Easy Crochet Cluster Blanket

Wednesday 5 June 2024

I have a truly lovely crochet blanket pattern to share with you today. It's a stitch that is probably in every old crochet book, and loved by many crocheters through the decades. It's also probably the easiest crochet blanket pattern there is!

It's what I like to call a "mindless" pattern; I completed the entire blanket while binging my favourite TV series. It really doesn't take much concentration at all!

I wanted to add something "special" to this blanket. After much perusing, I discovered this yarn by Hobbii called Mocktail. It's a super soft acrylic/ wool blend. But the special part is that it has these beautiful, subtle sparkles spread throughout the lighter colours.

The yarn, with its soft and slightly sparkly texture, adds a touch of elegance and modernity to this timeless pattern.

For convenience, I've created a full free Youtube tutorial here!

Yarn used

- 16 skeins of Hobbii Mocktail in Virgin Margarita (50g/ 98yds) = 1600 yds
- Contrasting yarn of similar weight for border (optional - I used same yarn for border)

Other Items used

- Size J/ 5.75mm crochet hook (or hook to match yarn weight)
- Scissors
- Yarn needle

Abbreviations and stitches

• St(s): Stitch(es)
• SC: Single crochet
• HDC: Half Double Crochet
• DC: Double Crochet

• Sk: Skip a stitch
• (...) x n: Repeat instructions in brackets n times
**This pattern uses US Crochet Terms**

Pattern

1. Create the foundation chain
Foundation chain number = (multiple of 3) + 2
My blanket (40 inch x 48 inch): 131 chain stitches for foundation chain (129+2)

R1: Starting in 2nd ch from the hook: 1 SC in each st back down the ch. Ch 1, turn

R2: Start in last SC from previous row. (SC, HDC, DC) in same st, sk 2. Repeat until end of row. 1SC into the last SC. Ch 1, turn.

Row 3 - n: Repeat row 2 steps until desired length is reached

Note: Each “cluster” will always go into a SC stitch

If using contrasting colour for border, fasten off and weave in the ends

Border

R1: Attach contrasting yarn (if using) anywhere on the blanket and ch 1. SC around blanket, with 3 SC in each corner. Sl st back into first SC.

R2: Ch 2. DC around blanket, with 3 DC in each corner. Sl St back in to 1st DC.

Fasten off and weave in all the ends

Wednesday 15 May 2024

This is a crochet pattern to make this super cute mini dinosaur. And it's no-sew!
There is a full free Youtube tutorial to crochet this mini dinosaur here!

Yarn used

Hobbii Baby Snuggle in Powder Blue and Light Blue

Other Items used

- US G/4.5mm Crochet Hook
- 8mm safety eyes
- Yarn needle
- Poly fill
- Stitch markers
*Please note that safety eyes are NOT recommended for children under the age of 3 years.

Abbreviations and stitches

• MR: Magic ring
• St(s): Stitch(es)
• SC: Single crochet
• Inc: Increase (Stitch 2 SC into the stitch)
• Dec: Decrease using the invisible method
• (...) x n: Repeat instructions in brackets n times
**This pattern uses US Crochet Terms**

Pattern

Head/ Body

R1: 8 SC in a MR
(or ch 2, 8 SC in 1st ch)
R2: 8 inc (16)
R3: 16 SC
R4: 7 SC, inc, SC, inc, 6 SC (18)
R5: 18 SC
R6: 5 SC, 4 dec, 5 SC (14)
R7: 3 SC, 4 dec. 3 SC (10)
R8: 10 inc (20)
Insert safety eyes between R4-R5, 5-6 sts apart

Stuff the head

R9: 20 SC
Make 1 or 2 SC to get to back of the body (move stitch marker here as new end of round)
R10: Inc, 19 SC (21)
R11: 21 SC
R12: Dec, 19 SC (20)
R13: 10 dec (10)

Stuff the body

R14: 5 dec (5)

Close and cut the yarn, leaving a short tail. Use tail to sew the hole closed.

Spikes

Insert hook one stitch in front of centre top of head (i.e. one stitch in front of starting magic ring)

Ch 3; starting in 2nd ch from hook: SC 2 back along chain
Sk one round on head, sl st into next round on head/body
Repeat steps all the way down the back

Close and cut the yarn, and weave in the ends

Tuesday 31 October 2023

This is a crochet pattern to make this super cute little Christmas Tree.

There is a full tutorial for this Christmas Tree here:

Yarn used

- Hobbii Baby Snuggle in Green and Teddy

- Medium weight yellow cotton yarn

Other Items used

- US G/4.5mm Crochet Hook

- US E/3.5mm Crochet hook

- Yarn needle
- Poly fill

- Stitch markers

- Mini pom-poms

Abbreviations and stitches

• MR: Magic ring

• St(s): Stitch(es)

• SC: Single crochet

• DC: Double Crochet

• BLO: Back loops only

• FL: Front Loops

• Inc: Increase (Stitch 2 SC into the stitch)

• Dec: Decrease using the invisible method

• (...) x n: Repeat instructions in brackets n times

• Bobble:

**This pattern uses US Crochet Terms**

Pattern

Tree

(Green yarn and larger hook)
R1: 6 SC in a MR
R2: (SC, inc) x 3 (9)
R3: (2 SC, inc) x 3 (12)
Add stitch markers to FLs of first and last stitch of R3
R4: 12 SC in BLO
R5: (SC, inc) x 6 (18)
R6: 18 SC
Add stitch markers to FLs of first and last stitch of R6
R7: In BLO: (2 SC, inc) x 6 (24)
R8: 24 SC
R9: (3 SC, inc) x 6 (30)
Add stitch markers to FLs of first and last stitch of R9
R10: 30 SC in BLO
R11: (4 SC, inc) x 6 (36)
R12: 36 SC
Add stitch markers to FLs of first and last stitch of R12
R13: In BLO: (2SC, dec) x 9 (27)
R14: (SC, dec) x 9 (18)
R15: 9 dec (9)
Close and cut the yarn. Tuck the tail into the tree.

Frills

Top frill only:

Attach yarn in one of the unstitched front loops of R3, ch 1
(SC, DC) in each unstitched FL around
Sl st to first frill
Close and cut the yarn. Tie the two tails together, and pull the knot into the tree

Other frills:

Attach the yarn in one of the unstitched front loops of (R6, R9, R12), ch 1
(SC, DC, SC) in each unstitched FL around
Sl st to first frill
Close and cut the yarn. Tie the two tails together, and pull the knot into the tree

Trunk

(Brown yarn and larger hook)
R1: 9 SC in a MR (crochet loosely so you can pull the ring closed)
(Alternative method: Ch 2, make 9SC in 2nd ch from hook)
R2: 9 inc (18)
R3: 18 SC in BLO
R4-5: 18 SC
Close with sl st. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Stuff the trunk
Use tail to sew the trunk to the base of the tree, at R14 (one round before the end)
Add more stuffing before you reach the end

Star

(Medium/ worsted weight yarn and smaller hook)

R1: 5 SC in a MR, sl st to 1st SC
R2: (ch 2, sl st into 2nd ch from hook, sl st into next st on R1) x 5

Close and cut the yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing
Use a yarn needle to bring the yarn tail to the back of the star, and tie the yarn tails together
Sew the star on to the top of the tree

Finishing Touches

Glue pom-poms on to the tree