Yes, that’s how long it has been since I last dropped by…and my, how the landscape of the world has changed; internationally, nationally and personally!
I write because it makes me feel like someone is listening. – Or I am finally listening to myself!
I wasn’t too sure if I wanted to carry on writing here; I felt like I had lost my way a little and didn’t know how too move this space forward. Opening my little Etsy shop has been so much fun, but it also kind of took all my spare time. I have also changed jobs…well same job, different Trust and different Team…that has been life changing for me! I am now part of a team that nurtures and cares instead of tears apart and destroys; so I feel like I have gained a lot of head space back. Anyway, I’m sure we are all going through our own trials right now, so I’m not going to dump mine here for you to absorb. I just wanted to let you know, I’m planning to be around these parts a bit more often…but for now, I will just leave you with some pictures of some recent hooking exploits.
I’ve had a lovely few days celebrating another year…yes, it was my birthday!
I have been well and truly spoilt this year and I have had some great yarny presents too, which I thought I’d share with you.
I kicked things off by booking time off work and then was treated to the most loveliest of birthday eve meals with my parents and brother as well as my guys too. It was a really great way to start the celebrations. My actual birthday day…you know what I mean! was relaxed and laid back, hanging out with the boys and Mr R.
We had a game of birthday badminton before cake and coffee…
no guilt involved, as calories definitely don’t count on your birthday! It was a beautiful coffee and walnut cake…my absolute favourite!
We took time out to notice Spring has well and truly arrived…
and I enjoyed finding some more spring inspiration whilst browsing around too.
Fabulous zingy spring vibes right there!
I spent more time with family andfriends and of course did some hooking too…this is how far I have got with my C2C rainbow heart blanket. Pattern details are just here.
rainbow baby blanket
I also got some great yarny presents too.
Fabulous personalized crochet hooks of my bestie and…
Mr. R surprised me with tickets to this years Yarndale Festival which is in September….SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
So, I’m feeling very loved and very blessed and quite yarny today.
It’s done! I have made the last stitch and woven in the last end of my beautiful #seassidestashbusting blanket.
It’s huge and I simply love it!
Oh! what a journey this blanket has been…a beautiful, stitchy, vibrant and meandering journey of colour, crochet and community…not to mention stash busting too!
Thank you so much to Eleanora over at Coastal Crochet for hosting such a marvellous and well organised CAL (crochet-a-long) and to all the lovely people I have met a long the way; who have encouraged and inspired me with kind words or blankets of their own. I have really enjoyed scrolling through the IG feed #seasidestashbustingblanket and seeing so many wonderfully unique contributions.
I am keeping this blanket for myself because honestly, I just can’t bear to be parted from it. I have hooked in so many memories of my year…like the sunny glamping rows, the foot surgery rows, the world cup rows, the too hot to crochet rows and the snowy day bobbles and I can relate each memory to the specific rows. I will leave you with my photographic journey…
Love, love, love this blanket.
I’m not sure what I’m going to do without the weekly rows…
Just a couple of weekends ago, I abandoned work early, gathered my brood and made a little journey to a truly magical place. We only travelled 30 minutes away but we found ourselves in a different world.
We went glamping…that is camping in style!
And let me tell you it was absolutely luxurious. Running hot water, flushing toilet, the most comfortable bed in the world (honestly I felt like I was sleeping in a cloud) and a roll top bath with a gorgeous and very private view.
The boys happily shunned their screens and devices and spent hours splashing in the hot tub
and lighting fires
We cooked contently on the dutch oven (although there was a large wood burning stove inside our abode)
And we cycled the short distance into Arley where the great Severn Valley Railway passes through.
In the evenings we lit another fire and made use of the blankets provided for us;
and we chatted and laughed and breathed in and out deeply inhaling as much of the tranquillity as we could whilst toasting marsh mallows and drinking bubbles.
Of course I took my own blankets and they looked so pretty out on the decking…which has fairy lights at night.
(Yes, that is a candelabra you can see on the dining table! )
There was also plenty of time to crochet
and knit
This place is a true gem…and look what I found in the dresser…
a happy piece of yarn!!!!
So thank you Mark and Sonja for all of the fairy dust you sprinkled for our stay with you….we loved it!
This delightful granny square crochet blanket pattern is a classic, beginner-friendly crochet project that’s perfect for creating a beautiful handmade gift. Updated for March 2026, this easy crochet baby blanket pattern uses simple granny squares to create a timeless design that works with any colour palette. Whether you’re creating for a new baby, making a baby shower gift, or just using up your stash, this pattern is relaxing and fun to make and comes together into a soft, cosy blanket you’ll treasure.
⭐ Easy to print and follow anywhere ⭐ Ad-free for a calm crochet experience ⭐ Available to download in both UK or US crochet terms ⭐ Helps support my small crochet business
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Pattern Notes
As always I’m using English crochet terminology. Ch – chain Slst – slip stitch dc – double crochet tr – treble crochet
ch3 – counts as a treble unless otherwise stated. I’m using drops muskat cotton.
ch3 – counts as a treble unless otherwise stated. I’m using drops muskat cotton.
Materials
I’m using Drops Muskat in the colours and quantities listed below per square,
red – 100g old pink – 80g white – 50g vanilla yellow – 65g dark orange -20g
sky blue – 35g apple green – 50g and a 4mm crochet hook and a 3.5mm crochet hook
Prefer to make this in an acryllic yarn then why not try Stylecraft Special DK Yarn amount For each square you will need Less than 5g – Spice Less than 5g – Cornish blue Less than 5g – white Less than 5g – Apple Less than 5g – Citron Less than 5g – Blush Less than 10g – Lipstick For a blanket made of 16 squares you will need x 1 ball (100g) of each colour and x3 balls of lipstick (300g
Each lovely yarny square measures 7″ x 7″ or 18cm x 18cm once blocked.
You will need to make 16 squares to make this blanket arranged 4 x 4…
of course you can make more squares if you wish to make a larger version.
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Pattern
So here goes… with a 4mm hook ch2, join with ss to form a tiny ring (you could make a magic circle instead if you prefer)
Row 1: ch3,
11tr into ring,
join blue yarn and slst into 3rd ch (12tr in total).
Row 2: ch3,
1tr in same space, ch1
2tr in next st, ch1
*2tr in next st, ch1*, repeat * * x10 times,
join white yarn and slst into 3rd ch
(12 clusters of 2tr and 12 ch spaces).
Row 3: ch3,
*3tr in next ch space*,
repeat * * x10 times, 2 tr in next ch space,
If you prefer working from a clean, ad-free printable pattern, the PDF version is available in my Etsy shop.
join with slst in top of ch3 and fasten off. (12 clusters of 3tr). Row 4: join green yarn in between any cluster of 3tr of previous round and ch3, 3tr in same sp, ch1
*4tr in between next cluster of 3tr, ch1*,
repeat * * x10 times, join with slst in ch3 and fasten off. (12 clusters of 4tr and 12 ch spaces)
Row 5: join yellow yarn in any ch space and ch3, 4tr in same sp, ch1
*5tr in next ch space, ch1*, repeat * * x10 times, join with slst in ch3 and fasten off. (12 clusters of 5tr and 12 ch spaces)
Row 6: join pink yarn to any ch space and ch3, 5tr in same sp, ch1, *6tr in next ch space, ch1*, repeat * * x10 times, join with ss in ch3 and fasten off. (12 clusters of 6tr and 12 ch spaces)
Row 7: join red yarn in any ch space, ch3, 5tr in same space,
ch3,
6tr in same space (corner made),
*6tr in next ch space, 6tr in next ch space,
6tr in next space, ch3, 6tr in same space* (2nd corner made) repeat * * x2 times
6tr in next space, 6tr in next space, join with slst in beginning ch3. Do not fasten off.
Row 8: ch3,
1tr in next 5sts,
*6tr in ch3 sp, ch2, 6tr in same space (corner made),
*1tr in next 5sts,
dc UNDER next stitch (indicated by the hook)
1tr in next 5sts, dc under next stitch, 1tr in next 5sts, dc under next stitch
1tr in next 6sts, 6tr in ch sp, ch 2, 6tr in same space*
repeat * * x2times
1tr in next 5sts, dc under next stitch, 1tr in next 5 sts, dc under next stitch, 1tr in next 5 sts, dc under next stitch, slst to beginning 3rd ch to finish. Weave in ends.
Blocking:
A word on blocking: Before blocking…You’re square will be wibbly.
After blocking…Your square will lie flat and will look much better.
Blocking is really worth the extra effort and isn’t difficult or expensive to do. I just pinned this square to my ironing board so that it measured 7″ by 7″ and hovered my iron just above the square and blasted it with steam. Allow to cool before unpinning and store carefully. Alternatively, you could pin the square to the required measurements to a towel or a pin board, spritz with water and allow to dry.
Joining:
I have used a simple and easy slip stitch to join these squares. I have chosen this join for two reasons. The first reason is that it is secure and does not add anything to the squares, allowing them to showcase themselves.
The second reason is it uses the least amount of yarn and also creates less ends to weave in.
So to join the squares start by placing 2 squares with the right side to the right side…ie/ the wrong side of each square will be facing outwards.
Note that this join requires you to place slip stitches in the top of the stitches along the edge of the square and you should go under both loops of each stitch.
Some stitches will require you to slip stitch in both stitches of each square, these stitches should be the corresponding stitches for each square. Some stitches will require you to slip stitch in the top square only. This is because the squares are only joined to each other at each corner and in the middle of each scallop.
Join yarn in 2nd ch of any corner space and with a 3.5mm hook slst,
in both squares slst in the next 6sts,
in top square only slst in next 6 sts (tr), slst in next st (dc), slst in next st (1st tr of scallop),
*in both squares slst in next 3 sts (2nd, 3rd &4th st of scallop),
in top square only slst in next 3sts (tr,dc,tr)*
repeat * – *
in top square only slst in next 5sts,
in both squares slst in next 6 sts, miss chst, slst into 2nd ch of corner space.
Repeat this process for each side of the square which requires joining. You will not need to cut your yarn at the end of each side joined as you can continue round by adding another square. I started joining in the middle of the blanket. You will have to join in a new corner space for some of the joins, but the process remains the same.
WHAT CROCHETERS ARE SAYING
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Lovely pattern”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
More Easy Crochet Projects You May Enjoy
If you enjoyed this pattern, you may also like these beginner-friendly crochet projects designed to be relaxing, practical, and perfect for using yarn you already own.
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#yarnlovechallenge... if you’re not following this on Instagram…here are my final four days of prompts.
Day 25: International…This is my ‘Around the World in 64 Squares’ friendship blanket. A blanket made from crochet and knit squares sent to me from all around the world. In return I sent the same amount of squares all around the world as part of a fabulous group on ravelry call The Global Square Exchange. It was super fun to be a part of and I have a truly unique and international blanket.
Day 26: Embellish…This is my ‘yarny Little Leaf ‘ and one of my favourite embellishments to use. They are quick and simple to hook and look stunning in Autumn colours too. Just click on the link for the free pattern and tutorial.
Day 27: Fit …This gorgeous boy got a surprise new winter hat when it became evident that it was not going to fit on my gorgeous husbands gorgeous head! A ‘fit’ fail!
Day 28: Confession…What more an I say
And that is it February #yarnlovechallenge complete…it has been fun…hope you have enjoyed it too.
If you’re not following this on Instagram…here are my days 21 – 24.
Day 21 : Multiples…How pretty are these Robins Nest granny squares? I always feel a surge of joy when I look at them. Not only that but they are a complete pleasure to hook. The free pattern for them comes complete with a step by step photo tutorial.
Day 22: Bag…Well I have had a bag on my ‘must hook’ list for years. But, for some reason I have never got around to starting one, not even as a PHD! I have purchased the bag handles though.
Day 23: Mend… Not sure how to mend this or why it has happened!
Day 24: LYS…I don’t like my local yarn store as sometimes they can be a bit moody…and I think that’s off. You shouldn’t have to walk in wandering if the owners are going to be vexed with one another. Having said that they stock a good selection of my stock yarn and if I run out it’s handy. I would just like my LYS to be a lovely, friendly independent that sold some hand dyed as well as the usual. That ran classes out the back and had a whole yarny community vibe going on….moan over!
There are now only four days left of this challenge, but it’s not too late to join in the fun, each day in February has a prompt, as long as there is a tenuous link to yarniness in some way your good to go!
#yarnlovechallenge... if you’re not following this on Instagram…here are my days 17 – 20.
Day 17 : Ink…No tatts to show, but I do have a yarny shopping list!
Day 18: Art…Well it had to be this ‘Flower Fiesta’ wall art that I hooked a while ago now…the link to the post is here and the little leaf pattern (which is free of course) is just here
Day 19: Notebook…I have notebooks in every room of the house, except the bathroom. I even have one in my car because you never know when the creative lightening bolt may strike.
Day 20: Swatch…I’m not a fan of swatching…at all! But I did do a little one for my charming harbour blanket, because I don’t usually hook with navy and I wasn’t sure if I could commit to a big project without swatching first.
It’s still not too late to join in the fun, each day in February has a prompt, as long as there is a tenuous link to yarniness in some way your good to go!
#yarnlovechallenge... if you’re not following this on Instagram…here are my days 13- 16.
Day 13 : Publication…This book was published by Readers Digest in 1981. It’s the best stitch dictionary I have ever used and I have a few! Timeless.
Day 14: Yarn Love…a heart for Valentines Day. I love all yarn…it’s that simple ♥
Day 15: Cheer…This is the ‘Very V’ blanket…rows and rows of beautiful V stitch. This blanket was a joy to hook and never fails to cheer. The free pattern and tutorial are available just here.
Day 16: Join…how about a lovely double crochet (single crochet if you use American terminology) join, to give you a gorgeous raised frame around a granny square. Tutorial just here.
We are now over half way through this challenge but it’s not too late to join in the fun, just jump over here. Each day in February has a prompt, as long as there is a tenuous link to yarniness in some way your good to go!
