Carousel Blanket

Carousel Blanket by Carmen Heffernan

What is Being Made

The Carousel Blanket is a modern crochet throw blanket featuring a modular square design. This beginner-friendly project combines bright retro colors with a vintage-inspired lace motif to create a contemporary yet nostalgic finished piece. The blanket is constructed from multiple squares that work up quickly, making it an efficient project for crafters looking to complete a large throw in a reasonable timeframe.

Design and Aesthetic

This design showcases modern crochet with bright retro colours, featuring a distinctive lace motif that gives the blanket a vintage twist. The color palette includes Indigo as the main color paired with complementary accent colors in Mustard, Ruby, Burnt Orange, and Fuschia, creating a vibrant, eye-catching finished piece.

Crochet Techniques and Stitches

The Carousel Blanket employs fundamental crochet techniques suitable for beginners. The pattern utilizes the following stitches:

• Chain (ch) – the foundational stitch used to create the base of the design
• Double crochet (dc) – a basic stitch that forms the primary fabric structure
• Slip stitch (sl st) – used for joining and finishing techniques

The lace motif is created through the strategic placement and spacing of these stitches, which creates openwork sections that define the vintage aesthetic. A crochet chart is provided to guide the square motif construction, offering a visual reference for stitch placement and pattern repeats.

Materials and Tools

The pattern calls for DK weight yarn, specifically Deramores Studio DK (100% acrylic, 100g/250m). The recommended yardage includes:

• 2 balls of Indigo (Main Color)
• 1 ball each of Mustard, Ruby, Burnt Orange, and Fuschia (Contrast Colors)

A US 7 (4.5mm) crochet hook is required to work with the DK weight yarn at the appropriate gauge. A yarn needle is needed for weaving in ends and assembling the finished squares.

Pattern Flexibility and Customization

The Carousel Blanket pattern is highly flexible and adaptable. Any DK weight yarn can be substituted for the recommended Deramores Studio DK. Crafters can also adjust the yarn weight to create a smaller or larger blanket by using a matching hook size, though yardage requirements will vary accordingly. The modular square construction allows makers to create a larger blanket simply by crocheting additional squares, making this an excellent stashbuster project for using up yarn from your collection. A print-only version of the crochet chart is included for convenient reference while working.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner difficulty project, the Carousel Blanket is accessible to crocheters new to the craft while still offering visual interest through its color work and lace motif design.