Welcome to my latest free crochet pattern, y’all! Carefree is finally here, and if fire comes out of your fingertips, you can make a lapghan for your ma, just in time for Mothers’ Day. Give mom some Carefree vibes!
Pattern
Find Carefree in an ad-free, easy to print PDF for a small fee on:
You can also find this pattern on AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns.
Or scroll down for the free pattern!
Y’all, I’m super proud and happy with this free pattern. This hexagon motif ticks all my boxes! Wanna read more about the design process? Head to any of the links below to get started, including the Relaxghan intro post. Carefree is the third blanket of six in the free crochet pattern series “Relaxghans: Six blanket patterns designed with peace in mind.” Which I have made into a Ravelry ebook – go check it out at the link below.
Note: if you get started on this pattern, don’t forget to tag #CarefreeBlanket and #CypressTextiles so I’ll see it! I love to feature your CypressTextiles makes in my IG feed and stories, as well as on Pinterest board “You Made It!”
Read more
I also fell in love with this delicate edging, and decided to publish that separately as a freebie called “Cherry Blossom Edging” that you can add to any blanket for that extra special finish.
Related: Shop this yarn (affiliates)
- Knotty House
- Wool Warehouse
- Black Sheep Wools
- Also available at other Scheepjes retailers.
Eep! I cannot wait to see all of the color combos that y’all come up with for this piece. I know my colors are daring in this sample blanket, but you all have followed me a while, and should be used to the flashy color! If you’ve only just recently subscribed to this blog, well, yeah I use a ton of bold and daring color palettes with reckless abandon. lol
Enjoy this pattern, guys – I haven’t had this much fun making a sample prototype blanket in a long time. It works up so very quickly. Your mom is anticipating her Mothers’ Day blanket as we speak! Get hooking! 🙂
Notions & Sizing
- US 3.5mm hook, tapestry needle for weaving ends
- Measurements Finished piece measures about 48x56in and is easily resized by using larger gauge yarn and hook, or by making more motifs
Key Stitch Descriptions (US)
- ch chain
- cl cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through 3 lps
- beg beginning
- beg cl beginning cluster: beg dc, dc in same st/sp – counts as 1 cl
- beg dc (sc, ch 1) – counts as 1 dc
- beg dc5tog beginning dc 5 together: beg dc in next st, (yoh, insert hook in next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 4 times, yoh, draw yarn through 5 lps
- beg tr (sc, ch 2) – counts as 1 tr
- dc double crochet
- dc5tog dc 5 together: (yoh, insert hook in next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 5 times, yoh, draw yarn through 6 lps
- lp(s) loop(s)
- MR make ring: Sl knot, ch 3, ss in third ch from hook to make ring
- rep repeat
- RS/WS right side/wrong side of work
- sc single crochet
- sk skip
- sp space
- ss slip stitch
- st(s) stitch(es)
- tr treble crochet
- yoh yarn over hook
Schematic
Instructions
Note: First, work full and half motifs which are joined as you go. Then, the zig-zag sides of the blanket are filled in and a sweet border is added.
Full Motif (Make 27)
Rnd 1 With CC, MR, beg cl, (ch2, cl) 5 times, ch2, ss in beg cl. [6 cl, 6 sp]
Rnd 2 Beg cl in sp, (ch2, cl in same sp, ch2, cl in next sp) 6 times omitting final cl, ss in beg cl. [12 cl, 12 ch-sp]
Rnd 3 Beg dc in sp, (4dc in same sp, dc in next sp) 12 times omitting final st, ss in beg dc. [60 dc]
Rnd 4 Beg dc5tog, (ch5, dc5tog) 11 times, ch5, ss in beg dc5tog. [12 dc5tog, 5 sp]
Rnd 5 Beg dc in sp, (7 dc in same sp, ch1, dc in next sp) 12 times omitting final st, ss in beg dc. [96 dc, 12 sp]
Rnd 6 Ss in next st, (sc, ch2, sk2) 36 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn. [36 sc, 36 sp]
Rnd 7 With MC, ss in second to last ch-sp of Rnd 6, (sc in sp, ch2) 36 times, ss in first sc. [36 sc, 36 sp]
Rnd 8 Beg dc in sp, (ch1, 2dc in same sp, 3dc in next 5 sps, 2dc in next sp) 6 times omitting final st, ss in beg dc. [114 dc, 6 sp]
Rnd 9 Beg dc in sp, * ch1, dc in same sp, (ch1, sk1, dc) 10 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final st, ss in beg dc. [66 dc, 66 sp]
Rnd 10 (3sc in corner, sc in all sts/sps across to next corner) 6 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn. [144 sc]
Rnd 11 With CC, ss in any corner sc, (3sc in corner, sc in all sts to next corner) 6 times, ss in first sc. [156 sc]
Rnd 12 Beg dc in corner st, * ch1, 3dc in same st, ch1, sk4, (3dc in next st, ch1, sk3) 5 times, 3dc in corner st, rep from * 5 times omitting final st, ss in beg dc, cut yarn. [126 dc, 42 sp]
Join full motifs
Note: Motifs are joined as you go on Rnd 13.
Rnd 13, Motif 1 With MC, ss in first corner, beg dc in sp, (ch1, 2dc in same sp, 3dc in 6 sps, 2dc in next sp) 6 times omitting final st, ss in beg dc, cut yarn. [132 dc, 48 sp]
Rnd 13, Motifs 2-6 Work as for motif 1, but when joining side is reached (see schematic), replace ch1 sps with ss in corresponding ch-1 sp on adjacent completed motif, then work the rest of the rnd plain.
Rnd 13, Motifs 7-11 Work as for previous motif, but when Special Corner 1 (see schematic) is reached, ss in first motif ch1 sp, then ss in second motif ch1 sp, then continue around as normal, joining the remainder of the side, then working the rest of the rnd plain.
Join all full motifs in this manner, following schematic.
Half Motif (Make 6)
Row 1 (WS) Using CC, MR, beg tr, ch1, (cl, ch2) 3 times omitting final ch, tr, turn. [3 cl, 2 tr, 4 sp]
Row 2 Beg tr in sp, ch1, cl in same sp, (ch2, cl) 2 times in 2 sps, ch2, (cl, ch1, tr) in final sp, turn. [6 cl, 2 tr, 7 sp]
Row 3 (Beg dc, 2dc) in sp, 5dc in 5 sps, 3dc in final sp, turn. [31dc]
Row 4 Beg dc3tog – made as for dc5tog, but over 3 sts only, (ch5, dc5tog) 5 times, ch5, dc3tog, turn. [5 dc5tog, 2 dc3tog, 6 sp]
Row 5 Beg dc in first st, ch1, (8dc, ch1) in 6 sps, dc in final st, turn. [50 dc, 7 sp]
Row 6 Sc in sp, (ch2, sk2, sc) 19 times, turn, cut yarn. [18 sc, 17 sp]
Row 7 With MC, ss in first st, sc in same st, (ch2, sc in next sp) to end, ch2, sc in final st, turn. [19 sc, 18 sp]
Row 8 Beg tr in sp, (ch1, 2dc in same sp, 3dc in next 5 sps, dc in next sp) 3 times, (dc, ch1, tr) in same sp as prev, turn. [2 tr, 57 dc, 4 sp]
Row 9 Beg tr, * ch1, dc in same sp, (ch1, sk1, dc) 10 times, rep from * 2 times, ch1, tr in same sp as prev, turn. [2 tr, 33 dc, 34 sp]
Row 10 2sc in sp, (sc in all sts/sps across to next corner, 3sc in corner) 3 times omitting final sc, cut yarn, turn. [73 sc]
Row 11 With CC, ss in first st, 2sc in first st, (sc in all sts to next corner, 3sc in corner) 3 times omitting final sc, turn. [79 sc]
Row 12 Beg tr in first st, * ch1, 3dc in same st, ch1, sk4, (3dc in next st, ch1, sk3) 5 times, 3dc in corner st, rep from * 2 times, ch1, tr in same st as prev, cut yarn. [2 tr, 63 dc, 22 sp]
Add in Half Motifs
Row 13 (RS) With MC, ss in first sp (at red circle on schematic), (beg tr, ch1, 2dc) in same sp, (ch1, 3dc) in 6 sps, ch1, (2dc, join with ss, 2dc) in corner sp, finish joining row as with full motif joining, after final corner is joined, tr in same sp as prev, cut yarn. [2 tr, 66 dc, 25 sp]
Join rem half motifs into the blanket, working special corner 2 as follows: beg tr, join with ss right away, complete joining row as before, cut yarn.
Fill triangle gaps to straighten both zig-zag sides of blanket
Note: With MC, fill each triangle gap independently as follows.
Row 1 With RS facing, ss in ch1 sp on corner of motif at right hand side of triangle gap, beg tr in same sp, (3dc in next sp, ch1) 6 times, 3dc in next 2 sps, (ch1, 3dc in next sp) 6 times, tr in ch1 corner sp, turn. [2 tr, 42 dc, 12 sp]
Row 2 Beg tr in first st, dc in next sp, (ch1, sk1, dc) 11 times, sk2, (dc, sk1, ch1) 11 times, dc in sp, tr in final tr, turn. [2 tr, 24 dc, 22 sp]
Row 3 Beg tr in first st, sk 2 dc, dc in 19 st/sp, sk2, dc in 19 st/sp, tr in final tr, turn. [2 tr, 38 dc]
Row 4 Beg tr in first st, sk3, (dc, ch1, sk1) 7 times, dc, sk2, (dc, ch1, sk1) 7 times, dc, tr in final tr, turn. [2 tr, 16 dc, 14 sp]
Row 5 Beg tr in first st, sk 2 dc, dc in 11 st/sp, sk2, dc in 11 st/sp, tr in final tr, turn. [2 tr, 22 dc]
Row 6 Beg tr in first st, sk3, (dc, ch1, sk1) 3 times, dc, sk2, (dc, ch1, sk1) 3 times, dc, tr in final tr, turn. [2 tr, 8 dc, 6 sp]
Row 7 Sc in first st, ch3, sk 2 dc, sc in next sp, ch3, sk 4 dc, sc in next sp, ch3, sk 2 dc, sc in final tr, cut yarn. [4 sc, 3 sp]
Repeat for remaining 11 triangle gaps.
Cherry Blossom Edging
Rnd 1 With MC, ss in top right corner of blanket. (sc, ch3, sc) in corner, (ch3, sc) evenly across, working the sc around sideways sts of raw edge of half motifs. Be sure to space your sc sts about the height of a tr st. When next corner is reached, (sc, ch3, sc) in corner, repeat for 3 remaining sides, joining in first sc when beg is reached. Be sure there are the same amount of sps on opposing sides of the blanket.
Rnd 2 * (Sc, ch 3, sc) in corner sp, (ch3, sc in next sp) across to next corner st, ch 3, rep from * 3 times, ss in first sc.
Rnd 3 Beg dc, * ch3, sc in top side bars of prev dc, (ch3, sc in prev sc) 2 times, sc in top side bars of prev dc once more to close “cherry blossom”, dc in same sp, dc in next sp, rep from * around blanket. Do not do anything special in corners, when beg is reached, omit final st, and ss in beg dc, cut yarn.
Yay! All done! Weave ends, block, and give yourself a fist bump!
Copyright Information
No pattern or other material may be reproduced — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying — without written permission of Rachele Carmona. This applies to all content on CypressTextiles.net, BabyLoveBrand.net, and all other sites used by Rachele Carmona. Paid patterns are for personal use only. You may sell your finished crocheted items, but do not use my photos to sell your items. Take your own photos.
free crochet pattern Carefree Blanket
*This post contains affiliate links. When you shop through these links, I get a small commission at no additional cost to you, that helps support CypressTextiles so I can continue to bring you content. Thank you!
Today I did some stash diving! I’m brainstorming for this month’s Relaxghan and I want to pick a nice bright palette of Scheepjes | Catona. I’m also thinking of mixing in some Catona Denim since it has a tonal quality that will mix things up.
Gathering all the Catona I had around the house, I chose a pretty spread.
(Small note to everyone who reached out to me regarding my last post. Thank you so much; it means a lot. I’m taking a couple days to digest the responses, there were so many. Thank you! ☺️)
Surprise stash, under the bed.
I totally had a flat bin under the bed full of yarn. Here’s a night-time pic of my Catona* stash – it’s plentiful, which snuck up on me because I thought I had just a few balls here and there…
that’s why I think, especially in the Spring when the vibe of cleaning and refreshing is in the air, it’s important to organize your yarn stash thoroughly, so you can see what you have. If I didn’t know I had all this Catona I definitely would have placed a yarn order!
2018 is the year of no waste for me, so I want to use what I have before I buy more, which can really mess up my color dreams…
Related: Shop this yarn (affiliate links)
- Knotty House
- Wool Warehouse
- Black Sheep Wools
- Also available at other Scheepjes retailers.
Cohesive Shmohesive
Side note: while we’re talking about this yarn, I pulled a palette for an upcoming project recently – check it out. I’m telling you there is no wrong way to go. If you’re worried about your colors not jiving, but you want to use up your stash, just go for it!! It’ll work in the end.
I know I might not have mixed all these particular colors together if I didn’t have the urge to stash-reduce. Suddenly when you’ve got a goal in mind, you can let go of the little things like “a cohesive palette” lol
Kitsch as chic
So! I ended up with a sweet little color mix. Peep it lounging by my fake plant 🙂
Definitely a small selection, but a little of this yarn goes a long way. That mustard yellow and that bright red are just kitsch enough to make me giddy!
I think I picked the colors of a rose garden. ❤️
I took a snapshot of Catona and Catona Denim* together so you can see the difference more clearly. See the tonal hues in the Denim? It’s very blue-jeansy, while the regular version is smoother.
I’m already forming a strategy in my mind for how I’m going to use these together ❤️
Wanna see what I ended up coming up with for the motif?
Take a look at “Carefree” – the April free Relaxghan pattern 🙂 This one is a shout-out to Mothers’ Day in May. It screams “mom’s garden” vibes.
Plus the motif was so fun to design! And I’ll be adding that Catona Denim ring plus another outer ring on every motif. So they just might be cohesive! Mission accomplished! Free pattern coming April 30th.
Another view – I did add a couple more rounds after taking this pic, but you’ll see them as soon as I show more of the WIP.
* This Post has affiliate links! Shopping through them will help support CypressTextiles ❤️
Were you ever crocheting a blanket, stepped back to take a quick snapshot, and were positively wowed by the beauty?? Even though you (annoyinglyyy) accidentally wadded up the WIP so that the crochet motifs were wrong side facing, and as a result, you can’t see the details?? Yeah me too.
hexagon crochet motifs
Introducing the Relaxghan free crochet pattern for April 30: Carefree
Carefree
There’s not a whole lot I care about. I think it’s a short list:
- My family,
- My crafty community,
- My impact on the planet.
That’s it! Just 3 things… lol. Just three li’l things that weigh so heavily on my shoulders because they help me keep one foot in the future while I have the other one so firmly rooted in the present. You know all those inspirational quotes that talk about living in the now versus living in the past or the future? Take a look at these images I swiped straight from the internet:
Well I can always say with 100% confidence that I am a person who lives in the present…with one foot in the future, because I care about some important things that are going to live on past my time.
So. In all that. Isn’t it nice to have some carefree moments in the midst of all the hardcore caring that we do every day? Like using a shocking pink as a background color for your latest crochet blanket. Or mixing some atrociously gaudy colors together, just because you think it might “work” and you really don’t even care if it doesn’t work, because on another level, that works too. That is some serious Carefree feeling!
In the spirit of outlandish color pairings, here’s that shocking pink denim, along with a warm mustard. Gorgeous! Read more.
Related: Shop this yarn (affiliate links)
- Knotty House
- Wool Warehouse
- Black Sheep Wools
- Also available at other Scheepjes retailers.
Hexagon Crochet Motifs
I think I channeled the love and energy of my late mother-in-law with these motifs, as they do remind me of those Mexican paper-cut flags, and these colors are definitely fiesta-worthy.
Somehow, nearly every time I sit to design a crochet motif, I end up staring at a hexagon when I’m finished. Why?? The answer is not entirely clear, why I’m hexie-obsessed, but the six-sided shape is definitely not out of my system yet, and neither are those huge 2-round petals.
To make them, you just work 4 dc (or more!) into a st/sp, then on the next round, you decrease all 4 sts together to form the top point of the petal. They’re a super fun addition to crochet motifs because the normal “cluster” stitch you could use to make petals is much smaller. These giant petals really pop! You can also find those 2-round petals in the three designs below.
More colors will be added, so stay tuned until my next post, which will be the finished object reveal. For now, check out these addictive hexies for some inspiration. With that easy-peasy join as you go, you cant beat it!
Homework: make a list of everything you care about. Now cross off 10 things that really honestly shouldn’t be there. Get your care list filled with a few rich items where your focused energy actually makes a difference. Let all that other crap go.
A top view of that first pic. Even without any editing, it’s just beautiful no?
* This post contains affiliate links marked with an asterisk. Purchasing items from those links helps keep CypressTextiles running, at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support!
Say hello to the third Relaxghan of this popular series of free blanket patterns! The Carefree blanket crochet pattern is nearly done, but in the meantime, I thought I’d share the FO photographs with you all.
Carefree Blanket Info
Color inspiration
Bright and bold silk flowers are a staple in my home decor, and this pink and green “homework table” centerpiece is part of the inspiration for Carefree. I try not to think too hard when I decorate – basically I do it for me and me only.. it’s my nest, after all!
The coordinating yarn palette is perfect, although I didn’t end up using all the colors. Some were too peachy to stand out against the (outlandishly rockin’!) pink background.
Those hook rolls are by Sew Ray Me, and I must have about a dozen if not more. I change them out like purses – ha! A pic of my hook rolls is shared below, but I also have several project bags, special notion pouches, and a very cool notebook keeper with a zipper pouch and built in hook roll. Definitely check out SewRayMe on Instagram.
The dainty prints of the rolls in the pic below were perfect for fanning the flames of this sugary-sweet color scheme.
I also channeled my Mothers’ Day energy. It’s almost here!! We moms could definitely use some Carefree vibes!
Related: Shop this yarn (affiliate links)
- Knotty House
- Wool Warehouse
- Black Sheep Wools
- Also available at other Scheepjes retailers.
Design
It all started with this awesome motif. Once I made one, I couldn’t stop. And of course it’s a hexagon – because duh! #hexieobsessed
In keeping with the simplicity of the Relaxghan Series (designed with peace in mind), I designed this motif with very intuitive repeats. Hope y’all enjoy it as much as I did!
crochet blanket carefree blanket pattern
Read more
- Yarn selection
- WIP post
- Free pattern! (Coming soon)
- Relaxghan Series Info Post
Another shot of the motif! Looking forward to sharing the pattern 🙂
* This Post contains affiliate links marked with an asterisk. Shopping through these links helps support CypressTextiles so I can continue to bring you content! And at no extra cost to you – amazing!
Hello! I’m just popping on the blog to show you a recent crochet FO! My second Carefree Blanket is complete. The first one I made was for the pattern prototype sample, but that one sold right away.
Carefree is a Relaxghan pattern. The Relaxgan series are six blanket patterns that I designed with peace in mind. Here’s a link to the main page from the Relaxgans. Also available is the Relaxghans Ravelry ebook with all six patterns at a discounted price. Easy-print and ad-free PDF files.
Color Palette and Design
About a month ago, I got a request to make another Carefree Blanket in the same outrageous colorway, and even though I am no longer doing custom work, I jumped at the offer just because A) I already had the yarn on hand – crazy I know, and B) this is such a fun pattern, honestly I couldn’t wait to make it again.
I never took a photo of the yarn this time around, so above is a pic from Carefree Blanket No. 1, showing all of the colors and the motif – minus the joining round. Eeeep! I love this motif. In the original blanket post, I mentioned my inspiration for the motif and bright and bold color palette came from Mexican Papel Picado.
Here is my finished Carefree crochet blanket. Doesn’t it just made you want to relax in a garden in the sun?
Pattern Info and Related Links
- Original Carefree Blanket – FO post
- Original Cherry Blossom border – free pattern
- Free pattern blog post
- Relaxghans main page
- Relaxghans ebook – easy-print PDF – Ravelry
- Individual Carefree Blanket – easy-print PDF Ravelry / Etsy
Scheepjes Catona yarn is so great because the drape is phenomenal and the clean smooth yarn with virtually zero “halo” has a very clean look. Perfect for projects requiring great stitch definition like this motif – you can easily see the “cutouts” of the papel picado vibe with this smooth yarn.
I just recently used Catona in a free hexagon blanket pattern, Painted Hexagons. When I sold that prototype blanket, the recipient was really impressed by the drape and beauty of the yarn.
Yarny Info
To make this blanket, I am using Scheepjes | Catona for the main colors of the motifs, and Catona Denim for the pink background. Shopping through these affiliate links is a great way to support CypressTextiles, and it doesn’t cost you any extra! Woohoo!
Another place I found inspiration for this color palette is the Instagram account of Jessica Wilkinson, @VanillaLemonCake. Jessica has an incredible eye for photographing nature. Look at these photos pasted from her Instagram feed. What a wonderful and delicious use of pink and yellow. So Springy!
Here’s another shot of Carefree, and that pink and yellow glory.
A New Border
I did made a new border for this blanket. The pattern is very easy! I just had a short play and made it up – nothing revolutionary, but just that little extra something. A picot-esque look, without the pain of a zillion picots.
This simple border is 2 rounds:
Round 1: Join Catona Denim with slip st in corner ch-sp, * (sc, ch3, sc) all in corner sp, (ch3, sc in next ch-sp) across to next corner, ch3, repeat from * 3 times, slip st in first sc.
Round 2: (2sc, ch3, 2sc) in every ch-sp around, slip st in first sc, cut yarn and finish off.
Isn’t it just so sweet and simple? That perfect little touch.
Gratuitous Outside Garden Photos
I couldn’t help it! We went out in the backyard, and I took some pics and just had to share.
Carefree Blanket No. 2 relaxes on the top of our covered fire pit.
Our neighbor gave us a small clipping of her roses a couple years back, and they are absolutely thriving. This wood and metal structure is our dog house area.
My husband constructed a dog house from wood pallets and even put a tony wood deck, covered “patio” in the front of it, and a roof on it, complete with shingles. You can see the roof and “patio” peeking out at the left of the photo. The whole house is surrounded by this fence (we leave it open unless we have company over).
The roses that our neighbor gave us are covering the entire fence as they grow like ivy, attracting birds and bees. Lovely!
Carefree lounges over the kennel door. Yummilicious!
Random nature shots: My three year-old son planted some bulb flowers along the outer brick wall of our outdoor kitchen. They’re sprouting! My husband and I do not have green thumbs at all, but my brother-in-law (hubby’s brother) does. Maybe my son picked it up. Bonus: My li’l tomato plant growing at the left-hand side of the photo!
In other random plant news: My youngest daughter got to take home a plant from school. It came in a can – super cute! And when we read the side of the can, we were mystified as it boasted the appearance of a magic phrase on the plant when it grows.
PS: Yes I live in Texas – there is a BB gun in the background of my photo haha. If anyone out there has BB guns, they make dissolving BBs and I highly recommend them.
It’s growing! A giant bean looking plant.
Check this out! I don’t know what it turns out to say, but just the fact that you can see the letters is so neat! Maybe it says “be yourself”? How cool is that?! I’ll update y’all on what it says in my next post if you’re as curious as I am. If you already know, no spoilers! hehe
Bonus, my son is a lizard whisperer just like his daddy.
Here are my kiddoes – my dog, Lucky, is usually smiling in pics! Today she is not having it lol
The beautiful weather lately has been coaxing us outside and I have taken so. many. photos. Hope you’ve enjoyed my little backyard pic collection!
PS: I can’t stop my eldest daughter from pulling silly faces in pictures lol – she is a goober just like her momma!
Y’all have a happy crafterly day!
Rachele C.