Special Edition Island Time Baby Blanket Pattern
This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links cost you nothing, but when purchasing through these links you help me earn a small commission. This supports me and my family and my continued efforts to bring you free patterns.
Intro:
It may just be the squishiest, softest baby blanket in existence… If you need a quick make-this one’s for you! I made this baby blanket in 2 days flat (ok, ok, no mortal can crochet as fast as that, if it’s not their full time job…but I promise it is a quickie)!! Had I planned on writing a pattern for it? No, absolutely not. But then I thought…why not, right!? The more free content, the merrier!
Why did I choose this one?? Because a favourite of mine will always be the large sunburst granny square. It makes such an impact and truly is a delight to crochet. I keep coming back to it, over and over again, for good reason!!
For those of you who are hesitant to start a granny square project (for whatever the reason)—I wanted to create a blanket for you to ease into. It starts with an adorable motif, chunky (think: “quick!”), and less squares to make in the end. This blanket has a total of 16 centres all worked in a solid colour so you need not be afraid of all those colour changes. It’s fun, it’s bold, it’s soft & quick. What’s not to love?! Grab your yarn here: Lion Brand Thick and Quick.
L, M
ps. If you want the original pattern this baby blanket is based off of, it can be found here, OR you can grab the ad-free PDF in my Etsy or Ravelry pattern shops:
Notions
US 9.00 mm (size M/N) crochet hook
Needle for weaving in ends
Scissors
Yarn
Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick (106yds/170g):
Colour A: Fisherman (340yds/548g) 4 skeins
Colour B: Succulent (162yds/262g) 2 skeins
Colour C: Air Force (162yds/262g) 2 skeins
Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick (87yds/140g):
Colour D: Fossil (167yds/269g) 2 skeins
Colour E: Seaglass (158yds/254g) 2 skeins
Gauge
4 rnd large sunburst= 9” across
5 rnd large sunburst with square rnd= 10” across
Finished Size
44” x 44” Blocked
Glossary (using US Crochet Terminology)
st(s)- stitch(es)
ch- chain
ch-sp- chain space
sl st- slip stitch
YO- yarn over
rnd- round
cl st(s)- cluster stitch(es)
SC- single crochet
HDC- half double crochet
DC- double crochet
tr- treble crochet
CJAYG- continuous join as you go
JAYG- join as you go
4 DC cl- 4 double crochet cluster stitch
5 DC cl- 5 double crochet cluster stitch
puff- puff stitch
How to puff stitch (puff): YO and insert hook into st, YO and pull up a loop (pull up to about the height of a DC). Repeat this 2 more times. There should be 7 loops on your hook. YO and pull through all 7 loops.
How to 4 DC cl: YO and insert hook into sp, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 2. Repeat this 3 more times. There should be 5 loops on the hook. YO and pull through all 5 loops.
How to 5 DC cl: YO and insert hook into sp, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 2. Repeat this 4 more times. There should be 6 loops on the hook. YO and pull through all 6 loops.
Pattern Notes
Please adjust hook size to meet gauge.
Ch 2 counts as DC throughout.
Ch 3 counts as tr throughout.
Each skein of regular colour will make 2.5 large sunbursts. Each skein of the variegated colours will make 2 large sunbursts.
This blanket is joined with CJAYG (see video tutorial in Blanket Assembly section)- however you can achieve this same look by completing the 5th round (turning the large sunburst into a square) and then using the “zig zag sl st” method of joining to achieve the same braided effect. Please note this requires more yarn so adjust for that.
The Tassels on the blanket are not included in the yarn quantity. I used the remaining yarn/scraps that were leftover to make the tassels. This meant that in the end, I had zero leftovers! Tassels were attached with a bow for easy removal during washing/if the parent decides they don’t want baby grabbing on to them etc…
Additional colour options:
Baby Girl: Fossil, Carousel, Blossom & Raspberry
Gender Neutral: Fossil, Arctic Ice, Slate & Peanut (this combo you can play around with lots, all the tweeds, heathers and variegated neutrals are lovely in this yarn line!!)
Don’t forget to share your makes on Instagram and Facebook! I always love seeing what you’ve all worked up. Tag me on Instagram @nautikrallcrochet or Facebook @nautikrall_crochet, or use the hashtag: #islandtimebabyblanket
Schematic
Blanket Dimensions: 4 squares x 4 squares= 16 squares
*Squares are numbered to coordinate with the colour chart below. Please use this chart for final placement of squares.
Pattern Large Sunburst Granny Square:
Rnd 1
Ch 5, sl st into 5th chain from hook to create centre ring.
Ch 2, work 15 DC into centre of ring (16 sts).
Join with sl st to the top of the first DC (not the ch 2).
Do not fasten off.
Rnd 2
Ch 1, puff into same st, ch 1.
Puff and ch 1 into each st around (16 puffs).
Sl st into the ch-1 sp between the first two puff sts (not into the top of the first puff st).
Do not fasten off.
Rnd 3
Ch 2, into same sp work a [4 DC cl, ch 2].
Work [4 DC cl, ch 2] into each ch-1 sp around (16 cl sts).
Sl st into the ch-2 sp between the first two cls (not into the top of the cl st).
Do not fasten off.
Rnd 4
Ch 2, into the same sp work a [5 DC cl, ch 3].
Work [5 DC cl, ch 3] into each ch-2 sp around (16 cl sts).
Sl st into the ch-3 sp between the first two cl sts (not into the top of the first cluster st).
Fasten off.
**Only Complete the following Round 5 IF you do NOT plan on using the CJAYG to join the motifs. Round 5 is written out for anyone who wishes to seam their squares together separately at the end of their project.
Rnd 5
Join Colour A into any ch-3 sp, ch 3.
[3 tr, ch 2, 4 tr] into same sp (1st corner).
*4 DC into next ch-3 sp.
4 HDC into next ch-3 sp.
4 DC into next ch-3 sp.
[4 tr, ch 2, 4 tr] into next ch-3 sp.*
Repeat from * to * 2 more times.
4 DC into next ch-3 sp.
4 HDC into next ch-3 sp.
4 DC into next ch-3 sp.
Join rnd with sl st into top of first tr (not the ch 3).
Fasten off.
**Please see video tutorial below for how to crochet the Large Sunburst Granny Square (NOTE: The 5th round is different in the video tutorial—I’ve added 1 extra DC to the granny shells for this blanket pattern):
Assembling Blanket Squares (CJAYG):
With RS of squares face up, lay out all squares in the arrangement from the colour graph above.
Using Colour A, start in top right-hand corner to join squares across the rows.
Example: First row will be joined from square number 4 across to square number 1. The second row will start with square number 8 and be worked across to square number 5.
Following along with the video tutorial, crochet squares together until blanket is complete.
Once back to the start of the blanket (in the top right-hand corner)- DO NOT FASTEN OFF.
You are now ready to start border Round 1.
**Please see video tutorial below for how to join Large Sunburst Granny Squares with CJAYG to create blanket:
Border
**Continued from CJAYG…
Round 1
Ch 1, SC into next st.
3 SC into corner sp.
SC in each st around.
Where two squares are joined put a SC on either side of join (or in each corner sp).
Each corner of blanket put 3 SC sts.
Join rnd with sl st into the ch 1.
Fasten off.
Tassels
Using the leftover yarns, create 4 tassels for the corners of the blanket. I use this tutorial: https://youtu.be/6VDCJJOcYt0
Using an 6-inch-long book (or tassel maker), wrap yarn 10-12 times to achieve appropriately sized tassel.
Trim ends and attach to blanket (mine ended up being around 5.5” long once finished).
Pro-tip: I tie my tassels onto the blanket with a little bow, this way when I need to wash the blanket, I can easily remove them!
~The End~
The pattern, the photographs and video tutorials in this document are the property of Nautikrall Crochet. You may sell items you make from this pattern; but may not sell, reproduce, or distribute this pattern, in whole or in part, as your own.
Copyright © 2023 Nautikrall Crochet – All right reserved.