Embrace the extra-ordinary with this gorgeous blanket to keep baby warm. A crocodile stitch is what creates layers of texture that make this afghan so distinctive. And of course, Bernat Softee Baby yarn is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, so it’s always safe to cuddle.
Materials Bernat Softee Baby (140 g/5 oz; 331 m/362 yds) Mint (02004) 7 balls
Size 5.5 mm (U.S. I or 9) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge. Optional: 7 yds [6.5 m] of contrast color satin ribbon 3/8″ [9 mm] wide.
Gauge 6 V-sts and 8 rows = 4″ [10 cm]
INSTRUCTIONS
Notes:
• The “crocodile stitch” is formed by a 2 row repeat: a row of V-sts followed by a row of scales (or shells). This is a fairly easy pattern to execute and fast to memorize. The novelty of this design is that the scales are crocheted in front of the V-sts with clusters of double crochet (dc) from top to bottom, then from bottom to top, as opposed to working them on top of the row, like in most shell patterns.
• Ch 3 at beg of rnd counts as dc throughout.
Ch 124.
1st row: (WS). (1 dc. Ch 1. 1 dc) in 7th ch from hook (counts as 1 dc. Ch 1. 1 dc. Ch 1. 1 dc). *Miss next 2 ch. (1 dc. Ch 1. 1 dc) in next ch – V-st made. Rep from * to last 3 ch. Miss next 2 ch. 1 dc in last ch. Turn. 39 V-sts.
2nd row: Ch 3. Work 4 dc down post of first dc of first V-st. Ch 1. Work 5 dc up post of 2nd dc of the same V-st – beg scale st made. (See photo 1 on page 2) *Miss next V-st. Work 5 dc down post of first dc of next V-st. Ch 1. Work 5 dc up post of 2nd dc of the same V-st – scale st made. Rep from * to last dc. Sl st in last dc. Turn. 20 scale sts. (See photo 2 on page 2).
3rd row: Ch 3. V-st in first ch-1 sp of 1st row. *Inserting hook from front to back between next 2 scales and ch-1 sp of 1st row directly behind it, work V-st. (See photo 3 on page 2) Rep from * to last dc. 1 dc in top of last dc of 1st row. Turn. 39 V-sts.
4th row: Sl st in each of first 2 dc and next ch-1 sp. Miss next dc. *Scale st around next V-st. Miss next V-st. Rep from * to last V-st. Miss next dc. Sl st in next ch-1 sp and each of last 2 dc. Turn. 19 scale sts.
5th row: Ch 3. V-st in first ch-1 sp. *V-st in next ch-1 sp. Inserting hook from front to back between next 2 scales and ch-1 sp of 3rd row directly behind it, work V-st. Rep from * to last ch-1 sp. V-st in last ch-1 sp. 1 dc in last dc. Turn. 39 V-sts.
6th row: Ch 1. Scale st around first V-st. *Miss next V-st. Scale st around next V-st. Rep from * to last dc. Sl st in last dc. Turn. 20 scale sts. Rep 3rd to 6th rows 21 times more, ending on a 6th row. Do not break yarn. There will be 45 rows of scales.
Edging 1st rnd: (RS). Ch 1. 2 sc in same sp as last sl st. Work 89 sc down left side of Blanket, 3 sc in corner, 119 sc across bottom of Blanket, 3 sc in corner, 89 sc up right side of Blanket, 119 sc across top of Blanket and 1 sc in same sp as first sc. Join with sl st in top of first sc. 428 sc.
2nd rnd: Ch 6 (counts as dc and ch-3). 1 dc in same sp as sl st. *[Ch 1. Miss next sc. 1 dc in next sc. Ch 1. Rep from * to next corner sc, (1 dc. Ch 3. 1 dc) in next corner sc] 3 times. **Ch 1. Miss next sc. 1 dc in next sc. Ch 1. Rep from ** to next corner sc. Join with sl st in 3rd ch of ch 6.
3rd rnd: Sl st in first ch-3 sp. Ch 3. 4 dc in same sp as last sl st. *3 dc in each ch-1 sp to next ch- 3 sp. 5 dc in next ch-3 sp. Rep from * around, ending with 3 dc in each ch-1 sp to next ch-3 sp. Join with sl st in top of ch 3.
4th rnd: Ch 3. 2 dc in each dc around. Join with sl st in top of ch 3.
5th rnd: Ch 3. *2 dc in next dc. 1 dc in next dc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st in top of ch 3. Fasten off.
About the Designer Lianka Azulay, born in Brazil, picked up her first crochet hook at age 7, and hasn’t put it down since. She specializes in the research and use of unique stitch patterns in her designs to bring fashionable and contemporary style to crocheted pieces. Her first collection of patterns, “Crocodile Stitch Fashions,” was published by Annie’s Attic and quickly became the #1 bestseller in the publisher’s catalog. The huge success of her pattern collection touched off a trend, and the Crocodile Stitch became “one of the hottest crochet techniques in crochet today” (Crochet Magazine).
Finishing Optional: Cut 4 pieces of ribbon measuring 60″ [152 cm] each. Weave one ribbon piece along each edge of Blanket. Tie bows at each corner.
Photo Tutorial: Note: Yarn weight and hook were changed for better visualization on photos.
