Mossy Blocks Blanket

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Often making one project ends up being the thing that inspires another project. Sometimes it is something like making a stuffed animal and thinking about how I could change something simple like the ear shape to turn it into another animal. Other times it is something like is the case with this project where the stitch pattern that I use in a project makes me want to try it in another project. 

This particular project started when I first made a dishcloth using this stitch, then a scarf. The scarf was made using a self striping yarn, in that case Lion Brand Mandala, and as I was working on it I thought it would make a nice blanket too. At the same time I bought the Mandala yarn that I got for the scarf, I also picked up some Caron Cinnamon Swirl yarn. I knew I wanted to use a self striping yarn for the scarf and picked out a couple of options. I ended up choosing the Mandala (it is a little thinner which I liked for a scarf because it make it a little more drapey) so I had the Cinnamon Swirl left to use for another project.

I pretty much immediately started working on the blanket using that leftover Cinnamon Swirl yarn as soon as I finished the scarf. I made a baby size because, although I do occasionally enjoy making a blanket, the repetitive nature of the larger project makes for a great mindless project to work on while watching or listening to something, I tend to get bored when working on large projects. So baby blanket size is my preference when it comes to making blankets. Maybe a throw size occasionally. This one is about 36" x 39".

In fact, that repetitiveness and an attempt to keep myself from getting bored with it is why I really enjoy using self striping yarns for projects like this. Getting to the next color change is always really exciting. And this yarn worked out that most of the colors were 1-2 rows so it changed pretty regularly. 

Also this stitch pattern works really well with the self striping yarn, although it would look really pretty in a solid color too. When I am working with variegated or self striping yarn one of my favorite ways to use it is with short, kind of interlocking stitches. One of my favorite stitches to use for these yarns is the moss/linen stitch. Part of the reason that stitch looks so well is it is really similar to the moss stitch, I always think of it as sort of a combo of moss stitch and granny stitch, instead of the 3 dc of a granny stitch it is 2 sc, and instead of alternating 1 sc and 1 ch like the moss stitch, it is 2 sc and 1 ch. Working into the chain space in the row below rather than the top of the stitch makes the rows blend together so it isn't as stark when the colors change. Plus it is fun to see the color changes happen

How to Crochet the Mossy Blocks Scarf

You will need:

• 4 cakes Caron Cinnamon Swirl yarn (sample made in color Marble) 
• I (5.5 mm) crochet hook
• yarn needle

Instructions:

The finished size of the blanket is 36" wide by about 39" long. The stitch pattern is simple and easy to adjust if you would like a different width for your blanket. The stitch repeat is 3 so for your starting chain you will need a multiple of 3 +1 turning chain. So if you would like to adjust the width of your blanket you can just adjust the starting ch to the size that you want, making sure it is a multiple of 3+1 (121, 124, 127, etc.). The pattern is a simple 2 row repeat so you can just keep working the pattern until it is the length you want to adjust the size. 

*I used 3 full cakes and a little bit of a 4th for my blanket, If you want to do the border in a different color (like a coordinating solid) then you only need 3 cakes, plus the border color


ch 121
Row 1: sc in second stitch from hook, [sk 1, ch 1, sc in next 2 sts] repeat 8 times until 2 sts left, ch 1, sk 1, sc in last st (80 sc, 40 ch sp)
Row 2: ch 1, turn, 1 sc in first st, 2 sc in ch sp [ch 1, sk 2 sts, 2 sc in ch sp] repeat to last st, 1 sc in last st (82 sc, 39 ch sp)
Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc in first st, ch 1, sk 2 sts, [2 sc in ch sp, ch 1, sk 2 sts] repeat 8 times until 3 sts left, sk 2 sts, sc in last st (80 sc, 40 ch sp)

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you reach the desired length, I did about 129 rows

At this point you can either leave the yarn attached and continue on to the border using the same yarn (this is what I did) or if you want to change to a different color for the border you can cut the yarn and start the border with the new yarn

Border

Round 1: ch 1, turn 90 degrees and begin at the corner working down the side of the blanket, sc evenly down the side, at the corner work (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc), sc in each st across the bottom, (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in corner, sc evenly up the second side, (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in corner, sc in each st across top, (1 sc , ch 2) in same stitch as first sc, join to sc with sl st 

Round 2: ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), hdc in each stitch down the side, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner ch sp, hdc in each stitch across bottom, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner ch sp, hdc in each stitch up second sign, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner ch sp, hdc in each stitch across top, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner ch sp, sl st to first hdc to join

Round 3: ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), hdc in 3rd loop of each stitch down the side, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner ch sp, hdc in 3rd loop of each stitch across bottom, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner ch sp, hdc in 3rd loop of each stitch up second side, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner ch sp, hdc in 3rd loop of each stitch across top, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner ch sp, sl st to first hdc to join

Round 4: ch 2 (does not count as a stitch), hdc in 3rd loop of each stitch down the side, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner ch sp, hdc in 3rd loop of each stitch across bottom, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner ch sp, hdc in 3rd loop of each stitch up second side, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner ch sp, hdc in 3rd loop of each stitch across top, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in corner ch sp, sl st to first hdc to join

Round 5: ch 1, sc in 3rd loop of each stitch down the side, 3 sc in corner ch sp, sc in 3rd loop of each stitch across bottom, 3 sc in corner ch sp, sc in 3rd loop of each stitch up second side, 3 sc in corner ch sp, sc in 3rd loop of each stitch across top, 3 sc in corner ch sp, sl st to first sc to join

Finish off and weave in ends