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2010-12-28

New Baby in the Family!

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A couple of days before Christmas, my cousin and his wife welcomed their first child! He was born on the night of the winter solstice and the lunar eclipse, a very auspicious birthday, don't you think? He is an absolutely beautiful, healthy baby, adding to our family's brood of boys here on the island!

I wanted to make something special for this baby - he is the first one born to my close relations here since I was re-ignited with the crochet bug a couple of years ago (my great-aunt taught me when I was 5, and I crocheted regularly until high school or university - it was a trip to Cuba that got me "hooked" again - there was crochet everywhere!).... so, I designed this little blanket:



I had seen a similar square used on a pillow in a magazine, and liked the way it created a diamond pattern when joined:



In my version, I also crocheted little circlets where the corners of the squares meet. I love how the design confuses the eye as to where the individual squares are. I chose to do the squares in a variegated green-white-blue yarn, and picked up the blue in a solid yarn for the trim. As luck should have it, the baby's room is a blueish-aqua, so the green & blue in this fits right in! If you would like to make this blanket yourself, see directions at the bottom of this post.

The card I cased from an idea a friend had - the baby's room also has a jungle animal theme to it, so I thought this little monkey in his plane would be a fun way to say hi to the new little fella!



Congrats again Cuz! And welcome baby!

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Directions for Blanket
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hook = size F/5 (3 3/4mm)
yarn = size 4/medium (not sure brand or colour name that I used)  
Each square measures about 4"x4"when done, and the finished blanket is roughly 26"x30". 

Granny Squares:  Make 42.
First Ch3 of ea. round counts as a dc
With colour A:
Round 1 - Make adjustable ring; ch 3, 2 dc in ring, ch 3, (3 dc in ring, ch 3) 2 more times, join with sl st to top of first chain 3 (Ea. side has 3 dc)
Round 2 - Ch 3 - dc in ea. of next 2 dc; 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in  next ch 3 space; (dc in ea. of next 3 dc; 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc  in next ch 3 space) around; join with sl st to top of first chain 3 (Ea. side has 7dc)
Round 3 - Ch 3 - dc in ea. next 4 dc; 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in  next ch 3 space; (dc in ea. of next 7 dc; 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc  in next ch 3 space) around; dc in ea. next 2 dc; join with sl st to top of first chain 3 (Ea. side has 11 dc)
Round 4 - Ch 3, dc in ea. next 6 dc, 2 dc in  next ch 3 space; (dc in ea. of next 11 dc; 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc  in next ch 3 space) around; dc in ea. next  4 dc; join with sl st to top of first chain 3 (Ea. side has 15 dc). Fasten off, weave in ends.


Assembly:
With right sides together, and colour A:
Using only the 15 dc on each outer side,  join squares with single crochet. Do not join chain 3 spaces. (Width = 6 squares; Length = 7 squares). You will see the diamond pattern emerge, and will have gaps where the corners of the squares meet. Fasten off, weave in ends
Using colour B: 
In ea of the gaps left where 4 squares meet (do not do this on outer edges of 6 X 7 square blanket, where only 2 squares meet):  join with sl st. in any ch 3 sp; ch1, 3 sc in same ch 3 sp (3 sc in ea. ch 3 sp) around; join with sl st in first ch. Fasten off, weave in ends. 


Trim:
Using colour B:
Round 1 - Join with sl st in any dc, ch 2 (sc in ea. dc and ch sp; 1 sc ch1 1sc in ea. corner) around. Join with sl st in top of ch 2.
Round 2 - Ch 3; (dc in ea sc; 1 dc ch1, 1 dc in ea. ch1 sp) around. Join with sl st in top of ch 3.
Round 3 - Ch2, (sc in ea. dc; 3 sc in ea. ch 1 sp) around. Join with sl st in top of ch2. Fasten off, weave in ends. 


Done! Good Luck :-




PS: A pillow similar to the one I used for inspiration here can be found in First Crochet by L. Stanfield.  Looks like a good book :-)

20 comments:

  1. Thanks for the cute pattern- it looks like argyle from a distance, and you would never know that it's a granny square!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous01:55

      I fell enlove with this pattern immediately so I made and adult sized afghan making my squares six rounds instead of four. The colors I chose were varigated purple and plum as the trim and ringlets. It is beautiful.
      Thank you,
      Della C.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous02:04

      I fell an enlove with this pattern so I made an adult version using six rounds instead of four. I use varigated purple and plum. Thank you for sharing.

      Della C.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:53

    Really cute blanket and it does not look like a granny square pattern. This goes on my list for the 1st baby born to my youngest grandson and his hew wife. Thank you for the pattern.

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  3. Lynda07:45

    Does anyone know where I can get a pattern for the circlets? I have never seen anything like them and how do I join the pieces together? Thank you so much

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  4. Hi Lynda - I don't have a pattern for the circlets - once I had the rest of the blanket assembled, I just worked 3 sc around the unfinished part of the each of the corners (in the last picture, see how where the 2 grannies meet, there is a little chain of unjoined stitches - it is on those that you work the 3 sc).

    For the join, I used a joiner sc - insert hook through both grannies, yoh, pull back through one granny, yoh, pull back through all stitches on hook.

    Let me know if this helps!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lynda Treen16:03

    Thank you so much. That helps a lot!!!

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  6. Oh that's a sweet blanket for a baby and also for an adult ! Thank you for the pattern, with this variegated yarn, it is so lovely.

    Michou

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  7. That is a beautiful blanket! I've been looking for one to make for my girlfriend who just had a baby. I just have one question: how do you make an adjustable ring? (I'm a novice at best even though I've been crocheting off and on over the last 20 years). Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi - here is a picture tutorial (I wouldn't be able to explain it half as well ;-)
      http://www.crochetme.com/forums/p/28917/90379.aspx

      Delete
  8. Anonymous21:34

    This is just a offhand comment. My mother was born in Newfoundland (Bonavista - she was a Barker) and I have visited my cousins in Kings Cove and Summerville. I was born in New York City and now live in Florida. I am in love with NL and plan to go back this summer with as many relatives as I can muster from the States. Also, I have never seen one of your fabled moose yet. Rita Marvez(born Davis).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bonavista is beautiful and quaint! You will loooove it - visit the Ryan premises, the replica of John Cabot's ship The Matthew and take a detour to New Bonaventure to see the "Random Passage" film set - a step back in time!

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  9. Anonymous00:06

    This is a beautiful afghan. The circlets really make it special. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  10. Anonymous16:03

    Could you please tell me how I can get this pattern with pictures. I knit and crochet for Project Linus and would like to make this pattern. Thank you. jimnsal2@comcast.net

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  11. Does any one know about how much yarn it took for this blanket, Btw I love it!

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  12. Anonymous02:57

    Can you please let us know how many skeins of yarn - or weight or number of yards - are required to make the afghan in the size you show? Thank you

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  13. Trish17:32

    I wanted to crochet this cute afghan for the children I take care of for Christmas presents this year. I never saw how much yarn or weight of yarn to use. I will be making 8 to 12 of these so I really need to know how much yarn I will need.

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  14. Sorry folks - the yarn I used was ends.... not sure of the exact amount. no more than 2 balls of the variegated yarn, and one ball of the blue....

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  15. Anonymous00:07

    This is so pretty. It looks so much like a quilt. My niece is having twin girls in November. Pink or yellow hues would be amazing as well. Thank you.

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