Steve Minecraft-inspired Blanket

Minecraft-inspired Steve Blanket

Over the past few days I have been working on a Blanket for one of my son's closest friends. He is a Minecraft aficionado and I, a complete stranger to the world of Minecraft, was amused to find that it is based on large pixel portrayals of characters. I also learned that Steve is a popular character from the game, and so, I proceeded to figure out a way to make a Blanket representing Steve. For what it is worth, I am not in any way, shape, or form affiliated with Minecraft, so please understand this is just Minecraft-inspired work!

Without further ado, let me write out the pattern for the blanket:

Minecraft-inspired Steve Blanket

Approximate finished size: 60"x 48"
Hook: J/6.00 mm US
Yarn: Worsted Weight; Red Heart Super Saver (RHSS) or Bernat Super Value (BSV), based on colors that I needed and could find.

Colors and skeins used:

1. Dark Heather (tan) - BSV = 3 skeins

2. Black - BSV =  2.5 skeins

3. Sky blue -RHSS = 3/4th skein

4. Dark Brown - BSV = 1/2 skein

5. Medium Brown - BSV = 1/4th skein

6. White - RHSS = 1/4th skein

This blanket is created by forming basic solid granny squares and joining them using the as-you-go method. The Join-As-You-Go method is well explained in this video:

The video shows the method of creating basic solid granny square as well, but I am writing up the pattern below for those who would like it written up. If you don't want to do a Join-as-you-go afghan, simply create the squares and join them up using the method of your choice!

Solid Granny Squares (Create a total of 80):

1. Use Magic Ring to begin or else CH4 and attach with sl st in 1st chain to create a ring.

2. ROUND 1: CH3, DC2, CH2; Repeat [DC3, CH2] 3 times. Join in top loop of CH3 with sl st to complete round.

3. ROUND 2: CH3, Repeat [DC in each stitch up to next corner space (CH2 from previous round); (2DC, CH2, 2DC) in corner space] 4 times. DC in remaining stitches and join in top loop of CH3 with sl st to complete round.

4. ROUND 3: (Same concept as Round 2, just more stitches). CH3, Repeat [DC in each stitch up to next corner space (CH2 from previous round); (2DC, CH2, 2DC) in corner space] 4 times. DC in remaining stitches and join in top loop of CH3 with sl st to complete round.

5. ROUND 4: If you are using the Join-as-you-go method that I used for my blanket, pay attention to the rows that require you to join to other squares. If you are not using join-as-you-go method, you can complete this round in the same way as the previous rounds without worrying about joining - CH3, Repeat [DC in each stitch up to next corner space (CH2 from previous round); (2DC, CH2, 2DC) in corner space] 4 times. DC in remaining stitches and join in top loop of CH3 with sl st to complete round. 

Number of squares per color:

1. Dark Heather (tan) = 40

2. Black =  18

3. Sky blue = 12

4. Dark Brown = 6

5. Medium Brown - 2

6. White = 2

This is a chart I created for following the order of the squares to join. Following this joining sequence will ensure that all of the joins on the right side of the blanket will look uniform. 

FINISHING: I usually tuck in ends as I crochet, but once all squares are joined, trim all extra yarn ends and/or tuck them in properly. Then proceed to create outside border by stitching 1 SC in each stitch of the granny square outer rims, 1 SC each in the small square corners where they are joined, 3 SC each in the 4 blanket corners and sl st to join. Finish off and weave in ends. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about the pattern, please feel free to contact me or comment on this post. 

PLEASE NOTE: You are free to create and sell any products from this pattern. However, this pattern itself is not to be sold anywhere. Thank you!

Crochet using a graph

Graphghans are always interesting and provide a good way to bust some stash or create very interesting or intriguing patterns using yarn. In my journey to become a better crocheter, I came across this webpage Learn How to Crochet by Graph. It has video tutorials on how to start and links. However, I found  myself getting stumped with the use of multiple colors and complex patterns that I seemed to find while searching for graph patterns on Google. 

Given my own eccentricity, I decided after a few small blocks that I created, that I liked the size of 60x60 blocks. They allow for a shorter project, and the size they create (almost 12"x 12" depending on your crocheting style), they are very versatile. They can be used inside frames as art decor, or to make pillow covers, and if one is feeling particularly enthused, different blocks can be created and stitched up to make an afghan.

Thus, I started creating my own graphs. I have completed some of them, and am still waiting to work on the others. However, each graph shown below follows some basic principles:

1. The red lines (in the ones that show red lines) are meant to make it easier to count the stitches. You will not be using it as a yarn color.

2. In the square blocks where I have used "light blue" squares, they are meant to designate the count correctly. All light blue squares should be made using the main color (which is black, in my case).

3. Each square represents a single crochet. 

4. If the square has only 30 stitches across, it means that I created 4 of them and sewed them together to create a full 60x60 square. 

5. If it helps, you can write up the directions (e.g. 20 black, 15 red, 25 black = 60 stitches) for each row.

6. All of these squares can be created using either method - by rows or by columns - as long as you use the right hook recommended by the yarn you choose, they should still work out just fine. 

So, without further ado, I present my graph patterns below.
PLEASE NOTE: You are welcome to use all of these patterns for your personal use for making items and selling the items. You are not allowed to sell the patterns anywhere. 

Pattern 1. Graph Crochet Heart: This pattern only has 15 rows and 15 stitches across. But, it is a wonderful beginners pattern. You can create multiples of these to sew together, or use them as the center of a granny square - the possibilities are endless!!

Graph Crochet Heart

To help understand the actual pattern, I am writing down the pattern for the graph below:

CH16 with black

Row 1: SC in second chain from hook and across (15 SC). CH1 and turn

Row 2: SC in 7 sts black, SC in 1 st yellow, SC in 7 sts black. CH1 turn (here on out i will just write the count of black and yellow, since all the stitches are SC. At the end of each row, remember to CH! and turn)

Row 3: 6 black, 3 yellow, 6 black

Row 4: 5 black, 5 yellow, 5 black

Row 5: 4 black, 7 yellow, 4 black

Row 6: 3 black, 9 yellow, 3 black

Row 7: 2 black, 11 yellow, 2 black

Row 8: 1 black, 13 yellow, 1 black

Row 9-12: 15 yellow

Row 13: 1 black, 6 yellow, 1 black, 6 yellow, 1 black

Row 14: 2 black, 4 yellow, 3 black, 4 yellow, 2 black

Row 15: 15 black.

Pattern 2. Graph Crochet Pi: This is a 30 x 30 stitches pattern. Note that the blue lines are shown just for keeping count. All "blue" squares should be made in the main color (black) 

Graph Crochet Pi

Pattern 3. Graph Crochet Pi Value: This is a 30 x 30 stitches pattern. Note that the blue lines are shown just for keeping count. All "blue" squares should be made in the main color (black)

Graph Crochet Pi Value

Pattern 4. Graph Crochet Flower: This is a 60 x 60 stitches pattern. Remember the red lines in the background are simply to help you keep count better.

Graph Crochet Flower

Pattern 5. Graph Crochet Lego Man: This is a 60 x 60 stitches pattern. Remember the red lines in the background are simply to help you keep count better.

Graph Crochet Lego Man

Pattern 6. Graph Crochet Night Sky: This is a 60 x 60 stitches pattern. Remember the red lines in the background are simply to help you keep count better.

Graph Crochet Night Sky

Pattern 7. Graph Crochet Frog: This is a 60 x 60 stitches pattern. Remember the red lines in the background are simply to help you keep count better. It also uses Red and White colors, so it is a 4-color pattern.

Graph Crochet Frog

Pattern 8. Graph Crochet Freehand Pattern: This is a 60 x 60 stitches pattern. Remember the red lines in the background are simply to help you keep count better. 

Graph Crochet Design

Pattern 9. Graph Crochet Darth Vader: 60x60 stitches pattern. Note that the blue lines are shown just for keeping count. All "blue" squares should be made in the main color (black).

Graph Crochet Darth Vader

Pattern 10. Graph Crochet Family: 60x60 stitches pattern. Note that the blue lines are shown just for keeping count. All "blue" squares should be made in the main color (black)

Graph Crochet Family

Pattern 11. Transformer Logo: 60x60 stitches pattern. Note that the red lines are shown just for keeping count. All "red" squares should be made in the background color (white). Ignore the gray portions (2 stitches count) unless you want to add a border, and work on a 64x64 block.

Graph Transformer Logo

Pattern 12. Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon: 60x60 SC pattern. I plan on making this as an afghan from bottom up. I intend to use a DC stitch to make it longer. Thus, I will still have 60 rows, but each square counts as 2 DCs, so I will have 120 columns. I will post a picture once I have completed this. However, feel free to experiment on your own :-)

Graph Toothless Dragon Afghan Square.

Hope you all have fun making these patterns. Please message me if you have any questions or concerns.

PLEASE NOTE: You are welcome to use all of these patterns for your personal use for making items and selling the items. You are not allowed to sell the patterns anywhere.