Starburst Blanket

A Free Crochet Pattern

I have a new Scrapghan pattern for you today. If you have been around this blog for awhile you will know that I love a good scrap busting blanket. I have tried to make a new one every year. If you are on the lookout for more, I have a round-up of my favorite scrapghans here!   Some of the patterns are from my own collection and some are from my favorite designers. 

For this scrapghan I decided to visit the granny square and see how I could incorporate the use of scraps in a classic pattern. Have you worked with spike stitches before? They are a great way to add a pop of color to a project with a lot of extra effort. 

For my blanket I used 2 cakes of Lion brand Mandala yarn and 1 skein of Lion brand Pound of Love. With that amount I was able to get 60 granny squares and a good sized border.  Like with all good scrapghans you can swap out whatever yarn you would like to use for it. 

Get Ready there are a lot of pictures in this pattern so you can really see how this square comes together. 

Purchase this Pattern!

This is a free Pattern right here on the blog. Just keep scrolling down to find the pattern. If you would like an ads free, printer friendly PDF version I have them for sale in my Ravelry Shop for 3.00 and for sale in my LoveCrafts Shop 

<---->Buy Now<---->
(link takes you to Ravelry check out)

Starburst Blanket

Designer: Julia Schwartz
Yarn: 

• Lion brand yarn Pound of Love 4 medium,100% acrylic, 1020 yards/ 932 m, color Oxford grey one skein needed
• Lion brand yarn Mandala 3 light, 100% acrylic, 590 yards/540 m, color Pegasus 2 cakes needed 

Hook: G/ 7 4.5mm 
Notions: Tapestry needle
Size: 6 by 6 inches per square
Gauge: Each square is 6 by 6 inches. 

Stitches Used: Chain (ch), Slip Stitch (sl st), Double crochet stitch (dc), Single crochet stitch (sc), spike stitch (spike stitch) 
Special stitches:

• Spike stitch: Insert hook into stitch indicated in the pattern, yo, pull back through the stitch stretching the loop up to your current row, yo and pull through both loops on the hook. 

Instructions for the spike stitch granny square

Round 1: Ch 4, sl st in to beginning ch to form a ring, ch 1, 12 sc around the ring, sl st into beginning sc (12 sc)

Round 2: Ch 3(counts as a dc here and throughout), dc in starting st, 2 dc in each of the next 11 sts, sl st into beginning dc. (24 dc)

Round 3: With new color, Ch 1, sc in starting st, sc in the next st, spike stitch in the first stitch of round 1, {Do Not Skip a Stitch, sc in each of the next 2 sts, spike stitch in the next st of round 1}, repeat to last stitch, sl st into first sc. (24 sc sts, 12 spike sts)

Round 4: With Color A, ch 3, dc in each of the next 8 sts, ch 3, {dc in the next 9 sts, ch 3} repeat {to} 2xs, sl st into starting dc. (36 dc)

Round 5: With Color B, ch 1, {sc in the first 2 dc, (spike st in corresponding st of round 3, sk 1 st, sc in next st), repeat (to) 2xs (for a total of 6 sts), sc in each of the next st, 3 sc in the 3 ch sp}, repeat {to} 3xs, sl st into beginning st. (12 spike sts, 36 sc)

Round 6: With color A, Ch 3, dc in each of the next 9 sts, {(2dc, ch 3, 2dc) in the next st, dc in the next 11 sts}, repeat {to} 2xs, (2dc, ch 3, 2dc) in the next st, dc in the last st, sl st into beginning dc. (60 dc)

Finish off both colors and weave in your ends.

Connecting the Squares

Arrange all the squares how you would like them. Take two squares together with their backsides facing each other and sl st through both the back loop of the square closest you and the front loop of square farthest to you. Continue to sl st the squares together until you have the two rows of squares stitched together.

When all the rows are stitched together, go back and sl st all the columns of squares together.

Blanket Border

Round 1: In any corner stitch, sl stitch, ch 1, 2 sc in corner sp, sc in each st and 2 sc in each ch sp down the sides (see picture for reference), and 3 sc in each of the corner spaces, sc in the last corner, sl st into the beginning st.

Round 2-3: Ch 3, dc in corner st, dc in each st and (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each of the corner sts, for the last corner st ( 2 dc, ch 2,) sl st into beginning st

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in each st, and 3 sc in each corner sp, sl st into beginning st.

Finish off and weave in all your ends (find a good show to watch while weaving in all your ends.) 

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Vintage Nursery Blanket

Pin For Later!

Modern Chrysanthemum Throw CAL: Joining the squares

A Free crochet Pattern CAL

How are your squares coming along? I have been making 4 a day, so I now have 28 squares done. After today you can start arranging the squares how you want them. I plan on piecing together 4 squares at a time instead of 9 this time around.

If you are new to this CAL you can find the resources and material page Here.
<------------->Get the materials list here!!!! <---------------->

That will get you started and that page has the links to the other weeks as they become available.

What are your thoughts on a wip stitch join? Some people just absolutely hate it. I don't really mind it. I find it kind of relaxing to weave the needle in and out of the stitches. If you are completely opposed to wip stitching, you can skip that step. You can make an edging around each square skipping the 2 dc in each 2 ch sp and then make the bpdc2tog joining for all the squares. The choice is yours.  

I hope you like the bpdc2tog join as much as I do. It works up really fast which is the main reason I like it so much. It also looks like a braid running down the seams and that you have put in a lot more effort into joining than what you actually have. 

Where Can I get the rest of this pattern?

You can purchase this pattern in whole in my Ravelry Store for $3.00. Don't forget to add it to your favorites.
<---------->buy now <-------------->


Or, you can Subscribe to Designs by Diligence and follow along for free when a new post is ready. Most of the time a new post happens on Tuesday.

If you are new to this CAL you can find the resources and material page Here.
<------------->Get the materials list here!!!! <---------------->


I would also love if you will follow my Facebook Page.

All of my updates will be posted on there. I hope others will share their progress and ask questions along the way.

Special Stitches: 
bpdc2tog: yo, hook around back posts of the next 2 sts, from back to front, yo, pull through the yarn, (yo, pull through 2 loops on the hook) 2 times.

fpdc2tog: yo, hook around back posts of the next 2 sts, from front to back, yo, pull through the yarn, (yo, pull through 2 loops on the hook) 2 times.

Joining the Squares Together 

Wip stitch the squares together in groups of 9.

 Edging 1:

Row 1: Once the squares are sewn together, with the darker neutral color sl st into a ch 2 corner sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc), (dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in the same space, {dc in the next 12 st, (2 dc in the next ch 2 sp) 2 times} Repeat {to}, dc in the next 12 sts,

{(2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in ch 2 sp, {dc in the next 12 st, (2 dc in the next ch 2 sp) 2 times} Repeat {to}, dc in the next 12 sts} Repeat {to} 2 times Sl st into starting dc. Finish off.

(The amount of repeating sections is determined by the amount of squares you have sewn together. The repeat of  2 dc in the next ch 2 sp is dependent on how many squares you have. The pattern above is for 3 squares in a row or 9 squares all together.)

Repeat row 1 edging for, each of the joined square units.

Joining the Square Units: The bpdc2tog Join 

Holding 2 squares with the back sides facing together,and using the lighter neutral color, make a slip knot around your hook and,  fpdc2tog around the first 2 dc of the square further away from you, bpdc2tog, around the first 2 dc of the square closest to you, {fpdc2tog around the next 2 dc of the square further away from you, bpdc2tog around the next 2 dc of the square closest to you} Repeat {to} When you come to the end of the squares contitue with the next two squares until you have 6 squares joined together. Repeat joining the square units until all of the square units are joined.

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Modern Chrysanthemum Throw CAL: The Squares

A Free Crochet Pattern

Have you collected all your scrap yarn together? Let's get started on this blanket and getting our stashes down to lower level for the beginning of the year.

Even though I have already made a sample throw, I'm going to make another one right along with you. I will be using yarn from my stash that I have moved with at least 5 times. It's time to get this yarn in a project. And because I can never follow a pattern (not even my own haha), I'm going to only put 4 squares together instead of 9. We will talk and discuss this change more next week.

Like I said in the last post I love making blankets and throws with squares. I can give myself little goals and the squares are easy to take with me on the go. When I was designing this blanket there were lots of ideas in my head about what the squares looked like. Cabbage roses, fire works, mums, I finally decided on the name Modern Chrysanthemum for the name. Naming my patterns is one of the hardest things for me.

Where Can I get the rest of this pattern?

You can purchase this pattern in whole in my Ravelry Store for $3.00. Don't forget to add it to your favorites.
<---------->buy now <-------------->


Or, you can Subscribe to Designs by Diligence and follow along for free when a new post is ready. Most of the time a new post happens on Tuesday.

If you are new to this CAL you can find the resources and material page Here.
<------------->Get the materials list here!!!! <---------------->


I would also love if you will follow my Facebook Page.

All of my updates will be posted on there. I hope others will share their progress and ask questions along the way.

Pattern

I want to make a note that these bpdc are a bit unconventional because you are making the stitch around a sc post instead of a dc post. Don't let that scare you. It still works out the same, but it does have a different feel to it.

Round 1: With color A, Ch 4, sl st into first ch to make a ring, ch 3 (counts as first dc), make 11 dc into the ring, sl st into first dc. (12 dc)

Round 2: Change to color B, Ch 1, sc in same st, (bpdc in next dc, sc in same dc) Repeat (to) 11 times, bpdc in the first dc, sl st into the starting sc. (12 bpdc, 12 sc)

Round 3: Change to color A, ch 1, sc in same st, {bpdc in sc of previous row, 2 sc in the bpdc of  previous row}, Repeat {to} 10 times, bpdc in the sc of the previous row, 1 sc in the bpdc of the previous row, sl st into starting sc. (12 bpdc, 24 sc)

Round 4: Change to color B, Ch 2 (does not count as a st), bpdc in starting st, {(2 sc in the bpdc,  (bpdc in the sc) 2 times ) repeat (to), 2 sc in the bpdc, bpdc in the sc, ch 2, bpdc in the next sc,} repeat {to} 2 times, (2 sc in the bpdc,  (bpdc in the sc) 2 times ) repeat (to), 2 sc in the bpdc, bpdc in the sc, ch 2, sl st into the first st.

Finish off. Weave in your ends.

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Modern Chrysanthemum Throw CAL: The Materials and Resources

A Free Crochet Pattern

Hi, Welcome to my very first ever Crochet - Along. I'm really excited about this pattern. There is a lot of fun techniques and options for this scrap blasting throw so I thought it would make a perfect CAL (a Crochet Along for those of you who might not be familiar with the term).

There will be a few different options for putting all the squares together. I have put mine together like a 9 patch quilt, but you can just put 4 squares together, keep all the squares individual, or you can come up with your own individual way of putting the squares together. When I make this blanket again I want to try and make it with just 4 squares together instead of 9.

Every year I try and make a blanket with all of my scraps of the previous year.  It's a great way to take stock of what I have and relive some of the memories of making all the things with the yarn I use. I also throw in the yarn that I find without labels or I know I won't use for the designing process.

The Modern Chrysanthemum Throw or Mod Mum for short is a fun visual impact blanket. Each square is only 4 rows each. You can easily tackle a square in under 10 minutes. I kept all of my squares in a ziploc bag (or 2) until I was ready to start stitching them together.

I love making blankets with squares. The squares are small enough to take with me on the go. I can give myself goals. I kept the pace of 5 or so squares a day. At that pace I never got tired of working on them, and I still finished the blanket at a reasonable time frame.

Where Can I get this Pattern

This pattern is available in whole on Ravelry in PDF form for purchase for 3.00.
<------------>buy now  <------------>
The pdf is a great option for those of you who don't want to wait for the CAL schedule and it is easy to print off and use.

Keep scrolling down to read the materials and resources needed to to make this beautiful throw. Come back back next week to get the next part of the CAL for free or you can purchase for 3.00 through my Ravelry store.

On Jan. 9th the pattern for the squares will be on the blog
On Jan. 16th we will join the squares together
On Jan. 23nd we will add the border to the blanket.

Subscribe!

If you want a reminder and an update for when the next step comes available Subscribe to Designs by Diligence. You will be added to the email list, and the only time you will get an email is when there is a new post on the blog. That usually happens on Tuesdays.

Materials

Yarn: Any Worsted Weight Yarn
This is a scrap blanket and your yardage might be different for you. I tried to get as close as I could to what you would need.

You will need at least 8 colors if not more. For the flower colors you will need up to 50 grams each of at least 5 colors.

For the background colors for the squares you will need 150 grams each for 2 colors

For the 2 border colors you will need an additional 100 grams.

You can work it out to that you need 100 grams of yarn for every 20 squares.

Hook: H/ 8 5mm
Notions: A yarn needle to weave in alllll those ends. (Don't worry its not too bad).
Gauge: each square is 3 inches by 3 inches
Size: The finished model blanket is 38 by 46 inches with 127 squares
Stitches Used: ch, sl st,  sc, dc, bpdc, bpdc2tog, fpdc2tog
Special Stitches:

bpdc2tog: yo, hook around back posts of the next 2 sts, from back to front, yo, pull through the yarn, (yo, pull through 2 loops on the hook) 2 times.
fpdc2tog: yo, hook around back posts of the next 2 sts, from front to back, yo, pull through the yarn, (yo, pull through 2 loops on the hook) 2 times.

Copyright:

Julia Schwartz. Do not reproduce, copy, distribute, or sell this pattern without permission of the designer. This pattern must not be translated, reproduced, or circulated in another language without prior consent. If you have questions about this pattern please contact me through e-mail.

Resources 

This scrapghan has a lot of bpdc stitches in it. If you need a refresher on what those stitches look like I have added some videos for you so you can practice.

One of the ways we are joining the squares is with the wip stitch so I have added a tutorial link for the wip st. 

videos

 Kristin Omdahl's Video for bpdc

• this one is great because it is in slooooowww motion. 

Left hand option

Tutorials

Wip stitch join From the Underground Crafter

Facebook page

 Designs by Diligence

This is where a lot of the action is going to take place. If you have questions or you want to share pictures of your progress, head there. I will also be sharing extra tips and tricks for the blanket. I hope to see you there.

Use the Hashtag #ModMumCAL in all of your social media posts so they can be easily found. 

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Always Pointing North Blanket

Colors of Sunshine Blanket

Here we go DO-se-do blanket

In a Flash Mitered Corners Blanket

A Free Tunisian Crochet Pattern

This blanket was so much fun to make. I always find Tunisian stitching so relaxing. I think it is the repetitiveness of it. This blanket would be easy to adapt for knitting, but I liked the thickness that the Tunisian stitch added to the blanket.  I like to describe this pattern as if a log cabin pattern got together with a 10 stitch blanket and had a baby it would be a mitered corner blanket.

Mitered Corners make great boarders and they add a clean and modern edge to projects. The baby blanket that I made my daughter for when she was born was finished off with mitered corners.

I wanted to make a tutorial for mitered corners and I thought what better way to teach it than to make a blanket that is made completely out of mitered corners. By the time you are finished with this fun blanket you will have conquered this technique, and hopefully you will love it as much as I do.

In A Flash Mitered Corner Blanket

Yarn: Loops and Threads Charisma Net WT 3.5 oz. 100g. 100% acrylic (9 balls) colors: Off White (2), Fuchsia (2), Yellow (3, I only needed a tiny bit of the 3rd ball), Bright Pop (2, I only needed a tiny bit of the second ball)

Hook: K/ 10 1/2 - 6.50mm

Notions: Yarn Needle (to weave in your ends)

Size: Blanket is 32 in. by 32 in.

Gauge: 8 TKS  equal 2 inches, 5 rows equals 2 inches

Special Stitches:

TKS: (Forward pass)working with the yarn behind your work, insert your hook between the vertical bars below the horizontal bars in the st below, yo, pull the yarn through, keep your loop on the hook.

(Return pass): follow instructions in the pattern.

Notes:
When working the blanket each color change will add 4 rows when you go through the instructions of the Mitered corners. I can't not encourage you enough to keep counting your rows at multiples of 4. By keeping count you will insure that your corners will stay sharp and the blanket will be even on all sides. 

Copyright:
Julia Schwartz. Do not reproduce, copy, distribute, or sell this pattern without permission of the designer. This pattern must not be translated, reproduced, or circulated in another language without prior consent. If you have questions about this pattern please contact me through e-mail.

Where Can I get this pattern? 

This is a free pattern. Keep scrolling down to see this pattern. If you would like to purchase a pattern that is ads free and printer friendly for $3.00 you can through my Ravelry Store.

buy now

You can click the link above or if you like you can start at my Ravelry Store.  

Instructions

Starting Square

Row 1: Ch 8, insert your hook into each ch st, and pull up a loop. (8 loops on your hook)
(return pass): yo pull through 1 loop, {yo, pull through 2 loops} Repeat {to} until there is one loop left on the hook.

Row 2-8: (forward pass) TKS in the next 7 st (for a total of 8 loops on the hook)
(return pass) yo, pull through 1 loop, {yo and pull through 2 loops} repeat {to} until there is 1 loop on the hook. At the end of row 8 add the next color by yo and pull through the last 2 loops.

Side Rows

Row 1: (forward pass) With the next color, ch 4, TKS in the next 3 sts, insert your needle in the the same stitch as your starting ch, yo and pull loop through the yarn
(return pass) {yo and pull through 2 loops on your hook} repeat {to} until there is 1 loop left on the hook.

Row 2- 8: (forward pass) tKS in the next 3 sts, insert your needle in the next row of the previous color, yo and pull loop through the yarn
(Return pass) {yo and pull through 2 loops on your hook} rpeat {to} until there is 1 loop left on the hook.

Mitered Corner:

Row 1: (forward pass) TKS in the next 3 sts,
(return pass), yo and pull through 1 loop on your hook, {Yo and pull through 2 loops on your hook}repeat {to} until there is 1 loop on the hook.

Row 2: (forward pass) TKS in the next 2 sts,
(return pass), yo and pull through 1 loop on your hook, {Yo and pull through 2 loops on your hook}repeat {to} until there is 1 loop on the hook.

Rows 3- 5: (forward pass) TKS in the next st,
(return pass), yo and pull through 1 loop on your hook, Yo and pull through 2 loops on your hook

Row 6: (forward pass) TKS in the next st, TKS in the missed stitch of row 2,
(return pass), yo and pull through 1 loop on your hook, {Yo and pull through 2 loops on your hook}repeat {to} until there is 1 loop on the hook.

Row 7: (forward pass) TKS in the next  2 st, TKS in the missed stitch of row 1,
(return pass), yo and pull through 1 loop on your hook, {Yo and pull through 2 loops on your hook}repeat {to} until there is 1 loop on the hook.

Row 8: (forward pass) TKS in the next 3 sts, insert hook into same stitch as the last stitch before the start of the mitered corner
(return pass), {Yo and pull through 2 loops on your hook}repeat {to} until there is 1 loop on the hook.

Repeat Rows 2-8 of Side Rows. At the end of row 8 add the next color by yo and pull through the last 2 loops.

Repeat the instructions for the side rows and mitered corners adding 4 rows to the sides at every color change. Its okay and encouraged to count at multiples of 4 to make sure you are getting the right numbers.

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Here We Go Do-Se-Do Nine Patch Quilt

I feel that I am on an on going quest to find ways to use up my scrap yarn. As you can remember some of my past scrap afghans. the colors of sunshine srapghan  and Always Pointing North Blanket After this new project I made a pretty big dent in my supplies. I have been on the look out for more yarn to fill my empty spaces. 

Most of my family quilts. I love looking at my great grandmas quilts and imaging what those scrap fabrics used to be before they became a quilt. I have a horrible time keeping a straight line, so I let them do all the quilting but sometimes I do feel left out. 

I came up with a quilt of my own that was crocheted. I can look at it and think, "I used that color yarn for so and so's project." I feel that there are a lot of memories tied into the many colors represented in this quilt.

 When you get started on a few of the squares you will see that your possibilities are endless. You could make every row a different color if you chose, or you could do mostly one color. You can also play around with how you place your 7 ch loops, you and make some sit behind the last row or in front. Be playful and try different possibilities.

Here We Go Do-Se-Do Nine Patch Quilt

Yarn: Any scrap worsted/ size 4 yarn

Hook: I/ 5.5MM

Notions: yarn needle

Gauge:  each square is 6 ½ inches

Size: I used a total of 81 squares. With the border the blanket is roughly 60 by 60

The Square

Round 1: With color A, Make a large adjustable loop with a long tail, ch 4 (counts as your first tr here and throughout), make 23 tr in the adjustable loop, pull the loop tight and sl st into the beginning tr. Do not finish off

Round 2A: With color B, join at any tr, ch 1, sc in same spot, {ch 7, sk 2 tr, sc in the next tr}, repeat {to} six more times, ch 7, sl st into the beginning sc. Finish off.

Round 2B: With color C, join at the next open tr of round 1, ch 1, sc in the same spot, {Ch 7, sk 1 tr of round 1 and 1 sc of round 2A, sc in the next tr}, repeat {to} six more times, ch 7, sl st into the beginning sc. Finnish off.

Round 2C: With color D, join in the open tr of the round 1, ch 1 sc in the same spot, {ch 7, sk the 2 sc of round 2A, and 2B, sc in the next tr} Repeat {to} 6 more times, ch 7, sl st into the beginning sc. Finnish off.

Round 3: Taking up Color A again, ch st into the closest ch 7 sp, 2 sc in the same loop, (2 sc in the next ch 7 loop), repeat (to) 22 times, sl st into the beginning sc.

Round 4: Ch 4, tr in the same sp, tr in the next 11 sc,{ (2 tr, ch 3, 2 tr) in the next sc,tr in the next 11 sc}, repeat {to} 2 more times, 2 tr in the starting sc, ch 3, sl st into the beginning tr. Finish Off. Weave in all your ends.

Assembly

Arrange your squares how you would like them then wip stitch them together starting with the columns and then the rows.

Edging

With the color of your choice sc in any square edge, {ch 7, sk 2 tr, sc in the next tr} Repeat {to} till you come all the way around the blanket, ch 7 sl st into the beginning sc. Repeat this with one or two different colors around the edge. I just have one repeat with 2 rows of loops in the picture example.

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