Valley Yarns Strobus Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Strobus Blanket

What Is Being Made

The Strobus is a versatile blanket design available in two sizes: a baby stroller blanket measuring 38" x 40½" or a larger adult throw blanket measuring 51¾" x 71¼". Designed by Julie Turjoman, this project combines softness with durability, making it suitable as a gift for babies or adults. The blanket features a distinctive three-dimensional texture that is visually interesting from both sides.

Techniques Used

This blanket is worked using a bottom-up, seamless, flat knitting construction method. The design integrates garter stitch borders on all sides directly into the knitting, eliminating the need for seaming. The blanket is worked on a circular needle despite being knit flat, which allows for easy stitch management across the wider fabric. The Cocoon stitch pattern creates a textured, three-dimensional field that forms the main body of the blanket, while garter stitch borders frame this central pattern on all edges.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch pattern is the Cocoon stitch, which is a 12-row repeat pattern worked over 8-stitch repeats. This textured stitch is responsible for the blanket's signature three-dimensional appearance and heat-holding properties. The pattern is framed with garter stitch borders, which are created by knitting every row. The Cocoon stitch pattern requires purling 5 stitches together, a technique that the pattern notes may be easier to accomplish using a crochet hook.

Materials and Yarn

The Strobus is designed to be worked in Valley Yarns Haydenville Bulky, a machine-washable yarn composed of 60% Superwash Merino and 40% Acrylic Microfiber. This fiber blend provides both softness and durability for long-term use. The baby blanket requires 8 skeins while the adult throw requires 19 skeins, with each skein weighing 100g and providing 109 yards. The yarn is worked at a gauge of 14 stitches and 20 rows over 4 inches in the Cocoon stitch pattern when blocked.

Tools and Notions

• US 10 (6mm) circular needle, 32" to 40" length, or size needed to achieve gauge
• US E (3.5mm) crochet hook (optional, but recommended for purling 5 stitches together)
• Locking stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats
• Tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty. While the construction method is straightforward and works up quickly in bulky yarn, knitters should be comfortable with reading stitch patterns, managing multiple stitches on a needle, and executing the Cocoon stitch pattern repeat consistently across the width of the blanket.

Key Features

The Strobus blanket is designed for easy care and practicality. The Valley Yarns Haydenville Bulky yarn is machine washable and described as hard-wearing, making it suitable for frequent use and laundering. The Cocoon stitch pattern holds in heat, providing extra coziness and insulation. The blanket works up relatively quickly due to the bulky yarn weight, making it an efficient project for gift-giving. The seamless construction eliminates finishing steps while the integrated borders create clean, professional edges without additional seaming.