Valley Yarns Hydra Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Hydra Knitted Blanket

What Is Being Made

The Hydra is a soft, welcoming knitted blanket designed by Julie Turjoman, available in two sizes: a Baby Blanket measuring 36" x 40" or a larger Afghan measuring 48" x 72". This project is ideal as a gift for new arrivals or friends moving into their first home. The blanket is crafted from a luxurious cotton and bamboo blend that delivers a deliciously soft and cozy feel.

Techniques and Construction

The Hydra blanket is worked flat in one piece, knitted back and forth in rows on circular needles. This approach allows for seamless construction of a large rectangular blanket without the need for seaming. The design uses a thoughtful combination of stitch patterns to create visual interest while maintaining an intermediate skill level suitable for Adventurous Beginners.

The blanket features a structured border design with three distinct pattern zones:

• Double Moss Stitch Hems: A textured border worked all the way around the perimeter, created by alternating knit and purl stitches in a 2x2 pattern. This provides a finished, professional edge.
• Eyelet Inner Borders: A delicate openwork pattern positioned between the outer hems and center field, adding visual sophistication and a touch of elegance.
• Stockinette Field: The expansive center of the blanket worked in classic stockinette stitch, providing a smooth, clean canvas that balances the textured borders.

Stitches Used

This pattern employs several fundamental knitting stitches that work together to create depth and dimension:

• Double Moss Stitch: A 2x2 alternating knit and purl pattern (K2, P2) that creates a bumpy, textured surface. This stitch is worked in the 6-stitch borders on all sides and requires attention to maintaining the pattern repeat across rows.
• Eyelet Pattern: A simple openwork stitch pattern that creates small decorative holes, used in the 25-stitch inner borders on all four sides of the blanket.
• Stockinette Stitch: The fundamental knit stitch worked in rows, creating the smooth, flat center field. This stitch is worked over the majority of the blanket's surface area.

Materials and Gauge

The Hydra is constructed using Valley Yarns Southwick, a premium yarn blend composed of 52% Pima Cotton and 48% Bamboo. This fiber combination creates a fabric that is both breathable and luxuriously soft. The sample shown is worked in color 28 - Smoky Quartz.

Yarn Requirements: The Baby Blanket size requires 11 balls of yarn (approximately 1,155 yards total), while the larger Afghan size requires 25 balls (approximately 2,625 yards total). Each ball weighs 50 grams and provides 105 yards of yardage.

Needles and Tools: This project is worked on US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles in a 24"–32" length, allowing the large blanket to be comfortably accommodated. Additional materials include stitch markers for tracking pattern sections and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge: The pattern is designed to achieve 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in both stockinette stitch and the eyelet pattern, when blocked. Achieving proper gauge is essential for reaching the finished measurements and ensuring the blanket drapes correctly.

Pattern Notes

The blanket begins with an Old Norwegian or other stretchy cast-on method, which creates a flexible foundation edge. The cast-on requires 162 stitches for the Baby Blanket or 218 stitches for the Afghan. The Double Moss stitch hems are worked first, followed by the eyelet border pattern, with the stockinette center field comprising the bulk of the blanket. The pattern is organized in repeating rows that maintain the stitch pattern alignment throughout the project, making it manageable for intermediate knitters.