Duck and Moon Mosaic Crochet Blankie Free Pattern
Duck and Moon Mosaic Crochet Blankie Free Pattern
Introduction
This sweet little blankie is made for the babies in your life — and for the grown-ups who love a good sunset. A lone duck floats beneath a big crescent moon, stitched in mosaic crochet so the picture appears without any color changes mid-row. The five sunset shades move from soft peach through coral, magenta, and purple into deep violet, giving the blanket a warm, dreamy glow. Worked in baby-soft acrylic, it comes out light, squishy, and easy to wash — perfect for tummy time, stroller naps, and dragging around the house.
Materials Needed
- Yarn: Baby-soft acrylic, DK weight (100% acrylic), 5 colors, 200 yd each: A (Peach), B (Coral), C (Magenta), D (Purple), E (Deep Violet)
- Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook
- Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers (optional), measuring tape
- Finished size: Approximately 30 x 36 inches (76 x 91 cm)
Abbreviations
- ch — chain
- sc — single crochet
- dc — double crochet
- st(s) — stitch(es)
- RS — right side (the front of the blanket)
- WS — wrong side (the back of the blanket)
- rep — repeat
Gauge
16 sts and 16 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in the mosaic pattern. Work a small swatch in pattern and measure a 4-inch section; if you have more stitches, go up a hook size, and if you have fewer, go down.
Tips Before You Start
- Mosaic crochet works every row in one color, so keep your unused colors at the side of the work and simply pick up the next shade when the pattern tells you to change.
- Always work the single crochet into the back loop and the double crochet into the front loop as written — this is what makes the duck and moon pop out in texture.
- Count your stitches at the end of every wrong-side row; each one should total 120 sts, which keeps the picture from drifting.
- Keep your tension relaxed and even — mosaic fabric stiffens up quickly if you crochet tightly, and a blankie should stay drapey.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Blanket Body
Base chain: With A, ch 122.
Row 1 (RS): With A, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (120 sc).
Row 2 (WS): With A, sc in each st across (120 sc). Change to B.
Row 3 (RS): With B, sc in first st, *dc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * across (60 dc, 60 sc).
Row 4 (WS): With B, sc in each st across (120 sc). Change to C.
Row 5 (RS): With C, sc in first 2 sts, *dc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * to last st, sc in last st (59 dc, 61 sc).
Row 6 (WS): With C, sc in each st across (120 sc). Change to D.
Rows 7-144: Continue repeating Rows 5-6, changing color every 2 rows in this order: D, E, A, B, C, D, E, A, B, C, and so on, cycling through all five colors to the end. Each repeat of Rows 5-6 is worked in a single color (Row 5 on the RS, Row 6 on the WS), and every wrong-side row stays at 120 sc. The last repeat (Rows 143-144) is worked in B. Fasten off.
Border
Rnd 1: With RS facing, join A with sc in any corner. Work 1 round of sc evenly around the entire blanket, working 3 sc in each corner (stitch count will vary with your edge tension; keep it even). Fasten off.
Assembly and Finishing
This blanket is worked in one piece, so there is no seaming — just weave in all ends neatly on the wrong side, using the tapestry needle to run each tail through a few stitches before trimming. Block lightly by misting with water and pinning to the finished measurements (about 30 x 36 inches / 76 x 91 cm); let it dry fully so the mosaic texture settles and the edges lie flat.
Pro Tips and Variations
- Swap the sunset palette for a night-sky set of blues and silvers to make the moon and duck read as a bedtime scene.
- Add a second border round in E (Deep Violet) for a slightly bolder frame that echoes the darkest band.
- For a larger toddler-size throw, add pattern repeats in multiples of 2 rows and 2 stitches, keeping the 120-stitch width or widening it in even numbers.
