Bernat Crochet Patterns

Blankets, mostly, and that is the point

Look down the list and a pattern emerges immediately: this is a blanket library. Criss Cross, Diamond Lattice, Dream Weaver, Bricks, Eight Shades Ripple, Beautiful Baby Blanket, Double Diamond, Star Blanket, Crocodile Stitch — Bernat's designers have spent years working out how to make a large rectangle interesting, and the results are here as free downloads. Around them sit smaller makes that use the same yarns: a stash basket, mum-and-me ponchos, quick slippers and a plant pot cosy.

The Bernat yarns these patterns use

• Bernat Blanket and Blanket Breezy: super chunky chenille, extremely soft, and the fastest route to a finished throw.
• Alize Blanket-EZ: pre-cut loops worked with your hands rather than a hook, so several of these blankets need no tools at all.
• Softee Baby and Baby Sport: lighter, smooth baby yarns for heirloom-style blankets with lace borders.
• Pipsqueak: fluffy eyelash-style baby yarn, forgiving of uneven tension because the pile hides everything.
• Super Value and Softee Chunky: workhorse acrylics for big afghans and quick hats or slippers.
• Pop! and Maker Outdoor: self-striping and outdoor-ready yarns for colour effects without changing balls.

Crocheting with chenille and loop yarn

Chenille yarns like Bernat Blanket behave unlike anything else. They are almost impossible to frog cleanly, because the pile catches on itself, so count carefully and check your work every few rows rather than relying on ripping back. Use a large hook — 8mm or above — and a simple, tall stitch; intricate stitch patterns disappear entirely into the pile. Loop yarns such as Alize Blanket-EZ skip the hook completely: you pull one loop through the next by hand, which makes them an excellent introduction for someone who has never crocheted, and a very fast way to produce a car seat or pram blanket.

Sizing a blanket and buying enough yarn

Decide the finished size before you start and work back from there. A pram or car seat blanket at around 60 x 70cm, a cot blanket near 75 x 100cm, a lap throw about 100 x 130cm and a full sofa afghan closer to 130 x 170cm. Super chunky yarn covers ground quickly but weighs a lot: a large chenille throw can easily need well over a kilo of yarn, so check the pattern's stated quantity and buy it all at once in one dye lot. Acrylic dye lots vary more visibly than you expect in a big flat area of colour.

Care and everyday life

The great virtue of these yarns is that they survive family use. Most Bernat acrylics machine wash on a cool, gentle cycle and can be tumble dried on low, which is why they are the standard choice for baby gifts, sofa throws and anything that will meet a toddler. Chenille sheds a little at first and settles down after a wash or two. Weave ends in deep and split the yarn as you go, because a chunky end working loose in a blanket is very visible. Store folded rather than compressed, and shake the pile back up after washing.

Bernat crochet questions

Are Bernat crochet patterns free? Many in this collection are free downloadable PDFs, listed alongside the yarns they were designed for.

What hook do I use with Bernat Blanket yarn? A large one, typically 8mm to 10mm, worked loosely enough that the chenille pile is not crushed.

Do I need a hook for Alize Blanket-EZ? No. The pre-formed loops are worked entirely with your hands.

How much yarn does a Bernat Blanket throw take? Follow the pattern's quantity; super chunky chenille throws often need a kilo or more for a full-size blanket.

Can I machine wash these projects? Most Bernat acrylics wash cool and tumble dry low, but always check the ball band for the specific yarn.