When Blanket Yarn Works and When It Doesn’t: A Pillsbury Doughboy Experiment

One of my favourite things about being a crochet designer is seeing how makers interpret patterns in their own way. Different yarns, different hooks, small modifications - those choices often lead to the most interesting results. Recently, that curiosity led me down a very squishy rabbit hole: experimenting with blanket yarn on my Pillsbury Doughboy pattern.

It all started when a community member shared a photo of a bubble butt Pillsbury Doughboy made in plush yarn. It was soft, oversized, and undeniably charming. Naturally, I had to try it myself.

Choosing the Right Yarn and Learning the Hard Way

I don’t work with blanket yarn very often. I usually design with smaller cotton yarns because I love crisp stitch definition and clean shaping. So when I headed to the yarn store, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking for.

I found an incredibly soft, massive yarn and thought, this is perfect. I bought three skeins and got to work using a 9mm hook. Very quickly, it became obvious that this yarn-and-hook combination was not going to work. The yarn was simply too thick. I went back out and picked up a very large hook (around a 19mm), but that led to a different issue entirely: a sore arm and a leg piece that was absolutely enormous.

At that point, I had to pause. One leg had used nearly a full skein, and the size and cost  were getting out of hand. That version went on the shelf.

A Better Match: Standard Blanket Yarn

Instead, I switched to a more standard-size blanket yarn (roughly a size 6 super bulky). It was still plush and soft, but much more manageable. Best of all, I could comfortably go back to my 9mm hook.

This time, everything clicked.

The Doughboy came together beautifully: soft, squishy, and unmistakably adorable. Even better, the pattern itself didn’t need any modifications. I simply used a larger hook to match the larger yarn. That’s always a good sign that a pattern lends itself well to yarn experimentation.

Does Blanket Yarn Work for This Pattern?

Short answer: yes. Absolutely.

The Pillsbury Doughboy design works particularly well with blanket yarn because it relies on bold, simple shaping. The iconic bubble butt is prominent enough that it still reads clearly, even with plush yarn hiding some stitch detail.

That said, blanket yarn does come with trade-offs.

What Blanket Yarn Does Well and What It Hides

Blanket yarn excels at a few things:

• Softness and squish – perfect for huggable projects
• Speed – larger stitches mean faster progress
• Gift appeal – plush textures are universally appealing

However, it also hides certain details:

• Stitch definition is less visible
• Facial contouring can get lost
• Subtle shaping nuances may flatten out

In my case, the bubble butt needed a bit of extra help. Some strategic shifting of the fiberfill with a yarn needle brought the shape back to life. This is a common adjustment when working with plush yarns.

How to Know If a Pattern Will Work with Blanket Yarn

If you’re considering using blanket yarn on a pattern that wasn’t designed for it, take a close look at the construction:

• Is the design highly contoured, with detailed facial features or anatomy?
• Does it rely on tight stitches and precise shaping?
• Are there lots of small components or fine details?

If the answer is yes, blanket yarn may not be the best choice. Patterns with complex shaping, such as dolls with cheekbones, chins, or subtle body contours, generally need a smaller, less stretchy yarn to shine.

On the other hand, simpler designs with strong silhouettes often translate beautifully. I’ve seen incredible blanket-yarn versions of patterns like Ernie, and they work because the structure is straightforward.

Experimentation Is How You Grow

I know many crocheters feel hesitant to go off-pattern. There’s a fear of doing it “wrong” or wasting yarn. I want to challenge that mindset.

There is no wrong. Experimentation is how you learn.

If something doesn’t work, you can frog it and reuse the yarn. The time you spend experimenting isn’t wasted; it’s part of developing your skills and confidence as a maker.

A simple, low-risk way to start is with a yarn swap:

• Try a different yarn weight
• Change colours
• Adjust hook size accordingly (smaller yarn = smaller hook, larger yarn = larger hook)

Ask yourself why you want to change the pattern. If it’s for speed, softness, or personal style, that’s a valid reason. Just remember that if you’re showcasing your work, especially at markets, having at least one piece with finer detail and tighter stitches can really highlight your craftsmanship.

A Final Thought

I’ve been crocheting for over 26 years, and I’m still experimenting. I still try things that don’t work. That’s part of the process.

No one gets to tell you what you can or can’t do with crochet.

This is an art form. Use it to explore, to learn, and to express yourself, whether that means cotton yarn and precise shaping, or a giant, squishy Pillsbury Doughboy with an oversized bubble butt.

If you’re a YouTube member, the full tutorial for this blanket yarn version will be available there, along with updated pattern photos. I can’t wait to share the finished piece with the community. Happy Hooking!