Crochet baby blanket with balloons
Abbreviations
blo – back loop only
ch – chain
dc – double crochet
flo – front loop only
hdc – half double crochet
r(#) – round number
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
slst – slip stitch
sp – space
st- stitch
tr – treble crochet
yo – yarn over
Special Stitches
htr – yo two times, insert hook into indicated st or sp, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook, yo and pull through all 3 remaining loops on hook
Popcorn – 5dc in indicated sp, remove hook from loop and insert into top of first dc, put loop back on hook and draw through top of first dc, ch1 to close (the ch 1 closes the popcorn and that is the part of the stitch you should work into when told to work into a popcorn)
Standing popcorn – (standing dc, 4dc) into indicated sp, remove hook from loop and insert into top of first dc, put loop back on hook and draw through top of first dc, ch1 to close
Spike st (aka long sc) – insert your hook into indicated st or sp and pull up a loop, pull that loop up to the height of your work, yo and pull through both loops on hook (Note: A spike stitch should not pull your work down so make sure you pull the loop up tall enough that there is no buckling. Additional Note: for the purposes of this pattern, a spike st will always align/be worked over a dc and you should count that dc as being worked, not skipped and should not look for instructions to work into or skip it.)
Standing sc – to start a round, with slip knot on hook, insert hook into indicated stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through two loops on hook
Standing dc – to start a round, with slip knot on hook, hold slip knot in place with thumb or finger, yo and hold that in place too, insert hook in indicated stitch, yo and pull up a loop, carefully yo and draw yarn through two loops on hook twice
Commence Pattern
Begin with magic circle.
Round 1: Ch3 {counts as first dc here and throughout}. 11 more dc into magic circle. Close magic circle. Slst to first dc to join.
12 dc
Round 2: Ch3 [Color change option: standing dc in any dc]. Dc again in same st. 2dc in next dc. [Ch2, (2dc in next dc) 3 times] 4 times, omitting last 4 dc on final repeat. Slst to first dc join.
24 dc, 4 ch2 sp (32 st around)
Round 3: Ch3 [Color change option: standing dc in third dc after any ch2 sp]. Dc in next 3 dc. [(Dc, ch1, dc, ch1, dc) in ch2 sp, dc in next 6 dc] 4 times, omitting last 4 dc on final repeat. Slst to first dc to join.
36 dc, 8 ch1 sp (44 st around)
Round 4: Ch3 [Color change option: standing dc in fourth dc after any group of two ch1 sp]. Dc in next 4 dc. [Ch1, dc in next ch1 sp, ch1, dc in next dc, ch1, dc in next ch1 sp, ch1, dc in next 8 dc] 4 times, omitting last 5 dc on final repeat. Slst to first dc to join. Fasten off.
44 dc, 16 ch1 sp (60 st around)
Note: in round 5 remember that a spike stitch worked over a dc counts that dc as having been worked into. The first stem (spike) of each group is worked over the last dc before the group of ch1 sps. The last stem of each group is worked over the first dc after the group of ch1 sps. The other stems are worked over the dcs that are between ch1 sps.
Round 5 (stems): Standing sc in fourth dc after any group of four ch1 sps. Sc in next 3 dc. [Spike st in to r2 ch2 sp, (sc in next ch1 sp, spike st into same ch2 sp as last spike) 4 times, sc in next 6 dc] 4 times, omitting last 4 sc on final repeat. Slst to first sc to join. Fasten off.
20 spike st, 40 sc (60 st around)