Baby Blanket Centre Squares

Baby Blanket Centre Squares

Pretty in Pink Baby Blanket

and Little Boy Blues Baby Blanket

I have been asked many times for the pattern for the squares in the centre of these baby blankets and have been very pleased to share via email upon request. I have had the pattern written up for ages so I thought why not create a post to share the joy that I had in making them.

I hope the pattern is clear but if you have any questions just let me know

Centre Square Pattern

1. Chain 6 slip stitch into the first stitch to make a ring.
2. Chain 1 (counts as first dc) c 15 into the ring, slip stitch into the first chain made, 16 sts.
3. 4 chain, 3trtog into same st to make the first petal cluster, 3ch, miss next dc,

*tr 4 tog, 3 ch, miss next dc**  repeat from * to ** 6 more times, 8 petal clusters formed.

4. Slip stitch into the next 3 ch space, 1ch, 1 dc in same space, * 2ch, (3htr, 3ch, 3htr0 into next 3 ch space, 2 ch, 1 dc in next 3ch space, rep from * 3 times more, omitting dc at the end of the last repeat, slip stitch into first dc.

The final round is trebles and I think you will be able to follow that from the images. Any questions please let me know and I will be happy to help if I can.

Baby Blanket for a Little Man

 

Baby Blanket for  a little boy.

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My lovely daughter called and asked if I could make a blanket for the Christening of her friends baby, “of course” said I “when is it”, “next week” says Miss A.

I said I would love to make something. But within a week? Although I would say that I am not one to be easily deterred from a woolly challenge it would be unlikely to be ready in time for the christening date. We agreed that that would be ok and I have to confess that I was delighted to be given a reason to start this pattern, I have been eyeing it up for quite a while and wasted no time in getting started.

Baby Blanket 1.jpg

I wanted it to be bright and cheery so went for a mix of blues and turquoise with white to give the patches a lift, the soft teddy bearish brown added an nice earthy tone to pull it all together.

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I just love laying the squares out as you go to mark your progress deriving great pleasure from seeing them all laid out once complete and ready for joining.

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Just to give you a closer view of the different blocks used to create this baby blanket, the heart is made separately then stitched into place in the centre of this simple crochet square.

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The Catherine Wheel pattern is employed for the one of the rectangle squares. I love the motion you feel with this one.

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A simple extention to the heart square base using treble crochet stitches.

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The simple Shell pattern, the only single colour block used.

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The teddy bear brown surrounds and joins each block together and is also used to frame the simple trebble crochet border before the lacy edging is applied.

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And then, it’s finished. Ready to wrap itself around a special little man!

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I do so love making blankets and this was such a pleasure I have no hessitation in recommending the pattern from a book I have used many times, Baby Crochet by Lois Daykin.

ps. I am going to ask Mama if I can share the photo of the little chap laid on his new blanket, what this space!

Scheepieswol CAL Completed

I have kept the words to a minimum as this is such a long post with all the images of each week. I did enjoy making this blanket even though the yarn and hook size were finer and smaller than I usually like to work with.  I find that smaller hooks are more stressfull on my wrist.

I made this for a very close friend and I am pleased to report that she was very happy with the finished blanket. There is something special for me in gifting a blanket, I think it’s because it’s a timeless item and is a reflection of our friendship.

So here are the week by week images.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

I did start with the intention of doing all the squares in single colours but just could not continue when I got to week 4, I thought the flowers were just crying out to be shown off.

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

All squares joined and finished with a simple edging.

My grateful thanks to A Creative Being for running this CAL, I commend you for the way you delivered the patterns, so easy to follow and keeping the printing to a minimum.

Scheepjes CAL 2014 – I just couldn’t resist it!

I was so excited when my parcel arrived. The Deramores website said it could take up to 28 days but you can imagine my delight when just two weeks later it appeared.

 I love the packaging too, I felt like Mary Poppins ripping into my  brown paper package tied up with string. And what was revealed …………………………………

An array of 12 gorgeous colours in a soft velvety cotton yarn.

Sadly lighting is an issue for me and my photography skills so this shot doesn’t show the truly beautiful shades at their best.

These are the squares from weeks 1, 2, and 4. I couldn’t resist the little flower centred square so missed week three and skipped straight to week 4. A bit naughtly of me but I will catch up soon, I am sure I will be forgiven for going out of sequence.

As a late starter on this project I am running behind anyway but who’s counting? I am just loving every minute of it.

I have kept the colours fairly simple so far but I am itching to do a stripy one next……….

Charity Blanket Squares Are On Their Way

Well thanks to Mama H there were many more squares on their way to Best of Crochet.

I got a phone call to say that she was going to join in but when the parcel arrived look how busy she was!

This really boosted our little stash so now I feel that we have made a good contribution that am pleased to report is winging it’s way to Best of Crochet to join up with all the other lovely squares that I have been reading about.

It has been quite hectic here at the Grange these last few weeks so regrettably crafting has taken a bit of a back seat. I am hoping to be back to it soon and have more to share with you all.

Charity Blanket Squares – Crafters Call to Arms

Found this great idea and wanted to share with you all as I know you too will want to join in and gift a few blanket squares to charitable causes.

It is very brave of our fellow crafter to volunteer to join all the donated squares as we all know this can be the most trying part of blanket making!

As soon as enough generous crafters pledge squares to make this a viable project the instructions will be published and we can all get going, I can just hear it now needles clacking and hooks a-hooking, it is after all the season of goodwill.

To pledge your interest click on the link below and leave a comment.

Help Needed to Crochet for Charity

Related articles

• Crochet Squares – Join the Bunch! (pattern-paradise.com)
• New Charity Crochet Outreach Program for 2014 (thecrochetcrowdblog.com)

Flower Motif Blanket Square Tutorial

To create your Flower Motif Blanket Square you will need:

• 3 colours of yarn
• Crochet hook
• Scissors
• Wool needle

I have used Debbie Bliss Rialto Double Knit and a size 5 mm hook. Size of the finished square using this yarn and hook size is 14 cm, 51/2 inches.
Choose the colour for the flower centre and start – chain 6

Slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring.

Slip stitch onto the centre of the ring.

ROUND 1

Chain 1
Work 15 double crochet into the centre of the ring.
Slip stitch into the first double crochet.
Cut yarn leaving approx. 5  cm and draw through the loop to fasten off.

Round 2

Join the flower colour.

There are many different ways to join yarn but this is how I do it.
Tie the new colour to the finishing tail of the last yarn colour.

Slide the knot down the tail and tighten so it sits snuggly against the last stitch.

Pull the yarn through the top of the first double crochet of round 1.

Chain 3 (counts as 1 treble), 1 treble crochet into the same space. You can work in the tails as you crochet by holding them to the back of your work and enclosing them as you make each stitch.

Work 2 trebles into each of the remaining 14 double crochet.

See how neatly the tails can be worked in as you go.

You now have 30 stitches.

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the first 3 chain of this round.

Front view.

Rear view.

You will see there is only the starting tail showing as the tails from joining the new colour have been crocheted into the round.

Now to start making the petals, we are only going to work into the front loop of each stitch. The back loop will be used for round 4.

Round 3

Chain 1 (counts as 1 double crochet).

1 double crochet into the next stitch.

1 half treble into the next stitch.

5 trebles into the next stitch

1 half treble.

1 double crochet to complete the first petal.

Continue working into the front loops only to make 4 more petals.

Each petal is worked into 5 stitches, the pattern for each petal is:

1 double crochet, 1 half treble, 5 trebles into the same stitch, 1 half treble, 1 double crochet.

For the last petal work:

1 double crochet, 1 half treble, 5 trebles into the same stitch, 1 half treble, 1 double crochet, slip stitch into the chain made at the start of the round.

Front view.

Rear view

Round 4

Now we will work into the back of the loop that you can see above on the back of the flower.

Start with the flower facing you and slip stitch into the loop immediately below.

Chain 3 (counts as 1 treble).

1 treble into the same loop.

1 treble into the next loop.

Continue the round alternately working 2 trebles then 1 treble into each loop.

You will have 45 stitches, have a quick count to check as you will not be able to complete the next round of petals without the correct number of stitches.

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the 3 chain worked at the start of the round.

Round 5

Again we are only going to work into the front loop of each stitch for this second round of petals. The back loop will be used for round 6.

Chain 1 (counts as 1 double crochet).

1 double crochet into the next stitch.

1 half treble into the next stitch.

5 trebles into the next stitch.

1 half treble

1 double crochet to complete the first petal.

Continue the round following the pattern set for each petal:

1 double crochet, 1 half treble, 5 trebles into the same stitch, 1 half treble, 1 double crochet.

For the last petal work:

1 double crochet, 1 half treble, 5 trebles into the same stitch, 1 half treble, slip stitch into the chain made at the start of the round. 9 petals.

Cut yarn leaving approx. 5  cm and draw through the loop to fasten off.

Front view

Rear view

With the flower facing you and slip stitch into the loop immediately below.

Round 6

Join the next colour by tying a knot around the tail threaded through the loop.

Turn the flower around to face you, hold the top petals down and draw the yarn through the loop.

Chain 3.

Treble 2 into the same loop.

Chain 3.

3 trebles into the next loop.

Chain 3.

Count along to the 5th loop from the last loop worked. Work 1 double crochet into the 5th loop.

Chain 3.

Count along to the 5th loop from the double crochet loop worked. Work 3 trebles into the 5th loop.

Chain 3.

Work 3 trebles into the next loop to form the second corner.

Continue the round as follows.

Chain 3.

Count along to the 5th loop from last three treble worked. Work 1 double crochet into the 5th loop.

Chain 3.

Count along to the 5th loop from the double crochet. Work 3 trebles into the 5th loop.

Chain 3.

3 trebles into the next loop.

3 Chain

Count along to the 5th loop from the last 3 trebles worked. Work 1 double crochet into the 5th loop.

Chain 3.

Count along to the 5th loop from the double crochet. Work 3 trebles into the 5th loop.

Chain 3.

Work 3 trebles into the next loop to form the fourth corner.

Chain 3.

Count along to the 5th loop from last three treble worked. Work 1 double crochet into the 5th loop.

Chain 3.

Slip stitch into the third chain of the first 3 chain worked at the start of round 6.

Round 7

Work 3 chain (counts as first treble).

Work 1 treble into each of the next 2 trebles.

2 trebles 2 chain 2 trebles into the corner space.

Work 1 treble into each of the next 3 trebles.

3 trebles into the next chain space.

1 treble into the double crochet.

3 trebles into the next 3 chain space.

1 treble into each of the next three trebles.

Work 2 trebles, 2 chain, 2 trebles into the corner space.

Continue working

*1 treble into each of the next three trebles.

3 trebles into the next chain space.

1 treble into the double crochet.

3 trebles into the next chain space.

1 treble into each of the next three trebles.

2 trebles, 2 chain, 2 trebles into the corner space.*

Repeat from * to * 1 more time.

3 trebles into the next three trebles.

3 trebles into the next chain space.

1 treble into the double crochet.

3 trebles into the next chain space.

Slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the first 3 chain worked at the start of this round.

Round 8

Chain 3.

*1 treble into each of the next 4 trebles.

2 trebles, 2 chain, 2 trebles into the corner space.

Continue along to the next corner working 1 treble into each treble. 17 trebles.

2 trebles, 2 chain, 2 trebles into the corner space.

Continue round 8 working *17 trebles, 1 into each treble, and 2 trebles 2 chain 2 trebles into the corner space* twice.

Work 12 trebles ending with a slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the 3 chain at the start of the round.

Round 9

Chain 1.

Continue round 9 working 1 double crochet into each of the next 6 trebles, 4 double crochet into corner space.

*Work 1 double crochet into the next 21 trebles. 4 double crochet into corner space.* three times.

double crochet into the next 14 trebles.

End with a slip stitch into the chain made at the start of the round.

Cut your yarn leaving a 3 inch tail, pull the tail through the last loop and pull to tighten the knot.

Next you need to sew in any of the ends that you have not managed to crochet into your square.

It looks a bit out of alignment for a square at the moment but I always like to pin out each square on the ironing board or other flat surface and either lightly steam and leave to dry or lightly spray with a water mist and leave to dry naturally. This sets your square so make sure you pin out the corners neatly.

Now you can make other colour combinations and make into a cushion or blanket. If you have an questions please do not hesitate to let me know and I will be happy to help if I can.

I would also love to see any photos of your squares.

Happy crocheting!

The idea for the flower pattern blanket square came from making this lovely blooming flower cushion which I have made a couple of times now for my wonderful girls. I absolutely love it and wanted to incorporate the flower pattern into their blankets that I have made.

Pattern by Attic 24  blooming flower cushion.