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Knitting Pattern – Sea turtle blanket

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Knit your own adorable sea turtle blanket with this instant download PDF pattern. This blanket has been around for a few years now but it seems to trend every summer when everyone hits the beach and gets their beach vibes on.  The perfect beach themed throw blanket for a cool summer evening.

Written in English only, the pattern includes two blanket sizes and a turtle appliqué. The smaller (20”x 28”) size is ideal for a lovey, car seat/stroller blanket or wall hanging. While the larger (34”x 46”) size is a perfect crib blanket or lap afghan. The appliqué involves both knitting and crochet techniques. Knowledge of both is required to complete the pattern. Detailed pictures are included and you can purchase the pattern here via Etsy.

• Instant download PDF pattern- English only
• Two blanket sizes included
• Includes turtle appliqué pattern
• Knitting & crochet skills required

Sea turtles are adorable and precious to the ecosystem. My family and I were lucky enough to visit the sea turtle conservation centre in Bundaberg, Australia. It was a beautiful sight – baby turtles crawling across the sand to reach the ocean. This pattern captures that perfectly. I’ll definitely have to try this one out for myself.

Did you know that Sea turtles hatch throughout the year but mostly in summer? Hatchlings use a carbuncle (temporary egg tooth) to help break open the shell. After hatching, the young turtles may take 3 to 7 days to dig their way to the surface through the sand. Turtle Hatchlings usually wait until night to emerge from the nest and use the moonlight to guide them to the sea.  Sea turtles are vulnerable immediately after emerging from nests and before they reach the surf. Mortality rates during this brief period are very high. Conservation programs help the hatchlings to the water, often closing off the beaches for the breading period at night time.

 

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Book Review: 200 Japanese Cross Stitch Designs

If you like repeating cross stitch designs, borders you can use on other projects or as bookmarks, florals and Japanese-inspired designs, you’ll want to check out 200 Japanese Cross Stitch Designs by Saeko Endo. This collection of 200 cross stitch charts is low on instruction but big on inspiration for those who are comfortable taking a chart and running with it. 

The book includes a brief introduction to the needed supplies and basics of stitching, but mostly is just photographs of finished designs and the charts that go with them. The charts vary widely in size and there can be anywhere from one to six charts printed on a single page. 

Many of the designs are repeating patterns, but the chart shows a larger version so you can see how the repeats go together. Each chart has marked what portion is repeating and how many stitches and rows it includes. Other than that the charts are not numbered, but there are darker lines every five rows to help you count. 

The patterns all range from one to three colors, and some include half cross stitches or back stitching, but most are full stitches. 

The book is arranged into categories of motifs: geometric patterns, retro patterns, traditional Japanese patterns, floral and fauna and borders and pictorial motifs. 

My favorites are the Japanese designs, many of which are recognizable from woodcuts, kimono designs and traditional shashiko embroidery.  You’ll find cherry blossoms, suns, knots, and simple line designs that would be lots of fun to stitch. 

There are a few pages devoted to different ways to modify charts such as changing colors, changing the way to design is repeated, flipping and rotating designs.

Other than that you’re on your own for how you actually want to use these designs. Of course they can just be stitched and framed but it might have been nice to see some of the projects stitched and staged in a way you might use them in everyday life (repeating motifs as coasters, or a bigger design turned into a pillow, for example). 

Sometimes it helps to see designs used in different ways to get you thinking about how you might use them yourself. If you don’t need that creative push, this is a fine book full of patterns you’ll have fun playing with in different ways. 

About the book: 112 pages, paperback, 200 patterns. Published 2025 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.