Welcome to the Boho Desert crochet blanket beginner’s guide and CAL page. This page is meant to be a supplement to folks who purchased my book and would like some gentle support with their pattern. If you are looking for alternate yarn selection, videos to help with tricky stitches, and the fun that comes with working up a project in a group, then this is the page for you.

My plan is to break the blanket up into weekly segments, then list all of the weeks below. Dates will not be assigned, so you can jump in at any time and flow through the project. Ways to connect with the community are provided on this page. I can’t wait to get started!

[Jump back to main CAL page.]

Before you begin

• Order my book to get this pattern
• Add your project to Ravelry to enter the giveaways (see below)
• Join my Facebook Group to connect with other CALers and get my weekly check-ins
• Follow me on Instagram @cypresstextiles and use hashtags for your pics (see below)

Gather your materials

Use the yarn listed in the book, or use the following suggested alternate yarn. This section has affiliate links marked with an asterisk. Ordering through these links will gain me a small commission (at no additional cost to you) and helps to support my free patterns.

Alternate yarn option

Scheepjes Cahlista (100% natural cotton; 93 yd [85 m]/1.75 oz [50 g]):

• #130 Old Lace (A), 24 balls
• #385 Crystalline (B), 6 balls
• #124 Ultramarine (C), 10 balls
• #516 Candy Apple (D), 6 balls
• #406 Soft Beige (E), 2 balls
• #411 Sweet Orange (F), 4 balls

Supplier: WoolWarehouse*, Deramores*, Knotty House*, Black Sheep Wools* or find a Scheepjes Retailer near you!

Weekly CAL timeline (15 Weeks)

As stated, I have omitted dates here, and shifted the focus from deadline-based to increment-based. This way you can focus on chunking the blanket up into bite-sized pieces and it doesn’t seem so overwhelming.

Don’t forget to take a photo of your progress each week so you can share it with everyone! (See “Get involved!” below.) I will choose 1 of your photos from Ravelry each week as the “model.”

• Week 1: Work about half of Panel 1

Helpful note: The repeat goes from Row 2 on when reading from the chart – so do not include the plain white Row 1 of the chart in your repeat.

• Week 2: Continue with the remainder of Panel 1 including Panel Border

• Week 3: Work about half of Panel 2

Helpful note: Error in pattern – the row counts are off. After the 8 repeats, you need to work Rows 9-12 again to get that last pair of navy blue stripes. Then repeat Row 5 with the cream color 4 times. Then you can fill in the triangle corners as per the pattern.

• Week 4: Continue with the remainder of Panel 2 including Panel Border and Joining Rnd
• Week 5: Work about half of Panel 3
• Week 6: Continue with the remainder of Panel 3 including Panel Border and Joining Rnd

• Week 7: Work Base Triangles and Connect Base Triangles of Panel 4
• Week 8: Continue with the remainder of Panel 4 including Panel Border and Joining Rnd

Helpful note: In the pattern, it indicates to join with yarn A, but you will join with yarn C.

Also, I have received feedback from a few folks, who may have a taller DC st than mine, that their navy blue portion is very “puffed out” and bunchy/rippling. If you believe your DC stitch is particularly tall, you should go down 2 hook sizes for the navy blue portion of this panel.

• Week 9: Work about half of Panel 5
• Week 10: Continue with the remainder of Panel 5 plus Panel Border and Joining Rnd

• Week 11: Work about half of Panel 6
• Week 12: Continue with the remainder of Panel 6 plus Panel Border and Joining Rnd

• Week 13: Work about half of Panel 7
• Week 14: Continue with the remainder of Panel 7 plus Panel Border and Joining Rnd
• Week 15: Weave any remaining ends and work Blanket Border. Block if desired or necessary.
• All done! Head back to the book CAL main page to pick your next project!

 

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Beginner’s guide

This section includes videos of tricky stitches where applicable, and any other significant notes to supplement your book.

If you are looking for a list of the basic stitches used in the book (with videos), head to the main book CAL page. There, you will also find tips like how I weave in my ends, how I block my work, and other general tips to make your work shine.

Special stitches for this pattern are listed in the Stitch Guide below.

Stitch Guide

• Bobble video
• Inc video

Get involved!

Ways to share your WIP pics (and any concerns!) with others in this CAL community.

Step 1: Take photos of your progress each week and make note of any questions you have.

Step 2: Share your photos and questions in any or all of the following ways. I recommend choosing the same day each week to post

Facebook

Post in my Facebook Group where the CALers will meet weekly to check in. PLEASE INCLUDE in your post:

1. The name of the blanket – This way a simple search in the group will pull up all of the posts for that blanket. (Remember all 18 of the pattern CALs are going on at the same time.)
2. What Week you are on in the CAL timeline

Example: If you’re on Week 3, put “Boho Desert Blanket – Week 3” somewhere in your post.

Instagram

Post on Instagram using all three of these hashtags. This is important because it will help me see and share your posts on Instagram. It will also allow folks to click the hashtags and see everyone’s posts together in one place.

1. #cypresstextiles
2. #theartofcrochetblankets
3. #bohodesertblanket

Ravelry

Here is the page for Boho Desert. Interacting with the Ravelry page will help people find my book page and grow the CAL community. Plus, folks who are outside my social media circles can see your projects and be inspired. Go ahead and do the following two things.

1. Put it in your favorites!
2. Add your project to enter in the weekly giveaway. Each week I will select someone from the projects on Ravelry as a giveaway winner. More details to come!

Other ways to get involved with and support my book

• Do you like my book? Add a nice review on Amazon.com.
• Share a review of my book on your blog if you like! Head to my book info page to see the Press Release and Media Kit PDFs for all the deets. Send me the link to my email cypresstextiles @ gmail . com, and I will add a snippet of your review and link to your blog in the Reviews section.