Papilio Blocks (Crochet) in Valley Yarns Haydenville DK - 1093C - Downloadable PDF

Papilio Blocks (Crochet) – Pattern Summary

About This Pattern

Papilio Blocks is a charming crochet pattern designed by Sarah Teague and published by Valley Yarns. The pattern produces a set of soft, colorful baby blocks — each measuring a compact 2¼ inches on all sides — that are as educational as they are adorable. Letters and numbers can be cross-stitched onto each face of the blocks, giving babies and toddlers a tactile, playful way to begin recognizing shapes, colors, and characters. The finished set makes an excellent handmade gift for a new baby, and the color palette can be customized to coordinate with any nursery décor.

What Is Being Made

The pattern creates a set of stuffed crochet baby blocks. Each individual block is a small, three-dimensional cube constructed from two crocheted strips, with each strip covering three sides of the finished cube. Once the strips are complete, they are seamed together and stuffed with polyfill to create a soft, squeezable toy that is safe and appropriate for young children. The blocks are worked in multiple colors, and decorative letters or numbers are added via cross-stitch embroidery either before or after assembly.

Techniques Used

• Worked flat: Every side of each block is crocheted in flat, back-and-forth rows rather than in the round, making the construction approachable for crocheters who are comfortable with basic row work.
• Seamed construction: The two strips that form each block are sewn together using a long yarn tail left at the end of each strip, joining all six sides into a complete cube before or after stuffing.
• Color changes: Colors are switched at the end of designated rows, with the new color introduced on the final stitch of the row to ensure clean, neat color transitions between each face of the block.
• Back loop only (BLO) single crochet: At each color-change transition between sides, the first row of the new color section is worked in the back loop only. This creates a subtle, defined ridge that visually separates each face of the block and helps the finished cube hold its crisp, square shape.
• Cross-stitch embroidery: Letters, numbers, or other motifs are added to the block faces using cross-stitch with a bent-tip tapestry needle. This step can be completed on the flat panels before seaming or on the fully stuffed and assembled cubes, giving the crocheter flexibility in their workflow.

Stitches Used

• Chain stitch (ch): Used to create the foundation chain for each strip and as the turning chain at the end of every row.
• Single crochet (sc): The sole construction stitch used throughout the body of every panel. The entire fabric of each block face is built from rows of single crochet, producing a dense, firm, and safe fabric ideal for a baby toy.
• Single crochet in the back loop only (sc blo): Worked on the first row of each new color section to create a neat fold line and a clean visual border between adjacent sides of the block.

Skill Level and Sizing

This pattern is rated Intermediate in difficulty. While the individual stitches are simple and repetitive, the multi-color construction, color-change technique, and seamed three-dimensional assembly require a degree of familiarity with crochet fundamentals. The finished blocks are one size only, each measuring 2¼ inches on every side, achieved at a gauge of 22 stitches and 24 rows per 4 inches in single crochet.

Materials – Yarn

The pattern calls for Valley Yarns Haydenville DK, a DK weight yarn with a fiber composition of 60% Superwash Merino Wool and 40% Acrylic Microfiber, sold in 50g/136-yard skeins. Three color options are specified in the pattern:

• Color A: Valley Yarns Haydenville DK in Red
• Color B: Valley Yarns Haydenville DK in Black
• Color C: Valley Yarns