Free Patterns
Published on June 18, 2025

Free Crochet Pattern: Birdsong Blanket (US Terms)

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Hello, gorgeous crafter! Today I want to share a crochet pattern that is from 2017 – around the time that I thought I was going to start a crochet magazine. Then I realized just how much work it really was and slowly let go of the idea. Throughout all these years, there has only been a paid PDF version of the Birdsong Crochet Blanket Pattern, but now I want to release the free version in an effort to continually make sure all of my patterns are accessible to everyone.

This pattern is one of a few that I have written which are inspired by the arts of an instagrammer named Jessica who no longer runs her account. I’ll keep her info private just because one of the reasons she left IG was for more privacy. But I was quite inspired by her works when she was posting, and she was always making magic with markers and paper. One day, she shared an illustration with me that had me pulling a palette of yarn from my stash immediately. The resulting blanket is a color-changing intarsia masterpiece!

PDF Format

The PDF version of this pattern is available on Etsy, Ravelry, and in my online shop, and US Terms only is in the PDF.

This pattern is in US Terms – Click here for UK Terms.

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Pattern By Rachele Carmona of CypressTextiles.net. Credits: Sample blanket and photography by Ariel Jensen of Crafty Trekkie Chick. Note: Every photo in this post was taken by the talented Ariel Jensen. Thank you, Ariel!

If you look at this blanket and say, “All Those Ends!!” I have a blog post for you!

Project Details

  • Skill Level Beginner
  • Measurements Approximately 32x35in before blocking
  • Yarn Scheepjes Merino Soft*
  • Social Media Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Etsy, Ravelry: CypressTextiles
  • Hashtags #BirdsongBlanket #CypressTextiles
  • Gauge 10 St x 5 Row = 4in
  • Hook 1 US Size G (4.25mm) hook
  • Hook 2 US Size D (3.25mm) hook (for border only)

Yarn + Affiliate Links

Shopping through these links will gain me a small commission to support CypressTextiles, at no additional cost to you! The beauty of this piece lies in the color placement. Choose a variety of colors that each fade into the next (a Colour Pack* would work great!)

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Yarn used in pattern:

Scheepjes Merino Soft is not so readily avaiable these days, but a great substitute is Colour Crafter! Scheepjes Colour Crafter can be found at Wool Warehouse and Jimmy Beans Wool or at a Scheepjes retailer near you!

These are the colors I used, A-Z. YOu can use any that you prefer and the blanket will come out amazing.

1 ball each of the following colors:

  • A – 623        N – 636
  • B – 621        O – 634
  • C – 608        P – 613
  • D – 633        Q – 614
  • E – 642         R – 628
  • F – 640         S – 629
  • G – 644        T – 624
  • H – 648        U – 646
  • I – 600          V – 625
  • J – 606          W – 626
  • K – 647         X – 627
  • L – 632         Y – 630
  • M – 635       Z – 615

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You could also use any Colour Pack* to get a full range of shades.

Stash Yarn would also work, because it is definitely the type of design that will help your remnants and scraps shine!

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Repeat and Bracket Guide

  • Square brackets [ ] are used for small repeats: 4dc, [2dc, 3tr, 2dc] 2 times
  • Asterisks *are used for repeats that include small repeats: *5dc, [1ch, 1dc] 3 times in next ch, rep from * 3 times
  • Round brackets ( ) are used when a string of stitches are worked into the same spot: (3tr, 3ch, 3tr) in next st
  • Stitch Counts are given at the end of rows where necessary, in the following format: [12 dc, 3 sp]

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Tips and Notes

  • Weave your ends after each time you cut the yarn to avoid having to do them all at the end.
  • Please read the stitch guide for any abbreviations.
  • To get a neater result, I do not “chain up” for the first sc of the round/row. Jump straight into the first sc.

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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 including social media. Paid patterns are for personal use only. You may sell your finished crocheted items, but do not use my photos to sell your items.

ShadeTree Pattern Pack

If you missed my Ravelry ebook release, ShadeTree back in the day, I would definitely check that out! Hit the pause button on this post, go read all about ShadeTree Artist Collaboration, Issue 1, then come right back.

Here are the other four full blanket patterns in the ShadeTree crochet pattern pack:

Tiny Garden

Find this pattern here! Yarn is Scheepjes Spirit

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Indigo Blossom

Find this pattern here! Yarn is Scheepjes Softfun Denim and Scheepjes Softfun Aquarel 

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Spring Flatlay

Find this pattern here! Yarn is Scheepjes Softfun Denim and Scheepjes Softfun Aquarel

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Colorburst

Find this pattern here! Yarn is Scheepjes Cotton 8

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Inspiration and Layout

This is the artwork that inspired the Birdsong Blanket! The Birdsong Blanket was inspired by a geometric grid art drawing. I knew instantly when I saw Jessica’s drawing that I would want to make a blanket inspired by the awesome color flow. Much like with the Colorburst Blanket, I knew I would have to zoom into the design and somehow still capture the essence. After about an hour of sketching and then leaving it for a couple days and coming back to make tweaks, the Birdsong Blanket was born.

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You can choose how you want your layout to look, depending how large you want your blanket to be and depending on how many remnants/stash you are trying to bust through. The layout in the photo shows you where to place the colors.

It is important to note that the body of this blanket is worked side to side! in this chart, the long left side is where you begin working, and the work moves all the way to the right long side of the chart.

Every little square in this chart represents 2 dc sts.

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Designing

When I sat down to design Birdsong, I realized that it is basically a graphghan. The intarsia aspect makes this piece a simple back and forth exercise in patience. But the outcome is definitely worth it. During her process, Ariel sent me progress photos that took my breath away and were some of the most liked photos on my Instagram feed.

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Look at the intarsia progress pics. What an absolute stunner this blanket is!

A graphghan is a type of crochet blanket that uses a graph or pixel-style chart to create an image or pattern. It’s like pixel art made out of yarn.

Here’s how it works:

  • Design: You start with a graph (often a grid of squares), where each square represents one stitch (typically single crochet, corner-to-corner [C2C], or sometimes tunisian simple stitch).
  • Color: Each square is color-coded, and as you crochet, you change yarn colors to match the design.
  • Techniques:
    • SC Graphghan: Usually worked in single crochet rows, one square = one stitch.
    • C2C Graphghan: Worked diagonally using a corner-to-corner technique, with each pixel made from a small block of double crochets.
    • Tunisian Graphghan: Uses tunisian crochet, which creates a dense, grid-like fabric that’s great for intricate images.

This is basically what I am doing here, but there’s not a picture, per se, just a pretty color layout. I used (US) double crochet sts.

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It may seem intimidating, but it’s all about just keeping those bobbins in line and working swiftly one row at a time. The intimidation factor of a graphghan often comes from the appearance of complexity, but at its core, it’s just one stitch at a time and good yarn management. If you can read a chart and keep your yarn from tangling, you’re already 90% of the way there.

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If you’ve made a graphghan, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. While it seems like you need to be part math teacher, part octopus, and part wizard to pull one off, it’s not actually that hard. A graphghan is really just a blanket made one square at a time.

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The yarn colors are positively gorgeous!

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The final shot – a beautiful close-up.

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A Closer Look at Intarsia

I did search up an Intarsia YouTube video to make sure I knew exactly what it was, but good thing Ariel is an absolute pro. She sent me some step-by-step pics of the process that I wanted to share with you all.

Intarsia Method, step by step:

Step 1) Pull new color through final 2 lps of dc to change color.

IMG_3592

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New color is not in use as shown. Drop previous color (do not work over it).

IMG_3593

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Step 2) Working over tail of new yarn (so that it cannot be seen), start making dc as normal.

IMG_3594

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Note below that tail is hidden, and dc stitches are neat and seamless.

IMG_3595

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Stitch Descriptions (US Terms)

  • 2dc-cl (yoh, insert yarn in st/sp indicated, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps on hook) 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 3 lps on hook.
  • as folls as follows
  • beg beginning
  • beg dc beginning double crochet: sc, ch 1 (counts as 1 dc)
  • bet between
  • ch(s) chain(s)
  • ch-sp(s) chain space(s)
  • dc double crochet
  • lp(s) loop(s)
  • picot ch 3, ss in first ch
  • rep(s) repeat(s)
  • RS right side
  • sc single crochet
  • ss slip stitch(es)
  • st(s) stitch(es)
  • tog together
  • WS wrong side
  • yoh yarn over hook

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The PDF version of this pattern is available on Etsy, Ravelry, and in my online shop, and US Terms only is in the PDF.

Instructions

Blanket body is worked left to right, and then granny squares are attached, and picot border is added.

Intarsia reminder overview

Intarsia is a color changing technique that allows you to work with multiple colors of yarn on the same row of work, without working over the yarn not in use or “floating” the yarn at the backside of the piece. Instead, a yarn “bobbin” is created fpr each color, and the section is worked so there are no holes where colors change.

  1. Leave the final step of the last color used unworked and yoh with the new color.
  2. Draw the new color through the last 2 lps of the old color.
  3. Bring the new yarn forward to avoid leaving a hole in the work.
  4. Continue working as normal.

Blanket Body

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Blanket Body

Row 1 (WS) Using MC, ch 145, cut MC and change to Yarn A, sc in second ch from hook and in all rem sts, turn. [144 sc] Note: Turning ch does not count as st.

Row 2 Refer to the Schematic. Each square counts as 2 dc. Beginning at the bottom left corner of the Schematic and working toward the top left corner, beg dc, dc in 14 sts, in the next st make a dc changing color to Yarn L as shown in Intarsia section.

Continue making dc across, changing color when indicated on the Schematic. Turn after each row. (144 dc)

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Rows 3-58 Beg dc in first st, and continue in pattern to make the design as shown. When each block of color is complete, cut yarn leaving a 4-6in tail for weaving.

Row 59 With WS facing and using Yarn A, sc across all sts, cut all yarns and weave all ends.

Sc Rnd: Using MC, ss in top right corner of blanket body, (3 sc in corner, sc evenly across placing 2 sc in side of each dc, 3 sc in corner, sc in all sts across) 2 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn.

Granny Square (Make 20 in MC or any colors)

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Rnd 1 Slip knot, ch 3, ss in third ch from hook to make ring. All in ring: Beg dc, (ch 2, 3 dc) 3 times, ch 2, 2 dc, ss in beg dc.

Rnd 2 (Beg dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner, * ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner, rep from * 2 times, ch 1, 2 dc, ss in beg dc.

Rnd 3 (Beg dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner, * ch 1, 3 dc in ch-sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner, rep from * 2 times, ch 1, 3 dc in ch-sp, ch 1, 2 dc in first corner, ss in beg dc.

Rnd 4 (3 sc in corner, sc in 11 sts/sps) 4 times, ss in first st, cut yarn, leaving long tail (8in) to use for whip st join.

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Assemble blanket

Using yarn tails, whip st 10 squares in a row to form a panel for each side of blanket body. Using MC, whip st square panels to all 147 sts at each side of blanket body. There will be 150 sts from the squares (15 per square) – skip over 3 sts spread evenly.

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Border

Rnd 1 Using MC, ss in upper right corner of piece. (3 sc in corner, sc in all 144 sts across, 3 sc in corner, sc in all 150 sts across) 4 times, ss in first st.

Rnd 2 Switch to smaller hook. (Beg dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner, * (sk 2, 3 dc in next st) across to corner, sk 3, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner, rep from * 3 times omitting final corner. 2 dc in first corner to complete it, ss in beg dc.

Rnd 3 (Beg dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in corner, * dc in all sts across, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in corner, rep from * 3 times omitting final corner, dc in first corner to complete it, ss in beg dc.

Rnd 4 Sc in corner st, (ch 3, sk 2, sc) around blanket to beg, ch 3, ss in corner.

Rnd 5 Ss in first ch, sc in ch-sp, (ch 3, sc in next ch-sp) around blanket to beg, ch 3, ss in first sc.

Rnd 6 [Sc (does not count as a st), beg dc, picot, ch 1, 2dc-cl] in ch-sp * (2dc-cl, picot, ch 1, 2dc-cl) in each ch-sp to corner, [(2dc-cl, picot) 3 times, 2dc-cl] all in corner ch-sp, rep from * 3 times, ss in beg dc, cut yarn.

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Yay! All done! Give yourself a fist bump!

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The PDF version of this pattern is available on Etsy, Ravelry, and in my online shop, and US Terms only is in the PDF.

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 including social media. Paid patterns are for personal use only. You may sell your finished crocheted items, but do not use my photos to sell your items.

RACHELE CARMONA

Crochet Designer & Fiber Artist

Happy crafting,

Rachele C.

Buy my pattern book – I wrote a super neat crochet blanket pattern book, published under Penguin Random House. You can buy it here!

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