Take a stab at freeform crochet with this truly magical project. Using the idea of freely formed circles to create the sky and clouds, this design builds upon itself to create a beautiful pattern comprised of clouds, blue sky, and rainbows. The entire blanket is worked in two strands of yarn, includes more than 70 freeform circles to create a gorgeous texture. Check out the article on the next page to learn more about freeform crochet and get ready to be inspired!
Skill Level: Advanced.
Size: 45” / [114 cm] wide x 60” / [152 cm] long.
Gauge: 22 sts and 11 rows = 4” [10 cm] in dc
Materials:
Yarn: KnitPicks Aloft Super Kid Mohair (72% Super Kid Mohair, 28% Silk; 260 yards [238 meters]/25 grams): White (9 balls);
Cloud Excellent Mohair (66% Super Kid Mohair, 34% Nylon; 218 yards [200 meters]/20 grams): #15 Light Blue (3 balls), #38 Red (1 ball), #27 Orange (1 ball), #42 Yellow (1 ball), #33 Green (1 ball), #47 Blue (1 ball), #13 Indigo (1 ball), #14 Violet (1 ball) ()
Silk Road Needle Arts Hand-dyed Cashmere Merino Sock (80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 438 yards [400 meters]/100 grams): Natural Cream (3 balls), Sky Blue (1 ball), Sky and Clouds (3 balls), Blue (1 ball). Note: This was a customer ordered yarn from Silk Road Needle Arts on Etsy. The Etsy shop for the Hand-dyed Cashmere Merino Sock yarn is no longer in operation. The suggested alternative yarn is Cascade Heritage Solids.
Hook: US size B/1 (2.25 mm).
Notions: Tapestry needle.
Pattern Notes
The blanket is 100% free formed and structured by two parts, the Body and the Edge. Both Body and Edge of the blanket start from the lower left corner and worked entirely from the diagrams.
The charts of Body and Edge stitches are for the body circles and edge circles respectively.
Pattern
Body
- The circles in the body are worked followed the order indicated in the Body Drawing.
- The starting point of each circle is in the center of the circle.
- The starting point of each circle either begins from the endpoint of the previous circle or starts between two previous formed adjacent circles.
- The Body is worked with two strands of yarn. The clouds use Cashmere Merino Sock in colors of Sky Blue, Cream, and Sky & Clouds, along with Kid mohair in White. The color usage is indicated in the Body Drawing.
- The rainbows use Cashmere Merino Sock in color Cream along with Kid mohair in color rainbow.
After the Body
There are total 4 rows of sc (2 rows in white and 2 rows in Blue) between the Body and Edge.
Edge
- The circles in the Edge are worked sequentially from 1 to 35, as indicated in the Edge Drawing.
- The starting point of each circle is in the center of the circle.
- The starting point of each circle begins from the endpoint of the previous circle.
- The Edge circles use Cashmere Merino Sock in color of Cream along with Kid mohair in color of Light Blue.
- The Edge’s border uses Cashmere Merino Sock in color of Cream along with Kid mohair in colors of rainbow and White (see the Edge Drawing).
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Block as desired.
Beautiful but I’m still finishing my dragonfly throw which I also found on ilovecrochet
Wow! this is beautiful. Can’t start it until I finish my 5 ongoing projects. Maybe by then I will be at an advances level.
I need a written pattern we’re do I find one
Hello! Since this is technically freeform crochet, this pattern doesn’t follow typical “pattern” rules. We have an article that will help you navigate this cool technique! https://www.ilikecrochet.com/magazine/crochet-articles-and-interviews/hello-freeform-crochet/
Wow that will be a challenge first time with only diagrams!
What about u ladies.
I wont be starting it for a bit gota finish my15 WIPs LOLLLL
I’ve ordered some yarn and plan on starting using the diagrams as soon as I get the yarn. I happen to like challenges
Its just a bit after the comments start it on right on my laptop
if you go under the pictures of afghan there are downloads with diagram
let me know if you found them
awesome pattern, ridiculously expensive or unavailable (Cloud is wholesale only) yarn requirements. probably will adapt this for DK yarn so I can afford to make it.
Hello! We’re glad you like the pattern — it’s certainly one-of-a-kind for many reasons. I would suggest checking out yarnsub for alternate yarn options:
https://yarnsub.com/yarns/stunning_string_studio/cloud
Hope this helps! – Nicola, Editor
Can you please tell me where to find the written pattern for this blanket please?
Hi Kathleen! Since this pattern is actually freeform crochet, it can be a little tricky to navigate. Check out this companion article for advice! https://www.ilikecrochet.com/magazine/crochet-articles-and-interviews/hello-freeform-crochet/
Hope this helps! – Nicola, Editor
I don’t understand how to start the center of a circle that is not near a previous circle (circle 3, for example)
Hello Megan! Hopefully this article will help: https://www.ilikecrochet.com/magazine/crochet-articles-and-interviews/hello-freeform-crochet/
Happy crocheting! – Nicola, Editor
Where is the actual pattern? I see the charts n stuff, and all the “tips”.
Hello! Since this is technically freeform crochet, this pattern doesn’t follow typical “pattern” rules. We have an article that will help you navigate this cool technique! https://www.ilikecrochet.com/magazine/crochet-articles-and-interviews/hello-freeform-crochet/
Hope this helps! – Nicola, Editor
I’d there a place to go to get the written directions? I do have the charts and I can read them but I feel I might get a little confused with it comes to the rainbow and a few other areas of the body.
Hi Rachel! This article may help you: https://www.ilikecrochet.com/magazine/crochet-articles-and-interviews/hello-freeform-crochet/
Happy crocheting!
There is no download heading and I’ve checked on both my phone and computer.
Hi Kimberly,
The charts are on the right hand side of the screen, but here are the links:
https://www.ilikecrochet.com/wp-content/uploads/Dare-to-Dream-Afghan-Basic-Body-Stitches.pdf
https://www.ilikecrochet.com/wp-content/uploads/Dare-to-Dream-Afghan-Edge-Diagram.pdf
https://www.ilikecrochet.com/wp-content/uploads/Dare-to-Dream-Afghan-Body-Diagram.pdf
https://www.ilikecrochet.com/wp-content/uploads/Dare-to-Dream-Afghan-Basic-Edge-Diagram.pdf
Are there written instructions for this somewhere? I’m not used to following diagrams only
If it’s curling or not laying flat, you may need to check your gauge. You may need to use a smaller size hook than usual. Hopefully this helps.
There are no photos?
Please look into this? Perhaps it doesn’t work in mobile?
Hello and thank you for your comments.
Photos on the website are on the right-hand side of the screen. On mobile, scroll down on the pattern for additional photos. I hope this helps.
Thank you!
I have started the first half circle of the body and it is not laying flat. The single diagram of the body stitches says 7 rows, but the diagram of the body shows the first half circle has 17 rows. Which is it? And if it is ruffling a little at the 7th row, I can only imagine that it will not lay flat at all by the 17th row. I have counted the number of stitches and it is correct according to the diagram on the first download. Can anybody help me. I love the look of this afghan and have already bought allof the yarn.
I also tried exactly as the diagram shows. It ruffles for me as well. From my knowledge of increases, this will not lay flat as the diagram shows. I am trying to figure it out on my own, but struggle when adding in the chain stitches. I’m surprised this hasn’t been corrected almost 3 years later.
Where are the diagrams, drawings or charts? The explanation mentions that you would go by diagrams and drawings and there are none. Have I missed something?
Hello,
You can find the diagrams and drawings are on the right below the photos under the heading DOWNLOADS.