Sampler Squares Baby Blanket

Abbreviations

• BPtr = Back-post treble crochet – (Yarn over) twice, insert hook from back to front and then to back again around post of stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, complete as tr.
• Ch(s) = Chain(s)
• Dc = Double crochet
• FPtr = Front-post treble crochet – (Yarn over) twice, insert hook from front to back and then to front again around post of stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, complete as tr.
• Hdc = Half double crochet
• Bobble = Yarn over, insert hook in next stitch and draw up a loop, [yarn over, insert hook in same stitch and draw up a loop] 4 more times, yarn over and draw through 10 loops on hook, yarn over and draw through last 2 loops on hook.
• Sc = Single crochet
• Sl st = Slip stitch

Special Technique Used in Block 4

To work a dc “around” a group of stitches, work as follows:

1. Yarn over.
2. Bring your hook in front of the group of stitches and insert it into the indicated stitch.
3. Take the working yarn behind the group of stitches to prepare for the next yarn over.
4. Yarn over and draw up a loop.
5. Complete the dc as usual.

Taking the hook to the front before inserting, but then taking the yarn to the back before drawing up a loop, “encases” the group of stitches, thus the phrase “work around.”

Materials

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft (6 oz/170 g; 315 yds/288 m)

• Contrast A: Soft Pink (9719) – 2 balls
• Contrast B: Orchid (9717) – 1 ball
• Contrast C: Sift Blue (9712) – 1 ball
• Contrast D: Off White (9702) – 2 balls
• Contrast E: Soft Green (9739) – 1 ball
• Contrast F: Light Country Peach (9737) – 2 balls

Crochet Hook: One size US J-10 (6 mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.

Instructions

Block 1

Make 3 – 1 each with A, B, and C.

Ch 42.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch across, turn—41 sc.

Row 2: Ch 1, [(sc, ch 2, 4 dc) in next sc (cluster made), sk next 3 sc] 10 times, sc in last sc, turn—10 clusters.

Rows 3–22: Ch 3, 4 dc in first sc, (sc, ch 2, 4 dc) in next 9 ch-2 sps, sc in last ch-2 sp, turn.

Round 23 (RS): Ch 3, [dc in next dc, hdc in next dc, sc in next 2 dc, sk next ch-2 sp, sk next sc] 9 times, dc in next dc, hdc in next dc, sc in last 2 dc, do not turn at end of row; work 3 sc in corner, working in ends of rows, work 41 sc evenly across side edge; work 3 sc in corner, work 41 sc evenly across opposite side of foundation ch, work 3 sc in corner; work 41 sc evenly across other side edge, work 3 sc in corner; join with sl st in top of beginning ch.

Fasten off.

Block 2

Make 3 – 1 each with C, D, and E.

Ch 38.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch across, turn—37 sc.

Row 2 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), [dc in next 5 sts, Bobble in next st] 5 times, dc in last 6 sts, turn—32 dc and 5 Bobbles.

Row 3: Ch 3, 3 dc in first dc, [sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc, sk next 2 sts, 7 dc in next Bobble] 5 times, sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc, sk next 2 dc, 4 dc in last dc (top of turning ch), turn—43 dc and 6 sc.

Row 4: Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc, [sk next dc, Bobble in next sc, sk next dc, dc in next 5 dc] 5 times, sk next dc, Bobble in next sc, sk next dc, dc in last 3 dc, turn—31 dc and 6 Bobbles.

Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first dc, [sk next 2 dc, 7 dc in next Bobble, sk next 2 dc, sc in next dc] 6 times, turn—42 dc and 7 sc.

Row 6: Ch 3, [sk next dc, dc in next 5 dc, sk next dc, Bobble in next sc] 5 times, sk next dc, dc in next 5 dc, sk next dc, dc in last sc, turn—32 dc and 5 Bobbles.

Rows 7–18: Repeat Rows 3–6 three times.

Rows 19–21: Repeat Rows 3–5.

Round 22 (RS): Ch 3, [sk next dc, hdc in next dc, sc in next 3 dc, hdc in next dc, sk next dc, Bobble in next sc] 6 times, do not turn at end of row; work 3 sc in corner, working in ends of rows, work 41 sc evenly across side edge; work 3 sc in corner, work 41 sc evenly across opposite side of foundation ch, work 3 sc in corner; work 41 sc evenly across other side edge, work 3 sc in corner; join with sl st in top of beginning ch.

Fasten off.

Block 3

Make 3 – 1 each with B, E, and F.

Ch 44.

Row 1: 3 dc in 4th ch from hook (beginning ch counts as dc), [sk next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, sk next 2 ch, 3 dc in next 2 ch] 4 times, sk next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, sk next 2 ch, 3 dc in next ch, dc in last ch, turn—42 dc.

Row 2 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), dc in next dc, [sk next 2 dc, (FPtr, 2 dc) in next dc, (2 dc, FPtr) in next dc, sk next 2 dc, dc in next 2 dc] 5 times, turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, [(2 dc, BPtr) in next st, sk next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, sk next 2 sts, (BPtr, 2 dc) in next st] 5 times, dc in last st, turn.

Row 4: Ch 3, [dc in next st, sk next 2 sts, (FPtr, 2 dc) in next st, (2 dc, FPtr) in next st, sk next 2 sts, dc in next st] 5 times, dc in last st, turn.

Rows 5–20: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 eight times.

Round 21 (RS): Work 41 sc evenly across row, do not turn at end of row; work 3 sc in corner, working in ends of rows, work 41 sc evenly across side edge; work 3 sc in corner, work 41 sc evenly across opposite side of foundation ch, work 3 sc in corner; work 41 sc evenly across other side edge, work 3 sc in corner, work 41 sc evenly across; join with sl st in first sc.

Fasten off.

Block 4

Make 3 – 1 each with A, D, and F.

Ch 44.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch across—43 sc.

Row 2 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), *sk next 3 sc, 3 dc in next sc, ch 3, working around last 3 dc made, 3 dc in 2nd skipped st, sk next sc, dc in next sc; repeat from * across, turn—50 dc.

Row 3: Ch 3, 3 dc in first dc, sk next 3 dc, [sc in next ch-3 sp, sk next 4 dc, 3 dc in next dc, ch 3, working around last 3 dc made, 3 dc in 3rd skipped dc] 6 times, sc in next ch-3 sp, sk next 3 dc, 4 dc in top of turning ch, turn.

Row 4: Ch 3, [sk next 3 dc, sk next sc, 3 dc in next dc, ch 3, working around last 3 dc made, 3 dc in last skipped dc, sc in next ch-3 sp] 6 times, sk next 3 dc, sk next sc, 3 dc in next dc, ch 3, working around last 3 dc made, 3 dc in last skipped dc, sc in top of turning ch, turn.

Rows 5–18: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 seven times.

Row 19: Repeat Row 3.

Round 20 (RS): Ch 2, dc in first dc, 5 dc in next sc, [sc in next ch-3 sp, 5 dc in next sc] 7 times, dc in top of turning ch, do not turn at end of row, work 3 sc in corner, working in ends of rows, work 41 sc evenly across side edge; work 3 sc in corner, work 41 sc evenly across opposite side of foundation ch, work 3 sc in corner; work 41 sc evenly across other side edge, work 3 sc in corner; join with sl st in top of beginning ch.

Fasten off.

Finishing

Arrange blocks according to assembly diagram and sew together.

Edging

Round 1: With RS facing, join D with sl st in center sc of any 3-sc corner, ch 2, dc in each st around, working 5 dc in each corner; join with sl st in first dc. Fasten off.

Round 2: With F, repeat Round 1. Fasten off.

Round 3: With A, repeat Round 2. Fasten off.

Using yarn needle, weave in all ends.