Double Seed Stitch Blanket. Photo © Purl Soho
The Double Seed Stitch Blanket by Purl Soho is a wonderfully simple free blanket knitting pattern that turns basic knit and purl stitches into a rich, nubbly texture.
Originally designed in cozy bulky-weight merino, this reversible blanket is available in five sizes from Baby to Queen. The straightforward repeating stitch pattern makes it a relaxing project while still producing a beautifully textured finished blanket.
Best of all, the original pattern is still available free from Purl Soho.
Double Seed Stitch Blanket Pattern Details
- Designer: Purl Soho
- Originally published: January 2013
- Craft: Knitting
- Category: Baby blanket, throw and bed blanket
- Pattern availability: Free
- Yarn weight: Bulky
- Original yarn: Purl Soho Super Soft Merino
- Needles: US 13 (9 mm) circular needles
- Gauge: 11 stitches = 4 inches in Double Seed Stitch
- Construction: One-piece rectangle worked flat
- Stitch pattern: Double Seed Stitch
- Texture: Reversible
- Sizes: Baby, Crib, Throw, Twin and Queen
Five Blanket Sizes
One of the most useful features of the original Double Seed Stitch Blanket pattern is its wide range of sizes.
The approximate finished dimensions are:
- Baby: 28 × 30 inches
- Crib: 45 × 60 inches
- Throw: 60 × 60 inches
- Twin: 66 × 90 inches
- Queen: 90 × 95 inches
This means you can use the same basic design for anything from a small baby blanket to a substantial bed-sized blanket.
What Is Double Seed Stitch?
Double Seed Stitch is a textured knitting pattern created entirely from knit and purl stitches.
Instead of alternating every stitch and every row exactly as you would in traditional seed stitch, the arrangement changes over a short repeating sequence.
The result is a dense field of small raised textures that gives the blanket its distinctive nubbly surface.
A Simple Knit-and-Purl Blanket
One of the biggest attractions of this design is that the texture looks more complicated than the techniques required to create it.
There are no cables, lace motifs or complicated colorwork sections. The visual interest comes from arranging basic knit and purl stitches into a consistent repeating pattern.
Once you become familiar with the sequence, the blanket can settle into a relaxing rhythm.
A Reversible Knitted Texture
Double Seed Stitch creates an attractive texture on both sides of the fabric.
This is particularly useful for blankets because there is no need to worry about keeping one specific side facing outward when the blanket is being used.
A reversible stitch also gives the finished project a clean, well-finished appearance from either direction.
Original Yarn: Super Soft Merino
The original Purl Soho version was designed using Super Soft Merino, a bulky-weight merino wool.
The original sample color was Oyster Gray, which emphasizes the stitch texture without distracting from it.
Bulky yarn also gives the blanket a substantial feel and allows the textured stitches to appear large and clearly defined.
How Much Yarn Do You Need?
The approximate yardage listed for the five original sizes is:
- Baby: 522 yards / 477 m
- Crib: 1,479 yards / 1,352 m
- Throw: 1,914 yards / 1,750 m
- Twin: 3,132 yards / 2,864 m
- Queen: 4,524 yards / 4,137 m
These amounts are based on the original bulky yarn and pattern gauge. Your actual requirement may change if you substitute yarn or alter the blanket dimensions.
Choosing Substitute Yarn
You do not have to use the original Purl Soho yarn to knit this blanket.
Look for a bulky-weight yarn that produces a pleasant fabric at the required gauge. A smooth yarn with good stitch definition will help show off the Double Seed Stitch texture.
For a blanket that will receive frequent use, also consider fiber care. Washable wool blends or other easy-care fibers may be practical choices, particularly for baby and family blankets.
Needles and Gauge
The original pattern uses US 13 (9 mm) circular needles.
The specified gauge is:
11 stitches = 4 inches (10 cm)
in Double Seed Stitch
Circular needles are useful even though the blanket is worked flat. Their flexible cable provides room to hold the large number of stitches, especially for the larger sizes.
Why Use Circular Needles for a Flat Blanket?
Circular needles are not only for knitting in the round.
When knitting a wide blanket flat, a long circular needle can distribute the weight of the project across the cable rather than forcing all the stitches onto a pair of long straight needles.
This becomes increasingly useful as the blanket grows heavier.
Is the Double Seed Stitch Blanket Beginner Friendly?
This is a very approachable project for knitters who already know the basic knit and purl stitches.
The construction is a simple rectangle, and the texture does not require complicated shaping.
The main skill is learning to recognize whether the next stitch should be knitted or purled and keeping your place in the repeating sequence.
A Good First Textured Blanket
If you have already knitted plain garter or stockinette projects and want to try something with more texture, Double Seed Stitch is a natural next step.
It demonstrates how dramatically a fabric can change simply by arranging knit and purl stitches in a different sequence.
Because the same texture continues throughout the blanket, you also get plenty of practice reading your knitting.
Learn to Read Your Knitting
A project like this becomes much easier once you can recognize knit and purl stitches visually.
Rather than relying entirely on counting every stitch from the beginning of each row, look at the texture directly below the stitch on your needle.
Learning to recognize the structure of the fabric can help you catch mistakes before they continue across several rows.
Use Stitch Markers on Larger Blankets
Although the original construction is straightforward, optional stitch markers can be helpful when working one of the larger sizes.
Dividing a very long row into manageable sections gives you convenient checkpoints for spotting mistakes.
Just remember that these markers are an optional organizational aid, not a required part of the original design.
Keep Your Tension Relaxed
Textured knit-and-purl patterns can become tight if the yarn is pulled firmly every time it moves between the front and back of the work.
Try to maintain an even, relaxed tension as you alternate between knit and purl stitches.
A consistent gauge will help the finished texture look regular across the entire blanket.
A Great Solid-Color Blanket
Double Seed Stitch is particularly effective in a single color because the shadows created by the raised texture provide plenty of visual interest on their own.
Neutral shades can create a timeless blanket, while brighter colors can transform the same simple stitch pattern into a cheerful baby or family throw.
Tonal yarns can also work beautifully as long as the color changes do not obscure the stitch definition.
Make It a Baby Blanket
The smallest original size measures approximately 28 × 30 inches, making it suitable as a compact baby blanket.
If knitting for a baby, consider choosing an easy-care yarn that is soft against the skin and appropriate for frequent washing.
Always follow current safe-sleep guidance when deciding how and where a handmade blanket should be used with an infant.
Make It a Cozy Throw
The original Throw size measures approximately 60 × 60 inches.
Combined with bulky yarn and the dense Double Seed Stitch texture, this creates a substantial blanket for a sofa or favorite chair.
It is also a good option when you want a simple pattern that allows the quality and color of the yarn to become the focus.
There Is Also a Cotton Pure Version
Purl Soho later published a separate Double Seed Stitch Blanket in Cotton Pure.
That version uses sport-weight cotton and smaller needles, creating a lighter and more delicate interpretation of the same reversible stitch pattern.
The Cotton Pure version includes Crib and Throw sizes and is also currently available free from Purl Soho.
Bulky Merino or Cotton?
Choose the original bulky version if you want a thick, warm blanket with bold stitch definition.
Consider the later Cotton Pure version if you prefer a lighter blanket, plant-based fiber or a fabric suitable for machine washing according to the yarn's care instructions.
Both designs use the same basic Double Seed Stitch idea, but the different yarn weights produce noticeably different fabrics.
Why Knit the Double Seed Stitch Blanket?
This pattern is a great example of simple knitting producing a polished result.
You need only basic knit-and-purl skills to create a rich reversible texture, while the five original sizes allow the same design to become anything from a baby blanket to a full-size bed blanket.
It is an especially appealing project when you want relaxing knitting without ending up with a completely plain fabric.
Get the Free Double Seed Stitch Blanket Pattern
Double Seed Stitch Blanket by Purl Soho is still available as a free knitting pattern from its original publisher.
Get the Free Pattern from Purl Soho →
Pattern availability was checked when this article was updated. Amazing Knitting does not reproduce the designer's complete pattern; use the official Purl Soho page above for the original instructions.