A blanket for all seasons, wrap yourself in the Bright Side Blanket, a FREE crochet pattern designed in collaboration with Lion Brand Yarn.
If you ask me, it’s always a good idea to keep a blanket close. I like to cuddle under them in the winter, lay them on the grass for picnics in the spring, I’ll even drape one over my legs in summer when The Hubs cranks the air conditioning a little too high. Now you can crochet the perfect all-season throw when you whip up the Bright Side Blanket using my free pattern!
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PIN IT NOW, MAKE IT LATER
Find a printer-friendly version of the Bright Side Blanket on Ravelry and TLYarnCrafts.com. PDF version includes details for 10 different blanket sizes, including pattern modifications and approximate yardage.
Keep scrolling for the free version of the Bright Side Blanket.
A Design to Soothe the Mind
I plan my crochet designs well in advance, so I’ve been looking forward to making the Bright Side Blanket for a long time. But, as racial tensions flared in early June 2020 following the murder of George Floyd by Minnesota police, I couldn’t help letting my feelings about my country and community seep into my works in progress.
The original Bright Side Blanket was meant to be taupe trimmed in cream – a classic combination. Then I saw BIPOC and allies working together to make major changes in the United States and beyond. That work is grueling, taking a toll on your physical, mental, and spiritual health. Nevertheless, we all worked tirelessly to seek justice.
I was inspired by that journey of unlearning our whitewashed history and digging into our blind spots. I changed the Bright Side Blanket colors to a pale gray and bright yellow to signify that, while we must trudge through the gray, there is always a silver lining (well, in this case, it’s a golden yellow).
Budget-Friendly Crochet
Quality crochet doesn’t have to be expensive. While it’s great to splurge on gorgeous yarn every now and then, I’ve come to appreciate how versatile value yarns can be.
The Bright Side Blanket is made from two of Lion Brand’s most economical yarns – Pound of Love and Basic Stitch Premium. Both yarns are 100% acrylic and come in a range of modern and classic colors.
What I like most about these yarns is that they’re easy to crochet with and easy on the wallet. Even at full price, all the yarn to make the Bright Side Blanket would still cost you less than $35.
Now that Lion Brand has updated its website, planning projects is easier than ever! You can build a custom kit by adding yarns in your favorite colors, tools and notions, and a PDF version of your favorite patterns. I pulled some of my favorite Pound of Love + Basic Stitch Premium pairings and shared them below.
Click here to customize your Bright Side Blanket kit now!
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If you’re ready to start your Bright Side Blanket, keep scrolling for the FREE version of the pattern. Or, pick up the printer-friendly PDF version with adjustments for 10 blanket sizes – CLICK HERE.
Click here for the Bright Side Blanket pattern on Ravelry.
Click here to explore more FREE patterns on TLYCBlog.com.
Bright Side Blanket Details
DESCRIPTION:
Minimalist meets modern in the Bright Side Blanket. Lightly textured mesh stitches make up the body of this throw blanket and are framed by a playful bobble border in a contrasting shade. Beginner-friendly and meditative, you’ll love making one for every room in your home that needs a subtle punch of color.
MATERIALS:
- Lion Brand Pound of Love (worsted weight), 2 balls in the color Elephant Gray
- Lion Brand Basic Stitch Premium (worsted weight), 2 balls in the color Saffron
- 6.5mm crochet hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
FINISHED SIZE:
45″ wide x 58″ long. Pattern is written for Throw size only. Get the low-cost PDF version for 10 blanket sizes by clicking here!
GAUGE:
20 sts in (esc, ch 1) pattern x 11.5 rows = 5″ unblocked
ABBREVIATIONS:
Bo = bobble (see Special Stitches)
Ch = chain
Esc = extended single crochet (see Special Stitches)
Fhdc = foundation half double crochet
Hdc = half double crochet
RS = right side
Sc = single crochet
Sk = skip
Sl st = slip stitch
Sp = space
St(s) = stitch(es)
Tch = turning chain
WS = wrong side
SPECIAL STITCHES:
- Extended single crochet (esc) = pull up loop in indicated stitch, yarn over, pull through one loop, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
- Bobble (bo) = Chain 6, in the 3rd chain from the hook, *(yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops) 3 times, yarn over, pull through all 4 loops on hook*, chain 3, in loop at top of cluster just made, repeat * to *, sl st around the chain 3 at the base of the first cluster.
PATTERN NOTES:
- Starting ch-3 counts as esc + ch 1 throughout pattern.
- Starting ch-2 counts as hdc throughout pattern.
Bright Side Blanket Pattern
BODY
ROW 1 (WS): With A, fhdc 171, turn.
ROW 2 (RS): Ch 3, sk first 2 sts, esc in next st, (ch 1, sk 1, esc next st) across row, turn.
ROW 3: Ch 3, esc in next esc, (ch 1, esc in next esc) across row, placing last esc in 2nd ch of tch, turn.
Repeat Row 3 to 137 total rows.
LAST ROW: Ch 2, sk first st, hdc in each ch-1 sp and esc across row, placing last hdc in 2nd ch of tch. Fasten off.
BORDER
Need a little help with the border? Check out this tutorial video!.
ROUND 1: With B and RS facing, join with a sl st in the last st of the last row from the Body, ch 1, sc in same st, ch 2, rotate to work along row ends, *2sc around st of first row, (1 sc around st of next row, 2sc around st of next row) across the edge*, ch 2, rotate to work along bottom edge, sc in each st along bottom edge, ch 2, rotate to work along row ends, repeat * to *, ch 2, rotate to work along top edge, sc in each st along top edge to first sc of round, sl st in first sc of round, DO NOT TURN.
ROUND 2: *Bo, ch 3, sk ch-2 sp, sl st in sc after ch-2 sp, (bo, ch 3, sk 3 sc, sl st in next sc) across row to last 3 sts, bo, ch 3, sk 2, sl st in last sc of row, rotate to work along the next edge; repeat from * 3 times, ending round with a sl st in the base of the starting chains. Fasten off.
FINISHING
-Weave in all ends.
-Steam block to finished dimensions as necessary.
PIN THIS PATTERN SO YOU DON’T LOSE IT!
I hope crocheting the Bright Side Blanket is as therapeutic for you as it was for me. I was able to crochet away all of my stress and focus on making something I’ll cherish forever.
I always enjoy partnering with Lion Brand, but especially so for this project. Take a look at all of our collaborations and shop the amazing yarns available now.
Please take a moment to upload your projects to Ravelry and don’t forget to PIN this pattern to Pinterest so you can find it later. I’d love to see your projects on social media too – share them on Instagram with #TLYCMakers, then head over to the TLYCMakers Facebook group to share there too.
Try these other home decor crochet patterns:
Easy Ripple Pillow (FREE) // Hexi Puff Coaster (FREE) // Maisy Velvet Pillow (FREE)
Hello Toni, I would like to crochet the Bright side blanket, but I’m not good at reading patterns. I love love the way you teach and I was wondering if you have this pattern on video. I want to make this blanket to cover a queen bed. Thank you and God bless.
HI Erika – thanks so much for your message about the Bright Side Blanket 🙂 I don’t have a tutorial video planned for this project, but will certainly add it to my blog if I do make one. If you’re still planning to try the pattern, let me know – I’m always happy to help!
I love that you shared some color combos! I am a big fan of the original combo but am also eyeing cornflower + goldmine. Decisions, decisions…
It’s such a tough choice! I’m hoping to make another, pairing cream and a light gray 🙂
I love that you shared some color combos! I have decided to go with gray and crimson for a holiday blanket. Just got the yarn today!
Oops, I didn’t see that my original comment posted, so this is slightly duplicative 😉
Lovely stitch! What greay easy begginers pattern. THANK YOU!
Toni:
I’m loving the Bright Side Blanket but I’m having a hard time with the bobble. I’m not sure where the loop in the top of the cluster is located. Is this a good place to ask or would Instagram message be better? Thanks in advance.
Hi Cary! The way that boble is built can be a little tricky. One of my insta-besties Sarah-Jayne from Bella Coco did a quick video on a similar technique that should help. You can find it here.
Where can I find a tutorial for the FHDC? I am not familiar with that stitch.
Hi! You can find the foundation hdc stitch tutorial HERE
Hi Toni,
I’m new to your blog page! I fell in love with the Brightside blanket and made one for my daughter-in-law, However, my bobbles do not look like yours and I could not quite understand the instructions, so I have to wing it. It still looked nice, but I want to make another one for myself and would like some clearer instructions on the bobble fringe. Do you have a video with those instructions?
Thank you!
Hi! Here’s a tutorial video that might help.
I know I’m overthinking this, but when I am on the 3rd row and making the ESC into another ESC below it feels like I am going into a chain space. Is that right?
New crocheter here – question about turning and starting row 3. Instructions say to chain 3 and then ESC in next ESC. Would that be the one at the base of the chain 3? or the next one over? I’m also having a hard time seeing where to work the ESCs in row 3…. This seemed simple, and it probably is if you’ve been crocheting for years. Thanks for any help you can provide!