Hello my friends, I have a new blanket to show you. And this one has quite a creation story!

A couple of months ago, as Hannah was scrolling Pinterest for bathroom decorating ideas, she saw a bath mat and thought it would look so amazing as a baby blanket. So she texted me the picture and asked me if I could do it.

Here’s the picture: 

I’m always ready and willing to make any crocheted item that my 20-something children want! So I brainstormed for a stitch that would look the same on both sides of the blanket. At first I thought that it would have to be some sort of a post stitch. Maybe alternating sections of front post and back post DC.

I made a whole blanket alternating the post sections with half double crochet and decided at the end…it was just not right. Here’s a pic:

So I went back to the drawing board and started again. This time I thought just using the front and back posts would work, but then it ended up so heavy and curling on me. Here’s a glimpse of a progress shot, I didn’t get very far before I took the whole thing out again:

Finally, I ditched the front post and back post dc idea and started playing around with clusters. I realized that when I worked them on every row, they popped out on both sides of the blanket. Then I added in the HDC and I was there. Whew! Third time a charm! And now, it looked so similar to the bathmat.

And Hannah loved it! Another bonus!

This pattern is being featured exclusively on Yarnspirations.com.

You can click those highlighted words and go straight to the pattern right now if you want. I’m going to continue telling you about the yarn and add a few video tutorials of the stitches at the end of the post.

I love Bernat Softee Baby Chunky for projects that need to be worked up quickly. It is very soft and cozy and gives me the stitch definition I’m wanting.

Remember the Go to Sheep blanket I shared a few weeks ago? 

I’m using the same cluster stitch for the fluffy part, (and he looks the same on both sides too.) That cluster served me well! But using the Bernat Softee Chunky I think made the whole thing turn out great.

If you are a long time follower of the Daisy Farm, you’ll know I like to explain my patterns, instead of using all crochet pattern symbols. I want them to be understandable to the first-timer. When I write out my patterns I envision a beginner and put as many details as possible.

A few things you’ll want to know about this pattern that might help a beginner;  they describe the half double crochet stitch that I work in between the posts as a “split half double crochet.”

Here’s a quick video to watch illustrating the stitch:

I used that stitch so that it would eliminate the lines that a regular HDC makes. Also, if you’ve never seen a cluster stitch worked, watch this video:

I really think you’ll have success making this and as always, we sure would love to share your finished project! It’s so inspiring to see. Use the #daisyfarmcrafts on Instagram or share a picture to the Daisy Farm Facebook page.

I’d like to thank my friends at Yarnspirations.com for sponsoring Daisy Farm Crafts in 2019 and giving us an opportunity to share our love of crochet with so many more people. I’ve been using their brand of yarns, (Bernat, Caron, Paton and now the new Sugar Bush) for years and to be able to have a pattern on their site is absolutely thrilling for me. I’m so grateful.

So I hope you’ll go look at the Bernat Textured Baby Blanket pattern on their website, and if you are a beginner, give a professionally written pattern a chance and see if you can use my explanations to help you figure it all out.

Happy crocheting friends! And thank you as always for following us along!

xo, Tiffany

P.S. But seriously, bath mats…..Who knew they had such great crochet potential!

Oh and that first blanket design idea wasn’t for nothing..I used it for this Crochet Velvet Infinity Scarf. Working all those posts in velvet was amazing and the perfect stitch for that yarn!