Do you sometimes long for a crochet blanket pattern that you can work on when in company or watching television? A project that does not require you to count stitches, change color, remember the stitch pattern or anything else that would require you to think about what you are doing? If so, I have just the design for you! My new, free Merry-go-Round blanket pattern using double crochet stitches.

Yarn

The yarn that I am using is Scheepjes Noorse Sokkenwol Colour. This is a thick and warm sock yarn containing 20% wool, 40% acrylic and 40% nylon. The yarn has a gradual color gradient which makes for very interesting color effects on any project. There are 5 colors to choose from and they are all available from Wool Warehouse or your local Scheepjes stockist.

Materials

You will need at least 5 balls of Scheepjes Noorse Sokkenwol Colour, depending on your gauge, hook size and how large you want your blanket to be. As an indication, I obtained the following sizes using a 4mm hook:

• with 5 balls – 65cm x 95cm
• with 8 balls – 90cm x 120cm
• with 10 balls – 110cm x 140cm

I used color 968, which is a playful rainbow colorway, but this blanket will look lovely in any of the other shades also. The color changing yarn is continuously drawing you in and wanting you to know which color is next.

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***Update: Video***

I have made a short video showing the steps involved to make my Merry-go-Round blanket. I show the first 3 rounds as well as the crab stitch edge.

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Abbreviations

The pattern is in US crochet terms. If you are more comfortable with UK crochet terms, please see this conversion table for the most common terms.

• dc – double crochet
• fdc – foundation double crochet
• ch – chain
• ss – slip stitch
• st – stitch
• crab stitch – reverse single crochet

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Pattern

To make this blanket you first make a rectangular center and from there it goes round, and round and round again till you run out of yarn or your blanket is big enough; which ever comes first.

Round 1

ch4 (does not count as a stitch), 50fdc, ch2, 3dc in the bottom of last fdc worked (this makes the short side of the rectangle), ch2, 1dc in same stitch (this is in the bottom of the last fdc worked), 1dc in each of next 49 st (this is the bottom of the fdc stitches and makes the long edge of the rectangle), ch2, 3dc in ch4-space.

This makes a rectangle with the following stitch count: 50dc, 3dc, 50dc, 3dc.

Round 2

(2dc, ch2, 1dc) in same ch4-space as the last 3dc’s of Round 1, 1dc in next 50 st, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in next ch2-space, 1dc in next 3 st, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in next ch2-space, 1dc in next 50 st, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in next ch2-space, 1dc in next 5 st.

This makes a rectangle with the following stitch count: 53dc, 7dc, 54dc, 7dc. Don’t worry that there is 1 stitch difference between the long sides of the rectangle. You won’t notice this anymore after a few rounds.

Round 3 and further

*(2dc, ch2, 2dc) in the next ch2-space, 1dc in each st till the next ch2-space. *
Repeat from * to * 3 more times.

Last round

When your blanket is large enough or you are almost out of yarn, work your last round using crab stitches to make a nice edge.

For the final corner when repeating Round 3 do not work a full corner, but only work 1dc in the last ch2-space. Work a crab stitch in each st and 2 crab stitches in a ch2-space all the way round. When you get back to your starting point, work 1 crab stitch in the ch2-space containing the last dc worked, 1 crab stitch around the post of the last dc worked, and close with a ss in the first crab stitch.

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This has been a fun and relaxing project for when I wanted something that needed very little concentration on my part. I believe this to be the perfect crochet-TV project. I would love to see your blanket, please feel free share your work on my Facebook or Instagram, or tag me with #itsallinanutshell so I can find it.

With love,

Esther

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(C) Copyright It’s all in a Nutshell. All rights reserved. This pattern is available for unlimited personal use. You may print a copy of the pattern or keep a digital copy for personal use only. Do not reproduce or sell my patterns (either digitally or in print). Do not post my patterns online, either as a complete document or in part. Please refer to back to this pattern by linking to it from your blog or website. You may sell items that you make with as long as you credit me as the designer. To shop owners and yarn sellers : it is not allowed to make kits without my permission. Please do not print copies to distribute with yarn sales as this is an infringement of copyright. The copyright of this free crochet pattern is protected by Scheepjes.com.