How to Crochet a Braided Stripes Baby Blanket

You’ll Need:

RED HEART® Super Saver™: 3 (6) skeins 316 Soft White A, 1 skein each 512 Turqua B, 672 Spring Green C, 718 Shocking Pink D, and 319 Cherry Red E Susan Bates®.

Crochet Hook 6 mm;

Yarn needle.

Stitches Control:

1 repeat (center of loop to center of loop) = 3½" (9 cm); 8 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Braided Stripes Pattern.

Directions are for baby size; changes for full-size blanket are in parentheses. Blanket measures 39 x 36 (56½ x 46)" [99 x 91.5 (143.5 x 117) cm].

Notes:

The loops are worked independently of each other as you go and are then braided and locked in place at the end.

Color Sequence:

Work the main body of the blanket in the following color sequence:

• 2 rows with B
• 2 rows with A
• 2 rows with C
• 2 rows with A
• 2 rows with D
• 2 rows with A
• 2 rows with E
• 2 rows with A

Braided Stripes Pattern:

Foundation is a multiple of 10 ch + 8.

Row 1 (Wrong Side):

Skip 3 ch (counts as 1 dc), dc in the 4th ch from the hook and in each of the next 6 ch; * ch 10, slip st through front and second bars of last completed dc, dc in each of next 10 ch; repeat from * to last 8 ch, ch 10, slip st through front and second bars of last completed dc, dc in each of last 8 ch, turn.

Row 2:

Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), dc in each of the next 7 dc; * (2 sc, 15 hdc, 2 sc) in next ch-10 space, dc in each of the next 10 dc; repeat from * to last ch-10 space, (2 sc, 15 hdc, 2 sc) in last ch-10 space, dc in each of the last 8 dc, turn.

Row 3:

Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), dc in each of the next 7 dc; * ch 10, skip all loop sts, slip st through front and second bars of last completed dc, dc in each of next 10 dc; repeat from * to last loop, ch 10, skip all loop sts, slip st through front and second bars of last completed dc, dc in each of the last 8 dc, turn.

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 to desired length, ending with a Row 2.

Final 2 Rows:

Row 1 (Wrong Side):

Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), dc in each of the next 7 dc; * skip all loop sts, slip st through front and second bars of last completed dc, dc in each of next 10 dc; repeat from * to last loop, skip all loop sts, slip st through front and second bars of last completed dc, dc in each of last 8 dc, turn. Braid loops into place, pulling one loop through the next from bottom of piece upward.

Row 2:

Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), dc in each of the next 6 dc; * work locking dc as follows: yo, insert hook in next st, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops (2 loops remain on hook), insert hook in 8th of 15 hdc from 2 rows below, yo and draw through this hdc and both remaining loops on hook at the same time – locking dc completed, dc in each of the next 9 dc; repeat from * to last 9 dc, work a locking dc, dc in each of the last 8 dc.

Instructions:

Blanket:

With B, ch 108 (158).

Work in the Braided Stripes Pattern following the color sequence for 66 (86) total rows, including final 2 rows – 10 (15) braids across. Fasten off.

Border:

With the right side facing, join A with a slip st anywhere along the left side edge of the blanket.

Round 1: Ch 1, (sc, ch 1) in each row edge to corner, (sc, ch 1) twice in corner st, * (sc, ch 1) in the next st, skip the next st; repeat from * across the bottom edge to the next corner, (sc, ch 1) twice in corner st, (sc, ch 1) in each row edge to the next corner, (sc, ch 1) twice in corner st, repeat from * to * across the top edge to the next corner, (sc, ch 1) twice in corner st, (sc, ch 1) in each row edge to the end of round, join with slip st in first sc, fasten off A.

Round 2: With the right side facing, join B in any ch-1 space along any edge, ch 1, * (sc, ch 1) in each ch-1 space to corner space, (sc, ch 1) twice in corner space; repeat from * 3 more times, (sc, ch 1) in each ch-1 space to the end of the round, join with slip st in first sc, fasten off B.

Round 3: With C, repeat round 2.

Round 4: With D, repeat round 2.

Round 5: With E, repeat round 2.

Finishing:

Weave in all loose ends.