Pastille Blanket in Valley Yarns Haydenville - 1002 - Downloadable PDF

Pastille Blanket in Valley Yarns Haydenville – Pattern #1002 by Julie Turjoman

The Pastille Blanket, pattern #1002 designed by Julie Turjoman, is a beautifully textured knitted blanket available in two sizes: a baby stroller blanket measuring 30" x 29" and a larger adult throw blanket measuring 49¼" x 62". This project is offered as a downloadable PDF and is rated intermediate in difficulty. Designed with busy family life in mind, the Pastille Blanket is built to be both visually striking and highly practical, thanks in large part to the easy-care fiber content of the featured yarn.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a classic, heirloom-quality knitted blanket suitable for everyday use. The baby stroller blanket is a compact and cozy option for newborns and infants, while the adult throw is generously sized for use on a sofa or bed. Both sizes feature the same elegant Diamond Twist stitch pattern across the entire field of the blanket, framed by simple borders that keep the design clean and structured. Despite its intricate appearance, the pattern is described as approachable for knitters with some experience, making it an excellent confidence-building project for those stepping beyond beginner-level work.

Yarn and Materials

The featured yarn is Valley Yarns Haydenville, a worsted weight yarn with a fiber composition of 60% Superwash Merino Wool and 40% Acrylic Microfiber, sold in 100g/220-yard skeins. The sample blanket was knitted in colorway 02-Natural. The superwash treatment on the merino wool means the finished blanket can withstand regular machine washing, making it especially well suited to baby items and family throws that see frequent use. The acrylic microfiber content adds durability and softness while helping the blanket hold its shape over time.

• Baby stroller blanket: 4 skeins of Valley Yarns Haydenville
• Adult throw blanket: 14 skeins of Valley Yarns Haydenville
• Colorway shown: 02-Natural

Needles and Other Tools

Two circular needle sizes are required for this pattern, both in a 32-inch cable length to accommodate the wide stitch count of the blanket:

• US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle – used for the main body of the blanket
• US size 6 (4.0 mm) circular needle – used for the setup or border sections
• Cable needle – essential for working the twist stitches
• Stitch markers – recommended to separate each 16-stitch Diamond stitch pattern repeat
• Tapestry needle – for weaving in ends upon finishing

Techniques Used

The Pastille Blanket is worked flat, meaning it is knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, despite the use of circular needles. Circular needles are used here simply to accommodate the large number of stitches required for the throw size. The flat construction means knitters will work both right-side and wrong-side rows throughout the pattern.

Key techniques include:

• Worked flat on circular needles to manage stitch count
• Cable needle techniques for creating the signature twist stitches
• Stitch marker placement to track repeating pattern sections
• Binding off and casting on standard knitting construction methods
• Blocking the finished piece to achieve the stated gauge and finished measurements

Stitches Used

The central design element of the Pastille Blanket is the Diamond Twist stitch pattern, a repeating 16-stitch motif that creates the appearance of interlocking diamonds across the surface of the blanket. The pattern includes half-diamond sections at each edge, worked over the initial 9