Cheerful Child is a baby blanket CAL here on pinkmambo.com that appears every Monday and Thursday January 7-February 18, 2016. It features granny-style blocks in a variety of designs, all on the easy side.
Every other block is a different granny square design–there are 12 of those–and alternating blocks are solid granny squares in the five colors, all made the same–and there are 13 of those (Hadley Square #4). So 25 blocks in all plus a border. My blanket turned out to be 34 1/2″ square made with a size I hook.
Cheerful Child’s skill level is adventurous beginner, which means you have knowledge of the basic stitches and are ready to take on a larger, more involved project with a little more texture and combinations of stitches. Experienced crocheters will enjoy the fun of making these fresh and pretty blocks as well.
Each square features round by round photos and written instructions. I hope you will join in the fun of making this cheery, pretty blanket!
Here are links to all the blocks and additional information.
- Square 1: Posy Wheel
- Square 2: Bullseye
- Square 3: Emma on Oombawkadesigncrochet.com
- Square 4: Hadley
- Square 5: Easton
- How to make Cheerful Child in different sizes
- Square 6: Ruby
- Square 7: Avery
- Getting your blocks to the same size, blocking and joining
- Square 8: Finley
- Square 9: Kayden
- Square 10: Morgan
- Square 11: Monroe
- Square 12: Addison
- Square 13: Channing (last square)
- Border (last post)
Crochet Hadley Square
by Carolyn Christmas
Size
6” square
Materials
5 colors worsted/aran weight yarn. I used I Love This Yarn by Hobby Lobby in the following colors:
A Pink
B Keylime
C Desert Glaze
D Turquoise
E Soft Pink
I/9/5.50mm hook
Gauge
Gauge is not critical with this project. To get the size shown, rounds 1-2 measure 2 1/2 inches.
Special stitches
Needle join/invisible join (optional)
Working in back loops with no holes (optional)
Instructions (make 13)
Rnd 1: With B, ch 5, join with sl st in first ch to form ring (or make a magic ring), ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ring, ch 2, (3 dc in ring, ch 2) 3 times, join with sl st in top of ch 3. Fasten off. (4 3-dc groups and 4 ch-2 corner sps)
Rnd 2: Join E with sl st in any corner ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same corner sp, dc in each dc around with (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner sp, join with sl st in top of ch 3. Fasten off. (7 dc on each side and 4 corner ch-2 sps)
Rnds 3-5: Repeat rnd 2 with C (11 sts on each side), then D (15 sts on each side), then A (19 sts on each side).
Woo-hoo! Just finished the last of my Hadley squares (28 total for the size I’m making) and anxiously awaiting the next square ?
Hooray Amanda! <3
This square turned out bigger than the previous 3. Can anyone tell me what I might have done wrong?
Hi Jessica, you aren’t doing anything wrong. Sometimes the squares come out a little different in size and hadley does seem to run slightly bigger. I don’t know it it’s because we relax more doing the rows of dc vs the more varied stitches of the other blocks or what, but it does seem to happen. You can do a couple of things. you can go down a hook size and make your Hadleys with this smaller hook and see how that works, or you can block out your smaller blocks to 6″. The second option is what I did with mine. I’m working on a blog post now that will go up today telling how I block mine, and some other blocking possibilities, as well as how to join the squares together. Also you could possibly substitute hdc for the last round of any or all of the granny blocks that seem to be turning out smaller. You could even try going up a hook size for those but really I’d go down a hook size for Hadley, first, to see how that works. Let me know how it turns out if you have a chance 🙂 🙂 best wishes!
Thanks Carolyn, I am going to try a smaller hook today and I will let u know how it turns out.
I tried it again with an h hook and sc for the last round, it was perfect..thanks for your help and the beautiful patterns!
Thanks for letting me know, Jessica and glad you are all set now! 🙂
Love this blanket! Thanks so much for sharing. I’m making one, but with some minor changes because I make blankets for the Jabez Blanket Ministry in my area, which have a few requirements. I’m using a 6mm hook and adding a row of black sc after your last row, to make my square measure 7 inches. My blanket will be 5 squares across by 8 squares down, so I will adjust the number and design of squares I need. I’m using jewel tones of bright yellow, deep pink, deep turquoise, deep purple, royal blue and the last row of black. So far, the squares are stunning! Instructions are very clear.
Hi Claire, thanks for your wonderful comment! Your blanket sounds very beautiful and meaningful. Best wishes!