The Flora Blanket Crochet-A-Long: Part One

Woohoo, it is time to get started on our Fall Flora Blanket Crochet-A-Long!

I am SO excited to get started with everyone. If you are just joining, check out the landing page here. This is where each part of the flora blanket crochet-a-long will be posted weekly. You will want to start with the FAQ page and the Materials List page to get up to speed!

The goal of this crochet-a-long is of course, to end with a gorgeous blanket. But ALSO, to encourage each other in a fun, supportive and engaging group! If you are like me, then you may be easily sidetracked by new and exciting projects and might end up with LOTS of projects in your WIP pile…So how about a fun group of friends to help with finishing off that project so that you can truly enjoy it! If you would like to join in on the engagement, you can follow along on Facebook here or join the Instagram chat group here. We already have a super fun group of participants!

Ok moving along….here’s how this will work. I will give instructions on what is needed to make exactly the blanket pictured. If this is bigger than what you are wanting to make or uses more colors, that is OK! It will just take a little bit of calculation on your part to figure out exactly what you need to do during the week. Remember…my crochet-a-long blanket has 99 squares and ten colors. If you want to use these exact colors, refer back to the materials page! If you still need help figuring out your colors, check out the downloadable planning pdf on the FAQ page.

WEEK ONE:

For Week One, we will be working solely on making centers and flowers.

If you are following the blanket exactly as pictured, grab your center color yarn (HL ILTY Buttercup) and your main color (HL ILTY Ivory). These are the only two colors we will need this week.

There are 50 flowers made in the main color for this blanket and we are going to make them all this week! Thankfully, the flowers work up pretty quickly so I think they will accumulate faster than you may think! Here’s the breakdown for this week:

SATURDAY: 7 centers and flowers
SUNDAY: 8 centers and flowers (only one day will need 8)
MONDAY: 7 centers and flowers
TUESDAY: 7 centers and flowers
WEDNESDAY: 7 centers and flowers
THURSDAY: 7 centers and flowers
FRIDAY: 7 centers and flowers

I have a feeling you will have memorized the centers and flowers pattern after this week…! I know it is a bit boring and repetitive BUT making a bunch at the same time has been the most efficient way for me.

If you are NOT making the full-sized blanket, you can use this Week One Planning Page to help you map out which colors you are going to use and how many centers and flowers you’ll need to make this week. If you need help with any of the planning or calculations, reach out to me in the engagement groups!

Scroll to the bottom to download the pdf if you’d prefer!

FLORA GRANNY SQUARE PATTERN:

ABBREVIATIONS

BLO – back loop only
ch – chain
dc – double crochet
dec – decrease
hdc – half double crochet
inc – increase
mr – magic ring
sc – single crochet
sk – skip a stitch
sl st – slip stitch
sp – space
st(s) – stitch(es)
tr – treble crochet
( ) – work these sts in the same space
[ ] – repeat instructions within brackets x number indicated

MAKING THE CENTER

To get started, grab the desired color for the center. You will make the circular middle first and then add the flower petals around the center. You will need a 4.0 mm hook, or that required for the size yarn you choose. Visual learner? See the link below for a full video tutorial!

Using a 4.0 mm hook, begin by making a mr with your center color. Ch 1.

Round 1: 7 sc in mr. Do not slip stitch and join. Do not turn. Continue working in the round. [7] If desired, use a st marker at the beginning of each round.

Round 2: Place 2 sc in each st around. [14]

Round 3: [hdc, hdc inc] x 7 around. [21]

Tie off using an invisible fasten (tutorial linked) and weave in the ends.

MAKING THE FLOWER

In any stitch on the center, join with the flower petal color in the BLO. If desired, work through both the BLO and the third loop (tutorial linked) when joining with the petal color.

Round 4: [Ch 4, sk 2 sts, sl st into the BLO/third loop in the next st] x 7. After the final ch, sl st to the same sp as the initial ch. [28]

After attaching the petal color yarn, chain four.

Sk 2 sts and sl st into the BLO/third loop.

Repeat this pattern around the center for a total of 7 petals. Then, sl st back to the same sp as the initial chain.

Round 5: Working into the ch space/around the chains, [sc, hdc x 3, sc] x 7. Do NOT sl st after the last st. Continue to Round 6. [35]

Round 5 will be worked *around* each of the chains. This will create a space between the center and the petals.

Round 6: Working along each petal, [sl st, (hdc, dc), (dc, tr, dc), (dc, hdc), sl st] x 7. After the final sl st, cut yarn, but do not tie off so new color can be joined in Round 7 for the square. [63]

After finishing your flowers, set them aside! I do highly recommend weaving in your ends if you feel so inclined. It definitely saves you from end weaving jail when the blanket is finished! I like to use the technique from Beth Ann @bobblesandblooms to crochet ends into the work where I can. Check out her IG account to see how she recommends doing it!

*If you need a visual tutorial for making this granny square, you can find the full tutorial here* Please note, this tutorial will review making the entirety of the granny square, so you can pause the video after making the center and flower!

Alright, That is all for Week One! Please let me know if you have any questions at all and please share your progress along with the group! As always, thank you for supporting my small business and designs!

DOWNLOAD YOUR FLORA WEEK ONE PLANNING PAGE BELOW:

Flora Weekly Crochet-a-Long Planning Page Download