Summer Spice granny blanket pattern

Summer Spice Baby Granny Square Blanket

Amanda Hurrell Eight-by-Six©

 

 

An easy to adapt granny square blanket, size given is for a baby blanket approx size 65cm x 65cm
This is a free blog pattern but an add-free pdf can be purchsed from my LoveCrafts shop

Sizes and Materials List

Hook Size: UK 4mm (I use Clover brand)
Stitch markers: (4) optional

Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK (322 yds/295 metres per 100g ball)

Tension: 22 stitches to 30 rows to 10cm on 4mm hook

Pattern size of approx. 70 cm x 70 cm for baby/lap blanket or why not do a four colour pattern repeat for a larger blanket approximately 140cm x 140cm

One each of the following 100g ball

Wash care instructions: machine washable 40deg, cool tumble dry, cool iron, can be dry cleaned (I line dry mine)

Colours (14 in total) Stylecraft Special DK and Cygnet DK

Turquoise (1068)
Aster (1003)
Buttermilk (1835)
Sherbet (1034)
Fondant (1241)
Pistachio (1822)
Spice (1711)
Parma Violet (1724)
Storm Blue (1722)
Cloud Blue (1019)
Barley (Cygnet DK 4884) can be substituted for Mustard Stylecraft Special DK 1823
Duck Egg (1820)
Apricot (1026)
Bluebell (Cygnet DK 149) can be substituted for Bluebell Stylecraft Special DK 1082

Tips & Notes

One great tip I learnt is to flip your work on each row. This is a great way to keep your granny square, well square and not wonky. It works like magic and since using this method I’ve never looked back. To do this you flip over your square so that the previous row and join are now in the bottom left hand corner of the square (wrong side facing you) and you start the next row in the top right hand corner of the granny square.

On the first and subsequent rounds I chain 2 in the corners between the tr clusters. To keep the stitches closer together, I don’t chain in-between the treble clusters along each side, some people like to ch-1.

Abbreviations

ch = chain
ss = slip stitch
dc = double crochet
picot stitch (made up of 3 chain)

Gauge: crochet to your own comfortable gauge, it’s a fun, relaxing way to make a fabulous blanket so you need to enjoy it. Grab yourself a coffee and off you go.

Skill Level: beginner  

Pattern Instructions

This pattern is written in U.K. terms and we will be using the basic granny square pattern for this blanket. It’s an easy pattern for beginners and loved by experienced crafters too. Making granny squares is very satisfying and when making just one large granny square you can make this simple yet effective blanket. There are many variations of the granny square, this is my method.

Let’s start

Make the foundation chain Slip knot your yarn and insert onto your 4mm hook. Using Turquoise Ch 4 stitches, insert hook into first chain and slip stitch to first chain to make a circle.

Round one ch3 (this will count as your first tr) 2tr, ch-2, *3tr, ch-2* repeat 3 times. Slip stich (ss) to join round You’ve completed your first round.

Round two Flip square. Change to colour Aster and Ch3 in one of the ch-2 spaces from the previous round (this will count as your first tr) 2tr, ch-2, 3tr (no chain) *(3tr, ch 2, 3tr) in next ch-2 space *repeat 3 times. You should now have 4 corners. SS to join. You’ve completed your second round.

Round three Flip square. Change to colour Sherbet and join in right-hand corner ch-2 space (reverse of Round 2) ch3 (this will count as first tr) 2tr, ch-2, 3tr, 3tr (in next 2-ch space=side), 3tr ch-2 3tr in next chain space, 3tr, repeat 3 times then slip stitch to third chain where you started. You have completed round 3.

Continue to add each row using the above method as stated in Round three. I have used one colour for each of the rounds (rows) alternating as shown in my colour list. Continue to follow my colour chart until you reach your desired size, my baby blanket is 28 rounds plus the border, 34 rounds in total). This gives you a blanket size of approximately 65cm x 65cm. To make an adult size please use the colour chart and repeat 4 times plus the border.

Do not cut the yarn from the last round in colour Bluebell, you will continue the first round of the border in this colour.

Border

Round One: ss into the corner and flip your granny square blanket so that you are now working on the right side. The previous row was a granny cluster round in colour Bluebell. Continue to use the same colour and ch2 in the first corner (top right) then dc3 (making 4 dc clusters into the first corner. Then dc into each stitch across the first side, at the next corner dc4 times. Continue to follow this method until you reach the starting point and ss to close this round.

You might find it helps to pop a stitch marker in between the dc4 stitches so that you know where to place the next dc4 on the next round. The picture below shows the first border round of dc and dc4 into the first corner. This is completed with the right side facing. Do not flip your granny square on the border rows.

Round Two: Using colour Spice and for this round starting half way along the right side of the blanket, join your Spice yarn and ch1, dc into each of the previous row stitches until you reach the first corner (dc4) into the corner and place stitch marker in between the dc4, continue to DC into each of the following stitches until you reach the second corner (dc4) and continue until you have completed this round, ss to close the round.

 

Round Three:  Using colour Sherbet for this round and starting half way along join your Sherbet yarn and ch1, dc into each of the previous rows stitches until you reach the first corner (dc4) into the corner and place a stitch marker (as row 2) continue to dc into each of the following stitches until you reach the second corner (dc4) and continue until you have completed this round, ss to close the round.

Round Four:  Using colour Fondant for this round and starting half way along join your Fondant yarn and ch1, dc into each of the previous rows stitches until you reach the first corner (dc4) into the corner and place a stitch marker in between the dc4,, continue to dc into each of the following stitches until you reach the second corner (dc4) and continue until you have completed this round, ss to close the round.

Round Five:  Using colour Barley for this round and starting half way along join your Barley yarn and ch1, dc into each of the previous rows stitches until you reach the first corner (dc4) into the corner and place a stitch marker in between the dc4, continue to dc into each of the following stitches until you reach the second corner (dc4) and continue until you have completed this round, SS to close the round.

You can remove any stitch markers now as these are not needed to complete the picot final round. You will be working on the top stitches from the previous row.

Do not change colours, Ch1 after your ss to start the final round. This will give you a neater picot edge, you will ss to the first 3 stitches then picot. This gives the appearance that the picot edge is one thicker round, giving the blanket a firm edge.

Picot stitch for final round

To do this ss into each of the first 3 stitches then ch3 to make your picot stitch chain. To complete the picot stitch ss into the first chain of that chain three, then ss in the next three stitches. Repeat until you have completed all four sides, ss to finish, sew in ends and admire your beautiful blanket.

The picture below shows the start of the picot round, the stitch marker shows the start of this final row. It helps you locate the start of the round when finishing.  Your picot placement will be dependent on where you start. Mine has given a picot on either side of the corners; this is where I prefer mine to sit.

Finishing

Weave in ends (although I try to do this as I go along) you can also crochet over the previous row leaving just one end to cut and one end to sew in). Wash if required using manufacturer’s instructions, line dry and enjoy your new blanket.

Colour sequence main blanket

Turquoise
Aster
Buttermilk
Sherbet
Fondant
Pistachio
Spice
Parma Violet
Storm Blue
Cloud Blue
Barley (Cygnet Yarn)
Duck Egg
Apricot
Bluebell (Cygnet Yarn)

Colour sequence border

Round 1: Bluebell (Cygnet Yarn)
Round 2: Spice
Round 3: Sherbet
Round 4: Fondant
Round 5: Barley
Round 6: Barley (picot edge)

Credits
My blanket journey started 7 years ago when my dad was first diagnosed with cancer and I’d learnt to crochet. I started with a granny stripe blanket taking it along to my dad’s hospital appointments. I was amazed at how many people stopped to look at me crocheting all the bright colours in the waiting room, it wasn’t a gloomy visit, far from it. At the end of my dad’s treatment I gave him that blanket which he still uses today, and my love of crochet took over my life.

Pattern and photos by Amanda Hurrell, Eight-by-Six©
You are welcome to use my pattern to make blankets to sell, but please do not copy the pattern Please credit me back with eightbysix, thank you.