This simple motif is easily customized, making it a great go-to pattern. This version includes pastel circles against white for a colorful baby blanket.

Skill Level: Easy

Size: 38” square

Gauge: 1 square = 6” [15.25 cm] in pattern before blocking

Materials

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (100% acrylic; 364 yards [333 meters]/198 grams): #0316 Soft White (MC, 3 balls), #0724 Baby Pink (CA, 1 ball), #0505 Aruba Sea (CB, 1 ball), #0322 Pale Yellow (CC, 1 ball), #0381 Light Blue (CD, 1 ball)
Hook: US size I/9 (5.5 mm) hook
Notions: Tapestry needle

Special Stitches

Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc): Yo, insert hook from front around post of next st from previous row. Yo and draw up a loop around post. *Yo and draw through 2 loops. Repeat from * once.
Spike Half Double Crochet (sp hdc): Yo, insert hook in next skipped st from previous rnd, yo, draw up a loop to height of current rnd, yo and draw through 3 loops.

Pattern Notes

After the first square is crocheted, each additional square is joined to the rest of the blanket in the final round. A 3 round border is crocheted around the entire blanket after assembly.

Pattern

Center Circle (Make 9 each in CA, CB, CC, and CD)

Ch 5, join with sl st to first ch to form ring.
Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 11 dc in ring. (12 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 3, FPdc around same st in previous rnd, *dc in next st, FPdc around same st from previous rnd. Repeat from * around, join with sl st to top of ch 3. Fasten off. (24 sts)

First Square

Rnd 3: With RS facing, join MC with sl st to any FPdc from Rnd 2 of Center Circle in CA. Ch 4 (counts as tr here and throughout), 2 tr in same st, *ch 1, sk 2 sts, dc in next st, ch 1, sk 2 sts,** (3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in next st.* Repeat from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once, 3 tr in first st, (ch 1, sc to top of first ch 4) (counts as ch-2 sp here and throughout). (44 sts)
Rnd 4: (Ch 4, 2 tr) in same ch-2 sp, *(ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) twice, ch 1,** (3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr) in next ch-2 sp.* Repeat from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once, 3 tr in first ch-2 sp as beginning, ch 1, sc to top of first ch 4. (68 sts)
Rnd 5: (Ch 3, 2 dc) in same ch-2 sp, *(ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) 3 times, ch 1,** (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp.* Repeat from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once, 3 dc in first ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc to top of first ch 3, fasten off. (84 sts)

Joining Additional Squares (Row 1)

Following color placement chart, join MC as for first square. Follow instructions for first square through Rnd 4.
Rnd 5: (Ch 3, 2 dc) in same ch-2 sp, (ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) 3 times, ch 1. With wrong side of finished square facing, in next ch-2 sp work (3 dc, ch 1, sc to corner ch-2 sp on finished square, 3 dc), (sc in next ch-1 sp on finished square, 3 dc) 3 times, sc in next ch-1 sp on finished square, in next ch-2 sp work (3 dc, sc to corner ch-2 sp on finished square, ch 1, 3 dc), *(ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) 3 times, ch 1,** (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp.* Repeat from * to * once more, then from * to ** once, 3 dc in first ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc to top of first ch 3, fasten off. (84 sts)

Joining Additional Squares (Rows 2-6)

Following color placement chart, follow instructions for joining additional squares (Row 1) for to attach first square of each row to prior row.
Following color placement chart, follow instructions for joining additional squares through Rnd 4.
Rnd 5: (Ch 3, 2 dc) in same ch-2 sp, (ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) 3 times, ch 1. With wrong side of finished square facing, in next ch-2 sp work (3 dc, ch 1, sc to corner ch-2 sp on finished square, 3 dc), (sc in next ch-1 sp on finished square, 3 dc) 3 times, sc in next ch-1 sp on finished square, in next ch-2 sp work (3 dc, sc to corner ch-2 sp on finished square in row above, sc to corner ch-2 sp on finished square on same row, 3 dc), *(ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp) 3 times, ch 1,** (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp.* Repeat from * to * once more, then from * to ** once, 3 dc in first ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc to top of first ch 3, fasten off. (84 sts)

Border

Rnd 1: With RS facing, join CA with sl st in any corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, 2 sc in same ch-2 sp, *sc in ea dc and ch-1 sp across side,** (2 sc, ch 1, 2 sc) in corner ch-2 sp.* Repeat from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once, (2 sc, ch 1) in first ch-2 sp, join with sl st to first sc, fasten off.
Rnd 2: With RS facing, join CC with sl st in any corner ch-1 sp, ch 1, (sc, ch 1, sc) in same ch-1 sp, *ch 1, sk 1 st, sc in next st** around to next corner ch-1 sp, (ch 1, sc) twice in corner.* Repeat from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once, ch 1, join with sl st to first sc, fasten off.
Rnd 3: With RS facing, join CD with sl st in any corner ch-1 sp, ch 1 (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner, *ch 1, sk 1 st, sp hdc in next skipped st from Rnd 2,** around to next corner ch-1 sp, (ch 1, sc) twice in corner.* Repeat from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once, ch 1, join with sl st to first sc, fasten off.

Finishing

With tapestry needle, weave in ends on WS of blanket. (Optional: Spray block to shape.)