Looking for a baby blanket that’s a lot of fun to stitch? This optical illusion crochet baby blanket looks almost like a kaleidoscope in crochet stitches.
This is a great stash-busting project, too, because you can use different colors for each block if you like. The key is to use a neutral color yarn for the borders so that the project looks harmonious even if the blocks themselves are wild.
The blog post about this project talks about how to join the crochet squares as you go, which is a handy way to make the finishing faster, but you can also make individual blocks and sew them together at the end.
The blog post about this project talks about how to join the crochet squares as you go, which is a handy way to make the finishing faster, but you can also make individual blocks and sew them together at the end. To view the full blanket >>CLICK HERE<<
If you enjoy crocheting blankets, you might want to check out the professionally filmed video tutorial for making a Log Cabin Baby Blanket here.
Optical Illusion Square Crochet Pattern
Supplies
Medium Weight yarn. I used Caron Simply Soft.
I/5.5 MM crochet hook
Yarn needle for weaving in your ends.
Stitches
Magic Circle
Slip Stitch
CH- Chain
SC – Single Crochet
HDC – Half Double Crochet
DC – Double Crochet
TR – Treble Crochet
DTR – Double Treble Crochet
TRTR – Treble Treble Crochet
Don't understand all these stitches? If you enjoy working with a variety of crochet stitches, I highly recommend the Ultimate Crochet Stitch Library which includes 45 professionally filmed stitch tutorials.
*Note* This square measures 7 inches.
*Note* On the corners you will be making a {CH 3, Slip stitch to first CH} These are picot stitches. When working the next row around, you will want the picots to be pushed towards the front of the square.
*Note* Final stitch count at the end of each row does not include picots.
Round 1: Magic Circle. CH 3 (counts as first DC). 2 DC into magic circle. CH 3. Slip stitch into first CH. 3 *3 DC into magic circle. CH 3. slip stitch into first CH. Repeat from * 2 more times. Join to top of CH 3. (12 DC)
Finish off. Join new color to the back loop of the first DC after corner picot.
YOU WILL BE WORKING IN BACK LOOPS THROUGH THE ENTIRE PATTERN
Round 2: CH 1. SC into same stitch. HDC into next stitch. DC into same stitch. CH 3. Slip stitch to first CH. DC into same stitch. HDC into same stitch. SC into next stitch. Skip picot stitch and push it to the front. *SC into next stitch. HDC into next stitch. DC into same stitch. CH 3. Slip stitch to first CH. DC into same stitch. HDC into same stitch. SC into next stitch. Skip picot stitch and push it to the front. Repeat from * around. Join to first SC. (24 stitches)
Finish off. Join new color to the back loop of the first DC after picot.
Round 3: CH 1. SC into same stitch. HDC into next stitch. DC into next stitch. TR into same stitch. CH 3. Slip stitch into first CH. TR into next stitch. DC into same stitch. HDC into next stitch. SC into next stitch. Skip picot stitch and push it forward. *SC into next stitch. HDC into next stitch. DC into next stitch. TR into same stitch. CH 3. Slip stitch into first CH. TR into next stitch. DC into same stitch. HDC into next stitch. SC into next stitch. Skip picot stitch and push it forward. Repeat from* around. Join to first SC. (32 stitches)
Finish off. Join new color to the back loop of the first TR after picot.
Round 4: CH 1. SC into same stitch. HDC into next stitch. DC into next stitch. TR into next stitch. DTR into same stitch. CH 3. Slip stitch into first CH. DTR into next stitch. TR into same stitch. DC into next stitch. HDC into next stitch. SC into next stitch. Skip picot stitch and push it forward. *SC into next stitch. HDC into next stitch. DC into next stitch. TR into next stitch. DTR into same stitch. CH 3. Slip stitch into first CH. DTR into next stitch. TR into same stitch. DC into next stitch. HDC into next stitch. SC into next stitch. Skip picot stitch and push it forward. Repeat from * around. Join to first SC. (40 stitches)
Finish off. Join new color to the back loop of the first DTR after picot.
Round 5: CH 1. SC into same stitch. HDC into next stitch. DC into next stitch. TR into next stitch. DTR into next stitch. TRTR into same stitch. CH 3. Slip stitch into first CH. TRTR into next stitch. DTR into same stitch. TR into next stitch. DC into next stitch. HDC into next stitch. SC into next stitch. Skip picot stitch and push it forward. *SC into next stitch. HDC into next stitch. DC into next stitch. TR into next stitch. DTR into next stitch. TRTR into same stitch. CH 3. Slip stitch into first CH. TRTR into next stitch. DTR into same stitch. TR into next stitch. DC into next stitch. HDC into next stitch. SC into next stitch. Skip picot stitch and push it forward.Repeat from * around. Join to first SC. (48)
Finish off. Join new color to the back loop of the first TRTR after picot.
Notice in the next round, you will be putting 3 stitches into both corner stitches on all 4 corners. When following the pattern a second time, I had to keep reminding myself! (I kept thinking I was a stitch short so I figured it would be worth a note just in case others do the same.)
Round 6: CH 1. SC into same stitch. HDC into next stitch. DC into next 2 stitches. TR into next stitch. DTR into next stitch. 2 TRTR into the same stitch. CH 2. 2 TRTR into next stitch. DTR into the same stitch. TR into the next stitch. DC into next 2 stitches. HDC into next stitch. SC into next stitch. Skip picot stitch and push it forward. *SC into next stitch. HDC into next stitch. DC into next 2 stitches. TR into next stitch. DTR into next stitch. 2 TRTR into the same stitch. CH 2. 2 TRTR into next stitch. DTR into the same stitch. TR into the next stitch. DC into next 2 stitches. HDC into next stitch. SC into next stitch. Skip picot stitch and push it forward. Repeat from * around. join to first SC. (64)
DO NOT FINISH OFF. YOU WILL BE WORKING IN BOTH LOOPS FOR EDGING ROUND.
Round 7: CH 1. SC into same stitch and next 7 stitches. { HDC, DC,TR, DC, HDC} all into CH space. *SC into next 16 stitches. {HDC, DC,TR, DC, HDC} all into CH space. Repeat from * two more times. SC into last 8 stitches. Join to first SC. (84)
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Love the way it looks. going to make it.