Red Heart's new Bitty Stripes yarn looks after colouring with crayons with this stitch sampler blanket called Crochet Bitty Stripes Sampler Blanket pattern designed by Jeanne Steinhilber. This blanket was similar but not the same as the Crochet Framed Textures Afghan but adjusted and slightly changed to make it easier to crochet.
This stitch sampler has three sections within the blanket to give it the push over the top of joy using Red Heart Bitty Stripes yarn. The colour used is Rainbow, and just let the yarn work its colours. There is no yarn manipulation in this blanket design to force colours to work and no stress stitching.
I'm not sure the photography is catching the essence of this blanket. In person, I'm obsessed.
Crochet diagrams are provided with this free pattern. You don't have to switch yarn balls between rows, and you just keep on stitching.
Yarn and Details
Red Heart Bitty Stripes, 283 g/10 oz, 471 meters/515 yards (These are larger balls that Red Heart Super Saver and are softer, too.)
- Color - Rainbow 4 balls
Materials and Sizing
- 6 mm / J/10 Crochet Hook
- Afghan is 50” x 50”
- Gauge: 13 sc and 14 rows = 4” [10 cm]
Abbreviations
- Beg = Begin(ning)
- BLO = Back loop only
- Ch(s) = Chain(s)
- Dc = Double crochet
- Hdc = Half double crochet
- Rep = Repeat
- Rnd(s) = Round(s)
- Sc = Single crochet
- Sk = Skip
- Sl st = Slip stitch
- Sp = Space
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
- Yoh = Yarn over hook
Special Stitches
- Bean Stitch = Insert hook in next st, yo and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yo in the same stitch and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), yo in the same stitch once more and pull up a loop (6 loops on hook), yo and pull all loops.
- Blanket Stitch = 1 sc, 2 dc in same stitch.
Alternative Start for Rectangles
Stitch multiple for rectangle version is in multiples of 2 chains + 2.
1st rnd: 2 dc 3rd ch from hook. 1 dc in each ch to 2nd last ch. (2 dc. Ch 2. 2 dc. Ch 2. 2 dc) in last ch. Using the underside of ch, 1 dc in each ch to 2nd last before beg ch that is holding 2 dc. (2 dc. Ch 2. 2 dc) in last ch. Join with hdc to beg dc.
Proceed to 2nd rnd of square instructions for the remaining of the blanket. Stitch counts in square version are for the short side. You will have to figure out the stitch counts for the longer side if that matters to you.
Instructions
Changing the yarn balls does not change the colour. Let the colour come out of the ball as is. It will magically work. Automatically jump to the next ball wherever the colour sequence is. There is no yarn colour manipulation in this blanket.
Pattern Notes
- Join at the end of a round is an hdc from the last stitch to the top of the first chain or stitch. Counts as ch 2 space.
- Watch for the turns after certain rounds.
- Stitch counts at the end of instruction are considered per side.
1st rnd: With A, ch 4, sl st to form ring. Ch 3 (counts as a dc here and throughout), 1 dc in ring, *[ch 2, 2 dc in ring] 3 times, join. 2 dc per side, 4 ch-2 corners sps.
2nd rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in same corner sp, *sk 1 dc, 2 sc in sp before next dc,** (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in ch-2 corner sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 1 sc in beg sp, join. 4 sc.
3rd rnd: Ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, *1 dc in each sc to corner,** (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 2 dc in beg sp, join. 8 dc.
4th rnd: Ch 1, 1 sc in same corner sp. *In BLO, 1 sc in each st to corner,** (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 1 sc in beg sp, join. 10 sc.
5th rnd: Ch 1, 1 sc in same sp, *[1 bean st in next st, ch 1, sk next st] to corner,** (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 1 sc in beg sp, join. Break A. Turn. 5 bean st and 2 sc.
6th rnd: In any corner, with C, 1 standing sc, *1 bean st in next st, ch 1, [1 bean st in next ch-1 sp after next bean st, ch 1] across until 1 bean st and last sc remains. Sk next bean st, 1 bean st in next sc, ch 1. ** (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 1 sc in beg sp, join. Turn. 6 bean st and 2 sc.
7th rnd: Ch 1, 1 sc in same sp, *1 bean st in next st, ch 1, [1 bean st in next ch-1 sp of each bean st, ch 1] across] until 1 bean st and last sc remains below. Sk next bean st, 1 bean st in next sc, ch 1. ** (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 1 sc in beg sp, join.Turn. 7 bean st and 2 sc.
8th rnd: Rep 7th rnd. Turn. 8 bean st and 2 sc.
9th rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in same corner sp. *1 sc in next st, [2 sc in ch-1 sp across] until 1 st rem, 1 sc in last st,** (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 1 sc in beg sp, join. 20 sc.
TIP: 10th round was revised from the original to make it easier to follow.
10th rnd: Ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, *1 dc in next st to next corner.** (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 2 dc in beg sp, join. 24 dc.
11th rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in same corner sp. *1 sc in next st, sk 1 dc, 2 sc in sp before next dc, [sk 2 dc, 2 sc in sp before next dc] until 2 sts rem, sk next st, 1 sc in last st,** (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in ch-2 corner sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 1 sc in beg sp, join. 26 sc.
12th rnd: Ch 3, 1 dc in same sp, *1 dc in each sc to corner,** (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 2 dc in beg sp, join. 30 dc.
13th rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in same corner sp. *In BLO, 1 sc in each st to corner,** (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 1 sc in beg sp, join. 32 sc.
TIP: The stitch counts go to an odd number on the sides in the next rnd.
14th rnd: Ch 1, 1 sc in same sp, *[(1 sc, 2 dc) in next st, sk next 2 sts] until 1 sc rem, sk last st,** (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 1 sc in beg sp, join. Turn. 11 blanket st and 2 sc = 35 sts.
15th rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in same corner sp. *[(1 sc, 2 dc) in next st, sk next 2 sts] until 1 sc rem, sk last st,** (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 1 sc in beg sp, join. Turn. 12 blanket st and 2 sc = 38 sts
16th - 19th rnds: Rep 15th rnd. End of 19th rnd, 16 blanket st and 2 sc.
20th rnd: Ch 1. 1 sc in same corner sp. *1 sc in next st, [sk 2 sts, 3 sc in next st] until 1 st rem, 1 sc in last st,** (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 1 sc in beg sp, join. 52 sc.
21st rnd: Rep 10th rnd. 56 dc.
22nd rnd: Rep 11th rnd. 58 sc.
23th rnd: Rep 12th rnd. 62 dc.
24th rnd: Rep 13th rnd. 64 sc.
25th rnd: Rep 5th rnd. 32 bean st and 2 sc.
26th rnd: Rep 6th rnd. 33 bean st and 2 sc.
27th - 28th rnds: Rep 5th rnd. End of 28th rnd, 35 bean st and 2 sc.
29th rnd: Rep 9th rnd. 74 sc.
30th rnd: Rep 10th rnd. 78 dc.
31st rnd: Rep 11th rnd. 80 sc.
Repeat 12th - 31st rounds once. Then repeat 12th to 18th rnds once.
TIP: if you want the blanket bigger, repeat 12th to 31st rounds before finishing off the final repeat of 12th to 18th.
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Stitch counts below are for those who wish this information as the repeat happens.
- 32nd rnd: 84 dc.
- 33rd rnd: 86 sc.
- 34th rnd: 29 blanket st and 2 sc.
- 35th rnd: 30 blanket st and 2 sc.
- 36th rnd: 31 blanket st and 2 sc.
- 37th rnd: 32 blanket st and 2 sc.
- 38th rnd: 33 blanket st and 2 sc.
- 39th rnd: 34 blanket st and 2 sc.
- 40th rnd: 106 sc.
- 41st rnd: 110 dc.
- 42nd rnd: 112 sc.
- 43rd rnd: 116 dc.
- 44th rnd: 118 sc.
- 45th rnd: 59 bean st and 2 sc.
- 46th rnd: 60 bean st and 2 sc.
- 47th rnd: 61 bean st and 2 sc.
- 48th rnd: 62 bean st and 2 sc.
- 49th rnd: 128 sc.
- 50th rnd: 132 dc.
- 51st rnd: 134 sc.
- End of the 31st rnd. First repeat.
- 52nd rnd: 138 dc.
- 53rd rnd: 140 sc.
- 54th rnd: 47 blanket st and 2 sc.
- 55th rnd: 48 blanket st and 2 sc.
- 56th rnd: 49 blanket st and 2 sc.
- 57th rnd: 50 blanket st and 2 sc.
- 58th rnd: 51 blanket st and 2 sc. DO NOT TURN AT THE END OF THE 58th rnd.
59th rnd: RS. Ch 1. *1 sc in each st to next corner.** (1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc) in ch-2 sp; rep from * twice, then from * to ** once, 1 sc in beg sp, join. Fasten off.
Crochet Diagrams
Rnds 1 to 9 is zoomed in so you can see it better.
Another Stitch Sampler
Traci Marcotte says
If you started with the Horizon colorway and then changed to the Galaxy colorway, you could call it, "Beyond the Horizon", lol. I love the Bitty Stripes yarn.