Get the biggest impact of color change yarn when you crochet the Mulberry Afghan, a FREE block stitch baby blanket pattern designed in collaboration with Lion Brand.
Spring has sprung, and that means the new baby announcements are rolling in. My husband’s cousin is weeks away from welcoming her first little girl, so Auntie Toni is pulling out all the stops. The simple block stitch design of the new Mulberry Afghan gets a boost from the use of color change yarn. Learn to make the Mulberry Afghan from start to finish with this free pattern and tutorial video.
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Get The Mulberry Afghan
- FREE PATTERN – Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Mulberry Afghan + helpful tutorial video.
- PRINTABLE PDF – Pick up the one-page PDF version of the Mulberry afghan from Ravelry and TLYarnCrafts.com.
- ALL-IN-ONE KIT – Customize your Mulberry Afghan kit from Lion Brand. Kit includes all the yarn to make your blanket + a PDF version of the pattern.
Beginner Tunisian Crochet Baby Blanket
Tunisian crochet and I are joined at the hip, but there are lots of makers who’ve yet to experience the joy of this fun technique. Tunisian crochet lives at the cross-section of knit and traditional crochet, bringing the best features of both crafts together.
If you’re new to Tunisian crochet, the Mulberry Afghan is a wonderful project to learn with. This block stitch baby blanket uses basic stitches and techniques, while gently introducing you to more advanced concepts like an extended post stitch, color changes, and adding a border. The final effect is stunning, making your blanket look more complicated than it actually was.
How to Choose The Right Yarn
I don’t tend to leave much space in my stash for acrylic yarns. But, after designing the Daphne Afghan and Omar Wrap, it’s safe to say that Lion Brand’s Mandala Ombre has a standing invitation to my yarn stash.
Lion Brand’s Mandala Ombre is a category 4 worsted weight cake yarn featuring smooth color changes. I chose the colorway Joy for the Mulberry Afghan at the request of my mother-in-law. The colors in Joy transition from grape jam to deep lavender, finishing with a few shades of calming gray. The overall effect of this block stitch baby blanket is subtle, letting purple come to the forefront without being overwhelming.
I paired the colorful Mandala Ombre with Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling, an economical category 4 worsted weight acrylic yarn that comes in dozens of classic shades. Using white keeps this blanket fresh and bright while slightly toning down the abundance of color.
Customize your Mulberry Afghan all-in-one kit on the Lion Brand Website!
If cake yarn just isn’t your thing, go off script and get creative when making the Mulberry Afghan. The unique block stitch baby blanket is a blank canvas, lending itself well to solid colors, color blocking, and even scrap busting. Have fun placing colors based on your unique style. Swap in any worsted weight yarns so you don’t have to change tools.
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Get The Mulberry Afghan
- FREE PATTERN – Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Mulberry Afghan + helpful tutorial video.
- PRINTABLE PDF – Pick up the one-page PDF version of the Mulberry afghan from Ravelry and TLYarnCrafts.com.
- ALL-IN-ONE KIT – Customize your Mulberry Afghan kit from Lion Brand. Kit includes all the yarn to make your blanket + a PDF version of the pattern.
Mulberry Afghan Details
DESCRIPTION
Let the yarn do all the work when stitching up the beginner-friendly Mulberry Afghan. This stunning block stitch baby blanket uses color-changing cake yarn to produce bands of soft color, outlined in a coordinating neutral. Bordered with simple double crochet and slip stitches, you’ll be planning your next blanket before you finish the first.
MATERIALS
- A – Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling, worsted weight (#4); 100% acrylic. Sample uses 550 yards (3 skeins) in the color “White”.
- B – Lion Brand Mandala Ombre, worsted weight (#4), 100% acrylic. Sample uses 620 yards (2 cakes) in the color “Joy”.
- 6.5mm Tunisian crochet hook with 32″ cord (I love this one!)
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Locking stitch markers (optional)
- Blocking supplies (learn more about blocking here)
FINISHED SIZE
35″ wide x 38″ long
GAUGE
5″ = 16 rows x 19 stitches in Block Stitch pattern
ABBREVIATIONS
- CC = change color
- Ch = chain
- Dc = double crochet
- Lts = Last Tunisian Stitch (see Special Stitches)
- RetP = Return Pass (see Special Stitches)
- Sl St = slip stitch
- St(s) = stitch(es)
- Tss = Tunisian simple stitch
- XLTfpdc = extra long Tunisian front post double crochet (see Special Stitches)
SPECIAL STITCHES
–Extra Long Tunisian Front Post Double Crochet (XLTfpdc): yarn over, insert hook under the front and back vertical bars of the stitch 3 rows below, yarn over, pull up a loop, chain 1, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook. Skip the Tss behind the XLTfpdc on the working row.
–Last Tunisian Stitch (Lts): Insert hook under BOTH vertical bars of the last stitch and complete as for Tss.
–Return Pass (RetP): Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through the next 2 loops on hook) until 1 loop remains on hook.
Mulberry Afghan Pattern
Let’s make the Mulberry Afghan together! Follow along with this tutorial video:
Blanket Body
With A, ch 119.
ROW 1: Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, pull up a loop in the back bump of each ch across, RetP, CC to B.
ROWS 2-3: Tss across row, RetP, CC to A at end of Row 3.
ROW 4: Tss 2, (XLTfpdc 1, tss 3) across row, working last st as for Lts, RetP, CC to A.
ROWS 5-111: Rep Rows 2-4. Do not CC at end of Row 111. Fasten off B.
Sl st bind off loosely with A. Do not fasten off.
Blanket Border
ROUND 1: Ch 1, 5dc in st at base of ch (this is the first corner), mark 3rd dc, rotate to work along row ends, dc in each row end to next corner, 5dc in corner, mark 3rd dc, rotate to work along foundation ch, dc in each foundation ch to next corner, 5dc in corner, mark 3rd dc, rotate to work along row ends, dc in each row end to next corner, 5dc in corner, mark 3rd dc, rotate to work along bind off row, dc in each bind off st, sl st in first dc of round. Do not turn.
ROUND 2: Ch 1, dc in same st as join, dc to marked st, (5dc in marked st, drop marker, dc in each st to next marked st) around, finishing last rep at beginning dc, sl st in first dc of round. Fasten off A. Weave in end from round.
ROUND 3: Join B with sl st in any st along bottom of blanket, sl st in each dc around.
Fasten off. Weave in remaining ends. Steam block to finished measurements.
Prefer an ad-free version of the Mulberry Afghan? Find it in my shop!
The Mulberry Afghan is Peanut approved, folks! My cat, Peanut Butter, always knows when I’m about to take photos of my makes, and his pose game is on point. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he wanted this blanket all to himself! This one is spoken for, but maybe I can make a mini version for him.
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Find more FREE crochet baby blanket patterns here:
Susan says
Love this blanket!!!
Dani says
This is so beautiful!
Muthu Sadayappan says
Hi Toni, thank you for the lovely pattern. I am new to Tunisian Crochet and find this to be the perfect project to start learning. Unfortunately 6.5mm tunisian needle hook in currently unavailable. Can I use 6mm size, if so how many should I cast to get the right size.
Toni L. says
Hi! I’d recommend getting a 6.5mm hook to make sure you reach the correct gauge for this project. You can find individual corded hooks on Amazon if they re sold out from Lion Brand.
Phyllis says
Toni,
Love this pattern! How would I this a bit larger? Is it possible?
Toni L. says
Hi! The block stitch starts with a multiple of 3 plus 4. You can use that math to calculate how to make your blanket bigger 🙂
Phyllis says
Thanks Toni!!
Janice says
I was wondering if someone can help me on this. I am making the baby blanket and loving it. I am about half way through and when I am done, I would love to make an Afghan from this pattern. But I have no clue on how figure out how many to chain, how many rows, and how much yarn I would need. I am very new to all this and have no clue. Thanks for any help.
Toni L. says
Hi darling! The starting chain count is listed here in the pattern, so you can make the blanket as large as you like. Check Pinterest for some blanket size charts to put you on the right path. You’ll work rows until your blanket is the size you like. It’s tough to estimate yarn based on a blanket you haven’t made yet, but I’d say get more than you think you need. Designing a blanket (like you’re trying to do) is a lot of trial and error, but totally worth the effort!