Wind Sea Blanket in Valley Yarns Haydenville Bulky - 817 - Downloadable PDF

Wind Sea Blanket – Knitting Pattern #817 by Kirsten Hipsky

The Wind Sea Blanket, pattern number 817, is an original knitting design by Kirsten Hipsky, available as a downloadable PDF. This cozy, substantial blanket features dramatic chevron waves created entirely through a clever slipped-stitch technique, producing a bold, textured, two-color fabric that looks far more complex than it actually is. Because the construction relies on slipping stitches rather than increases and decreases to form the chevron effect, this pattern is rated beginner-friendly, making it an excellent choice for knitters who are ready to move beyond basic garter or stockinette projects and explore simple colorwork and texture.

What Is Being Made

The finished object is a rectangular knitted blanket or throw worked in three size options:

• Small: 34 inches × 40 inches
• Medium: 46 inches × 52 inches (the size shown in the pattern photography)
• Large: 58 inches × 64 inches

The blanket is soft, warm, and machine-washable, making it practical for everyday use, gifting, or nursery settings. The finished fabric showcases flowing diagonal chevron lines that evoke the movement of wind across water — hence the name Wind Sea.

Techniques Used

The Wind Sea Blanket is worked flat (back and forth in rows) on long circular needles, which comfortably accommodate the large stitch count without the need for straight needles. Key techniques include:

• Stripes: Two colors are alternated throughout the main body of the blanket, with yarn carried up the side of the work rather than cut at every stripe, keeping finishing tidy and efficient.
• Slipped-stitch colorwork: The chevron pattern is formed by slipping stitches with the yarn always held to the wrong side of the fabric. On right-side rows, the yarn is held in back; on wrong-side rows, it is held in front. This consistent rule is essential to achieving the clean, graphic wave effect.
• Worked flat: All rows are worked back and forth, meaning knitters alternate between right-side and wrong-side rows. Wrong-side rows follow a straightforward rule — purl the purled stitches, slip the slipped stitches, and knit the first and last stitch of every row.
• Long-tail cast on: The pattern specifies this cast-on method for a neat, elastic starting edge.
• Garter stitch border: A garter stitch border is worked with smaller needles to frame the blanket and keep the edges from curling.
• Loose, even tension on slipped stitches: The pattern notes emphasize using a loose but consistent tension when slipping stitches and when carrying yarn up the side, which is important for maintaining an even fabric and accurate gauge.

Stitches Used

The stitch vocabulary in the Wind Sea Blanket is intentionally simple, making this pattern very accessible:

• Knit stitch (K) – the primary stitch used throughout both the border and the main chevron pattern.
• Purl stitch (P) – used on wrong-side rows within the main pattern repeat.
• Slip stitch (sl2) – two stitches are slipped at a time, always with the yarn held to the wrong side. This is the defining technique that creates the chevron wave without any increases or decreases.
• Garter stitch – formed by knitting every row, used for the border section worked on smaller needles.

The main pattern repeat is an 8-row sequence that cycles through the two colors, with each row building on the slipped-stitch placement to shift the chevron diagonally across the fabric. The repeat is clearly written out row by row, making it easy to follow even for those new to reading knitting patterns.

Materials – Yarn

The pattern is designed specifically for Valley Yarns Haydenville Bulky, a chunky weight yarn with a fiber composition of 60% Superwash Merino / 40% Acrylic Microfiber