It just wouldn’t feel like Christmas here at Juniper & Oakes without an heirloom Christmas blanket crochet along. This year, I’m bringing you a delightful mosaic crochet blanket inspired by your favorite Christmas treats—gingerbread and peppermint!

Christmas Blanket CALs: A Yearly Tradition

Each Christmas for the past several years, we’ve had a blast crocheting together, sharing our projects, and getting ready for the holiday season. In the past, I’ve brought you the Nordic Winter Afghan, the Mosaic Nordic CAL, and the Nordic Star Blanket CAL.

The fun continues in 2024 with the Gingerbread Mosaic Blanket Crochet-A-Long. Work along with us from September 16th through December 2nd and you’ll have a beautiful gingerbread blanket before Christmas!

Introducing the Mosaic Crochet Gingerbread Afghan / Blanket CAL!

What is a Crochet Along?

Have you ever participated in a Crochet Along before? If you haven’t done a CAL (or even heard of one) let me give you the basics. Essentially a Crochet Along (CAL) is an event where you crochet along with other people who are all making the same project. Each part of the pattern is released bit by bit, and everyone works at roughly the same pace.

Interested in other Christmas blanket CALs?

Pin this project for later.

How it will work.

The Gingerbread Mosaic Crochet Blanket pattern will be released in 12 parts, the last of which is the border. To find the free patterns with charts, scroll down on this post until you see pictures of each section and press the button that says “Go to the free pattern.”

Each section of the CAL will be released on Mondays, from September 16th through November 25th. Then, we’ll tie it all together with a border, which I’ll release on December 2nd.

I will send out an email to announce the release of each new design, or you can simply come to this page and click on the new design to be directed to the FREE pattern and chart for that new section. 

If you prefer to have a downloadable pattern, all together in one place, you can purchase the full pattern, which includes the mosaic crochet pattern charts and written instructions for each section in a PDF. When you buy the PDF pattern, you’ll also get some extra goodies, including:

• Crossword puzzle,
• Word Search
• Coloring Page
• & more!

After grabbing the pattern for each new section, make sure you hop on over to the Juniper & Oakes Crochet Community. You can ask questions, share photos of your WIPs and finished squares, watch Live videos. It will be a lot of fun! If you don’t have Facebook, you can still participate in the CAL by creating your blanket 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.

Join the Juniper & Oakes crochet community!

I will also be posting videos on YouTube! I already have a playlist for this CAL set up, and more videos will be added as they become available.

Follow me on all of my social media for bonus CAL content:

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! 

The Schedule.

Every Monday, September 16th-December 2nd, a new part of the gingerbread mosaic crochet blanket will be released.

Each new section will be offered as a free written pattern and chart on the blog.

Scroll down to the bottom of the this page to find the picture of each new section.

If you want to work at your own pace, or you’d prefer not to click through to each section, go ahead and purchase the full blanket pattern ebook. This will give you instant access to all of the written patterns and charts for each part of the blanket.

How big will my blanket be?

I’m glad you asked! The answer may vary, depending on the your hook, yarn, tension, etc.

My blanket is approximately 45” x 58” inches.

This size makes a nice throw to drape over a chair or back of your couch to add some holiday cheer.

The Yarn.

The yarn I used for this blanket is WeCrochet Mighty Stitch, a worsted weight acrylic/wool blend that’s machine washable and dryable. So if you spill your eggnog, no big deal! Just throw it in the washing machine

This gingerbread blanket was designed in the classic tan, red, and white of gingerbread cookies and peppermint candy. But I won’t be offended if you want to add in green (think spearmint instead of peppermint) or gold. Or maybe you want to use non-traditional Christmas colors. Whatever color scheme you choose, be sure to share pictures in the FB group so we can all see your creativity at work!

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)
• 975 yards of Love Letter (deep red)

Altogether, that makes

• 12 skeins of cream (Color A),
• 7 skeins of tan (Color B) and
• 5 skeins of red (Color C).

Yarn Substitutions

If the kit & the yarn are currently out of stock.. here are some alternatives you can try.

• Brava Worsted (100% acrylic) $
• Swish Worsted (100% fine superwash merino wool) $$$
• Others are using: Big Twist from Joanns, Or Red Heart Super Saver
• Or simply look at Yarn Sub & make your own choice. Get creative!

The Hook.

I used a G/4.00 mm hook to make my blanket. I love this Gemini Streamline Zodiac Crochet Hook from Furls Crochet. The hook is perfectly shaped to fit in my hand and it has a great weight to it. If you have never tried a Furls hook, I highly recommend that head on over to their website and order one now. 

I prefer to use a G hook. But we all have our preferences. So ultimately, you should use whatever hook you’re comfortable using with your chosen yarn. If you want an accurate estimate for the size of your blanket, be sure to make a gauge swatch using the yarn & hook of your choice. 

What is overlay mosaic crochet?

To successfully complete this CAL, you’ll need to be familiar with mosaic crochet. If you’ve never heard of the technique before, that’s okay! Let me break it down for you.

Overlay Mosaic Crochet is a technique that requires you to work in the BLO (back loop only) and then drop down to pick up the front loop of stitches from lower rows which creates textured stitches that lay over the stitches from previous rows and can be used to create wonderfully intricate patterns.

These patterns are worked in one direction only, fastening off the working yarn at the end of each row, and beginning again at the beginning of the piece — no turning involved. Each new row consists of only ONE color, but with the use of the sc and drop down dc stitches, you get the mosaic design. Most overlay mosaic patterns come with a chart. The symbols on the chart tell you when to use a dc and when to use the special drop down dc.

It seems complicated, but I promise, it’s super easy (and addictive) as you go. Not only that, but once you master overlay mosaic crochet, you’ll be able to create many of the most popular designs on this blog.

Visit this blog post for a basic overview of the technique

Feel free to watch the video below to familiarize yourself a bit with the technique.

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

Mosaic YouTube Playlist

I have created a playlist on YouTube with the videos about this CAL; more will be added as they are released. Click here to access.

The Pattern.

As mentioned before, the free written crochet patterns and charts for each part of this blanket will be released on this blog, weekly on Mondays. But if you would like the full blanket pattern today, purchase the full pattern now! The full pattern includes printable charts AND written instructions for the whole blanket, plus pictures & video tutorials on mosaic crochet, and how to add a border.

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How do I add the next section??

Simply work Row 1 of the next section onto the last row of the previous section.

Just act as if the pattern continues like normal just with a new chart!

Click to watch a video of where I explain this (from a different CAL)

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Mosaic Charts e-Course

Can’t get enough of this addictive crochet technique? You’ll be delighted to know that I have a self-paced e-course where I teach you how to design your own mosaic charts & patterns? Click here to enroll.

Action Items:

• Subscribe to the J&O newsletter.
• Join the J&O FB Group

• Gather your yarn & hook

  • WeCrochet Mighty Stitch (or worsted weight yarn)
    • 2325 yards (12 skeins) of Cream
    • 1290 yards (7 skeins) of Palomino
    • 975 yards (5 skein) of Love Letter
    • Size G/4.0mm Hook
• Learn the basics of overlay mosaic crochet.
• Purchase the ebook.
• & then wait until the next Monday for the next FREE section to be released!