This free mosaic crochet blanket strip pattern captures the natural beauty of the Paha Sapa (AKA Black Hills). Work this design as a decorative accent along the edge of any project, or combine it with other blanket strips to create a beautiful blanket that will take you on a road trip around the world!

Inspiration for this Free Mosaic Crochet Blanket Strip Pattern

I was born & raised in the Black Hills of South Dakota, which the Lakota people call “Paha Sapa.” The Black Hills are filled with pine trees, which from a distance appear black instead of evergreen, and stunning granite rock formations like the Cathedral Spires along Needles Highway in Custer State Park.

This free mosaic crochet blanket pattern highlights the stunning features that distinguish this natural landmark. As you crochet, you can remember a meaningful trip or look ahead to a future visit.

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More Mosaic Crochet Alongs (CALs)

The Road Trip Blanket CAL

If you would like to work at a faster pace, or prefer to work from a graph instead of written instructions, you can also grab the eBook. This beautifully-formatted PDF includes patterns for every section in the blanket, all organized in one convenient place. And it’s available right now!

Don’t have time to make this now? Pin the image below for later.

Where to Get the Free Pattern for Mosaic Black Hills Crochet Blanket Strip

The written pattern for the Mosaic Black Hills Crochet Blanket Strip will always be available for free on this blog. To get a printable version of this mosaic crochet pattern, you can purchase the eBook, which also includes charts and color coded number blocks for this section, as well as patterns for 11 other beautiful blanket strips!

OR

Scroll down to view the written pattern for free on the blog!

Free Pattern for the Mosaic Black Hills Crochet Blanket Strip

Skill Level: Intermediate

• Crocheting a Graphghan
• Understanding a new technique
• Dealing with ends

Materials

• Lion Brand Heartland or equivalent worsted weight yarn
• Colors used in sample:
  • Color A – Mammoth Cave
  • Color B – Bryce Canyon
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Stitch markers (optional)
• Row counter (optional)

Hook

US size H-8 (5mm)

Finished Measurements

The final blanket as pictured above (based on five repeats) is apx. 207 by 144cm (81.5 by 57 inches).

Stitch Abbreviations (US Terminology)

• BBS – Beginning Border Stitch
• BLOsc – Back Loop Only Single Crochet
• EBS – Ending Border Stitch
• FLOdc – Front Loop Only Double Crochet
• RS – Right Side
• You’ll find a video tutorial for overlay mosaic crochet basics here.

Special Stitches

Overlay Mosaic Technique

If unfamiliar, be sure to read this blog post with the basics. 

OR

Watch this video for a full tutorial on a swatch of a simple mosaic pattern.

Please SUBSCRIBE to my channel, comment that you joined in from the Road Trip CAL, and like the videos. Thank you so much!

Beginning Border Stitch (BBS): A standing sc through the post (or the ‘v’) of the stitch below, ensuring that both legs of the stitch on the WS are to the outside of the blanket. (For right-handed crocheters the legs would be secured to the right of the stitch and vice versa for left-handed crocheters.)
Click here for a video tutorial.

Back Loop Only Single Crochet (BLOsc): Insert hook in back loop of indicated st, yo and pull up a lp, yo and draw through both lps on hook. 

Front Loop Only Double Crochet (FLOdc): Yo, insert hook in front loop of st below the indicated st, yo and pull up a lp, yo and draw through two lps on hook, yo and draw through remaining two lops on hook.

Ending Border Stitch (EBS): A sc through the post (or the ‘v’) of the stitch below, ensuring that both legs of the stitch on the WS are to the outside of the washcloth. (Similar to BBS, but the back legs of the stitch are secured to the opposite side.)
Click here for a video tutorial.

Notes

• The stitch multiple is 89. Crochet any multiple of 89 + 2 extra for border stitches.
• You will be working the pattern up twice to make 180 stitches.
• Pattern is worked from right to left on RS only. (If you are left handed, feel free to work from left to right).
• Every row is worked in a different color.
• Fasten off at the end of each row, and begin again on the right-hand side of the RS.
• Mosaic crochet patterns usually include instructions for an envelope border to hide all of the ends created with the technique. In the case of this CAL, simply weave in all your ends and the end or as you go.
• Each row begins with 1 border stitch, has a repeat of stitches, and 1 border stitch at the end.
• The free pattern below includes written instructions. For a chart and color coded number blocks, purchase the PDF eBook.
• The design is one-sided. To make it reversible, follow the tutorial in THIS video.
• Please join the Juniper & Oakes Crochet Community FB Group and share pictures & questions.

Free Written Pattern for the Mosaic Black Hills Crochet Blanket Strip

Follow the stitch tutorial in THIS video to learn the basics of overlay mosaic crochet, then follow the instructions provided below. Note: This video is of a different pattern but explains all the terms and techniques you will need to complete any of my overlay mosaic crochet pattern.

Row 1: With Color A, BBS in 1st, BLOsc across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 178 BLOsc)  

Place a stitch marker at Stitch 44, 90, and 133.

Row 2: With Color B, BBS in 1st, BLOsc across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 178 BLOsc)

Row 3: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x2, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x32, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x3, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x3, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 70 BLOsc, 108 FLOdc)

Note: after doing a string of FLOdc, like near the beginning of Row 3, you’ll notice a large flap was created. I either leave the flap or I fix it in the next Row by following the method found in THIS video.

Row 4: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *FLOdc x1, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x34, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x7, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x3, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 134 BLOsc, 44 BLOdc)

Row 5: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x3, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x25, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x5, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x3, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 80 BLOsc, 98 FLOdc)

Row 6: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x26, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x7, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x8, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 136 BLOsc, 42 FLOdc)

Row 7: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x6, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x16, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x11, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x2*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 90 BLOsc, 88 FLOdc)

Row 8: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x7, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x18, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 126 BLOsc, 52 FLOdc)

Row 9: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x16, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x3, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 102 BLOsc, 76 FLOdc)

Row 10: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x18, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x3, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x5, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 128 BLOsc, 50 FLOdc)

Row 11: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x10, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x6, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x8, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x3, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x7, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 118 BLOsc, 60 FLOdc)

Row 12: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x8, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x8, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x7, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x7, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 138 BLOsc, 70 FLOdc)

Row 13: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x11, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x6, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x8, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x8, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x5*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 128 BLOsc, 50 FLOdc)

Row 14: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x9, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x8, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x7, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 138 BLOsc, 70 FLOdc)

Row 15: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x11, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x7, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x3, BLOsc x7, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x10, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x3, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x4, BLOsc x17*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 136 BLOsc, 42 FLOdc)

Row 16: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x10, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x8, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x3, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x16*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 142 BLOsc, 36 FLOdc)

Row 17: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x20, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x20, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x5, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x18*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 156 BLOsc, 22 FLOdc)

Row 18: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x18, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x17, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x17*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 156 BLOsc, 22 FLOdc)

Row 19: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x20, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x6, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x21, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x10, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x2, BLOsc x18*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 158 BLOsc, 20 FLOdc)

Row 20: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x19, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x4, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x19, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x8, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x2, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x17*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 158 BLOsc, 20 FLOdc)

Row 21: With Color A, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x21, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x29, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x15, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x19*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 170 BLOsc, 8 FLOdc)

Row 22: With Color B, BBS in 1st, *BLOsc x20, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x27, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x3, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x13, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x1, FLOdc x1, BLOsc x18*, repeat across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 166 BLOsc, 12 FLOdc)

Row 23: With Color A, BBS in 1st, BLOsc across, EBS in last. (2 BS, 178 BLOsc)

Weave in all ends.

Mosaic Crochet Charts for the Black Hills Blanket Strip

The written instructions are free to view on the blog. If you prefer to work from a mosaic crochet chart or number blocks, both of those are included in the eBook. This printable PDF version is yours to keep, and includes patterns for all sections of the Road Trip Blanket.

If you make this pattern be sure to post pictures on social media and tag @juniperandoakes and use the hashtag #juniperandoakes. I would love to see your work!

Action Items:

• Subscribe to the J&O newsletter.
• Join MadameStitch Crochet Corner on Facebook.
• Gather your yarn & hook
  • Lion Brand Heartland (or worsted weight yarn)
  • Size H/5.0mm Hook
• Learn the basics of overlay mosaic crochet.
• Work up the free Mosaic Black Hills crochet blanket strip pattern
• & then visit the CAL page on the first of each month to get the FREE pattern for the next section!

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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.

Please post pictures on social media and tag @juniperandoakes and use the hashtag #juniperandoakes. You can also post pictures in the Juniper + Oakes Crochet Community Facebook Page.

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.