The free Bunches of Bobbles Blanket pattern makes a gorgeous crochet baby blanket - or throw, afghan, or bedspread! It's modern, unisex, and features a unique border you'll want to apply to future projects too!
Disclaimer: Support for this post provided by Red Heart Yarn and Furls Crochet.
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The Bunches of Bobbles Blanket features tons of texture, and it's made with Red Heart Bunches of Hugs. This is a great, soft, and affordable worsted weight acrylic yarn that is Oeko-Tex Certified to be 100% safe for use against baby's delicate skin! (This yarn is discontinued, please see yarn substitution suggestions below.)
I really enjoyed making this blanket - and coming up with a border design that would compliment the 3D aspect of the bobbles, without distracting from them - and I think I've hit the mark! While I made this blanket baby sized, I've included the stitch count below along with a note on how to create your own custom size!
Bunches of Bobbles Blanket
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US-J, 6.0mm Furls Streamline Hook
1500 yds Red Heart Bunches of Hugs (100% Acrylic; 4-Medium)
Color A: Rain (500 yds in size shown)
Color B: Capri (500 yds in size shown)
Color C: Magical (500 yds in size shown)
Yarn Substitution Recommendations: Red Heart Roll With It, Bernat Pop!, Red Heart With Love, Red Heart Super Saver
Gauge: 12 sts x 9 rows (sc row to sc row) = 4"/10cm in pattern
Size Shown: 39" x 39" including border
Border Width: 2.5"
Stitch Multiple: Mult of 6, +5, plus 1 for the tch
Helpful Links and Tutorials:
Bunches of Bobbles Video Tutorial
Changing Colors for Striped Patterns
Front Loop Only (FLO)/Back Loop Only (BLO)
Twisted Double Crochet (Twisted DC)
Special Stitch:
FP Bobble (Front Post Bobble): Yo and insert hook around post of next stitch from front to back, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain on hook), [yo and insert hook around post of same stitch from front to back, working just under previous stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops] 3 times (5 loops remain on hook), yo and pull through all 5 loops to finish the stitch.
NOTES:
To make this blanket in a custom size, you can use the gauge and stitch count listed above to plan a new width/length. Alternately (and easier), you can use the Long Chain Method to chain a width slightly longer than desired, and then work the first row across according to the stitch multiple needed, continuing to the desired length.
If preferred, substitute a Chainless Starting Double Crochet for the Ch 3 at the beginning of the even numbered rows.
Cycle through each of the 3 colors in order, A through C, repeating to the end. Carry the colors along the side and you'll only have 6 ends to weave in for the whole blanket! See the Carrying Yarn Along the Side Tutorial for more info on this technique.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Row 1: With first color, ch 102, skip the ch closest to the hook, sc in each remaining ch across; turn. (101 sc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), dc in each st across; change to next color when finishing last st, turn. (101 dc)
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in the first 5 sts, *FP Bobble around next st, sc in next 5 sts; rep from * across, turn. (85 sc, 16 FP Bobbles)
Row 4: Repeat Row 2, changing to next color as directed.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in the first 2 sts, *FP Bobble around next st, sc in next 5 sts; rep from * until 3 sts remain, FP Bobble around the next st, sc in the last 2 sts, turn. (84 sc, 17 FP Bobbles)
Row 6: Repeat Row 2, changing to next color as directed.
Row 7 - 78: Repeat Rows 3 - 6.
Row 79: Repeat Row 3.
Row 80: Ch 1, sc in each st across; turn. (101 sc) Continue with this color for the border or change colors if desired.
Border
Border Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around blanket, working (sc, ch 1, sc) in each corner; join.
Border Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in each remaining st around, working (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in each corner ch-2 sp; join.
Border Rnd 3: Ch 3, FLO dc in each remaining st around, working (sc, ch 1, sc) in each corner ch-1 sp; join and break yarn.
Border Rnd 4: Insert hook in the st closest to where the next color is attached and the unused BLO of the st below, yo with the next color and pull up a loop, ch 1, sc through the same st and BLO, *sc in next st and BLO of the st below; rep from * around working (sc, ch 1, sc) in each corner ch-1 sp; join.
Border Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in each remaining st around, working (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in each corner ch-1 sp; join.
Border Rnd 6: Repeat Border Rnd 3.
Border Rnd 7: With next color, repeat Border Rnd 4.
Border Rnd 8: Ch 2, twisted dc in each st around, working (twisted dc, ch 1, twisted dc) in each corner ch-1 sp; join and break yarn. Weave in ends.
And that's how to crochet the Bunches of Bobbles Blanket! I hope you enjoy this beautiful, bold, bobbly free crochet blanket pattern!
If you make the Bunches of Bobbles Blanket I’d love to see a photo. So if you share it on social media, be sure to tag me @mooglyblog or #mooglyblog – and happy crocheting!
The Fine Print
Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2018, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others. If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details. Thank you to Red Heart Yarns and Furls Crochet Hooks for providing the materials for this pattern.
Judy
Thank you for another terrific pattern. I'm picturing it in spring pastels or beach colors. So pretty!
Tracy
I was looking for a bobble blanket pattern. Have been eying BlackBerry Salad for a while but this on is gorgeous as well. Hmmm which to choose :). Thanks so much for sharing.
Tamara Kelly
The difference is in the details! 🙂 Thank you!
Kendra
I'm excited to learn about a "front post bobble"! How ingenious!
Tamara Kelly
😀 I hope you enjoy it!
Soffity
A question please, when counting stitches is a bobble or a popcorn or any of those multiple dc stitches counted as one stitch? For instance, if I do three dc into the one stitch that is counted as three stitches so how many for bobbles etc. a 5 dc cluster is that counted as 5sts or one? I’d be really interested in a post on stitch counts, every time I try to make up a design I end up with too many or too few stitches as I’m not sure how to do the counting, thanks, love your site,.
Tamara Kelly
Hi Soffity! Great question! A bobble or popcorn stitch (etc) is generally counted as just one stitch. 🙂
Eileen morrison
Am new to crocheting and would like to increase siza to a sinfpgle but don't understand the mutiples of 6 plus 5 plus 1. Any help will be appreciated Thanks
Tamara Kelly
Hi Eileen! The shortcut for today: add any multiple of 6 to your starting chain of 102 (eg: start with 108, 114, or 120... or 180, or 252, etc...)
A longer explanation for the future: Stitch patterns have "multiples" so that you can complete the repeat of the pattern, and then there is the first "plus" to help you finish a row in a balanced way. The second "plus" is for the turning chain.
So this pattern has a mutiple of 6 + 5, plus 1. This means that every "repeat" of the stitch pattern has 6 sts - this is where you begin to figure out your count, and the width of your project. Then, after you have that number, you have to add 5 more so that the pattern is balanced on both ends - like bookends. Then, you add the turning chain - in this case it's just one, because it's that chain closest to the hook that you skip to begin crocheting row 1.
I hope that helps! 🙂
Madeline
Beautiful as shown and I’m always always looking for different baby blanket patterns. However I’m confused as the pic is completely different from the yarn listed in the pattern. Am I missing something?
Tamara Kelly
Thank you! I used 3 colors of Bunches of Hugs, as listed in the pattern. I'm not sure what you're seeing?
Kirsten
Hi Tamara! I was thinking of making this in a throw: chaining 192 for the width. What would you recommend for number of rows for this width?
Thank you for the beautiful patterns - your tutorials and explanations are always so helpful!
Kirsten
Tamara Kelly
Thank you so much, Kirsten! I think about 156 rows would work. 🙂
Kirsten
Thank you! 🙂
Audrey Paludan
Hi Tamara, is there a hat pattern yo go with this? Love the pattern!
Tamara Kelly
Thank you, Audrey! There are a couple of options, depending on style and size:
https://www.mooglyblog.com/blackberry-salad-striped-baby-bonnet/
https://www.mooglyblog.com/bobble-poof-crochet-earflap-hat/