Jazzberry Baby Blanket Crochet Along – Week 1

If you don’t finish section 1 this week, it’s ok. This week is the most intense of the whole CAL, so don’t get discouraged.

A project like this one requires some planning up front, particularly if you are making modifications. Plus, many of you are learning a new technique.

Once we get further in, it gets more repetitive, so you’ll be able to work through it faster. There will be plenty of time to catch up before the CAL is over.

The pattern is made in Paintbox Simply DK yarn (which I received free from Love Crafts for this design). Love Crafts is also sponsoring one of our giveaway prizes, so please check them out and show them some love!

I used 5 colors, 2 at a time, in 10 sections. Each color is the outside color for 2 sections, and the inside color for 2 sections. If you label your yarns A, B, C, D, and E, here are the colors for each section (Outside / Inside):

1. A / B
2. C / B
3. C / D
4. E / D
5. E / A
6. B / A
7. B / C
8. D / C
9. D / E
10. A / E

Aside from checking your size, a gauge swatch will also help you to familiarize yourself with the pattern on a smaller piece. This isn’t a fitted garment, so if the finished size doesn’t matter to you then the gauge is not critical. BUT, remember that if your gauge is too large, you will likely need more yarn.

A good way to see if you’re on track with yarn usage is to weigh your skeins. Each skein is used in 4 sections of the blanket, which means each section should use no more than 1/4 of the skein.

Before starting, weigh both of your starting colors (A & B). After you finish section 1, weigh them again. If you’ve used more than a quarter of either skein, you may need more yarn.

This is actually how I determined how long to make each section. I kept going until I had used 1/4 of my color A skein. The fact that it worked out to an even 40 inches in total length was pure luck.

Some of you are making smaller or larger projects. This pattern can easily be sized up or down, so you’re welcome to make it in any size.

Changing width:

To change the width, change the number of stitches on your first row. You will need a multiple of 4 stitches + 1, so feel free to add or subtract stitches in groups of 4 to get the width you want.

Changing length:

The easiest way to adjust the length is to work more or fewer rows in each section. The pattern repeat is 2 rows long, so be sure to add or subtract rows in groups of 2.  Going down to just 2 rows per section instead of 8 should get you all the way down to about 10 or 11 inches – perfect for a washcloth.

Adding or removing sections:

You can also add or remove sections if you really want to, but this is a bit more complicated. The pattern changes from section to section, and repeats every 4 sections. So after section 10, you would need to start repeating again from section 3.

Also for the top edge to work out as written, you need to end after a repeat of section 5, 6, 9, or 10.

Are you ready to get started? Hop on over to the Jazzberry Baby Blanket Pattern, and remember to share your progress on the Scrappy Stitchers Facebook group!