Valley Yarns Playing Blocks Baby Blanket Crochet Pattern

Valley Yarns Playing Blocks Baby Blanket

Project Overview

The Valley Yarns Playing Blocks Baby Blanket is an advanced-beginner level crochet project that creates a finished blanket measuring approximately 36" x 38". This blanket features an addictive entrelac construction technique combined with a wide lace border, making it a visually striking and textured piece suitable for babies and young children.

What Is Being Made

This is a crocheted baby blanket constructed using the entrelac method, which creates interlocking geometric blocks that form a sophisticated, three-dimensional appearance. The blanket incorporates multiple color blocks in Periwinkle, Fuchsia, and Lettuce, arranged in a strip-based construction. The wide lace border adds an elegant finishing touch to the overall design.

Construction Techniques

The blanket is worked using two primary techniques:

• Seamless Construction: The blanket is created without requiring seaming, as strips are integrated directly into the design.
• Flat Work: All pieces are worked flat in rows rather than in the round, making this project straightforward to manage and shape.

The entrelac method used in this blanket creates interlocking triangular and rectangular blocks that build upon each other. This technique involves strategic placement of stitches under front loops, behind vertical bars, and into chain stitches to create the dimensional block effect.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Playing Blocks Baby Blanket employs fundamental crochet stitches executed with precision:

• Single Crochet (sc): The primary stitch used throughout the entrelac blocks, worked in various ways to create the interlocking structure.
• Slip Stitch (sl st): Used for binding off rows and joining sections together seamlessly.
• Chain Stitch (ch): Used to begin strips and create the foundation for subsequent rows.

The pattern employs advanced stitch placement techniques, including working into front loops only, working behind vertical bars, and managing multiple loops on the hook simultaneously. These techniques create the characteristic entrelac texture and allow blocks to interlock naturally without seaming.

Materials

The blanket is made using Valley Yarns Longmeadow, a yarn blend consisting of 60% Cotton and 40% Microfiber. This fiber content creates a soft, durable fabric suitable for baby items. The yarn comes in 50-gram skeins with 117 yards per skein.

The color palette includes:

• 2 skeins of color 14 Periwinkle (Color A)
• 3 skeins of color 05 Fuchsia (Color B)
• 2 skeins of color 10 Lettuce (Color C)

A crochet hook appropriate for the yarn weight is required, though the specific hook size is referenced in the complete pattern instructions.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as advanced-beginner, meaning it is suitable for crocheters who have mastered basic stitches and are ready to explore more complex stitch placement and construction methods. The entrelac technique requires careful attention to stitch placement and understanding of how stitches interact, but the fundamental stitches involved remain basic single crochet and slip stitch.