Winter Snowdrift Crochet Blanket: Free Textured Throw Pattern in 9 Sizes
Some blankets look so textured that you assume they must be slow, fiddly work. The Winter Snowdrift Crochet Blanket from Pattern Princess is the opposite. Its raised ridges come from front post stitches, but the whole blanket runs on a single row that you repeat from start to finish. The designers sum it up neatly: if you can count to 10, you can crochet this blanket.
Images and patterns courtesy of Pattern Princess
The sample is worked in cream, burgundy, rose and charcoal, which gives it a cozy holiday feel without turning it into a novelty Christmas throw. It uses #5 bulky yarn and an 8 mm hook, so every row adds noticeable length. That makes it a good pick if you want a big blanket finished before the cold weather really sets in, or a handmade gift ready in time for the holidays.
The Winter Snowdrift Blanket at a Glance
- Designer: Pattern Princess
- Skill level: Advanced beginner to intermediate
- Sizes: Nine, from a 32 x 40 in baby blanket to a 104 x 100 in king blanket (measured without the border)
- Yarn: #5 bulky; the sample uses Premier Puzzle, a 100% acrylic yarn in 328 yd (300 m) skeins
- Hook: Size L (8 mm)
- Gauge: about 10 stitches and 8 rows to 4 x 4 in, worked in pattern
- Terms: US crochet terms
- Video length: 18:37
What You'll Need
- #5 bulky yarn in three colors. The large throw shown in the video takes about 3,200 yards, or 10 skeins of Premier Puzzle in the shades Sudoku, Checkers and Jacks. The written pattern lists the yardage for every size.
- A size L (8 mm) crochet hook
- A yarn needle
- Scissors
- A stitch marker
- A measuring tape
The body of the blanket only uses chains, half double crochet, double crochet and front post half double crochet. If you add the border, you will also need front post and back post double crochet.
Pick Your Size
The pattern is written in nine sizes: baby blanket, small blanket, medium throw, large throw (the one made in the video), extra-large throw, twin, full, queen and king. Each size can be finished with or without the border, which adds roughly an inch on every side.
Want a custom width? The starting chain is a multiple of 20 plus 1, so you can keep chaining until the foundation is as wide as you like. To change the length, add or remove rows in sets of 10 so the color stripes stay even.
How the Blanket Comes Together
The video follows the order of the written pattern, so you can jump straight to the section you need:
- Materials and pattern overview (0:36 and 1:20). A look at the yarn and hook, followed by an explanation of how the stitch groups line up across the blanket.
- Foundation chain (2:08). Chain the number of stitches listed for your size.
- Row 1 (3:00). This row sets up the blocks, with groups of 10 half double crochet alternating with groups of 10 double crochet.
- Row 2 (8:34). This is where the texture appears. Front post half double crochet stitches are worked around the posts of the double crochet block below, and plain double crochet goes over the half double crochet block, so the raised and flat sections alternate from row to row.
- Row 3 and beyond (15:55). From here you simply repeat Row 2 for the rest of the blanket, changing color every 10 rows.
- Border (optional). Two rounds finish the edge: a round of double crochet with 3 double crochet in each corner, then a ribbed round of alternating front post and back post double crochet. Pattern Princess also shared a short video that shows these border stitches.
Tips for a Smooth Make
- Count in tens. Every block is 10 stitches and every color is 10 rows. Placing a stitch marker at the start of a block, or keeping a quick tally of rows, saves a lot of ripping back later.
- Check your gauge first. Bulky yarns can vary quite a bit between brands. Work a small swatch and compare it to the pattern gauge before you start a long foundation chain.
- No wrong side to worry about. The pattern notes point out that the blanket has no designated right or wrong side, because the fabric looks similar on both faces. That makes it a practical throw for the sofa.
- Play with color. Variegated yarn adds movement inside each broad stripe. The designers suggest blues and creams for a snowy look, or greens and neutrals for a woodland feel.
- Left-handed? There is also a left-handed version of this same tutorial on the Pattern Princess channel.
A Blanket for the Whole Season
In the sample colors it works as a Christmas throw for the living room or a gift to wrap and put under the tree, and the baby size is a quick present for a winter arrival. Swap the palette and the same texture becomes an everyday blanket you can leave out all year. The large throw shown in the video measures 56 x 60 in without the border and 58 x 62 in with it.
The full written pattern, with chain counts, row counts and yardage for every size, is free on the Pattern Princess website.
Enjoy the Video Tutorial
Source: Pattern Princess
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Winter Snowdrift blanket suitable for beginners?
It is rated advanced beginner to intermediate. If you are comfortable with half double crochet and double crochet, the only new stitch is the front post half double crochet, and the video shows it step by step in Row 2.
How much yarn do I need?
It depends on the size. The pattern lists about 1,450 yards for the baby blanket, about 3,200 yards for the large throw shown and about 10,900 yards for the king size, all in #5 bulky yarn.
Can I skip the border?
Yes. Every size is written with and without the border. Leaving it off makes the blanket about 2 inches smaller in both width and length.
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