Bright and Busy Baby Blanket-Free Crochet Pattern

I like the mile a minute afghans, but never really cared for the “rounded ends” on each strip.  This is designed to eliminate that!  This blanket can be worked up fairly quickly and can be easily adjusted to most any size.

Also available as a PDF download:     download now

Skill Level:     Easy                   

Supplies: Size I/9/5.5mm Crochet Hook,                         Red Heart Super Saver-(as shown-6 ounces Bright Yellow #324-color 1, 5 ounces Petal Pink #373-color 2, 5 ounces Orchid #530-color 3, 5 ounces HoneyDew #668-color 4, 6 ounces Pretty in Pink #722-color 5, yarn needle.

Stitches Used: ch (chain), slst (slip stitch), sc (single crochet), dc (double crochet), fpdc (front post double crochet), back post double crochet).

Gauge: 12 sc and 15 sc rows = 4”.

Front Post Double Crochet: (fpdc): Yo hook, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated st, yo hook, pull up lp, [yo hook, pull through 2 lps] twice.

Back Post Double Crochet: (fpdc): Yo hook, insert hook from back to front to back around post of indicated st, yo hook, pull up lp, [yo hook, pull through 2 lps] twice.

Unless noted otherwise, always skip the st behind the fpdc and the st in front of the bpdc.

Directions:

Row 1: with color 1-ch8, join with slst to form ring, ch3 (counts as first dc in this and following rows), 2dc, ch2, 3dc in ring, ch3, turn.

Row 2: 2dc, ch2, 2dc in next ch-sp, dc in last dc, ch3, turn.

Rows 3-41: repeat Row 2.

Row 42: 2dc, ch5, 2dc in next ch-2sp, dc in last dc, fasten off color 1.

Second Stripe

Rnd. 1: attach 2^nd color with slst in ch-8 loop, ch3, dc, ch2, 4dc, ch2, 2dc in same loop, working up side of strip, *work 2dc in end of each row*, 2dc, ch2, 4dc, ch2 in next ch-5sp, working down side of strip, repeat from *to* once, join to beginning dc, fasten off 2^nd color.

Third Stripe

Rnd. 1: attach 3^rd color with slst to first corner ch-2sp, ch3, dc, ch2, 2dc in same sp, fpdc in next 4 dc, 2dc, ch2, 2dc in next ch-2sp, *bpdc in next 4 dc, fpdc in next 4 dc*, repeat from *to* 10 times, 2dc, ch2, 2dc in next ch-2sp, bpdc in next 4 dc, 2dc, ch2, 2dc in next ch-2sp, fpdc in next 4 dc. repeat from *to* 10 times, bpdc in next 4 dc, join to beginning dc, fasten off 3^rd color.

Fourth Stripe

Rnd. 1: attach 4^th color with slst to first corner ch-2sp, ch3, dc, ch2, 2dc in same sp, fpdc in next 2 dc, bpdc in next 4 dc, fpdc in next 2 dc, (2dc, ch2, 2dc in next ch-2sp), bpdc in next 2 dc, *fpdc in next 4 dc, bpdc in next 4 dc*, repeat from *to* 10 times, fpdc in next 2 dc,  repeat from (to) once, bpdc in next 2 dc, fpdc in next 4 dc, bpdc in next 2 dc. repeat from (to) once, fpdc in next 2 dc, bpdc in next 4 dc, repeat from *to* 10 times, fpdc in next 4 dc, bpdc in next 2 dc, join to beginning dc, fasten off 4^th color.

 ifth Stripe

Rnd. 1: attach 5^th color with slst to first corner ch-2sp, ch1, 3sc in same sp, working around, sc in each dc, working 3sc in each ch-2 corner sp, join to beginning sc, fasten off.

With color 5-sew or crochet the strips together.

Edging

Rnd. 1: with color 5, attach yarn in center sc of 3sc group (corner), ch1, 3sc in same st, sc in each st around, working 3sc in center sc group in corners, join to beginning sc, ch1, do not turn.

Rnd. 2: sc, ch2, dc, sc, ch2, dc in same st (corner), skip next 2 sc, *sc, ch2, dc in next sc, skip next 2 sc*, repeat form *to* around, working sc, ch2, dc, sc, ch2, dc in each corner st, join to beginning sc, fasten off, weave in ends.