Polka Dots & Frills: Free Crochet Blanket Pattern

Perhaps you've seen the adorable ruffles and dots blanket that Maybe Matilda made a while ago (or this afghan that inspired her). I have loved it ever since I came across it on Pinterest, so I decided to use her blanket as inspiration and come up with my own written pattern (that's just how my mind works... I want a pattern written out just right so I can make it the same time and time again). Needless to say, mine is inspired by her fantastic piece, but I've made it my own by changing up the stitches a little bit, adding more dots, and changing the ruffle entirely. The pattern is also written in three sizes: lovie (approximately 17" x 17"), baby blanket (approximately 35" x 35"), and afghan (approximately 50" x your choice).  The pictured blanket is the lovie size because I was trying to use up some yarn.

This blanket is super simple. It's perfect for the new crocheter and has a great finished look. You'll need to know how to double, single, and treble crochet. The only tough part is the bobble. I would get it down pat before attempting the blanket.

Here's my version of the bobble instructions:

Bobble: For the experienced crocheter, you're going to TC 4 together in the same st.


If you have no idea what that means, try reading this:
Start a TC in the next st. Instead of pulling the yarn through the last two loops on the hook like you normally would, you're going to leave the last two loops on the hook. Then you'll do the same thing in the same stitch three more times. This means you'll have a total of 5 loops on your hook. Once you've got all 5 loops, yarn over and pull through all the loops.

If you still have no idea what I'm talking about:
Please see this post (it includes pictures!!) over at Tales from Cuckoo Land.

Here's the pattern I followed using a K hook.

The ch 2 at the beginning of each round does count as the first stitch.

Ch 49 (97, 121).  

Row 1: DC in the third st from hook (so you're only skipping 2) and in each st across. Including the skipped chs, you should have 47 DC (95, 119).  Ch 2, turn.

Row 2: DC in the next 4 sts (you will have 5 DCs since we're counting the ch 2 as the first st), bobble in the next. *DC in the next 5 sts, bobble in next* across. DC in the last 5 sts, being sure you DC in the starting chs. Ch 2, turn.

Row 3: DC in each st across. Ch 2, turn. 

Row 4: Dc in the next st (so you have 2 sts including the ch 2), bobble in the next. *DC in the next 5 sts, bobble in the next* across. DC in the last 2 sts. Ch 2, turn. 

Row 5: DC in each st across. Ch 2, turn. 

Repeat rows 2-5 until your blanket has reached the desired size. 

Frill:

Round 1: SC evenly around all four sides of the blanket. (You can end here if you'd rather not have the frills)
Round 2: Ch 3, 2 TC in the same st, 2 TC in the next st. *3 TC in the next, 2 TC in the next* around. Work 6 TC in each corner.

When I make an afghan for our house, I'm planning on adding the border just at the top and the bottom (think fringe).

This blanket is just screaming, "Set a baby on top of me!" I can't wait until our little Caroline makes her appearance in March. 

If you give this blanket a try, please leave a comment with a link so I can check it out! As always, please feel free to sell items you make from the patterns found on this blog, but please include a link so others can find out how to make their own.