Make This Easy Mixed Cluster Crochet Baby Blanket

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It’s always so exciting when someone is expecting a baby. A coworker of mine is expecting a baby boy soon. She already has a daughter – I crocheted a baby blanket for her and now it’s going to be a baby boy! I wanted something that went well with a particular yarn that I had and so this mixed cluster crochet baby blanket was it.

I have a few skeins of some yarn that is quite thin – it’s only 3 ply which is typically called light fingering yarn or baby weight yarn. It is beautifully light and delicate. I have a nice baby blue which is perfect for a baby boy.

While the thinness and lightness are lovely, the challenge is also that – it’s so thin and light! I tried out a number of patterns but the fineness of the yarn didn’t really showcase the pattern. Some patterns just didn’t work Also, some patterns took forever! My challenge was to find a pattern that would look nice with this fine yarn but didn’t take forever to work up. The result was the mixed cluster crochet stitch.

The mixed cluster crochet stitch is a neat, asymmetrical stitch that works well. It provides ample coverage and weight and has a lovely texture to it.

In order for the mixed cluster crochet stitch to stand out, it is often separated by a row of single crochet stitches.  Since this yarn was so light and thin, I wanted to use the biggest stitch possible – in other words, the double crochet.

So essentially, this baby blanket consists of rows of the mixed cluster crochet stitch, separated by a row of double crochet stitches.

This is a great pattern to take on the go – there are really no instructions. Once you know how to do the stitch, just keep alternating your rows. No paper instructions are required!

How to do the Mixed Cluster Crochet Stitch

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the mixed cluster crochet stitch.

• yarn over, insert and pull yarn through (3 loops are on your hook)
  
• yarn over and pull through 2 of the loops (2 loops on your hook)
• yarn over, skip a stitch, insert and pull yarn through (4 loops are on your hook)
• yarn over and pull through 1 loop (4 loops are on your hook)
• yarn over and insert in the SAME stitch and pull yarn through (6 loops are on your hook)
  
• yarn over and pull through 1 loop (6 loops are on your hook)
  
• yarn over and pull through all 6 (1 loop on your hook)
  
• chain 1

So your mixed cluster crochet stitch takes up 3 stitches

Getting Started

Start off with a row of DC stitches. Since the mixed cluster crochet stitch consists of 3 stitches, start with any number of stitches that is a multiple of 3. For this baby blanket, I started out with 168 DC stitches.

To make your first row of DC stitches you can either chain the number of stitches you want and add either 2 or 3. I am a loose crocheter and so I chain 2 for my DCs. If you are a tight crocheter, you may want to chain 3. Then double crochet either the third or fourth chain from your hook and DC across.

Alternately, you could do a row of foundation double crochet, in the number of stitches you need. This is how I do it. I love the foundation rows as it eliminates one step.

At the end of the row, you will either ch 2 or 3. Again, I chain 2 because I am a loose crocheter. You may choose to chain 3. The chain should equal the height of the DC. Turn your work – you will be working back and forth.

For the next row, you are ready to do the mixed cluster crochet stitch. Do this all the way across. Ch 2 or 3 and then turn.

Now all you have to do is alternate between rows of mixed cluster crochet stitch and double crochets.

Continue until you reach the desired length.

I finished my mixed cluster crochet baby blanket with a simple border of HDC’s all the way around with 3 in the corner.

Don’t you just love the texture of this pattern? Due to the thin and fine yarn, it did take me a bit longer than usual to make this, but the end product is so lovely.

Want to remember how to make this mixed cluster crochet blanket or throw? Be sure to save this to your favourite Pinterest board.