Bixby Blanket in Cascade 220 Superwash Wave - W694 - Downloadable PDF

Bixby Blanket Crochet Pattern in Cascade 220 Superwash Wave – W694 by April Garwood

About This Free Crochet Blanket Pattern

The Bixby Blanket is a beautifully structured crochet throw designed by April Garwood and published by Cascade Yarns® as a free downloadable PDF pattern (W694). Worked in the timeless filet lace technique, this blanket delivers an elegant, open-grid aesthetic that looks far more complex than its beginner-friendly construction actually requires. It is an ideal project for crocheters who are comfortable with basic stitches and are ready to explore the satisfying rhythm of filet crochet for the first time.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single finished blanket measuring 34 inches wide by 35 inches long — a generous lap blanket or decorative throw size that works beautifully draped over a sofa, used as a baby blanket, or gifted as a handmade keepsake. The one-size design means there are no sizing adjustments to navigate, making it a straightforward, satisfying make from cast-on to bind-off.

The Filet Lace Technique Explained

The Bixby Blanket is constructed using a technique called filet lace, a classic crochet method that creates a grid-like fabric of open and filled squares. In filet crochet, the fabric is organized into a chart of boxes arranged in rows and columns. Each box shares its vertical edges with neighboring boxes, meaning a single double crochet stitch serves as the dividing line between two adjacent squares. The top of each box is formed by either a chain stitch (creating an open, mesh-like square) or the top of a double crochet (creating a filled, solid square). The bottom of each box is similarly formed by the chain or stitch from the row below. By following a charted grid, the crocheter builds up a design where the contrast between open and filled squares creates the visual pattern — in this case, the distinctive motif that gives the Bixby Blanket its character. Reading a filet crochet chart is an accessible skill that translates directly to the hook, making this an excellent introduction to chart-based crochet design.

Stitches and Abbreviations Used

The pattern relies on a small, approachable set of crochet stitches, making it well-suited to beginners who have mastered the fundamentals. The stitches used include:

• Chain stitch (Ch) – used to build the foundation and to form the open squares within the filet grid
• Double crochet (Dc) – the primary structural stitch, forming the vertical and horizontal edges of each filled box in the filet design
• Single crochet (Sc) – used as a finishing or edging element
• Slip stitch (Sl st) – used for joining and finishing
• Skip (Sk) – used to navigate the open spaces within the filet grid

The gauge for this pattern is 15 stitches by 8 rows = 4 inches (10 cm), measured in the double crochet pattern after blocking. Achieving gauge is important for reaching the intended finished dimensions of the blanket.

Materials and Yarn

The Bixby Blanket is worked in Cascade Yarns® 220 Superwash® Wave, a premium 100% Superwash Wool yarn that combines the natural warmth and stitch definition of wool with the practical convenience of machine-washability. Each skein contains 100 grams (3.5 oz) and 220 yards (200 meters) of worsted weight yarn, and the pattern calls for 5 skeins in colorway #111 Nightshade — a rich, deep tonal shade that beautifully highlights the open filet lace structure. The Wave designation in the yarn name refers to its subtly variegated, tonal color shifts, which add visual depth and movement to the finished fabric without overwhelming the geometric precision of the filet pattern.

Hook and Notions

The pattern is worked with a size I/9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook, which is a standard worsted weight hook size that produces a fabric with good drape and clear stitch definition. Additional materials needed include a