Who doesn’t daydream about being a mermaid when enjoying a day at the beach? This fun blanket bursts with texture and is stitched in fresh shades of blue and pink to help bring that dream to life. Appropriately worked up in the shell stitch, this design doubles as imaginative costume and cozy blanket for those cooler summer days.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 24” / [61 cm] wide at waist x 33” / [84 cm] long to fit children up to 8-10 years old

Gauge: 19 sts and 20 rows = 4” (10 cm) in single crochet ribbing pattern

3 pattern repeats in established shell pattern = 4”(10 cm)

Materials

Yarn:

 Drops Cotton Light (50% Cotton, 50% Polyester; 115 yards [105meters]/50 grams): 14 Turquoise (Color A), 3 balls; 18 Pink (Color B), 6 balls

Hook: US size G/6 (4 mm) and US size 7 (4.5 mm)

Notions: Removable markers; tapestry needle

Special Stitches

Shell Stitch (Sh) – Work 5 dc in next st as indicated.

Pattern

Mermaid Body

With Color B and smaller hook, ch 11,

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn – 10 sc.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc tbl in each sc across row, turn – 10 sc.

Rep Row 2 until piece meas 24” / [61 cm] or until you have worked 91 rows.

Without breaking yarn, turn work so you can work across the ribbing with RS facing, working 1 st in the end of each row for 91 rows, turn – 91 sc.

Switch to Color A and larger hook.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in next sc, *sk next 2 sc, Sh in next st, sk next 2 sc, sc in next sc; rep from * to end, turn – 15 Sh, 16 sc.

Row 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 2 dc in same st, *sk next 2 dc, sc in 3rd dc of Sh, sk next 2 dc, Sh in next sc; rep from *, ending with 3 dc in last sc, turn – 14 Sh, 2 half Sh, 15 sc.

Rows 5-19: Rep Row 4.

Begin working in rnds, mark the start of the rnd with a stitch marker.

Fold work in half and sl st in the top of first ch-3 in previous row. This will connect the work into the rnd, turn.

Rnd 20: Sc in first st, *sk next 2 sts, Sh in next st, sk next 2 sts, sc in next sc; rep from * to end, turn.

Rnd 21: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st, *sk next 2 sts, sc in 3rd dc of Sh, *sk next 2 sts, sh in next sc; rep from * to end, sl st to top of beg ch-3, turn.

Rep Rnds 21-22 until piece meas 24” / [60 cm].

Decrease Rnd: Ch 1, sc in first st, sk next st, *sc in next st, sk next st; rep from * to end – 44 sc.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Tail (make 2 pieces)

With Color A, ch 25.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn – 24 sc.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc tbl in each sc across to last st, 2 sc in last st, turn – 25 sc.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc tbl in each sc across, turn – 25 sc.

Row 4: Ch 1, sc tbl in each sc across until last st, 2 sc in last st, turn – 26 sc.

Rep Rows 4-5 until long edge of Tail meas 15” / [38 cm].

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Finishing

Sew the 2 Tail pieces together in middle using mattress stitch.

Sew Tail to lower part of Mermaid Body, sewing through all layers of Front and Back of Mermaid Body and Tail.

Fasten off. Weave in any remaining ends.