Moogly CAL 2025 Blanket Square

I’m so excited to be a part of the Moogly CAL again this year and bring you my Baby Bobbles Blanket Square Free Crochet Pattern for the 2025 Moogly CAL! This is my SIXTH YEAR designing a block. I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this special tradition. (Fun fact: The traditional sixth anniversary gift is candy. Maybe I have a little candy stripe inspiration in my block this year?)

We all love to dream about big projects like an afghan. Sometimes big projects can get intimidating to start though! Or, even worse, you get yourself together and start only to run out of steam. The beauty of this CAL is you get a burst of inspiration each month when each new blanket square pattern is released. On top of that, you’re crocheting along with other people from all over, seeing what they are creating! It’s like having a built-in cheering section.

And don’t forget to share your blocks on social media as you go! Just tag #MooglyCAL2025 to share your creations with fellow stitchers.

The Baby Bobbles Blanket Square Free Crochet Pattern is a super modern, fun, and graphic design. And, because of all the stripes that make up the center of the block, there are tons of options for color play. I love to think of all those colors bubbling around each other having fun.

It features the puff stitch, which is one of my faves for pop and texture. I love the squishy element it brings to a project. Aren’t blankets are all about cozy squishiness?

Now, usually we’re all about gauge here at Stitch & Hustle, but this year’s pattern is a little different. Check out those border rounds - they give you a little wiggle room. So, if you find you’re stitching a little tightly, you can add another border round and still make the required size of blanket square. Moogly has some great tips for getting a square to the size you need for your project. Check it out here.

My previous designs are still available for free if you’d like to check them out! (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

MATERIALS:
Red Heart With Love Yarn
COLOR A: Pewter
COLOR B: Bluebell
COLOR C: Celtic
Crochet Hook Size US J / 6mm (I used a hook in my collection from We Crochet.)

PROJECT STITCH ABBREVIATIONS:
fhdc–foundation half doublecrochet
sc –single crochet
hdc –half double crochet
ch–chain loop
sl st –slip stitch
st(s) –stitch(es)
sk -skip

SPECIAL NOTES:
- This is designed for the MOOGLY BLANKET CAL –hosted by Moogly Blog.
- Yarn Support for this design was provided by Red Heart.
- Your finished square will measure 12” x 12” after blocking. If you find you are a snug stitcher, you can repeat the last 2 rounds in any color you like to meet the 12” square size for the CAL.
- Exact gauge is not critical for this pattern –which is why adding border rounds is noted
- This pattern is written where each color is a 4 row section

PS (Puff Stitch)
Yarn over, insert hook into st or ch sp, yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook);
yarn over, insert hook into st or ch sp, yarn over and pull up loop (5 loops on hook);
yarn over, insert hook into st or ch sp, yarn over and pull up loop (7 loops on hook);
yarn over and pull through ALL 7 loops to finish the stitch.

Stripe 1 -COLOR A:
Row 1: fhdc 25, turn. (25 sts)
Row 2: ch2 (acts as first hdc), *PS in next fhdc, ch 1,sk fhdc* repeat from * to * until 2 sts rem, PS in next fhdc, hdc in last fhdc, turn.
Row 3: ch 2 (acts as first hdc), ch 1, *sk PS, PS in next ch sp, ch 1* repeat from * to * until 2 sts rem, sk PS, hdc in last fhdc, turn.
Row 4: ch 1 (does not act as a st),hdc in each st across.

Stripe 2 -COLOR B:
Row 1: join to first st with sl st, ch 1, hdc in each st across
Rows 2 -4: Repeat Rows 2-4 of Color A.

Stripe 3 -COLOR C:
Repeat Rows 1 -4 of Stripe 2 -Color B.

Stripe 4 -COLOR B:
Repeat Rows 1 -4 of Stripe 2 -Color B.

Stripe 5 -COLOR A:
Repeat Rows 1 -4 of Stripe 2 -Color B.

TRIM
You will notice your work is a little more rectangle than square, we will fix that with trim set up rows.

Using Color A, hdc across each side of the work lengthwise and you will see this creates a “square” as well as magically creates the first border round.

TRIM ROUND:
Join Color Cin the middle of your initial fhdc row with an anchor st or ch 1, hdc around using the following at each corner: [2x hdc ch 1 2 x hdc]

Fasten off and weave in ends.