Country Blues Baby Blanket

Skill Level:

Gauge:
Finished Size: Finished size appx. 29 in. x 42 in.
36 in X 42 in preferred

Materials: (add 1 skein of each color))

Caron Simply Soft
• 2 skeins White
• 1 skein Dark Country Blue
• 1 skein Country Blue
• 1 skein Light Country Blue
• Size H hook (5.00mm)
• Tapestry Needle
• Scissors

Moss Stitch:
a.k.a. Granite stitch or Linen stitch

Foundation: Chain of an even number.
Sc in 2nd chain from hook, then*ch 1, sk 1, sc.*
repeat from * to * across, ending with sc in last chain.

Next row: Sc in each ch1 sp, skipping each sc of the previous row.



Abbreviations:

Ch: chain SC: single crochet SK: skip YO: yarn over BP: back post	REP: repeat DC: double crochet ST: stitch HDC: half double crochet FP: front post
DC[#]TOG: double crochet [#] stitches together

Instructions:

Foundation: Chain 120 (or any even number) in Dark Country Blue.
1. SC in the 4th chain from the hook, *CH 1, SK 1 CH, SC in the next CH* repeat to the end of the row. (The last stitch should be a SC in the last chain.) CH 2 and turn.
2. Work the moss stitch across the entire row: SC in the CH 1 space, *CH 1, SK next SC, SC into the CH 1 SP* repeat to the end, working your final SC into the space between the last SC and CHs. CH 2 and turn.
   
   On the last SC of row 2, pull through with White (you should have two loops on your hook when you pull through). Chain 2 with White and turn. Don't cut the blue yarn.
3. Pull the blue yarn around to the back and work the moss stitch (repeat row 2) across the row in White, carrying the blue yarn with you as you work. (As you can see in the picture below, I'm just holding the blue yarn across the top of the row and crocheting over it.) When you reach the end of the row, pull through with Dark Country Blue (you should have two loops on your hook when you pull through). Chain 2 and turn. Don't cut the white yarn.
4. 
   The Stitch and Color Change
   
   Work 2 rows of the moss stitch (repeat row 2) in Dark Country Blue. On these rows, you are NOT crocheting over the white yarn. Instead you are leaving the white yarn where it is, and picking it back up when you finish your second row of blue. On the last stitch, pull through with White. Then chain 2 and turn. Don't cut the blue yarn.
5. Repeat rows 3 through 5 for the rest of the blanket. See instructions for the color sections below.


Dark Country Blue section:
16 rows of Dark Country Blue, with a row of white in between every two rows of blue. After you have 16 rows of Dark Country Blue, repeat row 3 and work one row of White, but don't carry the Dark Country Blue behind. Instead, cut the blue and leave a tail long enough to weave in later.

Country Blue section:
At the end of the white row, pull through with Country Blue and work two rows of Country Blue in the moss stitch. Pull through with white at the end of the second row and repeat rows 3 through 5 until you have 14 rows of Country Blue, with a row of white in between every two rows of blue. After you have 14 rows of Country Blue, repeat row 3 and work one row of White, but don't carry the Country Blue behind. Instead, cut the blue and leave a tail long enough to weave in later.

Light Country Blue section:
At the end of the white row, pull through with Light Country Blue and work two rows of Light Country Blue in the moss stitch. Pull through with white at the end of the second row and repeat rows 3 through 5 until you have 14 rows of Light Country Blue, with a row of white in between every two rows of blue. After you have 14 rows of Light Country Blue, repeat row 3 and work one row of White, but don't carry the Light Country Blue behind. Don't cut the Light Country Blue.

White section:
You are now going to be making the white section with blue stripes instead of a blue section with white stripes, so work one more row of white, and then pick up the Light Country Blue from the side and work one row of Light Country Blue and carry the white yarn behind. Then work 2 rows of White, and leave the Light Country Blue behind. Repeat rows 3 through 5 (with opposite colors) until you have 14 rows of White, with one row of blue in between every two rows of White.


Now you are going to finish the blanket by reversing the order you did the sections at the beginning — so repeat the Light Country Blue section, then the Country Blue section, then the Dark Country Blue section.



Blanket with yarn skeins

Blanket with yarn skeins


After I finished my border I laid out my blanket flat and sprayed it with some water to block it and make the sides even. I actually have some foam puzzle piece boards that I used to pin down the blanket that helped out even out the corners.



Completed Blanket