FREE PATTERN: The Blanket Stitch, Squared

Hey everyone!

I'm so excited to share a new free pattern with you today! I've been hankering for an easy evening crochet project and decided to make another Wrap with Love blanket. I wondered - could I make this easier for myself and do the same lovely squishy stitch pattern in the round rather than back and forth?

With a bit of experimentation and maths (I never thought I'd do this much maths in my life), I've got it! 

Without further ado, The Blanket Stitch, Squared :D 

Queue or favourite it on Ravelry here: 

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-blanket-stitch-squared 

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FREE PATTERN: THE BLANKET STITCH, SQUARED
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Finished size: 10" / 25cm 

Materials

40g DK/8 ply yarn
4.5mm hook
Scissors
Yarn needle

This pattern uses all US terminology

MC - magic circle (tutorial from Every Trick on the Hook)

st - stitch 
slst - slip stitch

ch - chain

sc - single crochet

hdc - half double crochet

dc - double crochet

Blanket stitch block: (sc, 2dc)

Directions:

Make a magic circle.

Round 1 - Into MC, (sc, 2dc) 4 times. slst to first sc, ch1 and turn. (1 block on each side)

Round 2 - In the stitch you just joined to in the round below (so just behind your working yarn), (sc, 2dc, sc, 2dc). *Skip 2st, (sc, 2dc, sc, 2dc) into the next st, which is the sc from the previous round* Repeat * to * 3 times. slst to first sc, ch1 and turn. (2 blocks on each side)

NOTE: Each stitch that has two blocks in it (i.e. sc, 2dc, sc, 2dc) is a corner! In the next row, the corner is worked in the central sc which is bolded above.

Round 3 - In the stitch you just joined to in the round below (so just behind your working yarn), (sc, 2dc). *Skip 2st, (sc, 2dc, sc, 2dc) into the next st, which is the sc from the previous round, skip 2st, (sc, 2dc) in next stitch* Repeat * to * around your square. slst to first sc, ch1 and turn. (3 blocks on each side)

Rounds 4-14 - Repeat Row 3, adding one more blanket stitch block (sc, 2dc) in between the corners of each row. Measure your square after Row 14 to see if you're close to 10"/25cm; if not, do another row or two! 

Round 15 - (make sure you turned at the end of Row 14!) sc in each stitch. In corner sc, work (hdc, ch2, hdc). slst to first sc to finish, cut yarn and weave in ends.

FREE PATTERN: Granny 5 Petal Flower Square

Did you participate in Granny Square Day 2022 this week? It's not something I usually do, but on Sunday evening I had some time to myself (!!) while everyone was asleep (!!!) and there wasn't anything else urgent that needed doing (!!!!) so I decided to do a little doodling with my hook and see if I could come up with something a bit different for my contribution. 

Squaring a pentagon can be a bit tricky, but I think I figured it out! The trick was to make 5 pointed flower into a circle first, and then square the circle ;) 

Queue or favourite it on Ravelry here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-5-petal-flower-square

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FREE PATTERN: GRANNY 5 PETAL FLOWER SQUARE
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Finished size: 6" / 15cm 

Materials

Small amounts of Stylecraft Organic Cotton in Buttermilk, Blush, Papaya and Gypsum
4mm/G hook
Scissors
Yarn needle

This pattern uses all US terminology

MC - magic circle

st - stitch 
slst - slip stitch

ch - chain

sc - single crochet

hdc - half double crochet

dc - double crochet

tr - treble crochet

blo - back loop only

flo - front loop only

Directions:

Round 1 (Buttermilk) - make MC, 15dc in MC. finish off. 

Round 2 (Papaya) - join to any stitch with sc. sc in each stitch around, slst to join to first sc. ch1. 

Round 3 (Papaya) - in FLO, [sc, (hdc, dc, hdc) in next st, sc] around. slst to join to first sc. finish off.

Round 4 (Coral) - in BLO of same stitch of Round 2 as you worked the (hdc, dc, hdc) in Round 3, join with sc. [ch4, skip 2 st, sc in next stitch] around, joining with slst to the first sc worked in this round. ch1. 

Round 5 (Coral) - ch1. in next chain space, [sc, hdc, 3dc in next st, hdc, sc, ch1]. repeat [] around, joining to first sc with slst. ch1. 

Round 6 (Coral) - sc in each stitch around, including the ch1 space. finish off.

Round 7 (Papaya) - join with sc in blo of the stitch after the sc in a ch1 space. [hdc, dc, (dc, ch2, dc), hdc, dc, sc, spike dc into top of dc of Round 3 below, sc]. Repeat [] around, skipping final sc on final repeat. slst to first sc to join, ch1. 

Round 8 (Papaya) - sc in each stitch, with 3sc in ch2sp at the point of each petal. join to first sc with slst and finish off.

Round 9 (Gypsum) - join with sc in centre sc of 3sc worked into a ch2sp of Round 7. [sc, hdc in next 2st, dc in next 2st, tr, dc in next 2st, hdc in next 2st, sc in next 2st] repeat [] around, omitting final sc on final repeat and join with slst to first sc. ch1. 

Round 10 (Gypsum) - [dc in next 3st, 2dc in next st] around, but do 3dc in the final stitch not 2. Join with slst to first dc. ch1. 

Round 11 (Gypsum) -  [sc in next 3st, hdc in next 3 st, dc in next 3st, (2tr, ch2, 2tr) in next st, dc in next 3st, hdc in next 3st, sc in next 3 st] repeat [ ] around and join to first sc with slst. ch1.

Round 12 (Gypsum) - sc in each stitch around, working 3sc in the corner ch2 space. finish off and stitch in ends! 

Stylecraft Blogstars Garden Party!

Hi everyone!

It's been an age - racing around after tiny people certainly doesn't allow much time for blogging, or crafting, or... well, pretty much anything else. Allie is 4 years old today, and the time has absolutely flown! 

We were so excited when Stylecraft and the Blogstars suggested a Garden Party for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this year - we hope you visited JosieKitten's blog for her gorgeous Macaron circular cushion pattern on Friday! 

The Garden Party concept was just the creative spark we needed to put together a new design in our Bargello series. This is our Bargello Ribbon Table Runner (all photos in this post credit to Stylecraft Yarns and their amazing photography and design team). 

I've had this design mumbling around in the back of my head for ages, but just haven't had time to activate my almonds and get it out of the brain and into some yarn. It's based on a quilted bargello table runner that my mum has in a glorious patchwork pattern book, but in a pastel rainbow. I love the illusion of the ribbon twisting around itself up your table!

As with our existing bargello patterns, I'm not going to lie - the style of writing the pattern is a bit strange. Please know that I tried as many different ways of writing the pattern as I could think of, and this was the clearest! I encourage you to read it all (even the boring introduction bit), and watch the videos linked in the pattern, and always reach out (on social media, or by email to wrappedwithlovebymichelle@gmail.com is more reliable than commenting here) if you need a hand to get going. The pattern has been tested by three crocheters of varying skill levels, and the text independently reviewed. 

A plus for purchasers between now and December 31, 2022 - US$2.50 (over half the purchase price after fees) will be donated to The Rotary Foundation's End Polio Now campaign. Rotary has been working to defeat polio for over 35 years now, and worldwide cases have reduced by 99.9% in that time. There are only two countries now where polio is endemic, and ever decreasing numbers of wild polio cases in the world. As a proud Rotarian, I'm honoured to be able to support this very worthy cause. We are THIS CLOSE to ending the scourge of polio worldwide.

And now, the pattern! To view or purchase the pattern on Ravelry, go here:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bargello-ribbon-table-runner

Keep bloghopping on 24 May to Janie Crow, who has created some really special decorations for our Garden Party!