Dragon Scales Baby Blanket Free Crochet

This Dragon Scales Baby Blanket is an incredibly textured, award-winning afghan made in a combination of regular crochet and Tunisian crochet. Similar to Crochet Entrelac, this baby afghan is made in a unique, continuous mitered square repeat.

Unlike Tunisian crochet you typically find, you will NOT need to use a long hook. Since each mitered square is a maximum of only 9 stitches, a standard hook can be used.

“Dragon Scales Baby Blanket” free crochet pattern by Kim Guzman © Mar. 2023. All rights reserved.
Technique: Regular crochet with Tunisian crochet elements.
Skill Level: Intermediate.

If you already know some basic Tunisian crochet, this baby afghan is on an intermediate level. If you know nothing of Tunisian crochet, please review the basic videos provided and the pattern will be a little more challenging until you become familiar with those techniques.

Crochet Pattern At A Glance

This is a free crochet pattern and the written instructions are below. If you prefer a printable download, a PDF is also available for purchase.

Although this pattern indicates 23 hours of crochet time, this doesn’t mean it will take you one day. This is an estimate of actual crochet time. No breaks, eating, starting over for a mistake, checking Facebook, etc. If I were to estimate, it would take me about 4 days of fairly intense crocheting.

My Crochet Pattern Notes

This design is worked in regular crochet with Tunisian crochet elements. Each mitered square is worked individually in a continuous row without cutting or changing the yarn. The color changes are made by the use of a self-striping yarn. The changes were not planned and are exactly as the yarn comes out of the cake.

This is a new method I created myself. It’s similar to Crochet Entrelac patterns but avoids the one thing I disliked the most about those designs: cutting off after each row to start back at the beginning. I’ve created something continuous throughout.

Be patient, especially when you’re just starting out. Count your stitches. Trust me when I say that, if you make a mistake in a Diamonds row, you will feel like your life is over.

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Does Tunisian Crochet Make Nice Baby Blankets?

Yes! I think the most popular feature of Tunisian crochet is that most of the stitch patterns have NO HOLES! What do most parents want right now with crochet? “Please, Nana, make the afghan more modern and without holes!”

50 years ago, Tunisian crochet was very thick and heavy. These days, you can easily make a Tunisian crochet baby blanket without all that bulk. Because the blankets aren’t as heavy, you can make a baby blanket without worry about the baby getting too hot.

In my book Tunisian Baby Blankets, published by Annie’s Attic, I used a finer weight yarn and the blankets were perfect! I especially loved doing the fun regular crochet borders on each of them.

Can You Mix Tunisian and Regular Crochet?

You are probably already doing some form of Tunisian crochet. If you’ve been using Foundation Stitches instead of an initial chain, that’s Tunisian crochet. If you’ve used Linked Stitches, that’s Tunisian crochet as well.

So, you’re already mixing Tunisian and Regular Crochet without even knowing it.

For this beautiful baby blanket, I’ve made Tunisian mitered squares on one side (the even numbered rows), with regular ripple style single crochet on the other side (the odd numbered rows).

Tunisian crochet already has a huge variety. Imagine what happens when you add your regular crochet stitches and the sky will be the limit.

Right Side and Wrong Side

The side with the even numbered rows creates a smoother fabric, looking a little like leaves.

Although this is technically what would be called the “right side”, I much prefer the other side.

The odd numbered rows produce the more textured look of the waves and is the reason for the name I’ve given the blanket of “Dragon Scales”. It may be the “wrong side” but I think it’s gorgeous!

It’s a difficult choice, I know! Fortunately, you can love both sides equally and you don’t need to make the choice.

Finished Size

32″ x 39″.

Yarn

Lion Brand “Mandala”, 100% acrylic, 590 yds/540m per 5.3 oz/150g per skein: approximately 1600 yards of colorway: Pixie.

Popular Free Crochet Patterns

Other Materials

Suggested Crochet Hook Size J-10 (6mm) or hook needed to meet gauge.
Yarn Needle for weaving ends.

Gauge

It’s difficult to measure gauge for this project. Each full Diamond measures about 1 1/2″ across. Each 2-row repeat measures a little under 2″ high.

Use the Stitch Multiple to create the baby afghan in any size or yarn weight by adjusting the initial chain count and/or yarn weight. You can use it to make a full size afghan or throw.

Or, if you want to try out the stitch pattern without the large commitment, try making a scarf instead. I’m currently making a scarf and I started with an initial chain of 42.

Stitch Multiple

If you would like to change the width of this blanket, you’ll need any multiple of 8, then add 10.

Special Instructions

When making the initial chain, ensure that you chain loosely. If you tend to make this chain too tightly, it’s okay to go up a hook size while making the chain. After the chain, switch to the hook you’ll be using.

When working on the Diamond rows, there is no chain 1 at the beginning. It goes straight into pulling up loops.

When working slip stitches down the side of the Diamond, ensure that you insert your hook under the 2 outer vertical bars of the last stitch of each row to keep the edges stable. Slip stitch loosely. You’ll be making single crochet into them on the next row.

After slip stitching down the side of the Diamond, when slip stitching into the next single crochet of the current row, ensure that you’re working into the next single crochet and not into the stretched out single crochet right before it.

Abbreviations

This baby blanket pattern is written in US crochet terminology.

ch=chain; lp(s)=loop(s); rep=repeat; sc=single crochet; sk=skip; sl=slip; st(s)=stitch(es); yo=yarn over.

All numbers after the colon at the end of an instruction are stitch counts. Use the stitch count to check your work.

Special Stitches

When making the chain 1 to close the first loop of a row when working on a Diamond, keep it loose. After working on this stitch repeat for awhile, you will find that working a tight tension is going to make everything more difficult.

The Diamonds follow Tunisian crochet principles, even though there are only 9 stitches maximum and you can use a standard crochet hook. There is no need for a special hook. You will be using the following techniques for the Diamonds only, the rest is in regular crochet:

Tunisian Simple Stitch: Right-Handed Video | Left-Handed Video

Last Stitch of a Row: The last stitch of each row is worked into the outer 2 vertical bars. It’s basically a knit stitch with an extra loop. You don’t want to work under only one vertical bar since it will cause the loop to stretch too much and cause gaps. Working under both loops makes a nice, clean, sturdy edge. Right-Handed Video | Left-Handed Video

It’s unnecessary to be a pro at Tunisian crochet but it does help to brush up on some of the basics.

The following are the instructions for each mitered square which I’ve called Diamonds. The overall pattern for the row repeats is below the instructions for the Diamonds.

Diamond

Row 1: Start with 9 lps on hook in indicated sts, ch 1, [yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice, yo, pull through 4 lps on hook (3 lps closed here and throughout), [yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] 3 times: 1 lp remains on hook.

Row 2: Sk first vertical bar, [insert hook under next vertical bar, yo, pull lp through] twice, insert hook under 3 vertical bars, yo, pull lp through, [insert hook under next vertical bar, yo, pull lp through] 3 times (7 lps on hook), ch 1, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook, yo, pull through 4 lps on hook, [yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] 2 times: 1 lp remains on hook.

Row 3: Sk first vertical bar, insert hook under next vertical bar, yo, pull lp through, insert hook under 3 vertical bars, yo, pull loop through, [insert hook under next vertical bar, yo, pull lp through] twice (5 lps on hook), ch 1, yo, pull through 4 lps on hook, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook: 1 lp remains on hook.

Row 4: Sk first vertical bar, insert hook under 3 vertical bars, yo, pull lp through, insert hook under last vertical bar, yo, pull lp through (3 lps on hook), yo, pull through 3 lps on hook: 1 lp remains on hook.

First Side Diamond

Row 1: Start with 5 lps on hook in indicated sts, ch 1, [yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice, yo, pull through 3 lps on hook (2 lps closed here and throughout): 1 lp remains on hook.

Row 2: Sk 2 vertical bars, [insert hook under next vertical bar, yo, pull lp through] 3 times (4 lps on hook], ch 1, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook, yo, pull through 3 lps on hook: 1 lp remains on hook.

Row 3: Sk 2 vertical bars, [insert hook under next vertical bar, yo, pull lp through] twice (3 lps on hook), ch 1, yo, pull through 3 lps on hook: 1 lp remains on hook.

Row 4: Sk 2 vertical bars, insert hook in last vertical bar, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook: 1 lp remains on hook.

Last Side Diamond

Row 1: Start with 6 lps on hook in indicated sts, yo, pull through 3 lps on hook, [yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] 3 times: 1 lp remains on hook.

Row 2: Sk first vertical bar, [insert hook under next vertical bar, yo, pull lp through] 2 times, insert hook under 3 vertical bars, yo, pull lp through (4 lps on hook), [yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] 3 times: 1 lp remains on hook.

Row 3: Sk first vertical bar, insert hook under next vertical bar, yo, pull lp through, insert hook under 2 vertical bars, yo, pull lp through (3 lps on hook), [yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice: 1 lp remains on hook.

Row 4: Sk first vertical bar, insert hook under 2 vertical bars, yo, pull through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook: 1 lp remains on hook.

Free Crochet Pattern Instructions

Note: Read all Special Instructions and Special Stitches before beginning.

Row 1: Ch 162 loosely, sk ch, 2 sc in next ch, sc in next 3 ch, *sk ch, sc in next 3 ch, 3 sc in next ch, sc in next 3 ch, rep from * to last 5 ch, sk ch, sc in next 4 ch, turn: 1 lp remains on hook (counts as first lp of next row here and throughout).

Row 2: Sk first sc, pull up lps in next 8 sc (9 lps now on hook here and throughout), work Diamond (see Special Stitches above), sl st at side of each of 4 rows of Diamond, sl st in next sc of current row (1 lp on hook), *pull up lps in next 8 sc, work Diamond, sl st at side of each of 4 rows of Diamond, sl st in next sc of current row (1 lp on hook), rep from * to last 8 sc, pull up lps in next 8 sc, work Diamond, sl st at side of each of 4 rows of Diamond, sl st in sc at base of Diamond, turn: 20 Diamonds.

Row 3: Ch 1, working in BOTH lps of sl st (here and throughout), sc in first sl st, *sc in next 3 sl st, 3 sc in one lp only at top of Diamond, sc in sides of 3 rows of Diamond, sk last row of Diamond and first sl st of next Diamond, rep from * to last Diamond, sc in next 3 sl st, 3 sc in one lp only at top of Diamond, sc in sides of 4 rows of Diamond, turn: 1 lp remains on hook: 182 sc.

Note: The Diamond rows shift by one stitch on each alternating Diamond row to control the bias. Follow the instructions to maintain this shift.

Row 4: Sk first sc, pull up lps in next 4 sc (5 lps now on hook), work First Side Diamond (see Special Stitches above), sl st at side of each of 4 rows of Diamond, sl st in next sc of current row (1 lp on hook), *pull up lps in next 8 sc, work Diamond, sl st at side of each 4 rows of Diamond, sl st in next sc of current row (1 lp on hook), rep from * to last 5 sc, pull up lps in next 5 sc (6 lps now on hook), work Last Side Diamond, (see Special Stitches above) turn: 19 full Diamonds and 2 half Diamonds.

Row 5: Ch 1, 2 sc in sides of next 2 rows of Diamond, sc in side of next row of Diamond, *sk last row of Diamond and first sl st of next Diamond, sc in next 3 sl st, 3 sc in one lp only at top of Diamond, sc in sides of next 3 rows of Diamond, rep from * to before last Diamond, sk last row of previous Diamond and first sl st of last Diamond, sc in next 3 sl st of last Diamond, sc in top of last Diamond, turn: 180 sc.

Rows 6-73: Rep rows 2-5.

Rows 74-75: Rep row 2-3. Fasten off after final row.

Finishing

Weave in all ends securely.

Depending on your tension, especially on the first loop of each row of the Diamonds, your project could bias. If this happens, spray the entire blanket generously with cool water or dip in cool water until saturated then gently roll in clean, dry towels to remove excess water. Shape on a flat surface then allow to dry completely.

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TERMS: To my fellow crafters, you have my permission to use my patterns to make and sell your projects* anywhere you like. You cannot use my images to sell your projects, though. You must take photos of your own work. All patterns have been tested but mistakes can happen. If you find a mistake, please let me know.

*Not intended to be blanket permission for mass production.