X-tra Sport Baby Blanket

At last, I present to you my X-tra Sport Baby Blanket. If you’re wondering why I took so long it is because I wanted to do a video showing how to do the flat braid join.

However, instead of the video, I decided to do a photo tutorial instead. Perhaps in the future I’ll do the video tutorial. You can find the links below:

Flat Braid Crochet Join – Part 1 – Crocheting Around the First Square
Flat Braid Crochet Join – Part 2 – Joining the First 2 Squares
Flat Braid Crochet Join – Part 3 – Joining the Third and Fourth Squares

And I must warn you, the front of this baby blanket looks much better than the back side. The back side is actually kind of ugly looking, so I do recommend lining the back with fleece or soft cotton. At the same time, you can leave it as is too.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Materials: Yarn: Bernat Baby Sport, or any other light baby yarn. Any 2 colors. (I used about 6.5oz for CA, and 3.5oz for CB.)
Hook Size: 4.00MM

Finished Size: You can make it any size that you want, but with 25 squares you will get a measurement of 35″ by 35″.

Abbreviations:

CA = Color A
CB = Color B
RS = Right Side
Bet = Between
Ch/Chs = Chain/Chains
Dc = Double Crochet
FO = Fasten Off
Lp/Lps = Loops/Loops
Rep = Repeat
Rnd/Rnds = Round/Rounds
Sc = Single Crochet
Sk = Skip
Sl St = Slip Stitch
Sp/Sps = Space/Spaces
St/Sts = Stitch/Stitches
YO = Yarn Over

Notes and Tips from Testers:

• Chs do not count as sts unless otherwise stated.
• When pattern says to join next color in next ch or sp, insert hook as indicated:

Yo with next color and pull through.

• There are a lot of loose ends if you cut the color after each color change. My one tester and I agreed that it would be easier to just carry the yarn up at the back in order to save time. Carrying the yarn also helps to maintain a much cleaner look at the back of the blanket.

Instructions

Blanket Square (Make 25)

With CA, ch 4; join with sl st in first ch to form ring.

Rnd 1: (RS) Ch 4 (counts as first dc and ch-1), dc once more in same ch as join, ch 1, [(dc, ch 1, dc) in next ch, ch 1] 3 times; join with sl st to first dc (3rd ch). (8 ch-1 sps)

Rnd 2: Join CB in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 3, *sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3; rep from * around; join with sl st to first sc. (8 ch-3 lps)

Rnd 3: Sl st into next ch, join CA in next (center) ch, ch 1, sc into same ch-3 lp, *9 dc in center ch of next lp**, sc in next ch-3 lp; rep from * around ending last rep at **; join with sl st to first sc. (40 sts)

Rnd 4: Join CB in first st, ch 3 (counts as first dc), work another 5 dc in same st, *ch 3, sk next 4 sts, sc in next dc, ch 3, sk next 4 sts**, 6 dc in next sc st; rep from * around ending last rep at **; join with sl st to first dc (3rd ch). (8 ch-3 lps and 28 sts)

Rnd 5: Join CA in sp before next st, ch 1, sc in same sp, *(ch 1, sk next 2 sts, sc in sp before next st) 2 times, ch 1, sc in next ch-3 lp, 9 dc in next sc st, sc in next ch-3 lp, ch 1**, sk next st, sc in sp before next st; rep from * around ending last rep at **; join with sl st to first sc. (56 sts)

Rnd 6: Join CB in next ch-1 sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc), work another 2 dc in same sp, 3 dc in next sp, *2 dc in next sp, ch 4, sk next 5 sts, sc in next dc, ch 4, sk next 5 sts, 2 dc in next ch-1 sp**, (3 dc in next ch-1 sp) 2 times; rep from * around ending last rep at **; join with sl st to first dc (3rd ch).

Rnd 7: Sl st into next 2 sts, join CA in sp before next st, ch 1, sc in same sp, ch 3, sk next 3 sts, sc in sp before next st, *ch 3, sk next 2 sts, sc in next lp, 9 dc in next sc st, sc in next lp, ch 3, sk next 2 sts, sc in sp before next st**, (ch 3, sk next 3 sts, sc in sp before next st) twice, rep from * around ending last rep at **, ch 3; join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 8: Join CB in first st, ch 1, sc in same first sc, ch 3, sc in next sc, *ch 3, dc in next sc, ch 3, sk next 4 sts, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next st, ch 3, sk next 4 sts, dc in next st**, (ch 3, sc in next sc) 3 times; rep from * around ending at**, ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3; join with sl st to first sc. FO.

Joining Rounds:

Squares are joined using the flat-braid method.

First Square: Join CA to any corner ch-3 lp, ch 1, *(sc, ch 5, sc) into corner lp, ch 3, (sc, ch 3) in next lp and into each lp up to corner lp; rep from * around; join with sl st to first sc. FO.

Tips:

When joining 2 or more squares, the dropped lp is picked up from the corresponding lp of the completed square. The hook is inserted from the top (right side) of the completed square in order to pull the active lp on the current square through from the wrong side. For this pattern, always start the joining at a corner.

When joining at a corner where 3 corners have already been joined, pick up the dropped lp in the first corresponding corner lp, ch 2, drop the lp once more, and pick it up from the next corner lp of corresponding square (the corner lp of the square to the top left that corresponds to the next side of the current square).

Joining 1 Side: Join CA to any corner ch-3 lp, ch 1, *(sc, ch 5, sc) into corner lp, ch 3, (sc in next lp, ch 3) 6 times, rep from * once; sc in corner lp, **ch 2, drop the lp and pick it up from the corresponding corner lp of completed square, ch 3, sc into same lp of current square**, [ch 1, drop the lp and pick it up from the next lp of completed square, ch 2, sc in next lp of current square] 7 times; rep bet ** ** once, ch 3, (sc in next lp, ch 3) 6 times; join with sl st to first sc. FO.

Joining 2 Sides: Join CA to any corner ch-3 lp, ch 1, (sc, ch 5, sc) into corner lp, ch 3, (sc in next lp, ch 3) 6 times, sc in corner lp, *ch 2, drop the lp and pick it up from the corresponding corner lp of completed square, ch 3, sc into same lp of current square*, [ch 1, drop the lp and pick it up from the next lp of completed square, ch 2, sc in next lp of current square] 7 times; (ch 2, drop the lp and pick it up from the next corresponding corner lp of completed square) twice, ch 3, sc once more into corner lp of current square; rep bet [ ] 7 times, then rep bet * * once, ch 3, (sc in next lp, ch 3) 6 times; join with sl st to first sc. FO.

Edging:

Rnd 1: With RS facing, join CA to any ch-5 corner lp, ch 1, sc in same lp, ch 3, *sc in next lp, ch 3; rep from * around; join with sl st to first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in first sc, 9 dc in next sc, *sc in next sc, 9 dc in next sc; rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. FO.