1 for Me, 1 for You- Mixed Blocks

Help me help local communities by creating blocks for Warm Up America, by making a block for yourself and one for a community project with this free pattern. I will be creating a new block every few weeks and sharing it with you, I just ask that make one for donation.

Warm Up America is a nationwide organization that encourages local donations, but will also except donations to be sent to their office so that blocks can be assembled and then blankets can be donated through the United States.

Mixed Blocks Block

Even if you do not want to participate with Warm Up America, please consider creating blocks, or blankets for your local community. There are various places in every community that accept donations.

Corner to Corner

This is a popular technique that while a bit of a challenge to get started is quite addicting once you get it. This technique really allows you to customize the size of any project you want to work it with, you just need to refer to the “increase both side”, “increase one side, decrease one side”, and “decrease both sides” portions and work them until you have a desired size.

Gauge: 7”x9” rectangle

Materials

Medium weight yarn, in 3 colors MC (main color), CC1, CC2

K/10 ½/ 6.5mm hook

Notes

The “blocks” within this block are made up of a chain 3, and 3 double crochet stitches.

Each row creates new blocks, and work in the sides of the adjacent blocks of the previous row.

Since this Block uses three colors, instead of cutting the yarn, carry it along the side of the Block. If you need tips on this check it out here.

Block Pattern

With MC Ch 7

Increase Both Sides

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in each ch across, turn. – 4 dc (1 block)

Beginning of Row 2, change color and chain 6

Row 2: Change to CC1, ch 6, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next 2 chs, sl st to the top of the turning chain of the adjacent dc block, ch 3, working down side of dc stitch of adjacent block work 3 dc, turn. -2 blocks

Row 2, dc in 4th ch from hook, and in next 2 chains.
Slip Stitch to the top of the adjacent block
Work in the side of the adjacent block, change color and chain 6

Row 3: Change to CC2, ch 6, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next 2 chs, sl st to the top of the adjacent dc block, [ch 3, working down side of dc stitch of adjacent block work 3 dc, sl st to the top of the adjacent dc block] repeat across, turn. -3 blocks

Working second block of Row 3

Row 4-7: Rep Row 3, changing color every row in the pattern of MC, CC1, CC2, MC. – 7 blocks

Increase One Side, Decrease One Side

Row 8: Change to CC1, ch 6, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next 2 chs, sl st to the top of the adjacent dc block, [ch 3, working down side of dc stitch of adjacent block work 3 dc, sl st to the top of the adjacent dc block] repeat across until 1 block remains, leave side of last block unworked, turn. -7 blocks

End of Row 8, do not work in the side of the last block.

Row 9: Change to CC2, sl st across the top of the last 3 dc, sl st to the top of the ch on block, [ch 3, working down side of dc stitch of adjacent block work 3 dc, sl st to the top of the adjacent dc block] repeat across, turn. -7 blocks

Beginning of Row 9, Sl st across the block to begin row, and decrease the side.

Decrease Both Sides

Row 10: Change to MC, sl st across the top of the last 3 dc, sl st to the top of the ch on block, [ch 3, working down side of dc stitch of adjacent block work 3 dc, sl st to the top of the adjacent dc block] repeat across until 1 block remains, leave side of last block unworked, turn. -6 blocks

Beginning of Row 10, sl st across to begin decreasing on both sides
End of Row 10, decreased on both sides.

Rows 11-15: Rep Row 10. -1 block

Fasten off.

End of Row 15. Note the stitch ends at the end of the block, not the corner of the overall Block.

Edge

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in sc in same st, sc in each st across until 1 st remains, 3 sc in last st, working over row ends evenly sc across to beg ch, 3 sc in last st, working in unused loops of beg ch, sc in each chain across, 3 sc in last st, working over row end evenly sc across, 2 sc in last st, sl st to beg sc, fasten off.

Weave in ends, block. (see tips here)

1 for Me, 1 for You- Dancing Stripes Block

Help me help local communities by creating blocks for Warm Up America, by making a block for yourself and one for a community project with this free pattern. I will be creating a new block every few weeks and sharing it with you, I just ask that make one for donation.

Warm Up America is a nationwide organization that encourages local donations, but will also except donations to be sent to their office so that blocks can be assembled and then blankets can be donated through the United States.

Dancing Stripes Block

Even if you do not want to participate with Warm Up America, please consider creating blocks, or blankets for your local community. There are various places in every community that accept donations.

Tunisian Crochet

This block is used working Tunisian Crochet. Tunisian Crochet is essentially inserting your hook through your fabric and pulling up a loop, and leaving the loop on the hook, pulling up loops across the row. Then a “return pass” is worked to work each loop off the hook. This creates a fabric that has a similar look to weaving, yet has the same structural characteristics as crochet. There are many different stitches in this technique, but in this block I only use one stitch, the Tunisian Simple stitch. Learn the stitch here.

Changing color on every forward and return pass, creates a dramatic effect. Utilizing only three colors means that I have a color waiting for me when I finish a row and I know exactly which yarn to work next.

Gauge: 7”x9” rectangle

Materials

Medium weight yarn, in 3 colors MC (main color), CC1, CC2

9 mm Tunisian Crochet hook

Special Stitches

Tunisian Simple Stitch (tss): Insert hook from right to left under next vertical bar, YO, pull up a loop.

Return Pass (RP) :  YO and pull through 1 loop, [YO and pull through 2 loops] across, until 2 loops remain on hook, using new color for next row’s FP,  YO and pull through last 2 loops.

The Pattern

With MC Chain 19

Row 1: With color MC, pull up a loop in second ch from the hook and in each ch across. Switch to color CC1, RP. 19 sts

Row 2: With color CC2, tss across, switch to color MC, RP.

Row 3: With color CC1, tss across, switch to color CC2, RP.

Row 4: With color MC, tss across, switch to color CC1, RP.

Row 5-19: Rep Rows 2-4 five times.

Edging Rnd: With color CC2, sc in each vertical bar across, 3 sc in corner, work evenly sc around block working 3 sc in each corner. Finish off.

1 for Me, 1 for You- Leaf Spike Block

Help me help local communities by creating blocks for Warm Up America, by making a block for yourself and one for a community project with this free pattern. I will be creating a new block every few weeks and sharing it with you, I just ask that make one for donation.

Warm Up America is a nationwide organization that encourages local donations, but will also except donations to be sent to their office so that blocks can be assembled and then blankets can be donated through the United States.

Leaf Spike Block

Even if you do not want to participate with Warm Up America, please consider creating blocks, or blankets for your local community. There are various places in every community that accept donations.

Spike Stitches

This block is used working spike stitches. Spike Stitches are essentially inserting your hook through your fabric and pulling up a loop. This loop is pulled up to the height of the current row to have the stitch finished. This gives a unique ability to create fascinating lines of color. In this block I have worked 5 spiked stitches together to create an affect similar to a leaf.

Gauge: 7”x9” rectangle

Materials

Medium weight yarn, in 2 colors MC (main color), CC1, CC2

K/10 ½/ 6.5mm hook

Special Stitches

Spike Leaf (SL): Insert hook in the 2nd stitch backward from the hook and 1 row below, yo, pull up a loop, yo, insert hook in the 1st stitch backward from the hook and 2 rows below, yo, pull up a loop, yo, insert hook in stitch directly below and 3 rows below, yo, pull up a loop, yo, insert hook in stitch 1 stitch forward from hook and 2 rows below, yo, pull up a loop, yo, insert hook in stitch 2 stitches forward from hook and 1 row below, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through all 10 loops on hook.

First insertion, yo, pull through loop of Leaf Spike
Second insertion point of Leaf Spike
Third insertion point of Leaf Spike
Fourth insertion point of Leaf Spike
Fifth insertion point of Leaf Spike
Yarn over and pull through all 10 loops on hook. Stitch complete

Notes

Working the first stitch immediately following the Leaf Spike can be a bit tricky, as you need to push the last loops of the LS out of the way.

After pulling up the loop through the stitch immediately following the Leaf Spike, you will need to push the last loop of the Leaf Spike toward the stitch to maneuver the hook into the next stitch.

The Pattern

Row 1: With MC, ch 24, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across, turn. -23 sc

Rows 2-5: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.

Row 6: Change to CC, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 2 sts, LS over next st, sc in next 5 sts, LS over next st, sc in next 5 sts, LS over next st, sc in last 7 sts, change to MC, turn.

Rows 7-11: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.

Row 12: Change to CC, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 4 sts, LS over next st, sc in next 5 sts, LS over next st, sc in next 5 sts, LS over next st, sc in last 5 sts, change to MC, turn.

Rows 13-17: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.

Row 18: Change to CC, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 6 sts, LS over next st, sc in next 5 sts, LS over next st, sc in next 5 sts, LS over next st, sc in last 3 sts, change to MC, turn.

Row 19-21: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn.

Edging

With CC, evening sc around block working 3 sc in each corner.

1 for Me, 1 for You- String of Stars Block

Help me help local communities by creating blocks for Warm Up America, by making a block for yourself and one for a community project with this free pattern. I will be creating a new block every few weeks and sharing it with you, I just ask that make one for donation.

Warm Up America is a nationwide organization that encourages local donations, but will also except donations to be sent to their office so that blocks can be assembled and then blankets can be donated through the United States.

String of Stars Block

Even if you do not want to participate with Warm Up America, please consider creating blocks, or blankets for your local community. There are various places in every community that accept donations.

Star Stitches

This block is used working star stitches. Star stitches are similar to working a decrease over several stitches, but instead of over several stitches it is over various parts of adjacent stitches. Pulling up many loops in many places creates this unique looking stitch, in this block I have you working 2 different types of star stitches. One star is big and full over yarn overs to create a dynamic appearance, while the lighter star is does not have yarn over, and few loops, but creates a great textural effect, and in my opinion looks cute pall stacked upon one another.

Gauge: 7”x9” rectangle

Materials

Medium weight yarn, in 3 colors MC (main color), CC1, CC2

K/10 ½/ 6.5mm hook

Special Stitches

Beginning Full Star (BFS): Yo, insert hook into 2nd ch from hook, yo, pull through loop, yo insert hook through base (post) of last stain next ch, yo, pull through a loop, yo insert hook into same st as chain, yo, pull through a loop, yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, insert hook into next hook, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through all 11 loops on hook.

Full Star (FS): Yo, insert hook into eye last star made, yo, pull through loop, yo insert hook through base (post) of last star, yo, pull through a loop, yo insert hook into same st as last base (post) of last star, yo, pull through a loop, yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, insert hook into next hook, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through all 11 loops on hook.

Loop placement for the Full Star Stitch (the placement is the same as the Light Star, but a Yarn over is worked between each inserting of the hook).
After pulling through all the loops, you chain 1, this creates an “eye” at the center of the stitch

And the Smaller Star

Beginning Light Star (BLS): Insert hook into 2nd ch from hook, yo, pull through a loop, insert hook in next ch, yo, pull through a loop, insert hook into same st as chain, yo, pull up a loop, insert hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through all 5 loops.

Light Star (LS): Insert hook into eye of last star made, yo, pull through a loop, insert hook through base (post) of last star, yo, pull through a loop, insert hook into same st as last post of last star, yo, pull up a loop, insert hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through all 5 loops.

Loop placement for the Light Star Stitch.

If you would like to see some more detailed step bu step of the loop location, here is a tutorial for the Light Star Stitch.

Block Pattern

With MC Ch 28

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across, turn. -27 sc

Row 2: Change to CC1, ch 3, BFS, ch 1, [FS, ch 1,] 12 times, turn. -13 Full Stars

Row 3: Change to MC, ch 1, 2 sc in same st, sc in each ch and the top of each star across, turn. -27

Single crochet into the top of the Star Stitch, and in the chain space, when working stitches over the Full Star Stitch.

Row 4: Change to CC2, ch 3, BLS, ch 1, [LS, ch 1] 25 times, turn.-26 Light Stars

Row 5: Change to MC, ch 1, 2 sc in same st, sc in each ch-sp across, turn. -27 sc

Only work in the chain space when working the next row on a row of Light Star Stitches

Row 6-13: Rep Rows 2-5 twice.

Edge

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in sc in same st, sc in each st across until 1 st remains, 3 sc in last st, working over row ends evenly sc across to beg ch, 3 sc in last st, working in unused loops of beg ch, sc in each chain across, 3 sc in last st, working over row end evenly sc across, 2 sc in last st, sl st to beg sc, fasten off.

Weave in ends, block. (see tips here)