Made in warm tan and cream, this pretty and simple mosaic crochet pattern reminds us of the icing designs on gingerbread cookies. But this versatile motif can be used any time of year, in any color. The only limit is your imagination!

You can work this pattern several times to create a whole blanket or add the motif to another crochet project. Or get it in on the fun and join us for the Gingerbread Mosaic Blanket CAL, where we’ll be making Christmas mosaic crochet blanket that looks almost good enough to eat!

If you’re making the Gingerbread Mosaic Blanket, you’ll use this motif a part of sections 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. Pay close attention because order is important! In sections 1, 5, and 9, you will work the DooDads first, then the Peppermint Stripes. In sections 3, 7, and 11, you’ll be crocheting the Stripes first then the DooDads.

The Gingerbread Mosaic Blanket CAL

Welcome the Gingerbread Mosaic Blanket CAL! If you are just joining in, and need more info about the Gingerbread CAL, read this post.

But here are the basics: We are all creating an heirloom crochet Christmas blanket together over in the Juniper & Oakes Crochet Community FB Group. Each Monday from September 16th through December 2nd, 2024, a new free blanket section pattern and chart will be released right here on my blog!

You’ll repeat this doodads motif a total of six times throughout the Gingerbread Blanket. Just watch closely because the order is important if you want your blanket to turn out like the sample! This simple mosaic crochet pattern is just one of 5 gorgeous designs that we’ll be combining to make this gorgeous Christmas afghan during Fall 2024.

This section features a geometric pattern, that when made in cream and tan, resembles intricate frosting designs like you might see on gingerbread cookies. It’s made in a easy 9-stitch repeat that you will memorize quickly. Once you get the hang of it, this is a relaxing project, perfect for working in your comfiest chair with a mug of hot tea nearby.

This post contains affiliate links. While I may receive compensation when you purchase and item from a link, your price doesn’t change and all recommendations are my own. See affiliate disclosure policy.

Can’t work this pattern right now? Pin it for later!

After grabbing the free crochet pattern and chart, make sure you head on over to the Juniper & Oakes Crochet Community. You can ask questions, share pictures of your WIPs and finished sections, enter to win the giveaway prize, watch Live videos, and join our virtual Sip & Stitch. It will be a lot of fun!

If you don’t have Facebook, you can still participate in the CAL by creating your blanket stripes on your own. Definitely post pictures and share about the CAL on any social media you have. Be sure to tag me @juniperandoakes and use #GingerbreadCAL so we can see your progress.

Don’t miss an update

I will be sending out an email each time a new design is released. You will be the first to be notified of the next part of the CAL or any other news. Sign up now! 

Instructions

Skill Level: Adventurous Beginner/Intermediate

Gauge

18 stitches x 22 rows = 4” x 4” in square
A swatch of the pattern. Counted on the WS.

Size:

Approximately 45” x 58” (the full blanket)

How big will This Section be?

The answer depends on many factors: yarn, hook, tension, etc. If you work a gauge swatch in the pattern stitch and measure it, you can multiply that out to estimate the finished size of your blanket. Mine starts with a foundation row of 195 stitches and is and 7 rows high.

Video Tutorial for The Mosaic Crochet DooDads

Stitch Abbreviations (US Terminology)

• BBS – Beginning Border Stitch
• BLOsc – Back Loop Only Single Crochet
• ch – Chain
• dc – Double Crochet
• EBS – Ending Border Stitch
• FLOdc – Front Loop Only Double Crochet
• Fsc – Foundation single crochet
• RS – Right Side
• sc – Single Crochet

The Overlay Mosaic Crochet Technique

This gingerbread blanket CAL uses the overlay mosaic crochet technique to create each section. You’ll need to know how to make foundation single crochet (FSC), back loop only single crochet (BLOsc), and front loop only double crochet (FLOdc), as well as beginning and ending border stitches.

All of these abbreviations may sound confusing but they’re really just variations of basic crochet stitches. This technique is easier than it looks and is super addictive!

You can learn more about overlay mosaic crochet from this blog post, but I’ll briefly cover it here, too.

Mosaic Crochet Basics

• If you’re right-handed, work the chart from right to left.
• If you’re left-handed, you can read the chart left to right. However, be careful with the written instructions, since they may give you a reverse image.
• All rows are worked on the right side of the project.
• Each row is worked in a different color.
• Don’t worry about the color of the boxes. Those colors are just to show you what the finished product will look like. Follow the symbols. Once you get going, it will become second nature.

Special Stitches

Foundation Single Crochet (FSC)

For my mosaic patterns, I like to begin with a row of FSC stitches. This way I can easily add or remove stitches when i miscount after making a foundation row of 200+ stitches.

You can find a video tutorial for the foundation single crochet here. I also demonstrate it at the beginning of the video for this swatch.

Beginning border stitch (BBS)

Every row begins with a sc through the middle of the post (or the ‘V’) in the front of the sc stitch below. Secure the back “legs” of the stitch to the outside (for right-handed crocheters, this would be the right side). This stitch makes a nice little line of Vs all the way up the side of your project.

Back Loop Only Single Crochet (BLOsc)

Blank boxes (sc) are worked in the black loop only (BLO) of the previous row. You will work all BLOsc stitches into a different color.

Front Loop Only Double Crochet (FLOdc)

X-filled boxes (dc) are worked in the front loop only (FLO) of the stitch two rows below. You will work all FLOdc stitches into the same color as the one that’s currently on your hook.

Ending Border Stitch

Every row ends with a sc through the middle of the post (or the ‘v’) in front of the sc below. Secure the back “legs” of the stitch to the outside (for right-handed crocheters, this would be the left side).

Envelope Border

Most overlay mosaic crochet designs (unless they are small or are worked in the round) utilize a double/envelope border to hide all of the ends that result in fastening off at the end of each round. You work a border on the back side, then a border on the front side, and seam them together, ensuring all ends are enclosed inside.

We’ll crochet the border in part 12 of the Gingerbread CAL. But if you’re curious and want to jump ahead, you can click here for a video tutorial of an envelope border.

Reversible / Negative Stitch

Working up this design according to the pattern will result in regular overlay mosaic crochet with a striped backside of the blanket.

You can make the pattern reversible by following this tutorial.

Notes

• To get a printable version of this pattern, sign up for my newsletter.
• Pattern is worked from right to left on Right Side only.  (If you are left handed, feel free to work from left to right according to the chart below).
• Every row is worked in a different color.
• Fasten off at the end of each row. 
• Every row begins with a beginning border stitch. 
• Every row ends with an ending border stitch. 
• Each pattern begins with 1 border stitch, has a repeat of stitches, 1 stitch to even out the pattern, and 1 border stitch at the end. 
• You may choose to repeat the pattern as many times as you wish. Make sure your Foundation Row is made up of any multiple of 48 plus 3 extra stitches. I will be using 4 repeats. So my foundation row is (4×48) + 3 = 195 stitches.
• The patterns include a chart and written instructions below. You may want to refer to each. 
• The colors on the chart indicate how the finished project will look.
• The pattern can be worked up in two colors. Simply ignore any other color changes and alternate your Color A & B throughout.
• Interested in working the negative stitch to make the pattern reversible?
• Please join the Juniper & Oakes Crochet Community FB Group and share pictures and questions that arise.

This section was designed in two colors: red and white. But you can choose whatever colors you want!

Get creative! This design only screams “gingerbread” because of the colors I used. But if you want to change it up and use it for another season, like in pastels for spring, there’s nothing wrong with that! I love when people use creative license and invent new color schemes! Be sure to share your color combos on the FB group so we can all see what you came up with!

The amount of yarn you will need depends on different factors like yarn weight, hook size, and tension. With the recommended yarn and hook, you will use approximately 2325 yards of Cream, 1290 yards of Palomino (warm golden tan), and 975 yards of Love Letter (deep red). Plus you’ll need a little extra of each color for the border.

The Chart

Written Instructions for the DooDads mosaic crochet pattern

If you need help, follow the video tutorial.

Row 1: With Color A, Fsc 195 (or any multiple of 48 +3).
Alternatively: Ch 196, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across.

(For the swatch: Fsc 11 (or any multiple of 8 +3)
Alternatively: Ch 12, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across.)

Row 2: With Color B, BBS in 1st, BLOsc across, EBS in last.

Row 3: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x1*, repeat across, FLOdc x1, EBS in last.

Row 4: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x1*, repeat across, BLOsc x1, EBS in last.

Row 5: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3*, repeat across, FLOdc x1, EBS in last.

Row 6: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2*, repeat across, BLOsc x1, EBS in last.

Row 7: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1*, repeat across, FLOdc x1, EBS in last.

Row 8: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2*, repeat across, BLOsc x1, EBS in last.

Row 9: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3*, repeat across, FLOdc x1, EBS in last.

Row 10: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x1*, repeat across, BLOsc x1, EBS in last.

Row 11: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x1*, repeat across, FLOdc x1, EBS in last.

Ready, Set… CROCHET!

Action Items:

• Work up the Mosaic Crochet Peppermint Blanket section

• Post a picture of your finished section in the J&O FB Group

  (please use #GingerBreadCAL so I can easily find it)
• Post a picture/video/Reel on all the social media and tag @juniperandoakes and use #gingerbreadCAL (You’ll be entered into a Giveaway.)

• Come back to the CAL page each Monday for the next installment of the CAL.

• OR purchase the ebook to get the complete pattern all at once

If you have any issues, questions, or tips, please post them on the J&O FB Group

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The Fine Print

This pattern and its images are the property of Juniper and Oakes ©2024. The pattern is for your personal use only. Please do not copy/paste, distribute, or alter and claim as your own. You may sell products made by this pattern, but please credit @juniperandoakes and remember to link back to juniperandoakes.com or credit Juniper & Oakes on the craft fair tag. 

If you make this pattern, please email a picture to [email protected] and I will include it in a gallery on my website.You may post pictures on social media and tag @juniperandoakes and use the hashtag #juniperandoakes and #GingerbreadCAL. You can also post pictures on my Facebook Page, or in the Juniper + Oakes Crochet Community Facebook Group.

Let me know if you run into a problem. I respond quickly and will help any way I can to clarify any confusion or challenging stitches.