Sugar & Spice Throw - US terms

Sugar & Spice Throw by Rosina Plane

Project Overview

The Sugar & Spice Throw is an intermediate-level crochet blanket designed by Rosina Plane, featuring a modular square construction that allows crafters to create either a large 6 x 6 square throw or a smaller 4 x 4 square baby and lap blanket. This project combines colorwork techniques with traditional crochet construction, resulting in a vibrant, multi-colored finished piece perfect for home décor or gifting.

What Is Being Made

The Sugar & Spice Throw is a crocheted blanket constructed from individual squares that are joined together. The original design creates a finished throw measuring approximately 148 cm square, composed of 36 individual squares arranged in a 6 x 6 grid. Each square measures approximately 21 cm across. An alternative smaller version can be made as a 4 x 4 square baby or lap blanket using the same construction method with adjusted yardage.

Crochet Techniques and Stitches

This project employs fundamental crochet techniques suitable for intermediate crafters. The primary stitch used throughout the pattern is double crochet (dc), which forms the base structure of each square. The modular design requires crafters to work individual squares and then join them together, a technique that allows for flexibility in color placement and makes the project portable and manageable in sections.

The colorwork aspect of the Sugar & Spice Throw involves strategic color changes throughout the squares, creating a multi-colored effect. Crafters will work with a main color (MC) and multiple contrast colors (CC1 through CC10), switching between colors as directed by the pattern to achieve the intended design. This color-by-color construction method is more accessible than techniques like intarsia or tapestry crochet, making it ideal for intermediate-level makers.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Sugar & Spice Throw pattern is designed to work with Caron Simply Soft yarn, a worsted weight acrylic yarn available in 170g balls. For the original 6 x 6 square throw, the pattern calls for:

• 6 balls of Off White 9702 (main color)
• 2 balls of Pistachio 0003 (contrast color 11)
• 1 ball each in Watermelon 9506, Blackberry 0005, Cobalt Blue 9784, Soft Blue 9712, Pumpkin 9765, Persimmon 9754, Gold 9782, Sunshine 9755, Grape 9610, and Lavender Blue 9756 (contrast colors 1-10)

For the smaller 4 x 4 square baby or lap blanket version, the yardage requirements are reduced to 3 balls of Off White (main color), 1 ball of Bone (contrast color 11), plus small amounts of additional colors as detailed in the pattern's color table on page 3.

Crochet Hooks and Tension

The Sugar & Spice Throw requires two sizes of crochet hooks: 5.5 mm and 4.5 mm. The larger 5.5 mm hook is used for the main construction, with tension measured at 15 stitches and 17 rows to 10 cm worked over double crochet. Individual squares measure approximately 21 cm across when worked to the specified tension.

While tension is not considered critical for this project, crafters should be aware that working at a larger tension than specified may result in larger squares, potentially requiring additional yarn to complete the full throw. The modular nature of the design provides flexibility, allowing crafters to adjust the final dimensions by adding or removing squares as needed.

Yarn Weight and Construction Notes

The pattern uses worsted weight and aran weight yarn, both of which work well with the specified hook sizes. The Caron Simply Soft yarn is an acrylic fiber, making this project durable, easy to care for, and suitable for frequent washing—ideal qualities for a throw blanket. The combination of worsted-weight yarn and the double crochet stitch creates a fabric with good drape and structure, resulting in a blanket that is both visually interesting and functional.

The Sugar & Spice Throw pattern is written in US crochet terms, making it accessible to crafters familiar with American crochet abbreviations and terminology.