There last year has been so full of new babies, such a joy to see so many new little lives entering the world. When I was asked to make a blanket for a new arrival I knew just what I wanted to make, I had seen a very interesting technique for invisibly joining squares that I really wanted to try out.
When I accepted the commission I didn’t know if the new arriveal would be a boy or girl so we chose some lemon colours to stay neutral. The design I had in mind started to take shape. Halfway through making the blanket new arrival came unexpectedly early and was a bouncing baby boy so I changed the border to be a little from my original idea to be a little plainer to fit with the new arrival. I am very pleased with the invisible join technic, watch out for a tutorial on how to do it, it’s coming to the blog soon.
For now I’m sharing the pattern, this is not a quick to make blanket overall, but it is good if you are short on time as you can squeeze in a few squares every day.
This blanket is for a pram (stroller) blanket and is 6 squares by 8 squares, each square is 3 inches wide, giving a blanket size of 21” x 27” including the border which is the same width as one square. If you want a bigger blanket you can just add another row or column of squares. I like the smaller size squares they make the pretty patchwork effect I was looking for , for this pretty crocheted blanket. 9 x 9 3” squares will give you the right size for a slightly larger receiving blanket including the border.
The essential crochet accessory for this project is a granny blocking station. If you’ve never used one you must find a way, they make your work look so professional because using it will make every square the same size and shape giving a much better finish to your work.
If you prefer a pattern that is advert free and to keep forever take a look at my shop HERE where you will find this pattern.
Supplies
I used acrylic yarn to be soft on baby’s skin you can purchase the yarn from Love Crochet press HERE for the link. Each 100g ball is 280m you will have some left over.
1 x 100g ball Sirdar Hayfield Bonus Double Knit shade primrose (0957) Colour A
1 x 100g ball Sirdar Hayfield Bonus Double Knit shade Aran (993) Colour B
1x 100g ball Sirdar Hayfield Bonus Double Knit shade White (961) Colour C
1 x 100g ball Sirdar Hayfield Bonus Double Knit shade light grey mix (814) Colour D
1 x 100g ball Sirdar Hayfield Bonus Double Knit shade Walnut (927) Colour E
5mm hook (US 8)
Tapestry needle for weaving in your ends, Scissors
Granny block station
Special Stitches
Picot – dc,ch 2 insert hook into the first ch of the ch 2, yo, pull through all loops on hook
Pattern
Granny square, make 48 squares in total by making the following number of squares in each colour to get the random square effect of the blanket.
Colour A – 7
Colour B – 9
Colour C – 10
Colour D – 11
Colour E – 11
Start with a magic circle, alternatively ch 4 join with a sl st work row 1 in the first ch
Row 1: ch 3, 11 trc in the magic ring sl st in the 3rd ch of the starting ch 3 to join.
Row 2: ch 3, 2 trc, ch 2, *2 trc in the next st (first corner made), trc in the next two sts*, repeat * to * three times to create your square, your ch 3 counts as your second trc to end the square, sl st in the 3rd ch of the starting ch 3 to finish the row.
Row 3: ch 3, trc in the next 2 sts, *2 trc in the next st (first corner made), trc in the next 6 sts*, repeat * to * twice more, 2 trc in the next st (last corner made), trc in the next 3 sts, sl st in the 3rd ch of the starting ch 3 to finish the row
Row 4: ch 1, dc in each st to the corner, 2 dc in the corner space, repeat to the end, sl st in the first dc to finish.
You will find a stitch diagram at the end of this post
Weave in your ends and spray each square with water to damp it slightly then place on your granny block station to dry, this will give you a very evenly shaped square. Using the blocking station is not essential but it will give a very even finish to your squares and they will be easier to join.
When all your squares are finished layout them out as shown in this picture joining them using the invisible stitch method. Weave in all your ends before starting the border.
Border
Row 1: Using Colour C *dc in each st to the corner, dc, ch 2, dc*, repeat * to * to the end, sl st to join ch 1.
Row 2: (Colour C) htc in each* st to the corner, htc, ch1, htc*, repeat * to * to the end, change to colour B, sl st to join ch 1.
Row 3: (Colour B) htc in each* st to the corner, htc, ch1, htc*, repeat * to * to the end, change to colour A, sl st to join ch 1.
Row 4: (Colour A) htc in each* st to the corner, htc, ch1, htc*, repeat * to * to the end, sl st to join ch 1.
Row 5: (Colour E) htc in each* st to the corner, htc, ch1, htc*, repeat * to * to the end, change to colour E, sl st to join ch 1.
Row 6: (Colour E) picot in the first stitch, *miss one st, picot* repeat * to * to the first corner, picot twice in the ch 2 of the last row, picot in the next st, * picot, miss one st, picot*, repeat * to * to the end using the first corner pattern for the next three corners. sl st to join cast off.
To finish weave in your ends, wash and dry the blanket flat, the squares will pucker a little you can steam iron the blanket using a cloth to protect it from the heat to flatten the squares.
Stitch Diagram – Granny Square
Key
Stitch Diagram – Border
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Please note this blog post contains affiliate links. If you use the affiliate links to purchase the supplies needed for this project there is no extra cost to you. I receive a very small commission that helps pay for the upkeep of this blog.
wow! amazing post with great explanation. the pattern is really unique. thanks for the effective post.
Thank you so much I’m so excited that you like it xx