Quick as a Link Cable Blanket

Quick as a Link Cable Blanket by Lisa van Klaveren

What is Being Made

The Quick as a Link Cable Blanket is a versatile crochet blanket that can be customized to any desired dimensions. The sample baby size blanket measures approximately 36 inches long by 30 inches wide, making it suitable for various uses from baby blankets to larger throws. This design offers flexibility in sizing, allowing crafters to adjust the finished dimensions according to their specific needs.

Design and Construction Approach

This pattern was created by designer Lisa van Klaveren as an exploration of stitch combinations and mathematical patterns in crochet. Similar to her Wonder Cable Blanket, the Quick as a Link Cable Blanket achieves its distinctive cabled appearance through surface textures rather than traditional post stitches. This innovative approach results in a blanket that uses relatively little yarn while maintaining incredible drape and visual interest. The pattern features a simple 2-row repeat that is easy to memorize, making it accessible for beginners despite its sophisticated appearance.

Crochet Techniques and Stitches Used

The entire blanket is constructed using half double crochet throughout, creating a consistent foundation for the textured cable effects. Two specialized stitch techniques are employed to create the surface texture and visual cable pattern:

• Back Loop Only (blo): Working in the back loop only of the indicated stitch to create dimensional texture on the blanket surface
• Lower Loop Only (llo): Working in the lower loop only of the indicated stitch, which appears on the face of the work, adding additional textural variation

By utilizing these loop-specific techniques with the basic half double crochet stitch, the pattern achieves a complex cable-like visual effect without requiring more advanced post stitches, keeping the pattern beginner-friendly while delivering impressive results.

Materials and Yarn Weight Options

The Quick as a Link Cable Blanket pattern offers excellent versatility in material choices. The sample was created using aran worsted weight yarn requiring approximately 680 yards. However, the pattern is designed to work beautifully with yarn and crochet hooks of your choice, allowing crafters to select from multiple yarn weights including DK, worsted, heavy worsted, aran, and chunky weights. A size K crochet hook (6.5 mm) was used for the sample project. This flexibility means you can adapt the pattern to your preferred yarn and hook combination while achieving excellent results.

Skill Level

Rated as a beginner-level pattern, the Quick as a Link Cable Blanket makes advanced-looking crochet accessible to newer crafters. The straightforward half double crochet base combined with the simple 2-row repeat ensures that the pattern is easy to follow and memorize, despite creating a sophisticated cable-textured finished blanket.