purlJam

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# Soft Skies Baby Blanket

### A Striped Baby Blanket in Sport Weight Yarn

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## Description

This cheerful baby blanket is worked in simple half double crochet from bottom to top, with playful random-height stripes in five fresh colors: teal, dark blue, light blue, yellow, and coral. The half double crochet stitch creates a dense yet flexible fabric that's soft and snuggly — perfect for a new baby. The stripe heights vary from 1 to 5 rows to keep the look lively and the knitting feel spontaneous. A clean single crochet border frames the whole piece. This is an ideal beginner project — once you know how to hdc, you can make the entire blanket.

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## Finished Measurements

- **Width:** approx. 30 inches (76 cm)
- **Length:** approx. 36 inches (91.5 cm)

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## Materials

| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| **Yarn** | Sport weight (CYCA #2) |
| **Color A** | Teal — approx. 300 yards (275 m) |
| **Color B** | Dark Blue — approx. 300 yards (275 m) |
| **Color C** | Light Blue — approx. 300 yards (275 m) |
| **Color D** | Yellow — approx. 300 yards (275 m) |
| **Color E** | Coral — approx. 300 yards (275 m) |
| **Total Yardage** | approx. 1,500 yards (1,370 m) |
| **Hook** | US G/6 (4.0 mm) |
| **Notions** | Tapestry needle, scissors, rust-proof pins for blocking |

> **Yarn Notes:** Any sport weight (CYCA #2) yarn with good stitch definition works beautifully here. Look for a machine-washable fiber (superwash wool, acrylic, or cotton blend) for easy baby care. Shown here using a smooth acrylic or wool-acrylic blend for the clearest stripe definition.

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## Gauge

**16 hdc × 12 rows = 4 inches × 4 inches (10 cm × 10 cm)**
worked flat in rows, using US G/6 (4.0 mm) hook.

> **Check your gauge!** Even for a baby blanket, gauge affects finished size. If you have more stitches per inch than stated, go up a hook size. If you have fewer, go down a hook size. Wash and block your swatch before measuring for the most accurate result.

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## Abbreviations

| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ch | chain |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| hdc | half double crochet |
| sc | single crochet |
| sk | skip |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| RS | right side |
| WS | wrong side |
| rep | repeat |
| beg | beginning |
| approx. | approximately |
| ( ) | stitch count at end of row |

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## Pattern Notes

1. **Turning chain:** Ch 2 at the beginning of every row. This chain does **NOT** count as a stitch throughout the entire pattern. Always work the first hdc into the very first stitch at the base of the turning chain.

2. **Stitch count:** Every row of the body = **120 hdc**. Check your count regularly, especially after a color change.

3. **Color changes:** Change color on the last pull-through of the last hdc of the row before the new color begins (i.e., on the final "yarn over, pull through all 3 loops" of the last stitch, use the new color). This keeps color change jogs clean and at the edge.

4. **Carrying yarn vs. cutting:** If a color returns within 3–4 rows, you may carry it loosely up the side edge rather than cutting and rejoining. For longer gaps, it is neater to cut and rejoin with a 6-inch tail. All tails are woven in at the end.

5. **Working into the foundation chain:** When working Row 1, work your first hdc into the 3rd chain from the hook (the skipped 2 chains are the turning chain and do not count as a stitch — skip them entirely for the purpose of stitch count). You will have 120 hdc.

6. **Right side vs. wrong side:** Row 1 is the right side (RS). The fabric looks the same on both sides, so mark the RS with a stitch marker if desired.

7. **Stripe randomness:** The stripe sequence below is a suggested guide. Feel free to change stripe heights and color order to suit your taste — this is what makes each blanket unique!

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## Stripe Sequence

The stripe sequence below totals **108 rows** for the body of the blanket. Work each stripe in the color listed for the number of rows shown. Colors are abbreviated as A (Teal), B (Dark Blue), C (Light Blue), D (Yellow), E (Coral).

| Stripe # | Color | Rows | Running Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A — Teal | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | D — Yellow | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | B — Dark Blue | 4 | 8 |
| 4 | E — Coral | 2 | 10 |
| 5 | C — Light Blue | 5 | 15 |
| 6 | A — Teal | 2 | 17 |
| 7 | D — Yellow | 3 | 20 |
| 8 | B — Dark Blue | 1 | 21 |
| 9 | E — Coral | 4 | 25 |
| 10 | C — Light Blue | 2 | 27 |
| 11 | A — Teal | 5 | 32 |
| 12 | B — Dark Blue | 3 | 35 |
| 13 | D — Yellow | 2 | 37 |
| 14 | E — Coral | 1 | 38 |
| 15 | C — Light Blue | 4 | 42 |
| 16 | A — Teal | 1 | 43 |
| 17 | B — Dark Blue | 5 | 48 |
| 18 | D — Yellow | 2 | 50 |
| 19 | E — Coral | 3 | 53 |
| 20 | C — Light Blue | 1 | 54 |
| 21 | A — Teal | 4 | 58 |
| 22 | D — Yellow | 2 | 60 |
| 23 | B — Dark Blue | 3 | 63 |
| 24 | E — Coral | 5 | 68 |
| 25 | C — Light Blue | 2 | 70 |
| 26 | A — Teal | 1 | 71 |
| 27 | D — Yellow | 4 | 75 |
| 28 | B — Dark Blue | 2 | 77 |
| 29 | E — Coral | 1 | 78 |
| 30 | C — Light Blue | 3 | 81 |
| 31 | A — Teal | 2 | 83 |
| 32 | D — Yellow | 1 | 84 |
| 33 | B — Dark Blue | 4 | 88 |
| 34 | E — Coral | 2 | 90 |
| 35 | C — Light Blue | 5 | 95 |
| 36 | A — Teal | 3 | 98 |
| 37 | D — Yellow | 2 | 100 |
| 38 | B — Dark Blue | 3 | 103 |
| 39 | E — Coral | 1 | 104 |
| 40 | C — Light Blue | 4 | 108 |

> **Stripe total check:** All row values sum to 108 rows. ✅

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## Pattern Instructions

### Foundation Chain

With Color A (Teal) and US G/6 (4.0 mm) hook:

**Ch 122.**

> *The foundation chain of 122 gives you 120 working stitches. The first 2 chains are your turning chain and are not counted as a stitch.*

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### Body

**Row 1 (RS):** Ch 2 (does NOT count as st, now and throughout), hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. **(120 hdc)**

**Row 2:** Ch 2, hdc in first st and in each st across. Turn. **(120 hdc)**

**Row 3:** Rep Row 2. Turn. **(120 hdc)**

> *You have completed Stripe 1 (3 rows of Color A — Teal). Change to Color D (Yellow) on the last pull-through of Row 3's final hdc.*

**Continue working in the following pattern for all remaining rows:**

**Every Row:** Ch 2, hdc in first st and in each st across. Turn. **(120 hdc)**

Work each stripe in the color and for the number of rows listed in the **Stripe Sequence Table** above, changing colors as directed in Pattern Note 3.

> **Tip:** Use a row counter or tally marks to track your rows within each stripe. It's easy to lose count — checking after every few rows will save you from having to frog later.

> **Tip for beginners:** Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of every row before you begin that row. This makes it easy to find the correct first stitch after the turning chain, which is the most common source of accidental increases at the edge.

After completing all **108 rows** of the Stripe Sequence, do not fasten off. You will pick your border color next.

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## Finishing

### Weaving In Ends

Before working the border, weave in all yarn tails using a tapestry needle. Weave each tail through at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of stitches in the same color stripe, then back in the opposite direction, to secure. Trim ends close.

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### Border

The border is worked in a single round of sc around all four sides of the blanket. Choose any color you like for the border — the sample uses Color A (Teal) for a cohesive finish, but any of the five colors works beautifully.

Join your chosen border color with a sl st to any corner stitch of the blanket.

**Border Round:**

Ch 1 (does NOT count as st). Work as follows around the entire blanket, working into the right side of the fabric:

- **Top and Bottom Edges (120-stitch rows):** Sc in each st across. Work **3 sc in the corner stitch** at each corner.
- **Side Edges (rows):** Work approximately **1 sc per row end** along each side edge. With 108 rows at a gauge of 12 rows per 4 inches, this gives approximately 108 sc along each side edge. *Adjust slightly as needed to keep the edge flat — if the edge ruffles, use fewer sc; if it pulls in, add a few more.*
- At each corner of the blanket, work **3 sc into the same corner stitch or space** to turn the corner neatly.

After working all the way around, join with a sl st to the first sc of the round.

Fasten off and weave in remaining tail.

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### Blocking

Wet blocking is recommended for the best results:

1. Soak the blanket in cool water for 20–30 minutes.
2. Gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring).
3. Lay flat on a clean surface or blocking mat.
4. Pin edges to measurements (30 × 36 inches / 76 × 91.5 cm) using rust-proof pins.
5. Allow to dry completely before removing pins.

> **Acrylic yarn tip:** If using 100% acrylic, you can "kill" the acrylic with steam (hover a steam iron above — do not press directly) for a softer, more draped finish. Alternatively, simply machine wash and dry flat per the yarn label and the blanket will relax naturally.

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## Yardage Summary

| Color | Approx. Yardage Used |
|---|---|
| A — Teal | ~315 yards (288 m) |
| B — Dark Blue | ~285 yards (261 m) |
| C — Light Blue | ~305 yards (279 m) |
| D — Yellow | ~285 yards (261 m) |
| E — Coral | ~285 yards (261 m) |
| **Total** | **~1,475 yards (1,349 m)** |

> *Buy an extra skein of each color to be safe, particularly if your gauge is slightly looser than stated.*

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## Skill Summary

| Skill Required | Used In |
|---|---|
| Foundation chain | Setup |
| Half double crochet (hdc) | Entire body |
| Color change | Every stripe change |
| Single crochet (sc) | Border |
| Joining with sl st | Border |
| Weaving in ends | Finishing |

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*Happy crocheting! This blanket makes a beautiful handmade gift — the colorful stripes are cheerful and bright, and the soft sport weight fabric is gentle against baby's skin.*

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