Bobble Track Play Blanket

Grab all your favourite colours for this beautiful play blanket. The hdc create a stunning canvas for your popcorns to shine on. A geometric, modern feel combined with the deep and vibrant colours make this a play blanket that you'll want to keep working on.

Crochet hook

6.5mm (US Size K/10.5).

Measurements

105 x 120cm (41.3 x 47.25in).

Gauge/tension

11 sts and 9 rows in hdc measure 10 x 10cm with a 6.5mm hook.

Notes

• The ch2 at the end of each row are turning chains and do not count as st.
• Popcorns are worked on the right side only.

Body

With Colour A, ch89, turn.

Row 1 (RS) Starting in third ch from hook, 1hdc in each hdc, ch2, turn. [87 hdc]

Row 2 (WS) 1hdc in each st to end, ch2, turn.

Every even row is a repeat of Row 2 and is not written out below unless you need to change colours.

Row 3 33hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 13hdc, ch2, turn. [81 hdc, 6 popc]

Row 5 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 15hdc, ch2, turn.

Row 7 29hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 17hdc, ch2, turn.

Row 9 27hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 19hdc, ch2, turn.

Row 11 25hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 21hdc, ch2, turn.

Row 13 23hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 23hdc, ch2, turn.

Row 15 21hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 25hdc. Cut yarn.

Row 16 Join Colour B with a ss in first st, ch2 (doesn’t count as st), 1hdc in each st to end, ch2, turn. [87 hdc]

Row 17 19hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 27hdc, ch2, turn. [81 hdc, 6 popc]

Row 19 17hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 29hdc, ch2, turn.

Row 21 15hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, ch2, turn.

Row 23 13hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 33hdc, ch2, turn.

Row 25 11hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, 1popc, 3hdc, ch2, turn. [80 hdc, 7 popc]

Row 27 9hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc, 1popc, 1hdc, 1popc, 3hdc, ch2, turn. [79 hdc, 8 popc]

Row 29 7hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, *31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc; repeat from * another time, 3hdc, ch2, turn. [78 hdc, 9 popc]

Row 30 1hdc in each st to end, cut yarn, turn. [87 hdc]

Row 31 Join Colour C with a ss in first st, ch2 (doesn’t count as st), 5hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, *31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc; repeat from * another time, 5hdc, ch2, turn. [78 hdc, 9 popc]

Row 33 3hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, *31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc; repeat from * another time, 7hdc, ch2, turn.

Row 35 3hdc, 1popc, 1hdc, 1popc, *31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc; repeat from * another time, 9hdc, ch2, turn. [79 hdc, 8 popc]

Row 37 3hdc, 1popc, *31hdc, (1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc; repeat from * another time, 11hdc, ch2, turn. [80 hdc, 7 popc]

Rows 39-74 Repeat Rows 3-38, but without the indicated colour changes for Colour C and B. Instead, Join Colour D in Row 46 and Colour E in Row 61.

Rows 75-87 Repeat Rows 3-15, Joining Colour F in Row 76.

Rows 88-90 Repeat Row 2, cut yarn. [87 hdc]

Weave in ends.

Border

We'll be working our first round of the border in the same colour as the underlying stitches. It's a bit of a hassle but worth the effort!

Round 1 (RS) Start on the right-hand side where Colour E changes to F. With Colour F, join with ss in row-end of first row in Colour F. (1hdc in each of next 4 row-ends, 2hdc in next row-end) 3 times to corner, ch2, rotate blanket. Continue with the instructions below.

1hdc in each st across top, ch2, rotate blanket. Continue with the instructions below.

*(1hdc in each of next 4 row-ends, 2hdc in next row-end) 3 times, change to Colour E; repeat from * another 4 times changing to Colours D, C, B and A. After you change to Colour A, (1hdc in each of next 4 row-ends, 2hdc in next row-end) 3 times, ch2, rotate blanket. Continue with the instructions below.

1hdc in each ch across bottom, ch2, rotate blanket. Continue with the instructions below.

*(1hdc in each of next 4 row-ends, 2hdc in next row-end) 3 times, change to Colour B; repeat from * another 3 times changing to Colours C, D and E. After you Change to Colour E, (1hdc in each of next 4 row-ends, 2hdc in next row-end) 3 times, join with ss in first st of colour A. [108 hdc on long sides, 87 hdc on short sides]

Round 2 (RS) Join Colour F with a ss in any corner. Ch2 (doesn’t count as st), *1hdc in each st to corner sp, (2hdc, ch2, 1hdc) in corner sp; repeat from * another 2 times, 1hdc in each st to corner sp, (2hdc, ch2, 1hdc) in corner sp, 1hdc in each of remaining st, join with ss to first st. [111 hdc on long sides, 90 hdc on short sides]

You're making 2hdc on one side of the corner, and 1hdc on the other side. The reason for this is that when you work in Rounds, the slanting of stitches causes the corners to look slightly crooked. By working 2hdc we're offsetting this slant and making perfectly square corners. Trust me, it works!

Rounds 3-5 Repeat Round 2, cut yarn. [120 hdc on long sides, 99 hdc on short sides]

Weave in ends. Block blanket to size.

Adjusting the size of the blanket

You can adjust the width of the blanket by adding extra repeats of “(1popc, 1hdc) 2 times, 1popc, 31hdc” after the first repeat of this section in every uneven row. Do so by increasing the number of starting chains with multiples of 36 stitches.

Every added 36 stitches form an extra band of popcorns with hdc’s in between, measuring approximately 36cm (14.2in) in width.

To make the blanket longer, simply repeat Rows 3-38 more times. Each repeat adds 45cm (17.7in). You might want to sketch out the blanket if you add extra rows, to see how many colours you want to use for your adjusted blanket length.

Diagram