Crochet Lady Bug Picnic Blanket

Imagine a delightful picnic on a sunny day, spreading out your Crochet Ladybug Picnic Blanket adorned with charming ladybugs scattered across a vibrant red backdrop. This whimsical blanket not only adds a fun touch to your outdoor gatherings but also brings a sense of coziness with its handmade charm. It's perfect for lazy afternoons under the shade of a tree, creating a sweet and inviting atmosphere for you and your loved ones to enjoy. So, grab your favorite snacks, bask in the sunshine, and make memories on your adorable Crochet Ladybug Picnic Blanket!

Materials:

• Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn * 7oz each
• 4 skeins — Light Grey
• 2 skeins — Cranberry
• 2 skeins — Mid Green
• 2 skeins — Dark Olive
• H hook
• Large eye needle for assembly

Hexagon Motif: 7”

Square Motif: 2-3/4”

Finished blanket size: 47” x 74” Gauge is not important in this project

Specialty Stitches:

Beginning Popcorn (BP): ch3 (cts as dc), 4 dc in sm sp, drop last loop, insert in 3rd ch of ch3 & last loop, yo, pull through.

Popcorn (PC): 5dc in sp indicated, drop last loop, insert in first dc and last loop, yo, pull through.

Hexagon Motif: Make 15 of each color scheme *Follow chart below*

R1- w/MC, ch4, join to make circle, ch3 (not dc), 16dc in circle, join. Drop MC loop to the back,

do NOT cut.

R2- w/CC, join w/sl st in sm sp as dropped loop, make BP, [ch4, skip 3 dc, make PC in next dc] 2x,

ch4, sk 3, join with 1st popcorn (make sure the MC loop is behind before you join). Cut CC. (4 PC,

4 ch4 sp)

R3- pick up MC loop from behind, ch2, sl st in PC, ch2 (not hdc), [2hdc in PC, (working around ch4

from R2) 2dc in next 3 dc] 4x, join with 1st hdc. (32)

R4- ch3 (not dc), 2dc in next st, [dc in 1 st, 2dc in next] 15x, join to 1st dc. (48) Drop MC loop

to the back, do NOT cut.

R5- w/CC, join with sl st to sm sp as dropped loop, make BP, [ch6, sk 5dc, make PC in next st] 7x,

ch6, join to 1st popcorn. (8PC, 8 ch6 sp) Cut CC.

R6- pick up MC loop from behind, ch2, sl st in PC, ch2 (not hdc), [hdc in PC, (working around ch6

from R5) 2dc in next, dc in 2dc, 2dc in next] repeat around. Join w/sl st to 1st hdc. (64)

R7- ch1 (not sc), sc in join st and next 6st, 2sc in next, (sc in 7 st, 2sc in next) around. Join

w/ sl st to 1st sc. Cut MC (unless you are working with light grey).

R8- join Light Grey with ch3 (not dc), dc in join sp and next 7sc, 2dc in next, (dc in 8sc, 2dc in

next) around. Join to 1st dc. Cut Light Grey leaving a long end for sewing motifs together.

Square Motifs: *Follow Chart below*

R1- w/center color, ch4, make circle, ch3 (does ct as dc), make 3 more dc in circle, (ch2, 4dc) in

circle 3 more times, ch2, join with ch3. Cut center color.

R2- w/light grey, join with sl st in any ch2, ch3 (does ct as dc), (dc, ch2, 2dc) in sm corner sp,

dc in each dc to next ch2 (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in ch2 space (corner made).

Continue dc in each dc, and make corners in each ch2, join with sl st to 1st dc. Cut leaving a long

end for sewing motifs together.

Assembly:

Whipstitch motifs together, right sides together.

Finishing Edge Row:

Look at your afghan and locate a “corner” hexagon. Join with ch3 in the outer ch2 space in the

small square right before the corner hexagon. Ch3, dc, ch2, 2dc in the ch2 sp, dc in each dc to the

next ch2 sp *dc in ch2, dc3tog {in the ch2, and 2 dc from hexagon, the ones that make the corner of

the hexagon}, (dc in 8dc, 2dc in next 2dc)twice, dc in 8dc, repeat dc3tog {in 2 corner dc from

hexagon and next ch2 sp}, dc in ch2 sp * dc in next 8dc, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in ch2 sp,

Use dc3tog in each inner corner and put (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in each outer ch2. Dc in each regular dc,

and put 2dc in each of the dc’s that make the hexagon corners.

Repeat from * to * on each corner hexagon.

Pattern Terminology:

• ch- chain
• sc- single crochet
• sc dec (or dec)- single crochet decrease sl st- slip st
• hdc- half double crochet dc- double crochet
• dc3tog- double crochet 3 together, yo, insert hook in space, yo, pull through, yo, pull through two
• loops, yo insert hook in next sp, yo, pull through, yo, pull through two loops, yo, insert hook in
• last sp, yo, pull through, yo, pull through two loops.
• rpt- repeat
• sm sp- same space
• yo- yarn over

Instructions for the chart:

• Single Color= Small Squares
• Double Color= MC/CC (Popcorns)
• D= Dark Green
• D/B= Dk Grn/Burg
• L= Light Green
• L/D= Lt Grn/Dk Grn
• B= Burgundy
• B/S= Burg/Silver
• S= Silver (Lt Grey)
• S/L= Silver/Lt Grn

15 hexagons of each color scheme

Small Sqrs– 24 B

25 D

24 L