If you’re curious about what is a virus blanket, do not be scared because it has nothing to do with viruses. Instead, the term roots from the crochet pattern’s intricate and unique look. Wouldn’t it be fitting to try this project during the pandemic?
We will talk more about what this blanket is all about and if you can crochet a viral stitch below. So what are you waiting for? This is the only virus you shouldn’t distance yourself from!
What Is A Virus Blanket And Why Is It Called A Virus Blanket?
What is a virus blanket?
A virus blanket is simply a crochet blanket with a unique-looking pattern. You can control how big or small the resulting designs will be and even use different yarn colors. One can easily distinguish this crochet pattern because of the continuous stitching around the center as it builds on the square.
Why is it called a virus blanket?
So what is the story behind such a scary name? It can be intimidating to hear a blanket that bears the name virus. Perhaps you’ll think it’s something that carries diseases or can use it when you’re sick with a virus.
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The pattern grows continuously
Throw these assumptions away because the name virus blanket comes from its looks and how it’s made. As mentioned earlier, the pattern involves stitching around the center square and grows from there. Get it?
The blanket pattern continuously grows like a virus as if it won’t end. Unlike other crochet patterns, there is no definite stopping point from the center when you crochet. With this in mind, you can also find another similarity between a virus and a virus blanket.
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The blanket reproduces again and again
Because of the way you’ll make a virus blanket, it will create or reproduce rows continuously. Therefore, it will use up yarn quickly like a virus taking over a cell. But let’s not get too scientific since you get the idea, right?
Why Is It Called A Virus Shawl?
The viral crochet pattern is not only applicable to blankets. You can also find different virus shawl patterns that use a similar technique, hence the name “virus shawl.” Some people also think that the term virus shawl is mistranslated from how we call something popular as viral.
If a shawl pattern has gone viral, it may have been mistranslated as virus shawl or shawl virus. Nonetheless, you can feel at ease that a virus shawl is free of any viruses. If you want to know how to crochet a viral stitch, continue reading below.
How Do You Crochet A Viral Stitch?
You have to be prepared that a viral stitch or a virus crochet pattern is not the easiest, especially for beginners. However, you will get the hang of the pattern as you go because it repeats every fourth row. Additionally, the gauge for a viral stitch is not that influential compared to other designs.
The main idea behind a viral stitch is you start from the middle of the straight edge at the top. You’ll then create the signature double crochet semi-circle stitches after you created a circle of chain stitches. Once you have this “triangular base” down, you’re essentially working back and forth across its two sides or turn your work at the beginning of each row.
A beginner-friendly virus shawl pattern has fifteen rows composed of single crochet stitches and chain stitches. It’s also worth noting that some rows are not calculated, and you can assume that they are only chain stitches. Once you achieved the size you want, you can finish on the row with a chain stitch between most of the double crochet stitches on your pattern.
What Is A Temperature Blanket?
The virus blanket is not the only crocheted blanket with a head-turning name. There is also the temperature blanket with a more direct-to-the-point story of why it’s called a temperature blanket. It’s called a temperature blanket because the knitted pattern’s colors for each row represent your area’s temperatures for the whole year.
You can make the pattern according to your area’s climate, but you can start the blanket any time of the year. Different knitters also adjust the color scheme to make the blanket more colorful even if their local area’s weather is relatively stable. You can crochet or knit a temperature blanket, whichever technique you’re more comfortable repeating.
What Is A Babette Blanket?
When learning about virus blankets and crocheting viral patterns, you might come across Babette blankets. They’re also colorful crocheted blankets but are reminiscent of mosaic designs because of the color combinations and different sizes of granny squares. Therefore, the crochet pattern has more squares rather than the circular combinations on a virus blanket.
Conclusion
Hearing the word virus is unpleasant, but did you know that there are virus blankets? What is a virus blanket? To wrap up this article, it’s essentially a crocheted blanket that eats up a yarn quickly and grows around the center.
It might not be the best beginner-friendly crochet pattern to do, but you’ll get the hang of it because it repeats every fourth row. Some other blankets with quirky names that are also worth trying are the Babette blanket and temperature blanket. We hope you enjoyed reading about these unique-sounding blankets, and try making them yourself!