purlJam

# Winter Evergreen Textured Heirloom Blanket

**Difficulty:** Intermediate
**Finished Size:** 100cm × 100cm (approx. 39" × 39")
**Terminology:** UK Standard Crochet Terms

## Layout Design
This blanket uses a **Panel** layout. The blanket is worked in one piece, but the stitches change to create three distinct vertical sections:
1.  **Side Panels:** Vertical ribbing texture using Double Crochet Back Loop Only (dc-blo).
2.  **Central Panel:** Smooth Double Crochet background featuring a raised Bobble Stitch Christmas Tree.

## Materials
*   **Yarn:** Aran/Worsted Weight Yarn (approx. 1600 meters / 1750 yards). A solid colour (cream, sage green, or deep red) is recommended to highlight the shadow play of the texture.
*   **Hook:** 5.5mm (or size needed to obtain tension).
*   **Tools:** Stitch markers (essential for marking the central panel), Yarn needle, Scissors.

## Tension (Gauge)
*   15 stitches and 18 rows = 10cm × 10cm.
*   Measured over Double Crochet (UK dc).
*   *Note: It is vital to check tension. If your bobbles pop out too much or the fabric is stiff, go up a hook size.*

## Special Stitches & Abbreviations (UK Terms)
*   **ch:** Chain
*   **st(s):** Stitch(es)
*   **dc:** Double Crochet (US single crochet)
*   **dc-blo:** Double Crochet in Back Loop Only
*   **MB (Make Bobble):** (Yarn over, insert hook into st, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops) 5 times in the same stitch. Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops on hook. Push the bobble to the Right Side (front) of work. Work the next stitch tightly to secure.
*   **RS:** Right Side (Bobbles pop out on this side)
*   **WS:** Wrong Side (Bobbles are made on this side)

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## Pattern Instructions

### Foundation
**Foundation Chain:** Chain 151.
*(Math: 150 stitches for width + 1 turning chain)*

### Bottom Section (Border & Setup)
**Row 1 (RS):** dc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn.
`[Math: 150 sts]`

**Row 2 (WS):** ch 1 (does not count as st), dc in each st across. Turn.
`[Math: 150 sts]`

**Rows 3–20:** Repeat Row 2.
*This creates a solid base of approx 11cm.*

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### Main Body Section (Sides & Tree)
*From here, you will work the side panels in BLO (ribbing) and the center panel in standard dc (flat). Place markers at stitch #51 and stitch #101 to mark the center panel boundaries.*

**Pattern Note:**
*   **Side A (sts 1-50):** dc-blo
*   **Center (sts 51-100):** standard dc (with bobbles on WS rows)
*   **Side B (sts 101-150):** dc-blo

#### Section A: Trunk & Lower Tree
**Row 21 (RS - Setup):** ch 1, dc-blo in first 50 sts, dc in next 50 sts (normal), dc-blo in last 50 sts. Turn.

**Row 22 (WS - Trunk Base):** ch 1, dc-blo 50, dc 22, **MB**, dc 4, **MB**, dc 22, dc-blo 50. Turn.
`[Math: 50+22+1+4+1+22+50 = 150]`

**Row 23 (RS):** ch 1, dc-blo 50, dc 50, dc-blo 50. Turn.
*(Note: All RS rows in the main body follow this exact instruction. We will list the WS Texture rows below.)*

**Row 24 (WS - Trunk):** ch 1, dc-blo 50, dc 22, **MB**, dc 4, **MB**, dc 22, dc-blo 50. Turn.
**Row 26 (WS - Trunk):** Repeat Row 24.
**Row 28 (WS - Trunk):** Repeat Row 24.
**Row 30 (WS - Tree Base):** ch 1, dc-blo 50, dc 15, *MB, dc 3* repeat 4 times, MB, dc 15, dc-blo 50.
`[Math: 5 bobbles evenly spaced for widest branch tier]`

#### Section B: The Tree Tiers
*Work RS rows plain as established (Row 23).*
*Work the following WS rows for the texture:*

**Row 32:** dc-blo 50, dc 17, MB, dc 14, MB, dc 17, dc-blo 50. (Branch edges)
**Row 34:** dc-blo 50, dc 18, MB, dc 12, MB, dc 18, dc-blo 50.
**Row 36:** dc-blo 50, dc 19, MB, dc 10, MB, dc 19, dc-blo 50.
**Row 38:** dc-blo 50, dc 20, MB, dc 8, MB, dc 20, dc-blo 50.
**Row 40:** dc-blo 50, dc 21, MB, dc 6, MB, dc 21, dc-blo 50.

**Row 42 (Middle Tier Start):** dc-blo 50, dc 17, *MB, dc 3* repeat 3 times, MB, dc 17, dc-blo 50.
**Row 44:** dc-blo 50, dc 19, MB, dc 10, MB, dc 19, dc-blo 50.
**Row 46:** dc-blo 50, dc 20, MB, dc 8, MB, dc 20, dc-blo 50.
**Row 48:** dc-blo 50, dc 21, MB, dc 6, MB, dc 21, dc-blo 50.
**Row 50:** dc-blo 50, dc 22, MB, dc 4, MB, dc 22, dc-blo 50.

**Row 52 (Top Tier Start):** dc-blo 50, dc 19, MB, dc 3, MB, dc 3, MB, dc 19, dc-blo 50.
**Row 54:** dc-blo 50, dc 21, MB, dc 6, MB, dc 21, dc-blo 50.
**Row 56:** dc-blo 50, dc 22, MB, dc 4, MB, dc 22, dc-blo 50.
**Row 58:** dc-blo 50, dc 23, MB, dc 2, MB, dc 23, dc-blo 50.
**Row 60 (Tree Top):** dc-blo 50, dc 24, MB, dc 24, dc-blo 50.

**Row 62 (Star - Point 1):** dc-blo 50, dc 24, MB, dc 24, dc-blo 50.
**Row 64 (Star - Horizontal bar):** dc-blo 50, dc 22, MB, dc 1, MB, dc 1, MB, dc 22, dc-blo 50.
**Row 66 (Star - Top Point):** dc-blo 50, dc 24, MB, dc 24, dc-blo 50.

*(Total rows used for Tree Motif: 46 rows approx 25cm. This sits in the middle of the blanket.)*

### Upper Body Section
**Rows 67–160:** Continue pattern established:
*   RS Rows: dc-blo 50, dc 50, dc-blo 50.
*   WS Rows: dc-blo 50, dc 50, dc-blo 50.
*   *Note: This creates the matching empty space above the tree to reach the 100cm height. Check measurement frequently. Stop when total length is approx 96cm.*

### Top Border
**Rows 161–180 (approx):** Work standard dc in every stitch across (no BLO) to match the bottom border solidity.
Stop when piece measures 100cm.

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## Finishing

### Blocking (Essential)
1.  **Wet Block:** Soak the finished blanket in tepid water with wool wash for 20 minutes.
2.  **Pin:** Gently squeeze out water (do not wring). Lay flat on blocking mats. Pin to exactly 100cm x 100cm.
3.  **Bobble Care:** While damp, pinch the bobbles to make them stand up round and firm.
4.  Let dry completely.

### Optional Edging
If you desire a cleaner edge:
**Round 1:** Join yarn at any corner. Work (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in corner. Work dc evenly around the entire blanket (1 dc per stitch on top/bottom, 1 dc per row end on sides). Join with slip stitch.
**Round 2 (Candy Cane Border):** *Reverse Double Crochet (Crab Stitch)* in each stitch around. This gives a twisted cord look perfect for Christmas.

## Chart/Symbol Key
*   **|** : dc (UK terms)
*   **O** : Bobble Stitch
*   **~** : dc-blo (ribbing texture)