The Llama and Cactus C2C Graphgan is a crochet pixel blanket pattern that’s perfect for people of all ages – and you can make this fantastic piece with the free crochet throw pattern on Moogly!
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links; materials provided by Yarnspirations and Furls.
Llama and Cactus Inspiration
Although I’ve made a few corner to corner projects before, the Llama and Cactus blanket is my first graphgan! I really wanted to try them out – and I had some special inspiration.
My sister’s baby shower had a llama and cactus theme! This theme is just about everywhere these days – for parties, for clothes, for decore, you name it. So… I created the Llama and Cactus C2C Graphgan crochet pattern!
Easy Care for Gifting
To make this pattern, I used Red Heart With Love. This is my go-to yarn for blankets – particularly ones that will be gifted. There is a huge selection of solid colors, and it’s super easy to care for when it’s done! I hope you’ll give this yarn – and this pattern – a try for yourself!
Llama and Cactus C2C Graphgan
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US – K, 6.5mm hook – Clover Amour
2615 yds Red Heart With Love (100% Acrylic; “4”/Medium/Worsted/Aran/UK: 10-12 ply)
A: Tan (1 ball)
B: Daffodil (1 ball)
C: Lettuce (2 balls)
D: Lilac (1 ball)
E: White (2 balls)
F: Cameo (1 ball)
G: Iced Aqua (1 ball)
H: Bluebell (2 balls)
Gauge: 6 blocks = 5″
Finished Size: 53″ x 56″
Helpful Links and Tutorials:
How to Corner to Corner Crochet
Corner to Corner Color Changes
How to Read Corner to Corner Crochet Patterns
How to Read This Pattern:
This pattern uses the corner to corner, aka diagonal box stitch. As such, it is not written out in “standard” crochet pattern format. Instead, the pattern is written as follows:
Row 1 [WS]: A (1 block)
Row 2 [RS]: A2 (2 blocks)
Row 3: A3 (3 blocks)
The first row of a corner to corner pattern is always made of 1 block, the second row always has 2, the third has 3, etc. This holds true until the corners are made, where the number will either hold steady (1 corner made) or decrease (2 corners made).
The letter refers to the color used, as listed above. The number refers to how many of these blocks to make in a row. So Row 16 reads:
Row 16: D2, C2, B2, C7, B3 (16 blocks)
This means that you work the first 2 blocks in D, the next 2 blocks in C, the next 2 blocks in B, the next 7 blocks in C, and the last 3 blocks in B – for a total of 16 blocks. If there is no number? Then there’s only one block in that color!
To change colors, finish the last dc of each block with the new color, and leave the color attached to be picked back up on the next row. Use Butterfly Bobbins (see tutorial linked above) or another bobbin system to manage the yarn colors.
When the pattern reads “Corner,” this means that you begin the next Row by slip stitching along the side of the last block, then slip stitch into the ch-3 sp, then ch 3 and make the next block as usual.
This creates a “corner” and the third edge of the project. After both Corner instructions, note that the number of blocks in each Row begins decreasing.
Graphed Instructions Included
In addition to the written instructions below, CLICK HERE to download the graph for this pattern! It’s a printable PDF, but you’ll need to assemble it a bit – any smaller to fit on one page, and I’m afraid it wouldn’t be readable.
I do recommend that you print out both the written instructions and the graph. Follow the written instructions (cross off each section of color as you go!) and use the graph to check your work as you go!
INSTRUCTIONS
Row 1 [WS]: A (1 block)
Row 2 [RS]: A2 (2 blocks)
Row 3: A3 (3 blocks)
Row 4: A4 (4 blocks)
Row 5: A3, B2 (5 blocks)
Row 6: B5, A (6 blocks)
Row 7: A, B6 (7 blocks)
Row 8: B8 (8 blocks)
Row 9: B9 (9blocks)
Row 10: B10 (10 blocks)
Row 11: B11 (11 blocks)
Row 12: B2, C3, B7 (12 blocks)
Row 13: B6, C5, B2 (13 blocks)
Row 14: B2, C8, B4 (14 blocks)
Row 15: B3, C10, B, D (15 blocks)
Row 16: D2, C2, B2, C7, B3 (16 blocks)
Row 17: B3, C8, B2, C2, D2 (17 blocks)
Row 18: D4, B2, C9, B3 (18 blocks)
Row 19: B3, C11, D5 (19 blocks)
Row 20: D5, C12, B3 (20 blocks)
Row 21: B3, A, C12, D5 (21 blocks)
Row 22: D4, C4, D, C8, A2, B3 (22 blocks)
Row 23: B4, A, E, C3, B, C3, D2, C4, D4 (23 blocks)
Row 24: D4, C3, D3, C3, B, C3, E2, B5 (24 blocks)
Row 25: B5, C, E3, C2, B, D, C3, D2, C3, D4 (25 blocks)
Row 26: D4, C3, D2, C3, D2, C2, E3, C2, B5 (26 blocks)
Row 27: B3, A, B2, C2, E3, C2, D2, C3, D2, C3, D3, F (27 blocks)
Row 28: F2, D2, C3, D2, C3, D2, C2, E3, C2, B2, A2, B3 (28 blocks)
Row 29: B4, A, E, B2, C2, E6, D, C3, D2, C3, F4 (29 blocks)
Row 30: F4, C3, D2, C2, D2, E7, C2, B, E2, B5 (30 blocks)
Row 31: B6, E2, B, C2, E7, D2, C2, D2, C3, F4 (31 blocks)
Row 32: F4, C3, D2, C3, D, E7, C2, D, E3, B6 (32 blocks)
Row 33: B7, E3, D, C, E8, D, C3, F3, C, F5 (33 blocks)
Row 34: F10, C2, D, E8, C2, E3, B8 (34 blocks)
Row 35: B9, E3, C, E9, D2, F11 (35 blocks)
Row 36: F, G2, F9, D, E13, D2, B8 (36 blocks)
Row 37: B8, D3, E13, F7, G6 (37 blocks)
Row 38: G7, F5, E15, D2, B9 (38 blocks)
Row 39: B3, A, B5, D3, E15, F3, G9 (39 blocks)
Row 40: G10, F2, E16, D2, B5, A2, B3 (40 blocks)
Row 41: B4, A, E, B4, D3, E15, F2, G11 (41 blocks)
Row 42: G12, F, E16, D3, B3, E2, B5 (42 blocks)
Row 43: B5, E4, B, D3, E17, G13 (43 blocks)
Row 44: G13, E19, D, B, E4, B6 (44 blocks)
Row 45: B7, E4, D, E21, G11, H (45 blocks)
Row 46: H2, G10, E26, B4, A, B3 (46 blocks)
Row 47: B3, A2, B4, E26, G5, H7 (47 blocks)
Row 48: H8, G4, E27, B3, E, A, C, B3 (48 blocks)
Row 49: B3, C2, E2, B2, E10, B, E17, G2, H10 (49 blocks)
Row 50: H11, G2, E16, B, E10, B2, E3, C2, B3 (50 blocks)
Row 51: B3, C3, E3, B, E9, B, E, D2, E15, G, H12 (51 blocks)
Row 52: H12, E15, D4, B, E9, B, E3, C4, B3 (52 blocks)
Row 53: B3, C5, E11, B, E, D, E2, D2, E15, H12 (53 blocks)
Row 54: H12, E15, D, E4, D, B, E11, C6, B2, A (54 blocks)
Row 55: A, B3, C6, E9, B, E, D, E, B2, E2, D, E15, H12 (55 blocks)
Row 56: H12, E15, D, E, B4, E, D, B, E9, C6, B4, A (56 blocks)
Row 57: A, B5, C5, E8, B, E, D, E, B, E2, B2, E, D, E15, H12 (57 blocks)
Row 58: H13, E14, D, E, B, E4, B, E, D, B, E8, C5, B6, A (58 blocks)
Row 59: A2, B6, C5, E6, B, E, D, E, B, E, C2, E2, B, E, D, E16, H11 (59 blocks)
Row 60: H11, E16, D, E, B, E, C4, E, B, E, D, B, E7, C4, B7, A2 (60 blocks)
Row 61: A2, B8, C3, E6, B, E, D, E, B, E, C, E2, C2, E, B, E, D, E15, H12 (61 blocks)
Row 62: H12, E2, F, E12, D, E, B, E, C, E4, C, E, B, E, D, B, E6, C3, B8, A3 (62 blocks)
Corner
Row 63: A2, B9, C2, E7, D, E, B, E, C, E, F3, E, C, E, B, E, D, E11, F2, E2, H12 (62 blocks)
Row 64: H12, E3, F, E12, D, B, E, C, E, F3, E, C, E, B, E, D, E7, C2, B9, A2 (62 blocks)
Row 65: A, B10, C2, E6, D, E, B, E, C, E, F, E2, F, E, C, E, D, C2, E8, F, E6, H12 (62 blocks)
Corner
Row 66: H10, E3, A2, E2, F2, E8, C2, D, C, E, F, E2, F, E, C, E, B, E, D, E6, C2, B10, A (61 blocks)
Row 67: B11, C2, E6, D, E, B, E, C, F, E, G, E, F, E, D, C3, E7, F, A, F, E, A2, E4, H9 (60 blocks)
Row 68: H9, E4, A, E, A2, F, E7, C4, D, F, E, G, E, F, E, C, E, B, E, D, E5, C2, B11 (59 blocks)
Row 69: B10, D, C2, E5, D, E, B, E, C, E, F, E, G, E, D, C5, H, E6, F, A, E5, F, E, H8 (58 blocks)
Row 70: H7, E, F, E6, A, E5, H2, C6, D, G, E, F, E, C, E, B, E, D, E6, C, D2, B9 (57 blocks)
Row 71: B8, D3, C, E6, D, E, B, E, C, E, F, E, D, C7, H, E3, F, E9, F, E, H6 (56 blocks)
Row 72: H6, E10, F2, E2, H, C8, D, F, E, C, E, B, E, D, E6, C, D4, B7 (55 blocks)
Row 73: B6, D5, C, E6, D, E, B, E, C, E, D, C2, G, C5, H2, E2, F, E7, H3, E, H5 (54 blocks)
Row 74: H8, E6, A, E4, H, C5, G2, C2, D, C, E, B, E, D, E5, C2, D5, B6 (53 blocks)
Row 75: B5, D5, C2, E6, D, E, B, E, D, C2, G2, H, C4, H2, E3, A2, E5, H8 (52 blocks)
Row 76: H8, E5, A, E2, H3, C4, H2, G, C3, D, B, E, D, E6, C3, D5, B4 (51 blocks)
Row 77: B4, D4, C4, E6, D, E, D, C3, G, H3, C3, H4, E, A, E4, H9 (50 blocks)
Row 78: H8, E7, H3, C3, H4, C4, D2, E7, C4, D4, B3 (49 blocks)
Row 79: B3, D3, C5, E6, C, D, C5, H5, C, H4, E5, H9 (48 blocks)
Row 80: H8, E5, H10, C9, E5, C5, D3, B2 (47 blocks)
Row 81: B2, D2, C6, E4, C9, H12, E, F, E, H8 (46 blocks)
Row 82: H7, E, F, E, H12, C10, E3, C6, D2, B2 (45 blocks)
Row 83: B, D2, C8, E, C11, H12, E, F, E, H6 (44 blocks)
Row 84: H5, E3, H12, C20, D3 (43 blocks)
Row 85: D2, C20, H20 (42 blocks)
Row 86: H19, C20, D2 (41 blocks)
Row 87: D2, C7, G2, C11, H18 (40 blocks)
Row 88: H17, C11, G3, C6, F, D (39 blocks)
Row 89: D, F, C6, G3, C11, H16 (38 blocks)
Row 90: H15, C9, H, C, G3, C6, F2 (37 blocks)
Row 91: F2, C6, G4, H, C9, H14 (36 blocks)
Row 92: H13, C9, H2, G3, C6, F2 (35 blocks)
Row 93: F2, C6, G3, H2, C9, H12 (34 blocks)
Row 94: H11, C9, H3, G2, C6, F2 (33 blocks)
Row 95: F2, C6, G, H4, C9, H10 (32 blocks)
Row 96: H10, C8, H4, G, C6, F2 (31 blocks)
Row 97: F, G, C5, G, H5, C8, H9 (30 blocks)
Row 98: H8, C7, H6, G, C5, G, F (29 blocks)
Row 99: G2, C4, G, H7, C7, H7 (28 blocks)
Row 100: H6, C7, H7, G, C4, G2 (27 blocks)
Row 101: G2, C3, G, H8, C7, H5 (26 blocks)
Row 102: H5, C6, H9, G5 (25 blocks)
Row 103: G4, H11, C5, H4 (24 blocks)
Row 104: H4, C4, H12, G3 (23 blocks)
Row 105: G2, H13, C4, H3 (22 blocks)
Row 106: H3, C3, H13, G2 (21 blocks)
Row 107: G, H19 (20 blocks)
Row 108: H19 (19 blocks)
Row 109: H18 (18 blocks)
Row 110: H17 (17 blocks)
Row 111: H16 (16 blocks)
Row 112: H15 (15 blocks)
Row 113: H14 (14 blocks)
Row 114: H13 (13 blocks)
Row 115: H12 (12 blocks)
Row 116: H11 (11 blocks)
Row 117: H10 (10 blocks)
Row 118: H9 (9 blocks)
Row 119: H8 (8 blocks)
Row 120: H7 (7 blocks)
Row 121: H6 (6 blocks)
Row 122: H5 (5 blocks)
Row 123: H4 (4 blocks)
Row 124: H3 (3 blocks)
Row 125: H2 (2 blocks)
Row 126: H (1 block), do not break yarn.
Border Instructions
Edging Rnd 1: Continue with Color H, Ch 1, sc in between block just made and to and block joined to, ch 3, skip next block, *[sc between previous and next block, ch 3, skip next block], rep [ to ] to corner, sc in ch 3 sp or st at corner; rep from * around, join and break Color H.
Edging Rnd 2: With Color F, work 3 dc in each ch-3 sp around, working 3 dc in each corner sc; join and break Color F.
Edging Rnd 3: With Color G, sl st in each st around; join and break Color G. Weave in ends.
Corner to corner crochet graphgans do take time – and there are lots of ends to weave in! I like to leave mine for a movie night – but some people back their blankets with fabric like fleece instead! However you want to take care of them is up to you!
I can’t wait to see your Llama and Cactus crochet blankets! If this free crochet throw pattern does inspire you to make your own afghan, and you post a photo on social media, be sure to tag me @mooglyblog or #mooglyblog so I can check it out too! I love seeing what you make!
THE FINE PRINT
Follow Moogly on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr! Thank you to Yarnspirations and Clover USA for providing the materials shown in this post. Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2019, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.
To print or download, use the Print Friendly button below, or go to PrintFriendly.com, or right-click to copy and paste it into a word processing document if those options do not work for you (please note that Print Friendly is a free outside website that the button links to, and you can click here for a tutorial on how to use it, but I cannot provide additional technical support for this service).
If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details.
Chris Lopez
I love this! Llamas are my thing these days!! Thank you so much for including the tow by row color counts. Most designers will provide the graph but you have to pay for the row by row. I have trouble just following the graph. I was totally intimidated by C2C until I did a CAL with a designer who not only included row by row but also a video demonstrating her making the blanket row by row! Total game changer for my old brain!!
Tamara Kelly
I’m so glad you like it Chris! Thank you! ♥
Cindy deRosier
This is SO COOL!
Tamara Kelly
Thank you so much, Cindy! ♥
Laurie Bruley
Tamara , thank you so much h for all your videos and patterns. I truly appreciate all you do for us crochet folks.
Tamara Kelly
Thank you so much! ♥
Rosalie McCreary
Hi Tamara! I love llamas and alpacas! I had a friend in the 1980’s who had a llama farm in Alaska! They kept the babies in the house during colder months and they spun their own yarns!
I’ve been quite intimidated by graphghans but this being 2c2 (which I love doing) I just might give it a go…after the UFOs are done and gone!
Thank you for sharing your art with all of us.
Tamara Kelly
♥ Thank you so much, Rosalie!
Amy Smith
I started a c2c baby blanket a couple of weeks ago to have something simple and mindless to work on in between CAL blocks. I turned to your tutorial to jog my memory. I really like C2C, and now I love this llama design. Will definitely put this on my project list. Thank you for sharing your patterns and inspiring me again! I’m slowly filling up that “hoping to be a grandma someday” box!
Tamara Kelly
♥ Thank you so much Amy!
Terri
Thanks for providing the graph. I want to do this in Tunisian crochet AND I’m left handed. Problems for sure!
Tamara Kelly
😀 I hope you’ll share a photo if you do!
Par
Tamara love your blanket etc I belong to your site etc you always explain so.good. But I’m left handed so do I read your c2cllamablanket the directions backwards? And chart y would read on left side? Could you email.me thanks Pattydirections backwards then
Tamara Kelly
Hi Par! Yes, you would read each row backwards, back to front! I’m afraid I don’t have a left-handed version currently, would that be helpful?
Amy
Have a request to get a llama blanket for Christmas present…however this person is taller than my daughter.. so how do I adjust the pattern to fit someone 5’10 tall? I think this pattern works for me. My first graph blanket. The width is perfect. It’s the length I’m trying to figure out. Can you help?
Thanks!
Tamara Kelly
I think I would add some more sand and sky – split the difference between more dark brown rows at the bottom and more blue rows at the top! 🙂 Graph paper would probably be easiest!