6-Day Kid Blanket Variation
Mushroom Risotto Baby Blanket
A crochet pattern by Betty McKnit
INTRODUCTION
This is a variation of the classic 6-Day Kid Blanket (6DKB) and can easily be made in six days. It uses worsted weight yarn in two color ways of self-striping cake yarn, and the striping effect is created by cake-mixing, or alternating cakes.
The blanket above is shown in Caron Cakes Chocolate Mint and Buttercream. If you don’t have these colors stashed, you can substitute similar colorways. Any cake yarn will do!
Resizing
This pattern is a variation that creates a specific size blanket with. If you would like other options for your blanket, please see the original 6-Day Kid Blanket pattern with resize instructions and options.
Swatch it!
This pattern can be tricky to get started. Making a swatch on 37 stitches along with the video before starting is the best way to get the hang of the pattern. Video Tutorials for making a swatch are on my YouTube Channel, www.youtube.com/c/bettymcknit.
Striping
This pattern uses the “Vivid Chevrons” or defined stripes technique with two different cake yarns. The yarn colors combine for random striping effects.
Finished Size: 36″ by 33”
Skill Level: Easy
Materials:
Yarn: 1200 yards of worsted weight self-striping cake yarn.
800 yards of Color A (shown in Caron Cakes Buttercream)
400 yards of color B (shown in Caron Cakes Chocolate Mint)
Hook: 5.5 mm (make a swatch to determine the best hook for your yarn)
10 yards of 1/2 inch ribbon
Optional: 3” cloth ribbon for decoration
Abbreviations:
ch: chain
dc: double crochet
dc3tog: (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH dec dc3tog).
Work dc3tog into one stitch – not over three stitches
[yarn over, pull up a loop, pull through two loops] 3 times. Yarn over, and pull through all 4 loops on the hook. (Be sure to pull up a loop in the same stitch every time.) dc3tog complete.
rep: repeat
sc: single crochet
sk: skip
sp(s): space(s)
Side edges:
Some crocheters have had issues with the side edges of their blankets curling. Here are some steps you can take to help alleviate this:
- ch 4 at the beginning of the row where the instructions say to ch 3. This is something you should try in your swatch, as some crocheters with tighter tension find that they really do need that extra stitch. Others do fine without it.
- When working the last stitch of the row, insert the hook into the row below from back to front, instead of from front to back.
- This pattern has a border, which will help flatten rolling side edges.
- Wash your blanket once it is complete, and lay it out flat to dry, gently stretching and shaping the edges. Never hang a wet knit/crocheted item to dry!
Begin the pattern
With Color A, ch 105
(To make your blanket larger or smaller, chain a multiple of 17 + 3)
Row 1: (RS) 1 sc into 2nd ch from hook, 1 sc into each ch to end.
Turn
Row 2: ch 3, sk first 3 sc (the sc on the end of the row, the one below your turning chain counts as 1)
[3dc in next sc, sk next 2 sc] twice, [3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc] into next sc
*sk next 2 sc, 3dc into next sc, sk next 2 sc, dc3tog
sk next 4 sc, dc3tog, sk next 2 sc, 3 dc in next sc, sk next 2 sc
[ 3 dc, ch3, 3 dc] into next sc; rep from * to last 9 sc
sk next 2 sc [3 dc into next sc, sk next 2 sc] twice, 1 dc into last sc.
Turn
Row 3: ch 3, sk sp between turning ch and next 3-dc group, 3 dc into each of next 2 sp
[3dc, ch3, 3dc] into next ch-3 sp
*3 dc into next sp, dc3tog into next sp
sk next sp, dc3tog into next sp, 3 dc into next sp, [3dc, ch3, 3dc] into next ch- 3 sp
rep from * to last 3 sps, 3 dc into each of next 2 sps
1 dc into sp between last 3 dc group and turning ch.
Turn
Row 4: ch 1, sc into first dc of the row (the one right below your turning chain)
sk next dc, 1 sc into each of next 8 dc
*3 sc into next ch 3 sp, 1 sc into each of next 14 sts
repeat from * to last ch-3 sp, 3 sc into last ch-3 sp
1 sc into each of next 8 dc, sk next dc, 1 sc into 3rd st of ch 3.
Turn
(Change to color B)
When changing colors, pull the new color through the last two loops of the last stitch of the previous color. Carry the yarn you’re not using loosely up the side of the blanket. You will work your edge over the carried yarns later, so make sure they are not pulled tight.
Row 5: Ch 3, sk first 2 sc of the row below (the sc your turning chain is coming out of counts as the first one). 1 dc into each of next 8 sc
*3 dc into next sc (you should be working these into the center stitch of the 3 sc. If not, you may have skipped incorrectly in the beginning of the row.) 1 dc into each of next 7 sc
sk next 2 sc, 1 dc into each of next 7 sc
rep from * to last 11 sc, 3 dc into next sc, 1 dc into each of next 8 sc
sk next 2 sc, 1 dc into the turning chain from the row below.
Turn
Row 6: Ch 3, sk first 2 dc in the row below (the dc below your turning chain counts as 1)
1 dc into each of next 8 dc
*3 dc into next dc (you should be working into center stitch of 3 dc)
1 dc into each of next 7 dc, sk next 2 dc, 1 dc into each of next 7 dc
rep from * to last 10 dc
3 dc into next dc, 1 dc into each of next 8 dc, sk last dc, 1 dc into 3rd st of ch 3, turn.
(Change back to Color A, pulling through the last two loops of the last stitch of the row, carrying the yarns up the side of the work.)
Row 7: Ch 1, sc into first dc (the same one the turning chain is coming out of), sk 1 dc
1 sc into each dc along row to last dc
sk last dc, 1 sc into 3rd ch of ch 3, turn.
Repeat rows 2-7, changing yarns before rows 5 and 7 seven times, for a total of 8 repeats of the pattern.
Repeat rows 2-4 one time more time. The blanket ends on Row 4.
Finishing:
Border row 1: Continuing around the blanket with Color A, beginning on the left side of the work, work a row of sc around the blanket, working 3 sc into each corner and into each of the points along and top and bottom of the blanket. Join with sl st to the starting sc.
When working sc into the sides of the blanket, use the turning chains and the dc stitches as foundation chains, working under 2 threads of each stitch and leaving one thread below. This creates a beautiful even edge to the work.
Border row 2: Continuing with Color A, ch 4, sk 1, *[dc, ch 1, sk 1] repeat from * around, working [dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc] in each corner of the blanket. Join w sl st to beginning of round.
Border row 3: ch 1. sc in same sp, and in each dc and ch 1 sp around. Join w sl st to starting sc.
Border row 4: * sk 2, 5 dc in next st, sk 2, sc in next st. Repeat from * around, working 9 dc in corners. ‘Fudge’ your skips so that you can put three shells on each mountain across the top and bottom of the blanket, and the sc in the valleys. This is more art than science! Edges are meant to be fudged!
Weave in all ends.
Weave the ribbon through the dc row of the border. (This will take longer than you think it will take!) For safety, cut the ribbon and tie off bows at each of the corners, taking care not to tie the ribbon into one big loop.
Tie a large bow with the 3” ribbon to one corner of the blanket, use the remainder to wrap around your folded blanket.
*Disclaimer* This pattern contains affiliate links.
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