How to Crochet the "Ester" Baby Blanket

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This pattern is designed to be a quick and easy make for an experienced beginner.

I’ve made the blanket using a Springtime Yarn Pack with a Soft Grey for the border, however the pattern can be used with any colour or weight of yarn, and looks fabulous in variegated yarn.

For the purpose of this pattern, I have made a pram sized blanket (60x80cm), however the pattern can easily be adapted to make larger or smaller blanket using multiples of 6.

Materials Needed

• Approx 300g Yarn for the body, I used my Springtime Yarn Pack, but any DK weight yarn will do.
• Approx 50g of DK weight yarn in the colour of your choice for the edge, I used Scheepjes Colour Crafter in 1203 Heerenveen.
• 4mm Crochet Hook (for the body of the blanket)
• 3.5mm Crochet Hook (for the edging of the blanket)
• Tapestry Needle & Scissors

Stitches Used:

• Ch (chain)
• Dc (Double Crochet)
• Hdc (Half Double Crochet)
• Sc (Single Crochet)
• Ss (Slip Stitch)

Special Stitches Used:

• Fpdc (Front Post Double Crochet)
• Bpdc (Back Post Double Crochet)
• Reverse sc - Reverse Single Crochet (Also known as Crab Stitch)

Colour Scheme Notes:

I worked 6 repeats of my springtime yarn pack in the following order: 1020 Leiden, 1822 Delfzijl, 1422 Eelde, 1034 Urk, 1432 Heerlen, 1390 Amersfoort, 1241 Den Bosch, 1240 Ommen. The edge was worked in 1203 Heerenveen.

Blanket Body 

[Please Note: For this section I have used Ch2 to start each row. This counts as the first stitch on all rows. If you wish to use ch3 or a standing dc then please feel free to do so]

Foundation Row: Using a 4mm hook, Ch 108 (to increase/decrease width - work in multiples of 6 stitches)

Row 1: dc in 3^rd chain from hook and dc all the way to the end. Turn. (107 Stitches) 

Row 2: Ch2 (counts as first stitch from now on – see photo for clarification), dc into next four stitches, *bpdc around next stitch from row below, dc into next 5 stitches* Repeat from * to * until the end of the row. You should end the row with 5 dc – making sure to work the final dc into the top of the ch turn from the previous row. Turn.

Row 3: Ch2, dc into next four stitches, *fpdc around fpdc from row below, dc into next 5 Stitches* Repeat until end of row. Turn. 

Rest of blanket Body: Repeat rows 2 and 3 until blanket reaches desired length.

To Finish: Cut yarn and sew in ends. 

Edging

 [Please Note: Chain stitches in this section DO NOT count as the first stitch in the round]

Round 1:

• Switch to 3.5mm hook.
• Join with ss to any stitch along top row of blanket, ch1, sc in same stitch as ch1.
• Sc across top edge to second last stitch of row.
• 3 sc in corner stitch.
• Work sc along long edge (I like to work my stitches as follows: working 3 stitches across every 2 rows, but don’t feel tied to using this method)
• Work 3 sc into corner of bottom row
• sc along bottom row to end.
• 3 sc in corner stitch
• Work along the rest of the blanket in the same manner as above
• Join to top of first stitch in round with ss.

Round 2:

• Ch1 and hdc in same stitch.-   
• Work hdc all around working 3 stitches into the middle sc from corner cluster of previous round. (shown right.)
• Join to first stitch in round with ss.

 Round 3:  

• Work in the same manner as Round 2.

Round 4:

• Ch1, sc in same stitch.
• Work sc all around, working 3 stitches into the middle stitch of the corner cluster from the previous round.
• Join with ss to top of first stich of round 

Round 5:

• Ch1, work reverse sc all the way round the edge.
• DO NOT ss to first stitch in round. Instead:
• Cut yarn and sew end through first stitch in round, working from the front of the stitch through to the back, this will achieve a seamless join in your crab stitch edging.

Ta dah!
You should now have a finished blanket resembling something like the blanket pictured below!

Video Tutorial:

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