Atomic Flowers Blanket - A Free Crochet Blanket Pattern

Anyone following me on Instagram may have seen that I've been working on an exclusive free pattern for Hobbycraft's blog and social hub, KnitcraftHQ! If you'd like to make it, here is the final pattern! Please do let me know what you think, and tag me if you make it - I'd love to see!

Atomic Flower Blanket

by Lindsey Newns @lottieandalbert

A beautiful mid-century-modern inspired lap blanket worked in flower motifs, joined using the join-as-you-go method and finished with a simple double crochet and crab stitch border.

The pattern below requires 12 motifs, which should give you a finished blanket size of around 75cm by 75cm, however the blanket is very easy to scale up or down, should you wish.

You are free to make items to sell from this pattern but please credit Lindsey Newns @lottieandalbert as the designer.

When you’ve made the blanket we would love to see it! Use the hastags #lottieandalbert and #shareyourknitcraft, or tag us as @lottieandalbert and @knitcrafthq!

Abbreviations

ch         chain

sts        stitches

ss         slip stitch

dc         double crochet (US single)

htr         half treble crochet (US half double)

tr           treble crochet (US double)

dtr        double treble crochet (US treble)

ttr          triple treble crochet (US double treble)

Gauge

Work rounds 1 and 2 of the pattern.

The circle should measure approx. 9cm(3.5in) across. If your circle comes up too large, try a smaller hook size; if your circle comes up too small, try a larger hook size.

Tools

10mm hook (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Scissors

Yarn needle

Yarn

I used 7 x 100g balls of Hobbycraft’s Conway and Bliss Odin in the following colours:

3 x Ecru

1 x Sky

1 x Ocean

1 x Coral

1 x Meadow

The pattern would work well in any super chunky yarn, and the motifs in any yarn weight provided you make enough to cover the desired area.

Pattern Notes

The atomic flower motif is worked in rounds that are joined at the end of each one. Do not turn your work.

Starting chains count as stitches unless otherwise stated.

In the instructions below, yarn 1 is the petal centre, yarn 2 is the petals, yarn 3 is the background yarn.

You will need to make centres and petals in the following colours:

Centres

8 x Ecru

2 x Meadow

2 x Coral

2 x Sky

2 x Ocean

Petals

4 x Meadow

4 x Coral

4 x Sky

4 x Ocean

Pair your petals and centres randomly, as I did, or place them more orderly if you prefer.

Stitch Descriptions

Slip stitch

Insert hook into required stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), pull the loop just formed through the first loop on the hook.

Double crochet (US single)

Insert hook into required stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops.

Half treble crochet (US half double)

Yarn over (two loops on hook) and insert into required stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all three loops.

Treble crochet (US double)

Yarn over (two loops on hook) and insert into required stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through remaining two loops.

Double treble crochet (US treble)

Yarn over twice (three loops on hook) and insert into required stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (four loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through remaining two loops.

Triple treble crochet (US double treble)

Yarn over three time (four loops on hook) and insert into required stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (five loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops (four loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through remaining two loops.

Crab stitch

Insert hook into first stitch to the RIGHT (not the left as normal) from front to back, yarn over and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops. Keep working like this to your right.

The Pattern

Atomic Flower Centre

Using yarn 1, form a magic loop.

Round 1  3ch, 11tr into the magic loop. SS into top of starting 3ch. (12 sts)

Round 2  3ch, tr into the base of the same stitch as the 3ch, 2tr in each stitch until end. SS into top of starting ch3. (24 sts)

Fasten off yarn 1.

Atomic Flower Petals

Note: Stitches in this section given in (brackets) indicate two stitches are to be made in the same stitch from the previous round.

Join in yarn 2 into the top of any treble from the previous round.

Round 3  3ch, 2tr in the next stitch, *1tr in next stitch, 2tr in next stitch. (Repeat from * until end.) SS into top of starting 3ch. (36 sts)

Round 4  1ch (does not count as stitch), ss into base of same stitch as 1ch, dc, (htr then tr in same stitch), tr, dtr, (dtr, tr), tr, htr, (dc, ss), *ss, dc, (htr, tr), tr, dtr, (dtr, tr), tr, htr, (dc, ss)*. (Repeat from * to * twice more until end). SS into first ch1 to join. (48 sts)

Fasten off yarn 2.

Square off the Atomic Flower

Note: When working the ss in this round, try and work them very loosely.

Join in yarn 3 into the first ss of the previous round.

Complete round 5 and square off one motif, then read the instructions below for the join-as-you-go method.

Round 5  5ch, dtr in next stitch, tr, htr, dc, ss, ss, dc, htr, tr, dtr, ttr, 2ch [corner], *ttr, dtr, tr, htr, dc, ss, ss, dc, htr, tr, dtr, ttr, 2ch [corner]*. (Repeat from * to * twice more until end). Ss into top of first 5ch to join. (56 sts)

Join-as-you-go Method

Follow the above Round 5 instructions for one motif, squaring the flower motif off completely. To join the rest of the motifs using the join-as-you-go method, follow the instructions in the same way but make the following modifications at the corners you wish to join to the existing motif. Instead of 2ch:

1ch, ss through the other motif’s corner (insert your hook, front to back, through the 2ch corner space, yarn over, and pull through existing loop on hook), 1ch. Now continue with the rest of the instructions as per Rnd 5.

Join your motifs together in a square, four rows by four columns. When you have the option of different ch2 corner spaces to join to, try and join to the corners diagonally opposite.

Colour planning: I placed flowers with white (Ecru) centres every other square in the blanket, but feel free to mix yours up!

The Border

Round 1  Join yarn 3 into the top of any stitch from the previous round and 1ch (does not count as a stitch). Work one round of dc around the blanket, working 4dc into each corner. Ss into the first 1ch to join.

Round 2 1ch (does not count as a stitch), work crab stitch around the blanket, into each dc of the previous round. Ss into first 1ch to join.

Weave in and tidy up any ends. Your blanket is now complete!

I hope you enjoyed this @lottieandalbert pattern. Please let me know if you have any questions via Instagram or the blog lottieandalbert.blogspot.com.