Heehee. Some projects make me feel like a child again (or, in this case, like a character in a Brontë novel)! I cannot tell you how excited Jenny and I are about bringing you this pattern. Charlotte’s Dream has been just that: A dream!
This blanket was made by my dear friend Jenny and consists of 12 Charlotte squares in 12 different colours. It is bordered with a simple popcorn edge. From the very first square, this blanket sparked my imagination. I keep imagining myself sitting on it under a huge tree, reading a really good book while the dappled sunlight dances over the pages.
Jenny and I have spent many happy hours choosing colours, chatting about a name, and oohing and aahing over the individual squares. I hope this project brings you as much joy as it has brought us.
The Charlotte Square was specifically designed for 67 Blankets for Mandela Day. I would like to thank my friend John Kelly for allowing me to use a smaller version of the flower he designed for his Mandala in Bloom pattern.
Charlotte’s Dream Pattern
© Dedri Uys and Jenny Lowman 2016. All Rights Reserved.
Resources
- Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue
- Video Tutorials: You can find video tutorials for the squares (only) HERE on It’s All in a Nutshell.
- Hashtag: Please use #charlottesdream so that we can see your work.
If you prefer a formatted ad-free US PDF version of this pattern (with charts by the talented Masako Kawahara), you can buy it in my Ravelry Store HERE or in my Etsy Shop HERE.
Translations
- Dutch Translation by Dianne Baan
- French Translation
- German Translation by Ivonne Zimmer
- Hebrew Translation
- Korean Translation
- Swedish Translation
Materials
- 3.5 mm crochet hook (US 4/E, UK 9)
- Scheepjes Stonewashed (Sport weight/#2)
- Contrasting Colours (CC)/ Colour A* – 2 skeins (220 meters) each of Rose Quartz (820), Yellow Jasper (809), Lilac Quartz (818), Garnet (810), Deep Amethyst (811), Lemon Quartz (812), Carnelian (823), Amazonite (813), Canada Jade (806), Blue Apatite (805), Coral (816), and Green Agate (815)
- Main Colour 1 (MC1)/ Colour B* – 12 skeins (1500 meters) of Moon Stone (801)
- Main Colour 2 (MC2)/ Colour C* – 12 skeins (1450 meters) of Smokey Quartz (802)
* The square was originally designed using the colour references Colour A, Colour B, and Colour C. When following the photo tutorials for the individual squares, you will replace Colour A with CC, Colour B with MC1, and Colour C with MC2 as listed above.
Yarn packs for this project are available from Wool Warehouse (offers international shipping and includes printed version of the pattern) and Deramores. You can also buy Stonewashed from Scheepjes (NL).
Abbreviations
US Terminology {US/UK Conversion HERE}
- Ch – Chain
- BP – Back post (insert your hook from back to front around the post of the indicated stitch and complete the stitch as normal)
- CC – Contrasting colour
- Dc – Double crochet
- FP – Front post (insert your hook from front to back around the post of the indicated stitch and complete the stitch as normal)
- Hdc – Half-double crochet
- MC – Main colour
- Sc – Single crochet
- Sl st – Slip stitch
- St/st’s – Stitch/stitches
The rest of the Abbreviations and Special Stitches will be found in the individual parts for the Squares (see Charlotte Squares below).
Punctuation
* An asterisk indicates pattern repeats. You will need to repeat all the instructions between asterisks the number of times specified. This is a hard-core repeat and will consist of multiple instructions.
Parentheses () indicate repeats. You will need to repeat the instructions between parentheses the number of times specified. This is a lower level repeat. Parentheses are also used to indicate a group of stitches to be worked into the same stitch/space.
Gauge
At the end of Round 18, your square should measure 20 cm (8”). Each finished square should measure 42 cm (16.5”).
Size
172 cm (68”) x 130 cm (51”)
Notes
The central flower of this square is textured and raised slightly above the surface. When you have only made the flower, it will look like it bulges too much (because of all those front post stitches) but, as the square progresses, this will become less noticeable. With use, the flower will relax down even further, but it will always remain slightly raised above the surface of the square.
If you find that your flower bulges a lot and the rest of your square refuses to become ‘square’ by Round 18, you are making your chains too tight, and you will need to either relax your tension when making your chains or use a bigger hook for chains only.
Instructions
Charlotte Squares
You will need to make 12 squares, using a different Contrasting Colour (CC) for each square. Below you will find the links to the 3-part Charlotte Square (published at the start of the year), as well as the two additional rounds that will need to be added to each square before joining. Remember to reference the colours and hook size (above) when making your squares.
- Rounds 1 – 18: Charlotte Square Part 1 – 20 cm (8″) at the end of Part 1 (gauge check)
- Rows 19 – 28: Charlotte Square Part 2
- Rounds 29 – 36: Charlotte Square Part 3 – don’t fasten off at the end of Round 36!
- Rounds 37 and 38: Extra Rounds Below
-
- Teil 1
-
- Teil 2
Round 37 (CC)
Sl st into the next ch-2 corner space. Ch 2 (counts as hdc). (Hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) into the same ch-2 corner space. This is your first corner made.
*Skip the first (hidden) stitch. Hdc in each of the remaining 85 st’s across. (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the next ch-2 corner space.* Repeat from * to * 3 more times, omitting the last corner on the last repeat. Join to the top of the beginning ch-2 with a sl st. Fasten off and work away your ends.
Stitch Count: 356 hdc’s and 4 ch-2 corner spaces {89 hdc’s per side}
Round 38 (MC1)
Join your yarn by making a standing single crochet in any ch-2 corner space. (Ch 2, sc) in the same ch-2 space. This is your first corner made.
*BPhdc around each st. (Sc, ch 2, sc) in the next ch-2 corner space.* Repeat from * to * 3 more times, omitting the last corner on the last repeat. Join to the first sc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away your ends.
Stitch Count: 8 sc’s, 356 BPhdc’s, and 4 ch-2 corner spaces {2 sc’s and 89 BPhdc’s per side}
Deciding on Your Layout
When you have made all 12 squares, you will need to join them to each other. I am going to show you how we chose to do our layout, but you are free to move the colours around. If you do decide to move the colours, try not to put too many light or dark colours next to each other as this will make the blanket appear a bit lopsided.
Joining the Charlotte Squares
The squares are joined using a (Sc, ch 1, skip 1) join. It yields a flat seam on the front of your work that will look like little stitches. On the back of your work, the seam will be raised (but not as much as if you had made a sc in each stitch). This seam is reasonably elastic, provided that you don’t make your chains too tight.
The squares are joined in a grid. You will be making all the horizontal joins first, followed by the vertical joins. Unless otherwise specified, you should be inserting your hook into both loops of both layers for each indicated stitch. To make it easier for you to understand, I have numbered the squares from 1 to 12, starting in the top left-hand corner and ending in the bottom right-hand corner.
Place Square 9 on top of Square 12 with right sides together. With a slip knot (MC1) already on your hook, start joining the two squares by making a standing single crochet in the ch-2 corner space. (Ch 1, skip the next st, and sc in the next st) until you have one stitch left before the next corner space. Ch 1, skip the last st, and sc in the ch-2 corner space. Ch 1 before joining the next 2 squares.
Place Square 8 on top of Square 11 with right sides together. *Make a sc in the ch-2 corner space, again remembering to work though both layers. (Ch 1, skip the next st, and sc in the next st) until you have one stitch left before the next corner space. Ch 1, skip the last st, and sc in the ch-2 corner space. Ch 1.*
Without fastening off, place Square 7 on top of Square 10 with right sides together and repeat from * to *. Fasten off and work away your ends.
You have now completed your first horizontal strip. Repeat the whole process, laying Square 6 on Square 9, Square 5 on Square 8, and Square 4 on Square 7. Then repeat it again with the last 3 squares.
Now turn your blanket 90 degrees so that you can start joining the squares vertically. Fold the row containing squares 3, 6, 9, and 12 onto the row containing squares 2, 5, 8, and 11.
Just like when you were joining the squares horizontally, repeat the instructions between asterisks (*) above for each square, remembering to chain 1 between squares. Fasten off when you have joined all four squares and then repeat the process to join squares 2, 5, 8, and 11 to squares 1, 4, 7, and 10.
Adding the Border
When you have joined all your squares to each other, you are ready to add your border. The Popcorns in this border are created over 2 rounds. In Round 2, you will make a series of 5-dc groups. In Round 3, you will turn these 5-dc groups into Popcorns by using front post stitches.
Border Round 1 (MC1)
When adding the first round of the border, the ch-2 corners of each square (along the edges of the blanket) will count as a stitch and should be worked into. Only the four ch-2 spaces in the corners of the blanket will be referred to as a ch-2 space.
Join your yarn by making a standing double crochet in the ch-2 corner space at the start of any long side. (Dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same ch-2 space. This is your first corner made.
*Hdc in each st, remembering that the ch-2 spaces along the edge count as stitches and should be worked into. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next ch-2 corner space.* Repeat from * to * 3 more times, omitting the last corner on the last repeat. Join to the first dc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away your ends.
Stitch Counts:
- Long Sides: 370 hdc’s and 4 dc’s
- Short Sides: 277 hdc’s and 4 dc’s
Border Round 2 (MC2)
Join your yarn by making a standing double crochet in the ch-2 corner space at the start of any long side. (Dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same ch-2 space. This is your first corner made.
*(Ch 2, skip the next 2 st’s, and make 5 dc’s in the next st) until you have 2 st’s left. Ch 2 and skip the last 2 st’s. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the next ch-2 corner space.* Repeat from * to * 3 more times, omitting the last corner on the last repeat. Join to the first dc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away your ends.
Stitch Counts:
- Long Sides: 124 5-dc groups and 125 ch-2 spaces (not including corner spaces)
- Short Sides: 93 5-dc groups and 94 ch-2 spaces (not including corner spaces)
Border Round 3 (MC1)
To make a FPhdc around a 5-dc group, yarn over and insert your hook from front to back into the ch-2 space before the 5-dc group. Insert your hook from back to front into the next ch-2 space so that the 5 dc’s lie on top of your hook. Complete your hdc as normal, making sure that your working yarn is above the 5 dc’s, not in front of them. This will pull the 5 dc’s together and form a neat Popcorn. If you want more help, have a look at my tutorial for the Really Lazy Popcorn.
Join your yarn by making a standing half-double crochet in the ch-2 corner space at the start of any long side. (Hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the same ch-2 space. This is your first corner made.
*Hdc in the first 2 st’s and make 2 hdc’s in the first ch-2 space. (Make a FPhdc around the next 5-dc group, make 2 hdc’s in the next ch-2 space) until you have worked into every ch-2 space. Hdc in the last 2 st’s. (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in the corner ch-2 space.* Repeat from * to * 3 more times, omitting the last corner on the last repeat. Join to the first hdc with a sl st. Fasten off and work away your ends.
Stitch Counts:
- Long Sides: 382 hdc’s
- Short Sides: 289 hdc’s
And that is Charlotte’s Dream all done :)
Thank you for choosing to make this blanket. If you would like to share photos of your finished project, please use hashtag #charlottesdreamcrochetblanket so that Jenny and I can see it!
Want to see more of our Charlotte’s Dream journey?
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Sue-Anne Richardson says
Hi Dedri
I have just started my Charlotte and am loving every minute if it.Thankyou soo much for giving so much joy. What a star you!
Sue-Anne
Dedri Uys says
I am so glad!
Elsabé Lange says
Hi Dedri, I couldn’t crochet for almost a year, due to a torn arm muscle. But when I accidentally came upon this pattern, I immediately knew this is what I want to make. I printed to whole pattern and started slowly as much as my sore arm allowed me. Your instructions are clear for an Afrikaans speaking girl. I am busy with my third block. Thank you for this beautiful pattern. I just love it.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Elsabe (with a thingy on the e) I hope your arm is much better now and I am very pleased to hear that you found the instructions clear. Ek het my bes probeer om dit op so ‘n manier te verduidelik dat selfs beginners dit sal kan aanpak. Lekker dag.
Laelle McKinney says
I would just like to take a second to rave about this pattern. I started Charlottes Dream 5 months ago and just finished it in time to give it to
my best friend as a bridal shower gift and she loves it! This pattern is so clear and descriptive and the pictures were so helpful, it was a joy to make. I used worsted weight yarn which made it quite large it could be a bed spread! I’m shocked it took as little time as it did since I only worked on it about an hour a day and I’m no professional crocheter! The pop corn stitches and the Center flower add so much texture and make it so intricate yet it is thick and warm and will wear very well. I would definitely make this blanket again. THANK YOU so much for sharing this pattern! (Wish I could post a picture!)
Dedri Uys says
Hi Laelle. Thank you so much for your lovely review of the pattern. Are you on Instagram or Facebook? I would love to see a photo!
Heather says
I love this pattern and am going to make it as a lapghan for my wheelchair bound mother. I tried out part 1 of the square using some scrap DK acrylic yarn and am worried it’s quite heavy so am thinking of using scheepjes Catona cotton – do you think that would work ok?
Jenny says
I think it would be good Heather, but maybe sticking to the original yarn Dedri used would provide a washable, but soft and relatively lightweight yarn. The Aquarel really is lovely.
Jenny :)
Nicole says
Your blanket is very very beautiful! When I saw it, I knew I want to make it! But I want to use acrylic yarn (mine is 133 m on 50 grams) with a 4,5 hook. Do I need less yarn? How heavy is your blanket? I am scared that it would be too heavy. When I calculate the length and weight of your needed yarn it would take me 2400 g for the blanket? Sorry for so many questions, in Austria we don’t have such names like aran and worsted.
Dedri Uys says
hi Nicole. Charlotte’s dream is not made with worsted weight yarn but with sports weight :) If you use the yarn you specified, I would use a 4 mm hook and you would need approx. 2400 g to 2600 g of yarn. Your blanket will be bigger than Jenny’s, but only by about 25 cm in each direction (depending on gauge, of course).
I hope that helps.
Allison says
Is this pattern written in US or UK terminology? I just finished round 12 I think, and I believe I messed it up and assumed it was in US terminology. Now that I look at the close up picture it appears to possibly be UK? Please advise. I also picked a bigger yarn, so I think mine is way too big.
Please help!
:)
Dedri Uys says
Hi Allison. It is US terms, so if that’s what you’ve been doing, you’ve done it right. What has made you doubt yourself? Is something not looking right?
Allison says
Thanks for the reply! I looked down at my flower and realized it was very big. I measured it and it is already 7.5″! I figured out I am using a thicker yarn and a bigger crochet hook as that is what I had, I guess my blanket will be big :) Loving this pattern!
Allison says
Well I thought I replied already…whoops! I figured out I done with round 11 or 12 and I already have a 8″ circle. I looked again at my hook and used a size bigger and thicker yarn, so I shall just have a very cozy blanket :)
Hannamari says
I´ve been trying to get my first block done, but not sure what I´m doing wrong. I´ve done part 1, but the white center flower is popping up and the edges of the block are all curled up :( I even picked a larger hook to try to make it smoother.
Jenny says
Hi!
I had exactly the same issue of the centre flower popping up like a sea urchin. We figured out it is because the connecting chains at the back of the flower were made too toght, making the flower bulge upwards. Relax the tension for the chains and things then sit flatter :) my squares were gently blocked before I continued with the triangles. This helped as well.
Hope that helps.
Jenny :)
Carolyn F Fields says
This is just beautiful but don’t know if I could ever get around to trying my hand at it.
Jenny says
Give it a go Carolyn! You may surprise yourself :)
Jenny
Rita Miller says
Last round ends with “Join to the top of the beginning ch-2 with a sl st.” But it should be “Join to beginning sc” since you start the round with a standing sc. Absolutely love Charlotte & Charlotte’s Dream. Using worsted weight yarn, my squares are also bigger, but that’s fine. I may just make my blanket 3 x 3 instead of 3 x 4. Progress so far: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/RitaMiller/charlottes-dream-blanket
Rita Miller says
That should be Round 38 where I said “last round.”
Dedri Uys says
Thank you for spotting that and bringing it to my attention. I have fixed it now :)
Domi says
Hiya!
I’m not that experienced with different kinds of yarns just yet, and I was wondering how you would block this? Should I just use wet blocking, or would that damage the yarn/colour?
Dedri Uys says
We didn’t actually block any of the squares before joining as they were very ‘square’ already. Which yarn have you chosen to use? That would determine how you block.
Sharon Trent says
I finished one square so far. This is a beautiful pattern. Thanks for all you do for the art of crochet. Absolutely amazing talent you have.
Dedri Uys says
Thank you, Sharon :)
Tessa Heinemann says
This pattern is beautifully written. Even for someone like me who learned to crochet a couple years ago on the university of youtube and JUST figured out how to read a pattern, it’s easy to follow! I’m just finishing my first square, and I’ve already learned so much it’s amazing. I keep telling people “the person who wrote this pattern is so talented”.
I do wonder if there’s any way I could get a picture of the BACK of this blanket after it’s finished. I think the back of this square is unusual and sort of lovely. I’d love to see it all together.
Dedri Uys says
Hi Tessa. I am so pleased that you find the pattern easy to follow. I don’t have a photo of the back of the blanket, but I will ask Jenny for one.
ChelseaLynee says
Hey!
This afghan is gorgeous! If I attach tags crediting you for the beautiful design, do you mind if I sell finished blankets in my etsy shop and at farmers markets??
Thanks!
Dedri Uys says
Thank you. You are welcome to make and sell blankets, and you don’t need to add tags :)
Denise Reighley says
Hi Dedri,
I’ve just finished making one square of this blanket. I love it! I’ve been crocheting since I was 10, (I’m in my 50’s now) so it’s probably safe to say I’m an advanced crochet-er. I love working patterns that are challenging, and this one fits that criteria.
Your instructions with photos made following this pattern very easy. My square ended up 7″ larger that the measurements that you gave, but I don’t have a problem with that. My work tends to end up larger than the specified measurements, but this isn’t usually a problem with a blanket. I figure I’ll work up twelve squares of 24″ each and that will give me a good sized blanket.
Thanks so much for sharing this pattern, and giving me the challenge I crave!
Blessings,
Denise
Dedri Uys says
I am thinking that you are using worsted weight yarn? The pattern was written so that using worsted weight would give you a 24″ square. My squares are smaller, because I didn’t use worsted weight.
Lora says
Beautiful pattern! I’m excited to give it a try but I’d like to use a different brand of yarn. I’m curious if all of the yarn was used since the yarn I want to buy is 8 grams less per ball. Just trying to figure out how much I should buy. Thanks!
Dedri Uys says
Hi Lora. The yardages listed in the pattern afford a bit (but not a lot) of leeway. It really depends on your tension and if you are able to match Jenny’s tension. You should have enough of the Contrasting Colours, but if the yarn you choose to use is 8g less per ball than the Main Colour yarn Jenny used, you will have to buy an extra 2 skeins (at least) of the 2 Main Colours. You are better off checking the total yardages used rather than the total grams.
I hope that helps.
Ely says
Is there a video? I’ve never learned how to read a patter. Thanks.
Dedri Uys says
Not at the moment, Ely.
Charlene boardman says
Hi Dedri, my Charlotte is misbehaving; I have finished her and she will not lay flat, the problem is at the corners of the first square; it bunches up in all 4 places. I suspect it is a tension issue, and want to sort it before going on to another.
Dedri Uys says
Charlene, can you use the contact me button to send me an email? When I respond, you can send me a photo. I suspect I know what the issue is, but just want to confirm before I “pass judgment”. I suspect it is a chain-tension issue.
Valeri says
I made this and it turned out amazing. I did make a few changes, I only did 9 squares as I was running out of time (Christmas gift for a party) put a backing on it, and changed the border to two rows of half double. I love that it was so easy to adjust the size and border! The pattern is very well written, and the pictures were a big help making sure I was on the right track.
Suja says
Hi,
This is absolutely beautiful, thank you both for your generosity and creativity! I would like to make this in aran weight yarn. Do you know approximately how much I would need? Or a way of converting the length of 4 ply to aran? Many thanks and happy new year!
Suja
Dedri Uys says
Hi Suja, you will need just under double the yardage and the blanket will come out a quarter to a third larger.
Suja says
Thank you so much. This is my first project for 2017. I hope my crochet skills will do your pattern justice.
Many thanks
AHY says
What would you say the level of difficulty is on this?
Did you block the squares before joining?
Jenny says
I would say advanced beginner/intermediate onwards for the skill levels AHY.
I blocked my squares before joining as it made it easier and required less blocking as a whole once finished :)
Jenny