This beige and ivory blanket is calm, soft and cozy. Each warm beige square has a ring of twelve puffy ivory popcorn petals around a spiral center, with lacy granny rounds and little open windows around the flower, and a neat ivory edge. Joined together, the squares make a light blanket that looks lovely on a white bed with matching pillows.
The pattern is short and easy. You need only chain, single crochet, double crochet and the popcorn stitch. Make one test square first, then repeat it.
What you need
- Yarn: bulky (5) chunky yarn in 2 colors: warm beige (sand or oatmeal) and ivory. Soft acrylic, wool blend or cotton blend all work.
- Hook: 6 mm (US J-10). Go up or down a size if your square is not about 20 cm.
- Tools: tapestry needle, scissors and stitch markers.
- How much yarn? One square uses about 40 g (about 28 g beige and 12 g ivory). For a throw of 48 squares, plan on about 1.5 kg beige and 0.7 kg ivory. For a full blanket of 80 squares, plan on about 2.6 kg beige and 1.1 kg ivory. Add about 100 g ivory for the border. Weigh your first square to get a better number.
Size and abbreviations
- ch chain
- sl st slip stitch
- sc single crochet
- dc double crochet
- sp space
- st(s) stitch(es)
- magic ring adjustable starting loop
- popcorn 5 dc in the same st, drop the loop, put the hook in the first dc, pick up the dropped loop and pull it through
Square size: about 20 cm (8 in) across.
Throw like the photo: 48 squares, 6 across and 8 down, about 120 x 160 cm.
Full blanket: 80 squares, 8 across and 10 down, about 160 x 200 cm.
Pillow covers: 8 more squares for two covers.
How to crochet the flower square
Work every round with the right side facing you. The ch 3 at the start of a round counts as 1 dc. Join each round with a sl st to the top of the first stitch. Change color at the end of the round: fasten off and join the new color.
- Round 1 (beige): Make a magic ring. Ch 1, 12 sc in the ring. Join. [12 sc]
- Round 2 (beige): Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around. Join. [24 sc]
- Round 3 (ivory, popcorn petals): Join ivory in any st. Ch 3, 4 dc in the same st, drop the loop, put the hook in the top of the ch 3, pick up the loop and pull it through (first popcorn). *Ch 1, skip 1 st, popcorn in the next st. Repeat from * around, ending with ch 1, skip the last st, and join to the top of the first popcorn. [12 popcorns]
- Round 4 (beige): Join beige in any ch-1 sp. Ch 1, sc in the same sp. *Sc in the top of the next popcorn, sc in the next ch-1 sp. Repeat from * around, ending with sc in the last popcorn. Join. [24 sc]
- Round 5 (beige, corners): Join beige in any st. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same st, ch 2, 3 dc in the same st (first corner). *Skip 2 sts, 3 dc in the next st, skip 2 sts, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next st (corner). Repeat from * 2 more times, then skip 2 sts, 3 dc in the next st, skip the last 2 sts. Join. [36 dc, 4 corner sps]
- Round 6 (beige): Join beige in any corner sp. Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the same corner sp. *Ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next corner sp. Repeat from * 2 more times, then ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1. Join. [48 dc, 4 corner sps]
- Round 7 (ivory, edge): Join ivory in any corner sp. Ch 1, 3 sc in the same sp. *Sc in each dc and each ch-1 sp along the side (15 sts), 3 sc in the next corner sp. Repeat from * 2 more times, sc in each of the last 15 sts. Join, fasten off and weave in the ends. [72 sc, 17 sc per side counting the middle sc of each corner]
Tip: the small open windows in Rounds 5 and 6 are part of the design. Keep the chains loose so the square lies flat.
Join as you go
- Make the first square in full. Make the next square up to Round 6.
- On Round 7, work the sides that touch no other square as written. When you reach a side that touches a finished square, hold the two squares with wrong sides together.
- Work each sc through the back loop of the matching st of both squares along the whole side (17 sts). This makes the thin ivory join line you see in the photo.
- Where corners meet, work 1 sc through the corner st of every square that touches that point.
- Join the squares into rows first (6 or 8 squares), then join the rows to each other.
Border and pillow covers
- Border round 1: Join ivory at any outer corner. Ch 1, sc evenly around, with 3 sc in each outer corner and 1 sc in each join. Join.
- Border round 2: Ch 1, reverse sc (crab stitch) in each st around for a neat rope edge. Join, fasten off and weave in the ends.
- Pillow covers (make 2): Make 4 squares for each pillow front and join them 2 x 2. The panel is about 40 x 40 cm. Work 1 round of ivory sc around the edge.
- Cut a back from ivory fabric, sew front and back together on three sides, insert a 40 x 40 cm (16 in) pillow form and close the last side.
Quick tips
- Make a throw first. 48 squares cover the foot of a bed like in the photo. Add more rows later if you want a full blanket.
- Work in batches. Make Rounds 1 to 3 of 10 squares, then Rounds 4 to 6 of all 10, and so on. You change color less often.
- Keep the popcorns loose and push them to the front so they stay round and puffy.
- Skip blocking. Chunky squares usually lie flat. If one curls, press it once with steam.
- Count Round 3. Twelve popcorns is the check that keeps all the squares the same size.
Frequently asked questions
What skill level do I need?
Easy. If you can make a magic ring, a single crochet, a double crochet and a popcorn stitch, you can do it. Make one practice square first.
How long does it take?
Each square takes about 20 to 25 minutes. A throw of 48 squares takes about 16 to 20 hours and a full blanket of 80 squares takes about 27 to 33 hours, plus the border. At 10 hours a week, plan on about 3 weeks for the throw to the full blanket.
Can I use other colors?
Yes. Keep a strong contrast between the petals and the background so the flower stands out. Soft pink and ivory or sage and ivory also look lovely.
How do I wash it?
Hand wash or use a gentle cycle in cool water, then dry flat.
