The Simon Square Baby Blanket

Posted on March 7, 2022 by February Sky Designs

I love projects that are quick, great stash busters, and don’t require any counting, and this blanket fits the bill perfectly!

I made a baby blanket version for my bestie’s new baby, but this pattern lets you keep adding rows until the blanket is as big as you’d like! It can also be adjusted for any yarn weight, so grab your stash and get stitching!

THE SIMON SQUARE BABY BLANKET CROCHET PATTERN

Materials:

575 yards of Level 6 Super Bulky yarn (pictured is Wool Ease Thick & Quick in Succulent, Butterscotch and Fisherman, 6 balls total)
Size M/13 9mm crochet hook
Large eye sewing needle
Scissors

Stitch abbreviations:

-Chain- (CH)

-Single Crochet- (SC)

-Skip- (SK)

-Invisible Slip Stitch- (ISS)

-Stitch(es)- (ST(s))

-Magic Circle- (MC)

Gauge:

4×4” = 10 rows x 10 stitches

Notes:

2023 UPDATE!: I’ve recently learned how to make the linen stitch into a perfect square. The pattern as written will naturally curve slightly at the corners due to the slanting nature of the SC stitch. To avoid this (which is a personal preference!) you’ll want to end each row by slip stitching into the 1st ST of the previous row, then turning your work and working the pattern in the opposite direction. If you turn your work (without making a CH at the start) you will make a perfectly square blanket.
This pattern is done in Moss Stitch (also known as Linen Stitch or Granite Stitch). This is simply a sequence of two stitches, the single crochet and chain, where the single crochets are made in the chain spaces of the previous row.
This pattern uses a technique called “Invisible Slip Stitch” to create a seamless join at the corners of each row. This is done by removing your hook from your final stitch, inserting the hook from back to front in the stitch you want to connect to, and grabbing the loop and pulling through from front to back (see pictorials). This stitch can be subbed out with a regular slip stitch (which is what you’ll use if turning your rows to make the perfect square).
Change colors by finishing the final CH with the current color and completing the Invisible Slip Stitch with the next color. Color changes are not denoted in this pattern and can be made at any time!
The size of the blanket can be adjusted by simply continuing with the rows until the desired size is obtained.

Pattern:

Begin with a Magic Circle.

Row 1: In MC, CH 2, SC, CH 2, SC, CH 2, SC, CH 2, SC. ISS to beginning CH 2. (12 STS)

R2: Without making a CH, in the CH 2 space SC, CH 2, SC. *CH 1 and SK SC, in next CH 2 space SC, CH 2, SC.* Repeat from * to * twice more, ending with ISS in first SC. (20)

R3: Without making a CH, SC, CH 2, SC into CH 2 space. *CH 1, SK next SC, SC into CH space, CH 1, SK SC, in corner CH 2 space SC + CH 2 + SC.* Repeat from * to * twice more, end row with an ISS in the 1^st SC. (28)

R4: Without making a CH, in CH 2 space SC, CH 2, SC. CH 1, SK SC, SC in next CH space. Repeat around, with SC + CH 2 + SC in each corner, and ending with an ISS in the 1^st SC. (36)

R5-R46: Repeat row 4, changing yarn colors whenever you wish (see notes/pictorials).

Finished baby blanket is 46 rows total, but you can keep going to make the square as large as you’d like!

Final measurements:

Baby Blanket 36” x 36”, 46 rows total

You may sell products made from this pattern but please clearly credit the design to me, Christina of February Sky Designs, and link to my blog februaryskydesigns.com. Thank you for respecting creators and their work!

The Cody Corner to Corner Blanket

Posted on June 24, 2021 by February Sky Designs

When I’m looking for a new project, I usually fall into two camps- trying something I’ve never experienced before (new yarn, new stitches, new construction), or a simple project that I can do almost without thinking. This lovely blanket falls into the second category for me, and it was a relaxing pleasure to work on. It has: one stitch throughout, no color changes, only a few ends to weave in, and it can be easily customized to any size you want. It doesn’t get any easier than that!

The only technique you need to be familiar with is Corner to Corner crochet. This is done using a set of double crochets and chains, and once you get the hang of it you’ll be flying through this project. It’s actually the one stitch I can do consistently without looking, so I’m able to bring projects like this on road trips and not get carsick!

The optional border is still using double crochets, but you’ll grab a contrasting colored yarn and make a nice ribbed edge by working front and back post DC’s. Don’t worry, I have all the picture tutorials you need to make this blanket. Just grab your striped yarn and let’s get started!

Materials:
-850 yards of worsted yarn- suggested Lion Brand Mandala Tweed Stripes (2 skeins)- Pictured is Wish Bone
-100 yards of worsted yarn in contrasting color for border- Pictured Lion Brand Basic Stitch in Charcoal
Size J/10 6mm hook, or size needed to obtain gauge

Stitch abbreviations:
-Chain (CH)
-Double Crochet (DC)
-Corner to Corner (C2C)
-Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC)
-Front Post Double Crochet (FPDC)

Gauge: 3” by 3” = 4×4 squares
Measurements: Blanket with border 36” by 36”, 44×44 squares

Notes: This blanket is easily customizable by continuing the base to the desired length before starting to decrease. Any yarn and hook can be used, but I recommend creating a 4×4 square gauge to determine how many squares you’ll need for the full blanket.

Pattern:

See photos below pattern for step-by-step C2C instructions.
Using striped yarn, begin C2C pattern. Continue until base sides reach 44×44 squares before decreasing, or continue until desired size. Fasten off and continue to border.

Border:
See pictures for more details.
Attach contrasting yarn to one corner of blanket. CH 3, DC 2 in CH 3 space. Continue to DC across, making 3 DC in each block.

After final DC of the row, CH 3. Work 2 DC in the last DC of the row. Turn and work 3 DC in each block across next side. Repeat corner (CH 3, DC 2 in last DC of row).

After the last corner is turned, SL ST into 1st CH 3 of the border foundation row. CH 2. Alternate FPDC and BPDC in each DC. After last FP or BP of the side, CH 3, turn, and continue FP/BP in each DC across. The CH 3 will create the corner.

Continue around until reaching the beginning CH 2. SL ST into CH 2 space. CH 2 and make 2-3 more rows of Fp/BP border. F/O and weave in ends.

Corner to Corner Pictorials:

CH 6. DC in 4th CH from the hook and next 2 CH’s.

Rows 1 and 2 complete. CH 6. Repeat DC in 4th CH from the hook and next two CH’s.

Decreasing: On final block of row, turn and slip stitch in each DC and into the CH 3 space. Continue with next block.

Border Pictorials:

Border: Attach yarn to corner, CH 3, DC 2 in CH 3 space.

After the last corner is turned, SL ST into 1st CH 3 of row.

Move Mountains Baby Blanket

Posted on January 28, 2019 by February Sky Designs

I got a text from one of my good friends showing me the beautiful mountain mural she’d put up in the nursery for the baby boy she’s expecting in a couple months. She lives far from me and I knew I wanted to send her a baby care package that included a crochet blanket using the colors in the mural. After browsing through some baby blanket patterns on Pinterest I had an idea- what if I not only incorporated the colors of the mural into the blanket, but the design as well? And so, the Move Mountains baby blanket was born!

“Kid, you’ll move mountains!”- Dr. Seuss

This is the picture she sent me of the nursery! Mountain decal purchased from PearlWall’s Etsy shop.

I had never made a blanket like this before and knew I’d need a visual to keep track of when I should be adding my colors. I used the website Stitch Fiddle to design a template for my blanket, and after a lot of trial and error this was what I came up with:

The blanket is worked entirely in single crochet and is 60 stitches across by 70 rows tall. The finished blanket came out to 36 inches by 32 inches using super bulky yarn and a size P hook.

The trickiest part of the blanket is knowing how to do the color changes correctly. Once you count your stitches and know where you’re supposed to be starting a new color you begin your single crochet in the stitch before the first stitch of the new color, and instead of finishing the single crochet with the first color you pull in the new color to finish it. Then you single crochet with the new color in the next stitch, which is your first stitch of the new color.

Here I was finishing with the light gray yarn and before completing my SC I would pull up the navy blue yarn to finish it and then continue on with the blue yarn, leaving the light gray strand until I came back to it in the next row.

By increasing or decreasing one stitch of a color, depending on where you are in the pattern, your colors will move up and down diagonally and create the mountain slopes.

If you want to cut back on the number of ends you need to weave in, like I always try to do, you’ll be working with multiple balls of yarn at once, picking them up and dropping them as you move across the rows.

Stitch abbreviations:

SC = single crochet
CH = chain

Materials:

3 skeins each of-

Lion Brand Hometown USA Yarn – San Diego Navy

Lion Brand Hometown USA Yarn Dallas Grey

Lion Brand Yarn Hometown USA Yarn Springfield Silver

Crochet Hook, Size P-15, 10mm

Large-Eye Sewing Needle

_________

Pattern:

Chain 61

Row 1: Using Color A (dark gray), SC in the 2^nd stitch from the hook and continue across. 60 SC.

R2-10: CH 1 (does not count as SC), turn. SC across.

R11: CH 1, turn. SC across until there are two stitches from the end. Join Color B (navy blue) in SC 59 and do one SC of Color B in SC 60.

R12: CH 1, turn. SC with Color B in first stitch. Start the SC in the second stitch and pick up Color A yarn to finish. SC across with Color A.

R13: CH 1, turn. SC with Color A across until the 4^th stitch from the end (SC 57). Pick up Color B and SC to end.

R14: CH 1, turn. SC with Color B for three stitches. Start 4th SC and join Color A. SC across with Color A for 18 stitches. Join a second skein of Color B for one SC. Don’t finish the SC of Color B, but add a second skein of Color A and SC across to the second to last stitch. Join the 3^rd skein of Color B and SC the last stitch.

R15-23: CH 1, turn. Continue to SC with Colors A and B, increasing Color B and decreasing Color A one SC on each side of the mountain peaks with each row.

R24: CH 1, turn. SC across, dropping 2^nd Color B skein and continuing with 1^st skein until Color A change.

R25-31: CH 1, turn. Continue decreasing Color A.

R32-36: CH 1, turn. SC across with Color B.

R37: CH 1, turn. SC across with Color B for 15 stitches. Join with Color C (light gray) for one SC, join 2^nd ball of Color B, SC across to SC 49, join 2^nd skein of Color C, SC one and join 3^rd skein of Color B. SC with Color B until second to last stitch, join 3^rd skein of Color C, SC one.

R38-53: CH 1, turn. SC across, decreasing Color B by one on each side of the mountain peaks until they all reach their tops.

R54-70: CH 1, turn. SC across with Color C.

Note: Be sure to consult the stitch chart for help with color changes and row numbers!

I’ll be mailing the blanket this week, along with a onesie I found with little mountains on it (gotta love a theme!). I love how this blanket came out and I can’t wait to see pictures of it in the nursery and especially with her little boy!

This is an original pattern by Christina of February Sky Designs. Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to it but please do not reprint it on your site or sell it.
You may sell products made from this pattern but please clearly credit the design to me, Christina of February Sky Designs, and link to my blog februaryskydesigns.com. Thank you for respecting creators and their work!

***This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!

Rustic Baby Shower for a Little Lady

Posted on September 23, 2013 by February Sky Designs

Becky Collage

I recently made decorations for a party that I could not attend, as I did with Erin’s Graduation. This time, it was for a baby shower being held at the home of the grandparents-to-be. The parents, Becky and Zack, would both be attending, so although they are having a little girl I knew I didn’t want to make the decorations overly feminine. I chose a rustic floral theme for the couple, who I know love nature and the outdoors.

Because all the decorations needed to be portable and easily set up, I went with a lot of light-weight items that would make a big impact.

(Note- Pictures courtesy of my friend CC)

Congratulations banner made from burlap and painted letters.

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