This is playful log cabin-style baby blanket that uses a traditional quilt pattern to highlight the importance of family and community. The red of the central square, typically used in quilts of this type, symbolizes the hearth. The two stitch patterns used for the strips add texture to the geometric layout and resemble true patchwork.

Abbreviations

Bb hdc: Back bump half double crochet
Bb sc: Back bump single crochet
Bb sl st: Back bump slip stitch
Hdc: Half double crochet
Hdc blo: Half double crochet back loop only

Special Stitches

Back Bump Stitches: The square’s spiral pattern is created with back bump stitch, also known as “camel crochet stitch.”
The typical way of making crochet stitches is to insert the hook into the top of the stitch below, beneath both legs of the “V.” To make back bump stitches, instead insert the hook into the horizontal strand behind the stitch (just below the “V” on the top of the stitch) from the top, and then complete stitch normally.

Pattern

Square (Make 16)

Square is worked in a spiral unless otherwise noted. PM in first st of round to help keep track of start of round.
With A, ch 4, join with sl st to 4th ch from hook to form ring.
Rnd 1: 8 hdc into ring. (8 sts)
Rnd 2: 2 bb hdc in next hdc and in each hdc around. (16 sts)
Rnd 3: *2 bb hdc in next hdc, 1 bb hdc in next hdc; rep from * around. (24 sts)
Rnd 4: *2 bb hdc in next hdc, 1 bb hdc in each of next 2 hdc; rep from * around. (32 sts)
Rnd 5: [1 bb sc in each of next 7 hdc, 3 bb sc in next hdc] 4 times, join with bb sl st to first sc of rnd. (40 sts)
Rnd 6: Ch 2 [counts as 1st hdc], 1 hdc in each of next 7 sc, [(2 hdc, 1 dc, 2 hdc) all in corner sc, hdc in next 9 st] 3 times, (2 hdc, 1 dc, 2 hdc) all in last corner sc, 1 hdc in last sc, join with sl st to top of beg ch 2. Fasten off. (56 sts)

Log Cabin Blocks (Make 16)

Strip 1 – Seed Stitch
Row 1: With RS facing, attach B with bb sc to any corner dc of square, 1 bb sc in each of next 13 hdc, 1 bb sc in corner dc. Turn. (15 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, 1 sc in first sc, *ch 1, sk next sc, 1 sc in next sc; rep from * across to end of row. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, 1 sc in first sc, 1 sc in 1st ch-1 sp, *ch 1, sk next sc, 1 sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * across to last sc, 1 sc in last sc. Turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, 1 sc in first sc, *ch 1, sk next sc, 1 sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * across to last 2 sc, ch 1, sk next sc, 1 sc in last sc. Turn.
Row 5: Rep row 3.
Row 6: Rep row 4.
Row 7: Ch 1, 1 sc in each sc and in each ch-1 sp across. Do not fasten off. 

Strip 2 – Seed Stitch
Row 1: With RS facing, rotate work 90 degrees clockwise, 1 sc in edge st of last row of strip 1, 1 sc in each of next 6 edge sts along strip 1, 1 bb sc in each of next 13 unworked hdc of square, 1 bb sc in next corner dc of square. Turn. (21 sts)
Rows 2-7: Rep rows 2-7 of strip 1. At the end of row 7, fasten off. 

Strip 3 – Seed Stitch
Row 1: With RS facing, rotate work 90 degrees clockwise and attach C with sc to edge st of last row of strip 2, 1 sc in each of next 6 edge sts along strip 2, 1 bb sc in each of next 13 unworked hdc of square, 1 sc in back bump of next corner dc of square.  Turn. (21 sts)
Rows 2-7: Rep rows 2-7 of strip 1. At the end of row 7, do not fasten off. 

Strip 4 – Seed Stitch
Row 1: With RS facing, rotate work 90 degrees clockwise, 1 sc in edge st of last row of strip 3, 1 sc in each of next 6 edge sts along strip 3, 1 bb sc in each of next 13 unworked hdc of square, 1 sc in each of next 7 edge st of strip 1. Turn. (27 sts)
Rows 2-7: Rep rows 2-7 of strip 1. At the end of row 7, fasten off. 

Strip 5 – Griddle Stitch
Row 1: With RS facing, rotate work 90 degrees clockwise and attach B with sc to edge st of last row of strip 4, 1 sc in each of next 6 edge st along strip 4, 1 sc in each of next 15 st along the top of strip 1, 1 sc in each of next 7 edge st along strip 2. Turn. (29 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, 1 sc in 1st sc, *1 dc in next sc, 1 sc in next sc; rep from * across. Turn.
Rows 3-7: Ch 1, 1 sc in 1st sc, *1 dc in next dc, 1 sc in next sc; rep from * across. Turn. At the end of row 7, do not fasten off. 

Strip 6 – Griddle Stitch
Row 1: With RS facing, rotate work 90 degrees clockwise, 1 sc in edge st of last row of strip 5, 1 sc in each of next 6 edge st along strip 5, 1 sc in each of next 21 st along the top of strip 2, 1 sc in each of next 7 edge st along strip 3. Turn. (35 sts)
Rows 2-7: Rep rows 2-7 of strip 5. At the end of row 7, fasten off. 

Strip 7 – Griddle Stitch
Row 1: With RS facing, rotate work 90 degrees clockwise and attach C with sc to edge st of last row of strip 6, 1 sc in each of next 6 edge st along strip 6, 1 sc in each of next 21 st along the top of strip 3, 1 sc in each of next 7 edge st along strip 4. Turn. (35 sts)
Rows 2-7: Rep rows 2-7 of strip 5. At the end of row 7, do not fasten off. 

Strip 8 – Griddle Stitch
Row 1: With RS facing, rotate work 90 degrees clockwise, 1 sc in edge st of last row of strip 7, 1 sc in each of next 6 edge st along strip 7, 1 sc in each of next 29 st across top of strip 4, 1 sc in each of next 7 edge st along strip 5. Turn. (41 sts)
Rows 2-7: Rep rows 2-7 of strip 5. At the end of row 7, fasten off.
Weave in ends of individual log cabin blocks and block to size before beginning edging.

Edging Individual Log Cabin Blocks

Rnd 1: With RS facing, attach D with sc to first sc of final row of strip 8, 2 sc in same st, 1 sc in each of next 41 sts, 3 sc in next corner st, [sc 41 evenly across to next corner, 3 sc in corner] 2 times, sc 41 evenly to start of rnd, join with sl st in first sc of rnd, fasten off.

Joining Log Cabin Blocks

Hold blocks with WS touching and, beginning with adjoining corner stitches, sl st through the inside lps of each st across.
Edge blanket simply with hdc, making 4 hdc in each corner.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.