Hugs and Kisses Blanket

Hello, my friend, and welcome to Bernat Crochet Patterns! Today\’s project is full of love, because we are making a hugs and kisses cable blanket. Those are the X and O shapes you see in cozy cabled sweaters, and yes, you can make them with a crochet hook.

The cables are made with post stitches. Each cable panel has eight raised stitches, and every few rows you cross them over each other. When the stitches cross one way you get the kisses, the X shapes. When they cross the other way you get the hugs, the round O shapes. Between the panels, plain double crochet gives the cables room to stand out.

This is an intermediate pattern, so it is a good fit if you already know how to work front post and back post stitches. The crossings may look tricky, but there are only two of them to learn, and I have written them out step by step. After a couple of repeats you will be reading your cables like a book.

We will start with a small practice swatch so you can learn the crossings, and then I will show you how to use it to plan a blanket in the size you want. Grab a smooth, light colored yarn so every twist shows up nicely, and let\’s begin.

Abbreviations (US terms)

ch	chain
sl st	slip stitch
sc	single crochet
dc	double crochet
st(s)	stitch(es)
yo	yarn over
RS	right side
WS	wrong side
* *	repeat the steps between the asterisks
FPdc	front post double crochet
BPdc	back post double crochet
FPtr	front post treble crochet
LC	left cross (see below)
RC	right cross (see below)

Special stitches

FPdc: Yo, insert your hook from front to back to front around the post of the stitch in the row below. Yo and pull up a loop, then [yo and pull through 2 loops] twice.

BPdc: Yo, insert your hook from back to front to back around the post of the stitch in the row below. Yo and pull up a loop, then [yo and pull through 2 loops] twice.

FPtr: Yo twice, insert your hook from front to back to front around the post of the stitch in the row below. Yo and pull up a loop, then [yo and pull through 2 loops] three times. The extra height lets the crossed stitches reach across without pulling.

Left cross (LC), worked over 4 sts: Sk the next 2 sts. FPtr around each of the next 2 sts. Now bring your hook in front of the 2 stitches you just made and work FPtr around the first skipped st, then around the second skipped st.

Right cross (RC), worked over 4 sts: Sk the next 2 sts. FPtr around each of the next 2 sts. Now reach behind the 2 stitches you just made and work FPtr around the first skipped st, then around the second skipped st. Your hook still goes around each skipped post from the front; it simply passes behind the new stitches.

X panel (kiss), worked over 8 sts: LC over the first 4 sts, RC over the next 4 sts.

O panel (hug), worked over 8 sts: RC over the first 4 sts, LC over the next 4 sts.

Pattern notes

• The foundation chain is any multiple of 14, plus 2. The practice swatch uses 30 chains and has 2 cable panels.
• The ch 2 at the beginning of each row does not count as a stitch. Work the first dc into the very first stitch and the last dc into the last real stitch.
• When you work a post stitch, skip the top of the stitch it wraps around, so the stitch count never changes. With 30 chains, every row has 28 stitches.
• Row 1 is a wrong side row. Even numbered rows are right side rows, and all the crossings happen on right side rows.
• On wrong side rows you work BPdc around every cable stitch. This keeps the cables raised on the right side.
• Rows 4 to 11 are the pattern repeat: X, O, O, X.

Instructions

Tick each step when you finish it: the page remembers where you stopped.

1. Row 1 (WS) Ch 30 (or your planned number). Dc in the 3rd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (28 dc)
2. Row 2 (RS) Ch 2, turn. Dc in each of the first 3 sts. *FPdc around each of the next 8 sts, dc in each of the next 6 sts*. Repeat from * until 11 sts remain. FPdc around each of the next 8 sts, dc in each of the last 3 sts. (28 sts)
3. Row 3 (WS) Ch 2, turn. Dc in each of the first 3 sts. *BPdc around each of the next 8 sts, dc in each of the next 6 sts*. Repeat from * until 11 sts remain. BPdc around each of the next 8 sts, dc in each of the last 3 sts. (28 sts)
4. Row 4 (RS, X row) Ch 2, turn. Dc in each of the first 3 sts. *X panel over the next 8 sts, dc in each of the next 6 sts*. Repeat from * until 11 sts remain. X panel over the next 8 sts, dc in each of the last 3 sts. (28 sts)
5. Row 5 (WS) Work as for Row 3.
6. Row 6 (RS, O row) Work as for Row 4, but make an O panel instead of each X panel.
7. Row 7 (WS) Work as for Row 3.
8. Row 8 (RS, O row) Work as for Row 6.
9. Row 9 (WS) Work as for Row 3.
10. Row 10 (RS, X row) Work as for Row 4.
11. Row 11 (WS) Work as for Row 3.
12. Rows 12 and on Repeat Rows 4 to 11 until the piece is almost as long as you like. Then work Row 2 and Row 3 once more, so the top ends with straight cables just like the bottom. Do not fasten off.
13. Plan your blanket Measure your practice swatch flat, without stretching, and divide its width by 2 to see how wide each 14 stitch section is. Divide the blanket width you want by that number and round to a whole number: that is how many cable panels you will have. Multiply it by 14 and add 2 to get your foundation chain. For example, 6 panels need 86 chains.
14. Border Turn so the right side faces you. Ch 1, 3 sc in the first st (corner), sc in each st across to the last st, 3 sc in the last st (corner). Sc evenly down the side, about 2 sc in the side of each row. Work 3 sc in the first foundation st, sc in each foundation st across, and 3 sc in the last one. Sc evenly up the last side and join with a sl st to the first sc.
15. Finish Cut the yarn, pull it through the loop and weave in all the ends with the tapestry needle.

Isn’t it sweet to watch the Xs and Os appear? The first time you see a little hug take shape on your hook, you will want to keep going just to see the next one. Keep your swatch nearby as a map, and do not be afraid to pull out a row if a cross goes the wrong way.

Cables look best when the fabric can relax, so give the finished blanket a gentle wash or a light steam following the care instructions on your yarn label, and lay it flat to dry. The columns settle in and the Xs and Os look even rounder.

VIDEO TUTORIAL

Thank you for spending this time with me, friend. A hugs and kisses blanket makes a wonderful gift for a new baby or someone you love, and now you know how to make one. Save this pattern, and come back soon to Bernat Crochet Patterns for more cozy projects.