The Bonfire Blanket

(An important update to this blog post appears at the end).

Here we are again – another day, another new pattern. That’s what it feels like anyway!

Hard on the heels of the Touch of Frost blanket comes the Bonfire blanket. Whew, it’s been intense this past few weeks, writing the patterns, then checking and proofreading. My eyes are feeling it from the time spent at a computer screen, and I’m DESPERATE to get back to actual crochet and embroidery, but I can only do one job at a time, as I think I’ve mentioned before, so it was all systems go until the pattern was complete. But hey, that’s another one in the bag!

The links to the pattern are at the end of this post.

Crochet hook here I come!

If you are familiar with my Instagram account, you will already know that this blanket was inspired by a needlepoint piece I made a few months ago.

(Needlepoint is a form of hand embroidery which is worked on a firm canvas, usually in a geometric design of some kind. I tend to work on quite a fine canvas with stranded cotton threads).

This little embroidery had in turn been inspired by the patterns created by crocheted granny squares, perfect geometric forms. I worked out a stitched version of a granny square which could be done on tapestry canvas with embroidery cottons, and put together a small framed piece worked on a background of spray painted canvas.

There is a whole story behind the crochet-to-canvaswork and canvaswork-to-crochet themes I’ve been exploring lately, which I’ll go into in more detail in another post soon.

But meanwhile, back to this pattern….

The strong colours on the black canvas background really appealed to me, and it was inevitable really that I’d come back to it at some point with the idea of creating a blanket with the needlepoint design as the inspiration.

It was a delight to pick the colours and see them popping against the black, and there was continuing joy when each square was created. I don’t think there are any two squares the same in the whole blanket.

It was while I was working on it that the idea of bonfires and Hallowe’en came to mind and the more I thought of it, the more it seemed appropriate for October nights and pumpkin lanterns.

The section of plain black, dotted with random spots of colour came to be showers of sparks rising up into the night sky, and the colours deepen as they get further away from the fiery centre. I love it.

And this blanket marks a family crochet milestone, because these squares in the photo above, were beautifully crocheted by my rookie crochet HUSBAND no less! He painstakingly learned how to make a granny square, starting with a lesson by me, followed by hours of concentration, unpicking and starting again until he got it right. The result was a collection of squares which were identical to mine and which meant I could push through the blanket quickly.

A friend has dubbed him the Hooker Husband (he was a little alarmed at first before the meaning of hooker was explained to him in this context!)

And before you ask, sorry no he doesn’t come with the pattern!

This is a fine pattern for a beginner to tackle as it’s basically just granny squares and some granny stripes, but has enough colour changes to keep everyone interested.

Here is the page in the pattern which includes the Yarn List for your information, with the amount of each I used on the right and where it can be bought from.

I’ve used Stylecraft Special DK throughout, which means it’s a yarn that’s easy to obtain and may even be in your stash already. Some of the colours need only a small amount so it would be great if you could use up bits and pieces you already have.

UPDATE – OCTOBER 2025

Hello again! Three years on and safe to say the Bonfire Blanket has proved to be a FIERY HIT. It is still selling well, all over the world, which I find completely amazing. Thank you so much.

Time has moved on though, and so have my pattern writing skills. Earlier this month I looked at the pattern again and decided it was in need of a revamp.

And that’s exactly what I’ve done. The BONFIRE BLANKET has had a glow up!!

I’ve just uploaded the new version to my Etsy and Ravelry stores.

So, what’s new about it?

• There are now two versions – UK and US. Both pdfs are immediately available when you purchase on Etsy or Ravelry, and it’s your choice which you prefer to download.
• The Yarn List remains the same. Since it’s Stylecraft Special, there were no shade deletions to contend with thankfully. However, I’ve added a second yarn option – to the UK version only. This is because I have my European customers in mind. Good old Brexit 🙁 has made ordering yarn from the UK to the EU more expensive, and that’s not good. So, I’ve added an alternative Scheepjes Colour Crafter list. Scheepjes, being a Dutch brand, is widely available across Europe. The yarn colours are pretty much a perfect match too.
• I’ve improved some of the pattern instructions, in places where I felt it was needed.
• I’ve made one or two more video tutorials for the pattern and made the link to my channel more accessible.

I think that’s all I’ve done, but it is definitely refreshed and looking good.

One last point, and I’ve deliberated about this, but I haven’t got a Yarn Pack available for the Bonfire Blanket. Why you may ask, since so many of my other patterns already have packs sold by Wool Warehouse?

Here’s why. You will see from the yarn list that there are a LOT of colours, but some use only small amounts. It is entirely possible that many people will have stashes of SSDK of their own, and won’t need to all the colours. In a lot of cases they won’t need to purchase all the yarn colours together.

I work a lot with Wool Warehouse, and buy all of my own yarns from there. It is very simple to order your yarn from their Stylecraft Special page yourself. They ship worldwide and come highly recommended.

Tip: remember to Google “Wool Warehouse discount code’ before you go on to the website. They always have discount codes to apply, giving you 10% off.

Or of course, you may have a local yarn store which stocks Stylecraft yarns and it’s great to support them.

If you haven’t purchased this colourful pattern yet, you can find the pattern on Ravelry HERE or in my Etsy shop HERE.

If you HAVE purchased the original version and would like the update, here’s what to do …..

• If you ‘ve bought it on Ravelry, there is nothing you need to do. As a previous purchaser, you will automatically be sent the new version. Remember, there will be two files this time and you can choose between UK and US.
• For Etsy customers, you are not sent updates from Etsy automatically, sorry. So what to do is, log in to your Etsy account and message me from there. Just let me know that you’ve previously bought the pattern and would like the new version. You will also need to include your email address and say which version, UK or US you want. IMPORTANT NOTE: I can only respond to your requests for the update if you message me via ETSY. Please don’t email via this website or social media.

I’m very pleased that the new version is here. It’s one of my absolute favourite blankets and the pattern so deserved this makeover.

I hope you enjoy it!

Meanwhile, I’ve got a list of other patterns which need makeovers too, so I’m going to be busy!

Happy Autumn (Fall) wherever you are, and keep cosy!🎃🎃🎃

Marion xx