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! 

BAWJ2019 - Weeks 31-35!

Hi everyone!

Back again, as promised, with Squares 31 to 35 of the BAWJ2019! 

Have you seen our 2019 Advent Meditation CAL? It starts on 1 December 2019, and the first episode is already recorded, tested and waiting for you!

If you want to join in on BAWJ2019 and see the squares we've been working over the year, check out Julie's Facebookgroup, blog and Ravelry Board for more information.

WEEK 31 - OCTOBER LOVE by AURORA SUOMINEN

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/october-love

Yarn colours: Sage, Rose, Copper 

Oh, it was so nice to have a relatively simple pattern this week! The clean lines made it the perfect opportunity to show off the Stylecraft Batik Elements in the centre section. 

WEEK 32 - RINSKE SQUARE by SUSAN CARLSON

Pattern: https://feltedbutton.com/blogs/new-felted-button-blog/free-crochet-pattern-rinske-square

Yarn colours: Olive (no longer available), Plum and Coral

I enjoyed playing with the colours on this incredible textured square. It uses a lot of yarn, with rows layered over one another! Felted Button writes beautifully clear patterns that are easy to follow. 

Look at all that texture!

WEEK 33 - FLORA & FAUNA by SANDRA ENG

Pattern: https://mobiusgirldesign.com/flora-fauna-free-crochet-block-pattern/

Yarn colours: Gold, Raspberry, Mint, Silver

I'm not sure where the fauna are in this square, but I do love it! It worked up pretty square, and the textures are lovely. 

These rich colours in the Stylecraft Batik made the design sing, in my opinion :) 

WEEK 34 - AMAYA by MELISSA GREEN

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amaya-3

Yarn colours: Lupin, Cream

As advertised, this square worked up quickly and easily. I followed the colour change directions in the pattern, and it came out quite nicely! 

WEEK 35 - ARBORETUM SQUARE by SONYA BLACKSTONE

Pattern: https://blackstone-designs.com/arboretum-square/

Yarn colours: Mint, Plum, Heather

Hoo boy. No amount of blocking is going for make this look straight. I don't know how Julie did it in her test version!

The techniques were interesting to learn, and the design is fascinating but I think I'd need to change directions each row to get it to any semblance of straight. Overall it is square though!

PHEW. Next instalment: Squares 36-40! 

BAWJ2019 - Weeks 26-30!

Hi everyone!

It's time for a BAWJ2019 update - I'm up to date, but to keep you all sane I'll still keep reporting on 5 squares at a time. This time, so that I don't get caught up in other things, I've scheduled 3 posts over the next week or two :D We're nearly finished, then my Christmas project will be joining them up into blankets to donate to charity. 

Have you seen our 2019 Advent Meditation CAL? It starts on 1 December 2019, and the first episode is already recorded, tested and waiting for you!

If you want to join in on BAWJ2019 and see the squares we've been working over the year, check out Julie's Facebookgroup, blog and Ravelry Board for more information.

WEEK 26 - CANADA SQUARE by TANIA LEIS

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/canada-square

Yarn colours: Cherry, Cream and Sulfur

This was a very clever square - each row of stitches represented a different province of Canada!

While sampler things are not always my favourite style of work, it was fun to work lots of different stitches, and learn a bit more about Canadian geography. 

The little maple leaves in the corner are so clever! 


WEEK 27 - PATRIOTIC PLAID SQUARE by CYLINDA MATHEWS

Pattern: https://www.crochetmemories.com/blog/patriotic-plaid-square/

Yarn colours: Storm, Coral and Gold

The repeating stitch pattern was quite cute, but it irritated me that the square struggled to be, well, square. I'm sure peer pressure will sort it out once the blankets are put together, but it's always a risk with layered post stitches. 

I also found the pattern quite complicated to follow, and there was a reasonable amount of frogging and cursing. Once I got the hang of it, it was fine though!

WEEK 28 - REBIRTH by MAGDALENE LEE

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rebirth-2

Yarn colours: Plum, Sage, Gold and Cream

Despite the popcorns, I loved this square! The design is just gorgeous, the instructions were straightforward and clear, and it sits pretty much square and flat!

I love the detail of the spikes around the central circle. The colour options for this square were endless, but I'm very happy with my choice of the cream as a background colour including the popcorn texture, and highlighting the surface crochet with bright colours.

WEEK 29 - BLOOMING LILY OF THE WATER by JOANITA THERON

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blooming-lily-of-the-water-square

Yarn colours: Plum, Iron, Coral, Rose, Cherry, Graphite

You know me, I love a square square. The way that the lily petals are secured to the square pulls each side into the middle... 

But, the texture and design of the centre circle is lovely - I wonder if I could use this motif in another way? 

WEEK 30 - KINNEDY NICHELLE AFGHAN SQUARE by PAM KNIGHTON-HAENER

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kinnedy-nichelle-afghan-square

Yarn colours: Teal, Cream, Heather, Platinum, Mint, Gold

Another beautifully written and designed square by Pam Knighton-Haener! The textures are simply lovely, and such clear instructions for a relatively complicated pattern. 

That daisy in the centre is so cute, and my only complaint is the number of ends after changing colour every single row :P 

PHEW. Coming in a few days: Squares 30-35! 

BAWJ 2019 - Weeks 21-25!

Hi everyone!

I'm back! Kiah has had the rosters from hell, work has been extremely busy with outbound interviews, negotiations with people overseas and finalising the inbound paperwork, and Allie has changed her naptimes so there's been yet another adjustment period. I've still been crocheting a bit, written up my new sweater/cardigan pattern (that'll come out a bit later in the year, when it's less hot in the Northern Hemisphere!) and, well, the BAWJ2019 fell a little behind. 

But! Now I am caught up with the BAWJ2019! As I have (gulp) 10 squares to report on, I'll do 5 today and 5 next week :) 

If you want to join in on BAWJ2019, check out Julie's Facebookgroup, blog and Ravelry Board for more information.

WEEK 21 - SYDNEY by SHELLEY HUSBAND

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sydney 

Yarn colours: Iron, Cream, Rose 

The colour possibilities with this block were pretty much endless - I did like using the Batik Elements for the central flower. Plus, a square with the same name as my home town! 

The method for squaring up the circle looks very different and effective, but I can't for the life of me make it sit flat. Hopefully the peer pressure of being in a blanket will smooth things out. 

It's almost square, just bulging a bit at the sides from the central circle. 


WEEK 22 - AURORA by VANESSA PHILLIPS

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aurora-41

Yarn colours: Mercury, Cream, Coral, Old Gold, Lupin

I loooove the centre circle of this square! It looks so cool, and is centred neatly on the rest of the square rather than being wonky! It did end up a bit looser than the outer rows though, so isn't quite flat.

However, something about the squaring up rows made the square twist a little bit, so it doesn't look very... square, by itself. That's ok though, being in a blanket will beat it into shape ;) 

WEEK 23 - ENCOMPASS ME by HEATHER GIBBS

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/encompass-me-afghan-square

Yarn colours: Teal, Lupin, Cream

The textures of this square were lovely - not overdone, but just enough to give it some more interest. The centre circle does look like a compass! 

The squaring up didn't come up quite straight, but not in a way that bothered me. At least the final square is relatively square! 

WEEK 24 - FROSTBLOOM by SHAN SEVCIK 

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/frostbloom-12-afghan-square

Yarn colours: Olive, Raspberry, Cream

Lacy and textured? Sign me up! The additional "ruffle" around the centre square was fun to work and looks very effective :) 

A well-written square (and doing a multi-designer CAL reeeeally emphasises how good well-written squares are!).

WEEK 25 - BERRYLICIOUS by MARIE SEGARES

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/berrylicious-square

Yarn colours: Graphite, Pistachio, Cherry 

I'm not sold on the name for this one - 12 "berrieds" around the middle does not make berrylicious! The tensions were all off for this one, I had to force it into a square to be able to take a picture at all. I'm not sure if I needed to change hooks for the v-stitch section. 

The square also developed a noticeable twist as I went along, which as you will know by now is not my favourite. Overall, it was ok to work but not my favourite. 

PHEW. Coming next week: Squares 26-30! And I will try and keep up more regularly from now on for my sanity as well as yours! 

BAWJ2019 - Weeks 15, 16 and 17!

Hi everyone!

It's been a rollercoaster couple of weeks here at Casa del Westlund - we had a week's holiday at Lake Macquarie over Easter, I've been crocheting up a storm of cardigans for Allie since it seems like we might actually have winter this year (yay!) and she has decided all of a sudden that three naps in a day is for chumps, and breastfeeding is super slow and irritating and could we please just already have bottles!? Argh! 

Before we get to the BAWJ squares from the last few weeks, here's a photo of Allie's favourite holiday activity: DUCKS.

Ducks go KAK KAK KAK, and you feed them and pat them and even crunch on a bit of their seed. Now all birds are greeted with KAK KAK KAK, duck or not 😂

I'll tell you all about the cardigan collection next week hopefully - it depends when Allie feels like stretching her modelling and cooperation muscles. Cross your fingers for me! She is a very determined and independent little miss. 

On to the BAWJ2019! All three of these squares were very well written patterns!

If you want to join in on BAWJ2019, check out Julie's Facebookgroup, blog and Ravelry Board for more information.

WEEK 15 - LEMON ZINGER SQUARE by MARY BETH TEMPLE

Pattern: https://hookedforlifepublishing.com/2019/04/lemon-zinger-square/ 


Yarn colours: Pistachio, Coral, Silver, Graphite

It was interesting starting with a five pointed star in the middle - I'm not a huge fan of how wonky the circle is to get it back to a square, but the central flower is just so cute.

I also got to learn how to do a different kind of surface crochet! The wibbliness appeals to me :P 

WEEK 16 - FINDING BALANCE by RHONDDA MOL

Pattern: https://oombawkadesigncrochet.com/2019/04/finding-balance-afghan-square-pattern.html 

Yarn colours: Pistachio, Heather, Raspberry, Sage and Bismuth 

So much texture! I learned a new stitch, and was very grateful that there were photos of each round as after a bit I found the pattern very wordy and somewhat challenging to keep track of where I was up to. 

So bumpy and petally and deliciously squishy. A cushion cover in this stitch would be so lovely. 

Even the back looks really cool, with the spiked trebles down behind the petals!

WEEK 17 - FANTASTIC! AFGHAN SQUARE by JULIE YEAGER

Pattern: http://julieyeagerdesigns.com/fantastic-afghan-square-clue-7/

Yarn colours: Iron, Cream

You might recall - I've made this square before! It was Julie Yeager's Mystery CAL Afghan Square from 2015, which I made in rainbow colours of Special DK. It was fun to follow Julie's lead and make this version in only two colours - Iron Elements and Cream. 

Again, doesn't it have lovely texture? Those front post stitches... 

Phew, that brings me all up to date! Back soon with cardigan photos.. oh, here's a sneak peek ;) Don't forget to cross your fingers that we can get her to hold still for photos!