, FPdc around next 2 sts, C4R, FPdc around next 2 sts, FPdc around next 2 sts;
rep from * to last 3 sts, dc in last 3 sts.
(Bobbles now alternate position for staggered texture.)

Row 12 (WS): Rep Row 4.

Row 13 (RS): Ch 2, turn; dc in first 3 sts,
*dc in next 5 sts, FPdc around next 2 sts, FPdc around next 4 cable sts, FPdc around next 2 sts, FPdc around next 2 sts;
rep from * to last 3 sts, dc in last 3 sts.

Row 14 (WS): Rep Row 4.

Row 15 (RS): Ch 2, turn; dc in first 3 sts,
*bobble in next st, dc in next 3 sts, bobble in next st, FPdc around next 2 sts, C4L, FPdc around next 2 sts, FPdc around next 2 sts;
rep from * to last 3 sts, dc in last 3 sts.

Row 16 (WS): Rep Row 4.

Row 17 (RS): Rep Row 13.

Row 18 (WS): Rep Row 4.

Rows 19–162: Repeat Rows 3–18 nine more times (10 full 16-row repeats total).
— 162 pattern rows.
(At 12 rows = 4", 162 rows ≈ 54" length before border ✓)

Row 163 (RS – final RS): Ch 2, turn; dc in each st across.
Row 164 (WS): Ch 2, turn; BPdc around each st across, dc in top of turning ch. Fasten off.

Border

Join yarn with slip st in any corner.

Round 1: Ch 1, 3 sc in corner, sc evenly around entire blanket (work 3 sc in each remaining corner). Aim for approximately 1 sc per row-end on sides and 1 sc per st on top/bottom, adjusting to keep edges flat. Join with slip st to first sc.

Round 2: Ch 2, *dc in each sc to corner 3-sc group, (dc, ch 2, dc) in center sc of corner; rep from * around, join.

Round 3 (Textured Edge): Ch 1, *sc in next 2 sts, bobble in next st; rep from * around, working (sc, bobble, sc) in each corner ch-2 sp. Join, fasten off.

Finishing

1. Weave in all ends securely on WS with yarn needle.
2. Block (essential): Wet block for best cable definition. Soak in lukewarm water with wool wash 15 minutes. Gently squeeze (do not wring). Roll in towel. Pin to 52" × 62" on blocking mats, opening cables and evening bobbles. Dry completely.
   Alternative: Steam block by hovering iron above fabric—never press flat or you will crush the texture.
3. Optional: Add a 4" fringe on short ends if desired (cut 8" strands, attach 3 per stitch).

Stitch Count Validation Summary

• Foundation ch 182 → 180 sts after Row 1 ✓
• 16-st repeat × 11 panels = 176 + 3 edge sts each side = 182 ch ✓
• Width: 180 sts ÷ 14 sts per 4" = 51.4" + border ≈ 52" ✓
• Length: 164 rows ÷ 12 rows per 4" ≈ 54.7" + border ≈ 62" ✓
• Bobbles: 2 per panel × 11 panels = 22 bobbles on bobble rows ✓
• Cables: 1 per panel × 11 = 11 cables every cable row ✓

Enjoy your heavy, cozy Avalanche Blanket—the cables and bobbles will keep you warm for years.