Berroco Thimbleberry Blanket Knitting Pattern

Berroco Thimbleberry Knit Blanket

What is Being Made

The Thimbleberry is a knitted blanket throw designed by Emily Nora O'Neil. This intermediate-level project creates an approximately 42-inch square blanket that combines textured stitch patterns with clean garter stitch borders, making it a versatile home accessory suitable for layering on furniture or displaying as a decorative throw.

Finished Measurements and Materials

The completed blanket measures approximately 42 inches square. The project requires 10 balls of Berroco North Star yarn in colorway #3015 Narwhal (50 grams per ball). A 29-inch length circular knitting needle in size 13 (9.00 mm) is used, along with 2 stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats. Gauge is established at 13 stitches and 16 rows equaling 4 inches in pattern stitch.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate blanket employs several fundamental and decorative knitting techniques. The main body features a complex pattern stitch that creates visual interest through strategic increases and decreases across 8-row repeats. The pattern stitch incorporates the following techniques:

• Yarn overs (yo) – used to create openwork and lace-like details within the pattern
• Knit two together (k2tog) – a right-leaning decrease that balances the yarn overs
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK) – a left-leaning decrease for shaping and stitch control
• Slip, slip, purl (SSP) – the purl-side equivalent of SSK, maintaining consistent decreases on wrong-side rows
• Garter stitch – created by knitting every row, used for the 2¾-inch borders on all sides to frame the central pattern

The pattern stitch is notable for its variable stitch count per repeat, fluctuating between 17 and 19 stitches across the 8-row repeat cycle. This creates a dynamic, textured appearance while maintaining overall blanket dimensions through careful stitch management. The blanket begins with a cast-on of 139 stitches, with 10 stitches reserved on each side for garter stitch borders and 119 stitches dedicated to the central pattern stitch repeat.

Construction Method

The Thimbleberry is constructed flat using circular needles (preferred for their flexibility with larger projects rather than for working in the round). The blanket is worked in three distinct sections: an initial 2¾-inch garter stitch border, the main patterned body worked in the 8-row repeating pattern stitch, and a final 2¾-inch garter stitch border. Stitch markers are placed to delineate the border sections from the central pattern area, helping knitters maintain accuracy throughout the project. After binding off knitwise, all yarn ends are woven in and the finished blanket is blocked to achieve even dimensions and proper drape.