Almost 3 years ago, just 2 weeks before having my 2nd baby, I released my Bella Square Blanket pattern. I decided to add additional sizes to all my previous blanket patterns, and that meant making a new sample blanket to check all my numbers. Well, I ended up rewriting the pattern. At its core, it’s the same thing. I just tweaked it to make it a little better, and added a lovely border to the pattern. Since I didn’t go into this thinking I was making a whole new blanket sample, I had decided to use some leftover yarn from another project…so my finished sample piece turned out to be the perfect size for my girls to use with their baby dolls.

I’m so pleased with how this updated blanket turned out and I hope you love it as much as I love it!

Here on the blog you’ll find the free pattern for the lapghan size (40.25 inches x 53 inches), but if you want additional size options with all the details (11 sizes, to be exact!) AND a color planning chart, check out the printable PDF on Ravelry or Etsy.

Before we jump into the pattern, let’s talk about the yarn! Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti Pilling Yarn is a medium weight 4, worsted weight yarn. I love a good worsted weight yarn for my baby blankets, so I was anxious to try this one out. I recently had a custom order for a baby blanket, and I decided it was the perfect time to give it a go. There are over 30 colors to choose from on the Lion Brand website, including solids, multi-colors, heathers and marls. The anti pilling aspect is ideal for baby blankets – the yarn is treated against pilling before being spun; if you do notice light pilling on your finished pieces, simply put it in the washer and the pills will disappear.

My impression of it is that it’s very similar to Caron Simply Soft yarn. Whether you consider that a good thing or a bad thing, give Basic Stitch a chance before you make a decision. It’s a little on the thinner side of a worsted weight yarn, but it doest seem to bloom a slight bit when worked up, whereas with Simply Soft, your piece always feels a bit thin. I did have some minor splitting with Basic Stitch, but not nearly as much as I’ve had with Simply Soft. I’m firmly planted in the center pull camp when working with yarn skeins, and I’ve learned the trick to helping lessen the “yarn barf” so it’s not usually a problem for me. I did have a problem with it with Basic Stitch, with all 8 skeins that I used, and that’s probably my biggest complaint about the yarn. You can pull from the outside to avoid that, though, so again I wouldn’t let it hold you back from trying this yarn. The yarn is very soft, and the stitch definition is excellent.

Overall I’m very happy with this yarn as a worsted weight choice. Caron Simply Soft has long been a favorite of mine among worsted weight yarn, particularly for baby blankets, but the last few times I’ve used it I haven’t been entirely happy with it. I’m glad to find a suitable alternative, and I think you’ll like it, too!

This post may contain affiliate links that support Blackbird Mountain Designs content. All opinions are my own.

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BELLA SQUARE BLANKET – 2020 update

FINISHED SIZE: 40.25″ x 53″ (102 cm x 135 cm) – 10 additional sizes available in the paid PDF pattern

GAUGE: Each individual square measures 4.25 x 4.25 inches (10.8 cm x 10.8 cm), so complete one square to measure your gauge.

MATERIALS:

YARN: Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti Pilling Yarn (weight 4/medium, 3.5 oz/100g, 185 yds/170m)

Each square uses 16 yds/ .3 oz/ 9g of yarn. This size blanket needs 108 total squares (9 squares across, 12 squares down), so you’ll need a total of 1803 yds/ 34 oz/ 975g yarn for all the squares, the yarn to seam the squares*, and the border as noted in the pattern.

*I whip stitch my squares, through the back loops, as my preferred seaming method. If you slip stitch or single crochet your squares together, you’ll need additional yarn to accommodate these methods.

Hook & Notions:

• US H/5.0mm hook
• Scissors
• Yarn needle

ABBREVIATIONS:

• ch(s) – chain(s)
• ch sp(s) – chain space(s)
• dc – double crochet
• sc – single crochet
• sc2tog – sc 2 sts together
• sl st – slip stitch
• st(s) – stitch(es)

NOTES

DIRECTIONS

Round 1 — Ch 3, sl st join to 1st ch, ch 2, 12 dc in circle. (12 dc)

Round 2 — Ch 2, dc 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) next, *dc next 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) next,* rpt 2 more times. Sl st to 1st dc to join. (24 dc)

Round 3 — Ch 2, dc 4 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-sp, *dc next 6 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-sp,* rpt 2 more times, dc last 2 sts. Sl st to 1st dc to join.  (40 dc)

Round 4 — Ch 2, dc 6 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-sp, *dc next 10 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-sp,* rpt 2 more times, dc last 4 sts. Sl st to 1st dc to join. Fasten off yarn.  (56 dc)

Make 107 additional squares, repeating rows 1-4 for each square.

JOINING SQUARES:

Gently block your squares to even them out. If using acrylic yarn, a gentle steam block with set the yarn in place. Lay out all your squares and arrange them in the pattern you’d like for the finished blanket. Using your preferred join method, join all the squares together.

BORDER:

Join your border color yarn at any outside corner. Sc around the whole blanket, placing 3 sc in each of the 4 corner ch-sps, sl st in 1st sc to join. When you come to where the squares joined, place (1 sc, sc2tog, 1 sc) across the 2 joined square corner ch-sps and the join. This helps keep the edges a little straighter, without having a gap along each join line. Play around with your border sts and work them in whatever way gives you the look you like best.

Ch 1 and complete a second round of sc around, sl st in 1st sc to join.

*Optional picot border to be completed after 2 rounds of sc.

Ch 3, sl st into same st, sc in next, *sl st to next, ch 3, sl st in same st, sc in next, * repeat around, sl st intothe same st you started from. Fasten off yarn, weave in ends.

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I love to see your finished projects, so be sure to use #bellasquareblanket when you post your photos on social media!