Pressed Flowers Blanket in Stylecraft Bellissima DK - 9613 - Downloadable PDF\n

Pressed Flowers Blanket in Stylecraft Bellissima DK – Pattern 9613

The Pressed Flowers Blanket is a stunning crochet throw designed by Helen Boreham and published as pattern 9613 by Stylecraft. Worked in Bellissima DK yarn, this intermediate-level project produces a large, colourful blanket measuring approximately 120cm wide by 160cm long (47in × 63in). The design is built from 127 individual floral motifs that are joined together as the final rounds are worked, creating a cohesive, garden-inspired textile that makes a beautiful statement piece for any home.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a generously sized crochet blanket or throw, constructed entirely from individual square or circular floral motifs. Each motif is worked in the round, with the first four rounds completed in a variety of coordinating colours before a unifying main colour is introduced in rounds five and six to join the motifs together. The finished blanket has the appearance of pressed botanical flowers, with each motif acting as a distinct bloom set against a cohesive background.

Techniques Used

• Working in the round – every motif is constructed from the centre outward, round by round, giving each flower a neat, symmetrical structure.
• Magic circle (magic ring) – each motif begins with a magic circle, a technique that allows the centre of the round to be pulled completely closed, eliminating any hole at the heart of the flower.
• Join-as-you-go (JAYG) – rounds five and six are worked in the main colour Silver Lining and simultaneously join each motif to its neighbours, removing the need for separate seaming and creating a smooth, continuous fabric.
• Standing double crochet – a technique where yarn is attached to the hook with a slip knot and the hook is inserted directly into the desired stitch, allowing a new colour or yarn to be joined mid-project without a visible joining knot. This is particularly useful in a multi-colour project like this one.
• Colour management across motifs – the pattern specifically instructs makers to complete all motifs one round at a time and to plan colour placement across the whole blanket before beginning each new round. This ensures an even, balanced distribution of colour across the finished piece.
• Sewing in ends – because multiple colours are used across the first four rounds of each motif, all ends are sewn in before the joining rounds begin, keeping the work neat and manageable.

Stitches Used

• Chain stitch (ch) – used to begin rounds and to create chain spaces between stitches.
• Slip stitch (sl st) – used to join rounds and to attach new yarn at the start of a round.
• Treble crochet (tr) – worked into the magic circle in round one to form the foundation of each motif; 18 treble stitches are worked into the circle to create the initial flower shape.
• Double crochet (dc) – used in round two and in the standing double crochet join technique.
• Puff stitch (puff st) – introduced in round three, worked into the chain spaces created in the previous round. The puff stitch is a cluster of partially worked stitches drawn together at the top, creating a raised, rounded texture that gives each motif its characteristic three-dimensional, petal-like appearance.
• Chain spaces (ch sp) – created throughout the motif rounds to provide structure and openwork detail between the main stitches.

Materials

The pattern is written for Stylecraft Bellissima DK yarn, a double knitting weight yarn. The colour palette is centred on a main colour, 3928 Silver Lining, of which 6 × 100g balls are required. One 100g ball each of the following accent colours is also needed:

• 3921 Single Cream
• 3925 Mellow Yellow
• 3932 Rio Red
• 3930 Bashful Blue
• 3933 Crushed Plum