Mosaic Grannies Collection – A Year-Long Granny Square Blanket CAL
Looking for a relaxing project you can enjoy all year long? Come join us as we explore the Mosaic Grannies Collection!
In this crochet along, we’ll revisit some favorite mosaic crochet squares AND unveil several brand-new granny square designs—each one worked from the center out. By the end of the year, you’ll have 12 unique squares you can turn into a mosaic granny square blanket or mix into any project you like.
A Mosaic Granny Square Blanket CAL for Everyone
This CAL is designed to be approachable for just about everyone. You can follow along for free on the blog or join the Crochet Collective for a more premium experience. The squares are beginner-friendly, and each one is small enough to fit easily into a busy schedule.
Even better? It’s a fantastic stash-busting project. Grab those leftover bits of yarn, carve out a little crochet time, and watch something beautiful come together, one square at a time.
So dig into your yarn stash, grab your favorite hook, and get ready to relax and crochet your way through a gorgeous mosaic granny square blanket.
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 Mosaic Crochet blanket CALs?
Pin this project for later.
How it will work.
The Mosaic Grannies Collection will be released in 12 parts. We’ll be working together on a different granny square pattern each month—some new, some others you may recognize. To find the free patterns, scroll down on this post until you see pictures of each square and press the button that says “Go to the free pattern.”
I’ll reveal the first square on January 24th. Then, the following squares will be released on the 7th of each month.
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.
Each mosaic granny square pattern will be offered for free (with ads) on the blog. However, the full experience—including the ad-free pattern collection, community, early access, and bonuses—lives inside the Crochet Collective.
Bonuses included inside the Collective:
- Written instructions AND mosaic chart AND color blocks for each square (not guaranteed on the blog)
- Early access to squares – there’s 5 in there already!
- Multiple Seaming & Border Options
- Monthly Sip & Stitches to show off your squares
If you are participating in the free version of the CAL, you can ask questions, share photos of your WIPs and finished squares in the Juniper & Oakes Crochet Community. 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 #MosaicGrannies 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!
The Schedule.
- Square 1 – January 24th
- Square 2 – February 7th
- Square 3 – March 7th
- Square 4 – April 7th
- Square 5 – May 7th
- Square 6 – June 7th
- Square 7 – July 7th
- Square 8 – August 7th
- Square 9 – September 7th
- Square 10 – October 7th
- Square 11 – November 7th
- Square 12 – December 7th
Each new square will be offered as a free written pattern on the blog.
Scroll down to the bottom of the this page to find the picture of each new section.
If you prefer to work from a chart, go ahead and join the Crochet Collective. This will give you the full CAL experience, including the ad-free pattern collection, community, early access, and other bonuses.
How big will my Squares be?
I’m glad you asked! The answer may vary, depending on the your hook, yarn, tension, etc.
Each square measures approximately 12 inches.
Joined together in a 3 x 4 layout, this will give you a blanket that’s a little bigger than 36 x 48 inches. This size makes a nice lapghan, throw, or a generously-sized baby blanket.
The Yarn.
This is truly a stash-busting CAL! For my squares, I’m using Furls Wander from my own stash. This soft and shiny worsted-weight acrylic has unfortunately been discontinued. However, you can use any worsted weight yarn you have on hand.
Yarn Suggestions
Some yarns that would work great for this blanket:
- Vanna’s Choice from Lion Brand(100% acrylic) $
- Brava Worsted from WeCrochet (100% acrylic) $
- Heartland from Lion Brand (100% acrylic) $$
- Swish Worsted from WeCrochet (100% fine superwash merino wool) $$$
- Others are using: Big Twist from Joanns, Or Red Heart Super Saver
- Or simply look at Yarn Sub & make your own choice. Get creative!
If you want to combine different brands of yarn, just make sure they have the same fiber content, yarn weight, and care instructions.
The Hook.
I used an H/5.00 mm hook to make my blanket. Some of my favorite hooks are Furls Streamline Resin hooks. These hooks are perfectly shaped to fit in my hand and they have a great weight to them. 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 an H hook. But we all have our tension and preferences. So ultimately, you should use whatever hook you’re comfortable using with your chosen yarn. Go up or down a hook size if needed to achieve a 12-inch square. Also, most of the mosaic granny square patterns in this blanket are easily adaptable by adding or subtracting rows.
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 previous rounds, which creates textured stitches that lay over the stitches from previous rounds and can be used to create wonderfully intricate patterns.
The squares in this collection are worked from the center out, changing colors at the beginning of each round. Each new round consists of only ONE color, but with the use of the sc and drop down dc stitches, you get the mosaic design.
An added bonus when working mosaic crochet in the round is that instead of cutting off the yarn each round, you’ll be carrying it throughout the project. That eliminates most of the yarn ends which means less time spent weaving them in (yay)!
Some 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 Mosaic Crochet
Feel free to watch the video below to familiarize yourself a bit with mosaic crochet from the center out.
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 mosaic crochet. Click here to access.
The Pattern.
As mentioned before, the free written crochet patterns for each granny square in this mosaic crochet blanket will be released on this blog, on January 24th and then on the 7th of each following month.
But if you would like early access (there are 5 square patterns already available!) join the Crochet Collective now! The full experience includes mosaic crochet charts (not guaranteed on the blog) AND written instructions for the whole blanket. Plus you’ll get multiple seaming and border options AND monthly exclusive Sip & Stitch events to share your progress with others.
The Squares:
Here is where all the patterns for this mosaic granny square blanket CAL are located. Simply find the square you are looking for and click the “Go to the FREE pattern” button below the picture. You will be taken to the free pattern post on this blog.
Note: the way we can offer this CAL for free is with ads on the blog. If you do not like the ads, you can access the full experience inside the Crochet Collective.
January – Starburst
This square was originally designed as a washcloth pattern. For the CAL, we’re just working the same design in a different yarn. Also, you’ll be adding 5 extra rounds to make a 12-inch square. Once you get the rhythm of the pattern, just continue in the same manner.
February – Mosaic Hearts
This square starts with an overlay mosaic crochet heart design at the center, surrounded by rounds of traditional granny stitch for fun square with retro vibes.
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
- Learn the basics of overlay mosaic crochet.
- Join the Crochet Collective.
- & then wait until the 7th of next month for the next FREE square pattern to be released!
Will there be a way to buy the pattern bundle without joining The Collective?
You can purchase the e-book which will have the squares dripped monthly. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/mosaic-grannies-collection
This looks great!! What level of the Collective gives you early access to the squares?
Many thanks!
Treehouse and Nest
I’ve signed up for your CAL and am anxious to get started. I have one question – while I know you only work with one color at a time, will all of these squares only have two alternating colors, or will some quarts have more than two colors? My plan would be to use the same colors for each square, and I’d like to purchase all of the yarn I need ahead of time. Thank you.
Hi Donna, I am glad you are excited to start the project! I will only be using 2 colors for each square. My background creamy color will be the same throughout, but the other color will change from whatever purples & pinks I have in my stash. But there will only be 2 colors per square. Crocheters are free to choose their own colors, and if they want to incorporate more colors in each square. Happy Crocheting!
Hi. I am making this as a gift and would like to get all the same dye lot. how many yards of each color would I need to buy for all 12 squares plus the border?
Thank you
Hi Rose,
We are so happy you are joining us. This is more of a de-stash project. But if you want to by yarn that goes together, estimate about 1500 yards each of 2 colors. 3000 yards total?
Hope this helps.
how much of the two colors of yarn will we need for the Grannies CAL?
Hi Diane. I’m so glad you are joining us. Estimate about 1500 yards each of 2 colors. 3000 yards total?
I hope this helps.