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 Ruby 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 1-4 measure 4 ½ inches.

Special stitches

Magic ring (optional) link to http://www.mooglyblog.com/the-magic-circle/

Needle join/invisible join (optional) link to http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/yarn/crochet/crochet-tutorials/crochet-invisible-join-vs-slip-stitch-join/

Working in back loops with no holes (optional) link to http://www.lillabjorncrochet.com/2015/07/tip-crochet-in-back-loops-with-no-holes.html

Beginning 3-dc cluster: Ch 2 (counts as first partial dc in cluster), (yo, insert hook in same stitch or space, yo, pull through st, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook) 2 times, yo, pull through all 3 lps on hook.

3-dc cluster: Yo, insert hook in indicated stitch or space, yo, pull through st, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook, (yo, insert hook in same stitch or space, yo, pull through st, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook) 2 times, yo, pull through all 4 lps on hook.

Instructions (make 1)

Rnd 1: With D, ch 5, join with sl st in first ch to form ring (or make a magic ring), ch 1, 8 sc in ring, join with sl st in first sc (or make a needle join). Fasten off. (8 sc)

Rnd 2: Join A with sl st in any st, beginning 3-dc cluster (see Special Stitches), ch 2, (3-dc cluster, ch 2) in each st around, join with sl st in top of first cluster. Fasten off. (8 clusters, 8 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 3: Join B with sl st in any ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp, * (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp, 3 dc in next ch-2 sp; repeat from * around, join with sl st in top of ch 3 (or make a needle join). Fasten off. (9 dc on each side, 4 corner ch-2 sps)

Rnd 4: Join E with sl st in any corner, ch 3 (counts as dc), (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same corner, * (3 dc in sp between next two 3-dc groups) 2 times **, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in corner; repeat from * around ending last repeat at **, join with sl st in top of ch-3 (or make needle join). (12 dc on each side)

Rnd 5: Join C with sc in any corner, ch 2, sc in same corner, sc in each st around with (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner, join with sl st in first sc (or make needle join). Fasten off. (14 sc on each side)

Rnd 6: Join D with sc in any corner, ch 2, sc in same corner, * (ch 1, skip next st, sc in next st) 7 times **, ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next corner; repeat from * around ending last repeat at **, ch 1, join with sl st in first sc, Fasten off. (9 sc on each side)

Rnd 7: Join B with sc in any st, sc in each st and in each ch-1 sp around with (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner, join with sl st in first sc (or make a needle join). Fasten off. (19 sc on each side)