Addictive Crochet Bobble Blanket

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 6 skeins of Blanket yarn
• Scrap yarn for poms and tassels
• US size P-16 (11.5 mm) crochet hook
• Pom pom maker
• Scissors & Measuring Tape
• Darning needle or smaller crochet hook for weaving in ends


• TECHNIQUES USED: single crochet, bobble stitch, pom pom, tassel
• GAUGE: 8 st by 8 rows (bobble st) = 11" x 11"
• 15 st by 15 rows (single crochet) = 10" x 10.3"


• FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: 44" x 58.75" (without tassels)


• SUMMARY: This blanket is constructed out of two easy crochet stitches - single crochet and bobble stitch. The bobble stitch looks intimidating, but it's based on repetition so it's very easy once you understand the pattern of the stitch. The pattern is broken down into 7 blocks of single crochet alternating with the bobble stitch. After the blanket is constructed, tassels and pom poms will be attached to the structure. As you work, the bobbles will naturally push to the front of your work - this is the RS of your work. Size up/down with your needles or adjust stitch count accordingly to obtain gauge.

DIRECTIONS:

BLOCK 1 (single crochet)
Leaving a 10" tail, ch 64 stiches (not including the ch on your hook). Turn work.
Skip the first ch, and SC in each ch across row (63 st complete). Turn work.
SC 8 rows in total or 5.5".

BLOCK 2 (bauble st)
Begin bobble rows, setup bobble: Ch 2 (1st leg of bobble), *yo, insert hook into 1st st of row (do no skip a st), yo and pull loop through (3 loops on hook), yo and pull through 2 loops* (2 loops on hook, 2nd leg of bobble made). Repeat from * to * three more times in same st until you have 5 loops on hook - yarn over and pull through all 5 loops. 1st bobble made - 5 legs on bobble. SC into next st.
**Continuing bobbles: *Yo, insert hook into next stitch, yo and pull loop thru, yo and pull thru 2 loops on hook.* Repeat 3 more times in same st until there are 5 loops on hook. Yo, pull thru all 5 loops. 2nd bobble made. SC into next st.** There should be 4 legs on rest of bobbles in row.
Repeat from ** to ** until there is one stitch left in the row. Bobble into last st. Turn work.
SC into first stitch and across row, turn work.
Continue in bobble st (alternating rows of bobbles and SC and ending on a bobble row) for 17 rows (9 rows of bobbles, 8 rows of SC) or 12.25. Crocheted blanket should measure 17.75" in total. Around the middle of this block, you will have to attach a new skein of yarn. Attach the new length leaving 6" tails that can be woven into the blanket as you work or at the end of the project.

BLOCK 3, 5, and 7 (single crochet)
SC for 8 rows (5.5").
BLOCK 4 and 6 (bobble st)
Work in bobble st (alternating rows of bobbles and SC and ending on a bobble row) for 17 rows (9 rows of bobbles, 8 rows of SC) or 12.25".

POMS AND TASSELS
Using a pom pom maker, make (16) 2.5" poms and (22) 1.5" poms. The 2.5" poms will be attached to blocks 3 and 5, and the 1.5" poms will to blocks 1 and 7. Make sure to leave at least 8" tails to tie the poms onto the blanket.
Beginning on block 1, w the RS of the blanket facing forward, find the middle row of the SC st. You will attach the poms to this row. Using the bobbles in the other sections as a guide, find the SC st that runs vertically between the 2nd and 3rd bobble. Run the tails around the selected st and to the WS of the blanket (flip to WS of work). Tie a half knot, and run the tails around the same st back to the front (flip to RS of work). Pull tight and tie a double knot to secure. Trim tails to match the pom. Repeat down the row, skipping 2 bobbles and placing the next pom between the next 2 bobbles. You will attach 8 poms in total to this row. Repeat for block 7. You can also string on all the poms in place and time them once you are sure you like their placement.
On block 3, find the middle row of the SC st. You will attach the 1.5" poms to this row. Instead of using the bobbles as a guide, count 3 sc st into the blanket. You will tie the pom onto the 4th. Repeat the steps to tie on the 1.5" poms - leaving 5 st in between each pom to attach 11 poms in total. Repeat for Block 5.
To make the 22 tassels, cut (10) 16" lengths of scrap yarn for each tassel. It's easiest to wrap the yarn around a hardbound book that's close to the desired length in circumference a bunch of times, and cut in a line down the spine or opening side of the book. This will create a bunch of strands that are the same length.
Begin on the top edge of the blanket with the RS facing (the last SC row). Attach a tassel to the 2nd st. Run 10 of the 16" lengths through the st and fold in half. Cut a piece of scrap yarn around 20" and wrap it around all 20 strands, about .75" from the base of the blanket. Tie a simple knot. The tails will become part of the tassel. Repeat every 6th st down for a total of 11 tassels (5 st in between tassels), tying the last tassel onto the 2nd to last st. Repeat on bottom edge of blanket with remaining 11 tassels.
Weave in and trim any tails. Put the blanket on a flat surface and trim the tassels to desired length.


ABBREVIATIONS:
ch - chain
RS - right side of work
SC - single crochet
st - stitch
WS - wrong side of work
yo - yarn over