Crunch in Rowan Baby Cashsoft Worsted - Downloadable PDF

Crunch Blanket in Rowan Baby Cashsoft Worsted – Pattern Summary

This knitting pattern by Anna Hull, titled Crunch (reference ZB384-00006-EN), is a beautifully textured knitted blanket available in three sizes: small, medium, and large. Published as a downloadable PDF by Rowan, it is rated as advanced beginner level, making it an ideal project for knitters who have mastered the basics and are ready to explore simple lace and colourwork embroidery techniques.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a knitted blanket worked in a repeating lace square pattern. The blanket is constructed in a single main piece, with a picked-up border added after the main fabric is complete. Decorative embroidery is added during the making-up stage using small amounts of contrast yarn, giving the blanket a charming, folk-inspired character. The three size options offer flexibility for different end uses, from a small baby blanket to a larger throw.

Construction and Structure

The blanket body is worked flat using a pair of 5mm (UK no. 6 / US 8) needles. The main fabric is built around a 20-row repeating lace pattern, which is worked a set number of times depending on the chosen size:

• Small: 11 lace squares across and 14 along the length
• Medium: 12 lace squares across and 17 along the length
• Large: 14 lace squares across and 23 along the length

Once all repeats are complete, the pattern instructs the knitter to work rows 1 and 2 of the lace pattern once more, then finish with two rows of stocking stitch (stockinette) before casting off. This creates a neat, stable edge at the top of the blanket before the border is applied.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Crunch blanket draws on a small but effective range of knitting stitches and techniques:

• Lace pattern: A structured 20-row repeat forms the central decorative motif of the blanket. Lace knitting typically involves yarn-over increases paired with decreases to create deliberate holes and texture within the fabric.
• Stocking stitch (stockinette): Used at the beginning and end of the main body to create smooth, flat sections that frame the lace pattern.
• Pick up and knit: The border is worked by picking up stitches around all four edges of the blanket using a 4½mm (UK no. 7 / US 7) circular needle at least 150 cm long. Starting at a corner, stitches are picked up along the cast-on edge and continued around the entire perimeter.
• Embroidery: Small amounts of contrast yarns are used to add embroidered details to the finished blanket, worked during the making-up stage after knitting is complete.
• Pressing and blocking: The pattern instructs knitters to press the finished piece as described on the information page, an important finishing step for lace knitting that opens up the stitch pattern and evens the fabric.

Materials – Yarn

The pattern is designed specifically for Rowan Baby Cashsoft Worsted, a 50g weight yarn. The main colour used throughout the blanket body and border is:

• Yarn A – Snowflake (shade 10010): The quantities required vary by size, with 14 balls for small, 17 balls for medium, and 23 balls for large.

In addition, small amounts of the same Rowan Baby Cashsoft Worsted yarn are required in the following contrast shades for the embroidery detail:

• Yarn B – Mustard (shade 10017)
• Yarn C – Olive (shade 10016)
• Yarn D – Rust (shade 10019)
• Yarn E – Taupe (shade