106 TLC Designs Butterfly

106 TLC Designs Butterfly Crochet Blanket by Tricia Crow

Project Overview

The 106 TLC Designs Butterfly is a crochet blanket designed by Tricia Crow, featuring a charted butterfly motif worked in a combination of single crochet and bobble stitches. This intermediate-level project creates a finished blanket measuring 57 inches by 49 inches, making it an ideal size for a throw blanket or lap blanket.

What Is Being Made

This is a crochet blanket with a graphed butterfly design. The blanket is constructed using a chart-based pattern where each square on the chart represents one stitch. The design incorporates a textured bobble stitch pattern against a single crochet background to create the butterfly motif. Once the charted section is complete, the blanket is finished with a single crochet edging worked evenly around all sides.

Techniques Used

• Chart reading: The pattern uses a stitch chart that must be read from right to left on even rows and left to right on odd rows, starting from the bottom and working toward the top
• Single crochet foundation: The blanket begins with a foundation chain of 234 stitches, with single crochet worked into the second chain from the hook and each remaining chain to establish 233 stitches across
• Bobble stitch texture: Bobble stitches are strategically placed throughout the charted rows to create dimensional texture and define the butterfly design
• Shaping and edging: After the charted section is complete, single crochet is worked evenly around the entire perimeter with three single crochets in each corner, then joined with a slip stitch
• Optional border: The pattern includes an optional ruffled border option for additional embellishment

Stitches Used

• Single crochet (sc): Forms the foundation and background of the blanket. All odd rows are worked entirely in single crochet across, and single crochet is used for the edging
• Bobble stitch: Created by working multiple yarn overs and loops in the same stitch, then drawing through all loops at once. These stitches are worked to the back of the fabric to create texture and are used to form the butterfly motif according to the chart
• Slip stitch: Used to join rounds when completing the edging
• Chain stitch (ch): Used for the foundation chain at the beginning and to begin each row

Materials and Yarn Weight

This blanket is designed to be worked in worsted weight yarn. The pattern specifies Caron Cotton Cakes as the yarn choice, requiring approximately 3,800 yards for the main blanket without the border. If the optional ruffled border is added, an additional 700 yards is needed, bringing the total yardage to approximately 4,500 yards.

The project is worked with a size G crochet hook, which is the standard hook size for worsted weight yarn and provides the appropriate fabric density for this blanket.

Pattern Structure

The blanket is constructed in rows, with a total of 233 rows and 233 stitches across in each row, creating a square-ish proportion. The pattern breaks down as follows: rows 1-3 are worked entirely in single crochet to establish the foundation, rows 4-230 follow the charted butterfly design with a combination of single crochet and bobble stitches, and rows 231-233 return to single crochet across to complete the main body. The edging is then worked around the entire perimeter to finish the blanket.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty. While the basic stitches used are fundamental, the combination of chart reading, bobble stitch execution, and the large scale of the project (233 rows and stitches) requires crocheters to have solid foundational skills and the ability to maintain consistent tension and stitch count throughout an extended project.