The Battle Song Blanket is a free pattern here on the blog! Read on to learn about the design inspiration and all materials needed to create this crochet blanket.
Copyright Disclosure
This pattern is for your own personal use. No unauthorized reproduction, in whole or in part (i.e. copying and pasting this pattern into your own document, altering this pattern in any way and calling it your own, etc.), or distribution of this pattern or content (i.e. sharing this pattern in its whole form on your own blog) is allowed. You can use this blog post in blog round-ups. I give permission to sell your items made from this pattern. Please credit “While They Dream” in your listings. The pattern and all photos are the property of While They Dream. You are welcome to share my patterns across all social media forms as long as you link back to my blog directly.
Inspiration
I love quilts, but I don't do a lot of sewing. For now I just enjoy crocheting quilt style blankets. The Battle Song Blanket is the perfect blanket to go stash diving with. For my own version I used colors from my 2023 Nature Yarn Club. There are lots of fabric cross quilts, so I designed this one to match my own ideas based off of ones that I had seen around Pinterest.
Due to the fact that I was creating new colors every month of 2023, I had no idea what the end result of my quilt was actually going to look like. When I created my Birds of a Feather Blanket in the beginning of 2022 I had to let go and learn to trust the process of "blindly creating" throughout the year. I used bare yarn, paired with a monthly yarn club color inspired by birds from from Made by Hailey Bailey. I never knew what color was coming next.
The Birds of a Feather Blanket is what got me hooked on the process of trusting a future outcome. Since creating that blanket I've had several other people start their own, blindly creating their own versions. I have found it gives people a bit of anxiety...giving up control of where things may go and trusting that they'll be happy at the end of it all. I think that's where the beauty lies. I think it's a direct representation of life.
Here's a look at the end result of my Birds of a Feather Blanket.
Sizes
- Each square is 2.75 inches (7 cm)
- The final dimensions will be: 47 inches (119 cm) x 47 inches (119 cm)
- If you use fingering weight you could keep crocheting your square until you reach the approximate size of the worsted weight version.
- If you use DK weight yarn I would suggest checking your size after completing your rounds to see if you're close to the 2.75 in (7cm).
Supplies Needed
- Crochet Hook: 4.5mm/G+ – adjust your hook size if you adjust the yarn weight. I love using Furls Hooks. They are so comfortable and I don’t get stressed hands or wrists like I once did. Use the code HOOK15 for 15% off. You may need to adjust your hook size if you use a different weight of yarn.
- Yarn: I am using a worsted weight yarn. There are no rules here. Use whatever weight you'd like to use.
- Colors Used and Yardage:
- Each worsted weight square requires approximately 4.7g/10 yards
- In a 100g skein I would say you could comfortably get 22 squares
- The neutral yarn: You’ll need to make 85 squares in your neutral color. I suggest 450g just to be safe. If you want to do a simple border in a neutral color I would plan for purchasing a 500g.
- For the crosses: You will need 13 squares for each cross and 4 squares for the tops of crosses that line the perimeter of the blanket. You will need approximately 61g/130 yds (119m) for each of the crosses and 19g/40 yds (37m) for each of the tops.
Stitch Abbreviations
- Ch – Chain
- DC – Double Crochet
- Slst – Slip Stitch
Chart for Assembling
The color labels below are just an example – you don’t need to use a monthly yarn club. Use scraps, stash, do all the crosses in one color, etc. There are no rules!
PDF Patterns: The PDF pattern has everything you need to create your own stash busting blanket. It has photo tutorials and links to helpful videos for different joining techniques to choose from for attaching your squares.
- You can find the PDF Pattern HERE on my website.
- Grab it on Etsy HERE
- Save it to your Ravelry favorites HERE
Pattern
Round 1: Make a Magic Circle (or chain 3, join in a circle). Ch 3, work 2 DC, Ch 2, 3 DC into the magic circle, Ch 2. *3DC, Ch 2* repeat once more. If you used a Magic Circle, pull your tail tight to close the hole. Join with a slst to the top of your beginning Ch 3. (3 DC on each side and one Ch 2 in each corner).
Round 2: Ch 3, DC into the next 2 DC sts. *(2 DC, Ch 2, 2 DC) into the Ch 2 space. DC into each stitch across* repeat two more times. (2 DC, Ch 2, 2 DC) into the Ch 2 space. Join with a slst to the top of your beginning Ch 3. (7 DC on each side and one Ch 2 in each corner).
Round 3: Ch 3, DC into the next 4 DC sts. *(2 DC, Ch 2, 2 DC) into the Ch 2 space. DC into each stitch across* repeat two more times. (2 DC, Ch 2, 2 DC) into the Ch 2 space. 2 DC in the next two DC sts. Fasten off. Invisible join.