The California Colorblock Blanket was inspired by the natural elements of my home state; the cool ocean breeze all along the coast, the snowy mountain tops, the vibrant California Poppies, and the warm golden sunshine. Use the colors recommended in this free chunky crochet blanket pattern to make your own soft and cozy California inspired blanket, or choose colors that symbolize your own hometown! My idea for this pattern was that you could pick colors that have a special meaning to you to create your perfect comfort blanket.
If you’d prefer an ad-free version of this crochet pattern, you can purchase a digital copy from my Ribblr shop. This version of the California Colorblock Blanket is an e-pattern using Ribblr’s revolutionary interactive crochet pattern format. Every purchase helps support my business so I can continue creating patterns for crochet lovers like you!
This post contains affiliate links. All purchases help support the content on noelebellecrochet.com at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own, and I only recommend products that I love. View my Privacy & Disclosures Policy here.
The colors that I chose for this blanket are a representation of my home and were carefully selected to create a gorgeous statement piece that will add color, comfort and style to YOUR home. This blanket is functional home decor, made to show off while also keeping you cozy.
This pattern is beginner friendly and uses a special crochet stitch variation that results in a unique looking texture.
This free chunky crochet blanket pattern is written for a lapghan blanket, which is the perfect size for curling up with on the couch and bringing along on road trips. The pattern is easily adjustable if you’d like to make a different size. Just keep in mind that you will need more yarn to make a larger blanket.
Yarn
Made with super bulky Bernat Blanket Yarn, this colorblock blanket works up quickly and only requires 4 skeins of yarn.
I’ve listed some alternative yarn recommendations below. When selecting your yarn, keep in mind that you will need to choose 4 different colors, and you will need approximately 188yds of each color. If you plan on making a blanket in one solid color, you will need approximately 752yds total to make the lapghan size blanket.
Alternative yarn recommendations
Other varieties of super bulky Bernat Blanket Yarn – You can find this yarn in a variety of other forms such as twists, tweeds, speckles, and sparkles! Make sure to check the yardage as these skeins can range in size.
Happy Chunky Double – 100% polyester blanket yarn from Hobbii in a variety of pretty colors.
Lion Brand I Wanna Make A Blankie – This is a huge 800 gram cake of yarn! Use 2 cakes to make a neutral solid colored blanket.
Non-Blanket Yarn Recommendations:
You can try other types of super bulky yarn if blanket yarn isn’t quite your thing, or you’d like to give your blanket a different look and feel! Here are some of my favorite non-blanket yarn choices for this pattern:
Paintbox Yarns Simply Super Chunky – This is one of my favorite 100% acrylic super bulky yarns, and it’s also super affordable!
Hobbii Amigo Giga – Another fantastic, affordable option. Amigo Giga is 100% acrylic and comes in over 50 colors! This is my personal favorite choice for color variety!
Lion Brand Hometown – 100% acrylic, perfect for picking your hometown colors!
Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Recycled – Perfect if you’re looking for a recycled option! This yarn is made from 80% recycled acrylic & 20% recycled wool.
Materials:
Crochet hook: P16 – 11.5mm or size needed to obtain gauge. (I used the 11.5mm crochet hook from this Boye hook set!)
Yarn: This pattern was designed using Bernat Blanket Yarn in 4 different colors (Light Teal, Orange Leaf, Birch, and Gold). You will need approximately 188yds of each color, or 752yds total.
Alternative yarn recommendations are listed above in the “YARN” section.
Yardage requirements are estimates. Your actual yardage may vary. Measurements are rounded to the nearest yard.
Extras: Scissors, large yarn needle for weaving in ends
Gauge:
5” x 5” (5cm x 5cm) = 11 sts x 7 rows worked over HDC (in the 3rd loop)
Stitch Key:
ST/STS: Stitch/Stitches
CH: Chain
HDC: Half Double Crochet
SL ST: Slip Stitch
FO: Fasten Off
Special Stitches:
This pattern uses HDC stitches worked in the 3rd loop (also sometimes referred to as the front-bottom loop). See the photo guide here!
Notes:
- Crochet skill level: beginner/easy
- This pattern is written in US crochet terms.
- The stitch count at the end of each row is shown in parenthesis. ( )
- The CH 2 at the beginning of each row does NOT count as a stitch.
- This pattern is written for a lapghan size blanket, however, I’ve also included instructions for adjusting the size of your blanket at the end of the pattern.
Finished Measurements:
Finished Measurements: approximately 36″ x 48″
This pattern is written for a lapghan size blanket.
The pattern is easily adjustable if you’d like to make a different size. I’ve included instructions for adjusting the size of your blanket at the end of the pattern. Please keep in mind that if you decide to make a larger blanket, you will require more yarn than the pattern recommends.
Pattern:
Starting with your first color, CH 80
ROW 1: HDC in 3rd CH from hook. HDC across (78)
ROW 2: CH 2, turn. HDC in the 3rd loop until you reach the last ST. Work your last HDC into the top of the CH 2 from the previous row instead of the 3rd loop of the last ST (78)
Note: Working your final HDC into the CH 2 instead of the 3rd loop of the last ST will result in a neater edge along the sides of your blanket.
Repeat ROW 2, changing color after every 17 rows. (So, each color block will be 17 rows long.)
Tip: When changing colors, bring your new yarn through on the last stitch of the previous row for a seamless color change.
FINISHING ROW: SL ST in the 3rd loop until you reach the last ST. Work your last SL ST into the top of the CH 2 from the previous row instead of the 3rd loop of the last ST (78)
FO and weave in ends.
You’re all done!
Adjusting the Size of Your Blanket:
You can easily adjust the size of this blanket! Keep in mind that if you plan on making a larger blanket, you will require more yarn than this pattern recommends. Follow the instructions below to adjust the size of your California Colorblock Blanket.
1. Determine the size (width & length) that you’d like your blanket to be.
2. Start with a foundation chain that meets your desired width, then add an extra 2 CH.
3. Follow the pattern instructions for rows 1 & 2 (ignore stitch counts).
4. Determine the height of each colorblock: take the desired length of your blanket and divide by 4. For example, if I want my blanket to be 60″ long, 60″ divided by 4 = 15″ (therefore, each colorblock section will be 15″ long).
Note: You can also adjust the equation if you’d like to customize your blanket to have more or less colorblocks. (So, if you’d prefer to use 5 colors, take the desired length of your blanket and divide by 5).
5. Repeat row 2, changing colors after each block reaches the length determined in step 4.
6. Follow the finishing instructions from the pattern (ignore stitch counts).
Credits:
This pattern and all photos are the property of Noelebelle by Nina Noel. This pattern is for personal use only and may not be redistributed or altered and sold. If you wish to sell your finished items please sell small quantities only, and provide credit for my design along with a link to my website: https://noelebellecrochet.com
HELP SUPPORT MY CROCHET BUSINESS
I hope you enjoyed this free chunky crochet blanket pattern! You can help support my crochet business by purchasing copies of your favorite patterns from my shop. My crochet pattern PDFs are easily printable, ad-free, and beautifully designed so you can keep them in your project notebook forever!
I’d love to see what you created! Share your work with me on Instagram @noelebellecrochet
WANT TO SAVE THIS FREE CROCHET blanket PATTERN FOR LATER? PIN IT ON PINTEREST!
Leave a Reply