Milky Way Blankie is a space-themed crochet blanket found in the May 2012 issue of Crochet Today! magazine.  This blanket is made in Red Heart Super Saver yarn in White and Shaded Dusk. The stars are made with Red Heart Shimmer in Snow. The two shades of Super Saver are used to make a large spiral, and the stars are made separately, then attached as-you-go on the last round. You can place them randomly as I did, or use some kind of pattern, like maybe a favorite constellation.

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The call for submissions for this issue asked for space-themed children’s items.  The only thing I can really claim as inspiration for this pattern was that I recently saw a pattern that utilized a small spiral as part of a freeform pattern.  Other than that bit of inspiration, this just came out of my brain.  I was really excited about the idea though, and I’m glad that the editorial staff was excited as well!

I have decided to make this pattern available for free here on my blog as the magazine is no longer in print! 

As with all my patterns please do not make digital or paper copies for others. Instead, please direct them to my website to get their own. Thank you!

Milky Way Blankie, a Space-themed Children’s Blanket

By April Garwood of Banana Moon Studio with Crochet Today magazine

Send your sweetie to sleep with a beautiful blankie that is out-of-this world adorable!

Finished Measurements About 36 in. in diameter

Skill Level Easy

Yarn

Red Heart Super Saver (100% Acrylic; 7oz/198g skeins; each approx 364yd/333m; weight category 4/medium/worsted) 1 skein #0311 White (A)

Red Heart Super Saver (100% Acrylic; 5oz/141g skeins; each approx 244yd/223m/ weight category 4/medium/worsted) 2 skeins #0984 Shaded Dusk (B)

Stars originally made with Red Heart Shimmer (discontinued) (Acrylic/polyester metallic; 3.5oz/100g skeins; each approx 280yd/256.03m) 1 skein #1010 Snow (C)

Suggested replacement for stars Caron Simple Soft Party Yarn (99% Acrylic, 1% Metallic; 3oz/85g; each approx 164yd/150m; weight category 4/medium/worsted) 1 skein #0001 Snow Sparkle

Crochet Hook Size K/10 1/2 (6.5mm) crochet hook or any size to obtain correct gauge and size.

Notions Locking stitch marker and yarn needle

Gauge 6 rows x 11 sts = 3 ¾ inches in dc. Gauge is not critical for this project.

How to make a gauge swatch

Ch 13

Row 1 Dc in 4^th ch from hook and each ch across (beg ch 3 counts as dc), turn — 11 dc.

Rows 2-6 Ch 3, skip first dc, dc in each rem dc, turn — 11 dc. Fasten off.

Special techniques

Adjustable Ring Method Holding the yarn a few inches from the end, wrap around your finger.  Do not remove wrap from finger, insert hook into the wrap and draw up a loop of working yarn.  Ch as designated in instructions of first round to secure ring, and remove ring from finger.  Work stitches of first round in ring.  Pull gently, but firmly, on tail to tighten ring.

Note

For blanket, work in a continuous spiral, do not join at the end of rounds, do not turn between rounds. Color A is always worked into sts of color B, color B is always worked into sts of color A. Each rnd begins with same color with which previous rnd ended. Work first half of each rnd in this color. When half-way through rnd, change colors by lengthening lp on hook and removing hook. Place hook into live loop of next color from previous rnd, work remainder of rnd in that color, and begin next rnd with same color. 

This spiral method is a little different than your average project worked in rounds. for a video tutorial, see my post here.

Blanket

With A make an adjustable ring.

Rnd 1 Ch 2 (does not count as a st), 6 dc in ring, join B with sl st into ring, ch 2, 6 dc in ring, pm in last dc, pull ring closed — 12 dc.

Note: m identifies last st of each round, move m up as work progresses, this marks the end of each rnd, not where colors change.

Rnd 2 With B, *2 dc each in next 6 dc*, with A, repeat from * to *  — 24 dc.

Rnd 3 With A, *[dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc]6 times*, with B, repeat from * to * — 36 dc.

Rnd 4 With B, *[dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc]6 times*, with A, repeat from * to * — 48 dc.

Rnds 5-28 Continue with same color, *[dc to next increase, dc in first st of increase, 2 dc in second st of increase] 6 times*, change to other color, repeat from * to * — 336 dc. Fasten off.

Stars (make 15, or number desired)

Note Stars are worked independently of blanket through Rnd 2. They are attached to blanket as Rnd 3 is worked. Stars are to be placed randomly, as desired. When working sl sts to background in Rnd 3, place hook around post or into top of st nearest to desired location of star point and sl st around it.

Tip When working star points 2-5, pull up a little on hook to see where the point wants to fall before choosing the spot to make the slip st.

With C make an adjustable ring.

Rnd 1 Ch 1, 10 sc in ring, pull ring closed, join to first sc with sl st — 10 sc.

Rnd 2 Ch 1, [sc in next sc, ch 3, sc in next sc]5 times, join to first sc with sl st — 10 sc, 5 ch sps.

Rnd 3 Ch 1, [(sc, hdc, dc, ch 1, sl st to background [point made], ch 1, dc, hdc, sc)in next ch sp]5 times, join to first sc with sl st ”“ 30 sts, 5 points. Fasten off. Pull ends through to WS of blanket. 

Finishing

Steam block to uncurl edges if desired.  Weave in ends.

As with all my patterns please do not make digital or paper copies for others. Instead, please direct them to my website to get their own. Thank you!

As always, I would LOVE to see finished projects!  You can post pictures on Ravelry, and I’ll see them there, or you can share them on my Facebook page.

Happy crocheting!

April

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