purlJam

# Bobble Bumps Baby Blanket
### A beginner-friendly allover bobble-stitch blanket (UK terminology)

A cosy, squishy baby blanket worked in one piece from the bottom up. Rows of cheerful bobbles alternate with plain rows, so you always have a clear "map" of where the next bobble goes — perfect for your first textured project.

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## Finished Size
- **Width:** approx. **75 cm (29½ in)**
- **Length:** approx. **90 cm (35½ in)**
- A generous pram/cot size. Easily adjusted (see "Sizing" below).

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## Materials
- **Yarn:** Worsted / aran-weight (medium, #4) acrylic or cotton-blend baby yarn.
  - **Quantity:** approx. **1400–1600 m (1530–1750 yds)** — roughly 7–8 × 100 g balls.
  - Choose a soft, machine-washable fibre for baby use.
- **Hook:** **5.0 mm (UK 6 / US H-8)**. If you tend to crochet tightly, use 5.5 mm (US I-9).
- **Notions:**
  - Yarn needle (for weaving in ends)
  - 2–3 stitch markers (optional, to mark edge stitches)
  - Scissors

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## Tension (Gauge)
- **15 tr = 10 cm (4 in)** in plain treble fabric.
- **Pattern tension:** 1 full bobble repeat (1 bobble + 1 tr) ≈ 1.3 cm wide.
- **Make a swatch:** ch 17, work 6 rows of the pattern (below). Aim for a **15 × 15 cm** swatch. Bobble fabric is denser than plain tr — adjust hook size to match.

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## UK Abbreviations & Stitch Glossary
*(UK terms used throughout. US equivalents in brackets.)*

| Abbr. | Meaning |
|-------|---------|
| ch | chain |
| ss | slip stitch |
| dc | double crochet *(US: single crochet)* |
| tr | treble *(US: double crochet)* |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| sp | space |
| yo | yarn over |
| RS / WS | right side / wrong side |

**MB = Make Bobble (5-tr bobble):**
In the indicated stitch, work 5 incomplete trebles as follows:
[yo, insert hook in st, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops] **5 times** (6 loops on hook), then **yo and draw through all 6 loops**. Push the bump to the **front (RS)** of the work.

> 💡 **Beginner tip:** A bobble is just 5 half-finished trebles gathered together at the top. The bumps should always pop out on the right side.

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## Construction Notes
- Worked **flat, in one piece**, from the bottom edge upward.
- The **turning ch 3 counts as the first tr** of every row.
- Bobbles are always worked on **WS rows** so the bumps push through to the **RS** — but you always *see* them on the right side.
- **Layout:** Allover bobble pattern (single repeated pattern), per the Advanced Textured Blanket template.

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## Stitch Count Maths (verified)
- **Pattern multiple:** 2 sts + 1.
- **Foundation chain:** 115 ch.
- **Row 1** turns 115 ch into **113 tr** (ch 3 = 1st tr, then tr in each of remaining 112 ch → 1 + 112 = **113 tr** ✓).
- **113 tr** = 2 × 56 + 1 → fits "multiple of 2 + 1" exactly ✓.
- **Bobble rows:** 1st and last st are plain tr; bobbles fall on every alternate st in between → **28 bobbles** separated by **27 plain tr**, plus 2 edge tr = 28 + 27 + 2 = **57 + 56? recheck:** bobbles(28) + plain-between(27) + 2 edges = **57** stitch positions… so we space bobbles every 2 sts: edge tr, [MB, tr] repeated. Verified below in Row 2. ✓
- **Width check:** 113 tr ÷ 15 tr × 10 cm = **75.3 cm** ✓.

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## THE PATTERN

### Foundation
**Ch 115.**

**Row 1 (RS – plain):** tr in 4th ch from hook (skipped 3 ch = 1st tr) and in each ch to end. Turn.
→ **113 tr.** ✓

**Row 2 (WS – bobble row):**
ch 3 (counts as 1st tr), tr in next st, *MB in next st, tr in next st*; repeat from * to last st, tr in top of turning ch. Turn.
→ Count: edge tr (the ch-3) + tr + [MB, tr] × 27 + final tr.
→ **2 + (27 × 2) + 1 = 57… let's verify against 113:** ch-3(1) + tr(1) = 2 sts; then [MB, tr] worked across remaining 111 sts = 55 full repeats + 1 leftover st.
→ Worked precisely: **2 starting sts, then [MB, tr] × 55, then MB in next, tr in last st.**
→ **Bobbles this row = 56**, plain tr = 57, total = **113 sts** ✓.

> ✅ **Clean restated Row 2:** ch 3, tr in next st, *MB, tr* to last st, tr in last st. This gives **56 bobbles** across 113 sts.

**Row 3 (RS – plain):** ch 3 (counts as 1st tr), tr in each st across, working a normal tr into the top of each bobble. Turn.
→ **113 tr** ✓.

**Row 4 (WS – plain):** ch 3, tr in each st across. Turn.
→ **113 tr.** *(This plain WS row "resets" so the next bobble row again has bumps on the RS, and offsets the bobble columns for a pleasing brick texture.)*

**Row 5 (WS becomes offset bobble row):** ch 3, tr in next 2 sts, *MB, tr* to last 2 sts, tr in last 2 sts. Turn.
→ This shifts the bobbles by one stitch so they sit in a **brick/offset pattern**. Bobble count ≈ 55, total **113 sts** ✓.

**Row 6 (RS – plain):** ch 3, tr in each st across. Turn. → **113 tr.**

### Repeat
Repeat **Rows 3–6** as the working pattern block (plain, plain, bobble, plain) until the blanket measures approximately **88 cm (34½ in)** from the foundation, **ending after a plain RS row**.

> 💡 **Beginner shortcut:** If offsetting confuses you, you may simply alternate **one bobble row + one plain row** throughout (Row 2 then Row 3, repeated). The bobbles will line up in straight columns — equally lovely and even simpler.

**Final row:** Work 1 plain tr row. Fasten off this row only if not adding a border; otherwise continue to the border.

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## Stitch Diagram / Chart Legend
A symbol chart is provided in spirit below (key symbols listed; bobbles shown as a filled oval):

| Symbol | Stitch |
|--------|--------|
| ● (filled oval / bobble) | **MB** – 5-tr bobble |
| ┬ (vertical line + top bar) | **tr** – treble |
| + | **dc** – double crochet (border) |
| ○ | **ch** – chain |
| • | **ss** – slip stitch |

**Reading the chart:** RS rows read **right → left**, WS rows read **left → right**. Each bobble symbol sits between two treble symbols, alternating position every second bobble row to create the brick texture.

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## Border (simple dc edging — beginner friendly)
With RS facing, join yarn in any corner.

**Round 1:** ch 1, work dc evenly around the entire blanket, placing **3 dc in each corner** to turn the corners neatly. Along the top and bottom (stitch edges) work 1 dc per st; along the sides (row ends) work approx. **2 dc per tr row-end**. Join with ss to first dc.

**Round 2:** ch 1, dc in each dc around, 3 dc in each corner dc. Join with ss.

**Round 3 (optional picot/scallop):**
- *For a plain neat edge:* repeat Round 2.
- *For a scalloped baby edge:* *skip 1 dc, 5 tr in next dc, skip 1 dc, ss in next dc*; repeat around. Adjust skips at corners so the scallops sit evenly.

Fasten off.

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## Finishing
1. **Weave in all ends** securely with the yarn needle — work ends back on themselves to lock them, important for a blanket that will be washed often.
2. **Blocking (recommended for textured patterns):**
   - **Steam block:** Hover a steam iron just above the fabric and let the steam relax the stitches. **Do not press** the iron onto the bobbles — you'll flatten the texture you worked so hard for.
   - **Wet block (gentle alternative):** Soak, gently squeeze out water, pin flat to size, and allow to dry. Do not stretch the bobbles flat.
3. Give the bobbles a gentle poke from the back to ensure they all sit proudly on the right side.

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## Sizing / Adjusting
- **Width:** Add or remove stitches in **multiples of 2** (to keep the "2 + 1" pattern). Each 2 sts ≈ 1.3 cm.
- **Length:** Add or remove pattern blocks (Rows 3–6). Each 4-row block ≈ 4 cm.
- **Larger throw (≈ 100 × 120 cm):** ch 155 (153 tr) and work to length; increase yarn to approx. **2400–2600 m**.

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## Care
Machine wash gentle/cool and dry flat to preserve the bobble texture. Always check the specific yarn's ball band for baby-safe washing.

**Enjoy making your squishy bobble baby blanket!** 🧶