It’s that time of year again for crocheting blankets & preparing for Christmas.

Why not host another FREE Crochet Along?!

I don’t know how many times I have been asked if I am hosting another Christmas blanket crochet along again this year. (If you recall, I hosted the Nordic Winter Blanket C2C CAL last Christmas).

Well, I am happy to announce that YES! I will be hosting another Nordic-themed Christmas blanket this year – but this time it will be using the overlay mosaic crochet technique instead of C2C like last time.

Let me officially introduce you to the Mosaic Nordic Afghan / Blanket CAL!

What is a Crochet Along?

Perhaps you have never participated in a Crochet Along before and you may be wondering what in the world I am talking about. A Crochet Along (CAL) is essentially an event where you crochet along with other people creating the same project. A each part of the pattern is released bit by bit, and you work at the same pace as other participants. 

Interested in other blanket CALs?

Nordic Winter Afghan C2C CAL

Community Garden Blanket CAL

Sweet Treats CAL

Monthly Mosaic Mystery Blanket CAL

Pin this project for later.

How it will work.

8 different designers will design 9 mosaic crochet afghan stripes. The chart for each design will be free on the designers’ blogs. To find the free charts, scroll down on this post until you see pictures of each section and press the button that says “Click here for the free chart.”

Each section of the CAL will be released on Mondays from October 10th through December 12th.

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 chart for that new section. 

If you prefer to have downloadable charts or to follow the written instructions instead, you can purchase the full pattern, which includes the charts and written instructions for each section in a PDF.

After grabbing each new pattern, make sure you hop on over to the Juniper & Oakes Crochet Community. You can ask questions, post pictures 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 #MosaicNordicCAL 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 setup, 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 from October 10-December 12th, a new part of the blanket will be released.

The new section will be offered as a free chart on the designer’s blog.

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

If you don’t want to wait for each new section or follow just the chart, go ahead and purchase the full blanket pattern ebook. Not only will you have instant access to all of the charts for each blanket strip, but you will also get the written instructions as well. I don’t know about you, but I think it is easier and faster to follow the written instructions. 

How big will my blanket be?

Such a good questions! The answer will depend on many factors: yarn, hook, tension, etc.

My blanket is approximately 50” x 64”.

It’s a biggie!

The Yarn.

The yarn I used for this blanket is Wool Ease by Lion Brand.

This blanket was designed in two colors: Linen & Cranberry, but you can choose whatever colors you want! Get creative! Maybe you want to make each strip in a different color? Maybe you want to throw green in there somewhere. I will NOT get offended if you take creative liberties on the color scheme. Be sure to share pictures in the FB group so I can see what you come up with!

The amount of yarn needed depends on different factors like yarn weight, hook size, and tension. Each repeat uses approximately 500 yards of each color. I had made 4 repeats of each strip. That’s roughly 2000 yards of each color if making a two-toned blanket. Plus enough yarn for the envelope border.

I used approximately 2,285 yards of Color A and 2,025 yards of Color B. That’s 12 skeins Linen (Color A) and 11 skeins Cranberry (Color B).

The Hook.

I am using a H/5.00 mm hook to make my blanket. I love this Streamline Swirl hook in Cream from Furls Crochet. Furls sent me this hook for me to use for my CAL. This hook feels so good in my hands and the yarn slides easily across the resin. If you have never tried a Furls hook, I suggest you head on over to their website and order one now. 

You don’t have to use an H hook. I usually use a J, but wanted to try something smaller for this blanket so my finished project wouldn’t get too large! Be sure to make a swatch using the yarn & hook of your choice, and use the calculator above so you are not surprised by the size of your blanket. 

In real life.

What happens when you’ve got your blanket WIP beside the bottle-feeding station?

Cuddle time!!!

I am trying to soak in these little baby/toddler cuddles. She’ll be grown and crocheting her own blanket soon enough.

What is overlay mosaic crochet?

I have written this whole post with the assumption that you all know what mosaic crochet means.

Overlay Mosaic Crochet is a technique that requires you to work in the BLO 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.

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 Monthly Mosaic 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 earlier, the free charts for each blanket strip will be released weekly on each designer’s blogs over the next 2 months, 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.

Ready, Set…

OK! Now that you know the plan and all the details… you are ready to start because the first section has already been released!

Section 1

Hygge Cross by Juniper & Oakes

This design is a simple 10-stitch repeat and is the PERFECT first pattern to introduce you to overlay mosaic crochet.

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!

Watch the video below.

Section 2

Guardian Angel by Crochet by Auntie K

This is Kelly’s FIRST original crochet design!

She designed it taking my Design Mosaic Charts eCourse. Click here to enroll.

Click here to watch out chit chat about her pattern and all of our other ramblings,

Mosaic Charts e-Course

Did you know I have a self-paced e-course where I teach you how to design your own mosaic charts & patterns? Click here to enroll.

Section 3

Nordic Snowflake by Cindy’s Crochet Designs

FYI: This chart looks off-centered because it was edited from Cindy’s original design so that the hearts line up with the halos of the Guardian Angels.

Cindy has so many amazing mosaic designs on her website & on Ravelry.

We recorded a conversation of us chit-chatting about the CAL, her designs, power outages, and more. Click here to watch.

Section 4

Wintergreen Trees by Remington Lane Crochet

This is a lovely 25-stitch repeat.

Jamie was another one of the students in my Design Mosaic Charts eCourse. Click here to enroll.

I had a lovely chit-chat with Jamie about the course, the CAL, her designs, and whatever else happened to come up! Click here to watch the replay.

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Section 5

Nordic Star by Juniper & Oakes

This is another 25-stitch repeat.

The design was the core reason behind last year’s Nordic Winter C2C CAL, and I knew that I would definitely include it again for this mosaic version.

I am going LIVE to chit-chat about the CAL, this design, and whatever else happens to come up! You can Live watch on my Youtube at 12pm EST on Monday, Nov 7th. Click here to watch.

Section 6

Nordic Tree by Simply Melanie Jane

This is an easy & fun 10-stitch repeat.

Melanie & I had a live chit-chat about her design. You can watch it here.

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Section 7

Nordic Baubles by Vanessa Croft Crochet

(Goes Live Nov 21st at 8am EST)

This is repeat takes up the whole 50 stitches. But what’s fun about this is that Vanessa has made a blank bauble chart so you can try your own hand at designing. Are you up for the challenge?

NOTE: Vanessa doesn’t have a blog, but she does have a new Facebook Group. She is offering her chart free in that group. Because this method isn’t the norm, she has other bonus downloads available in the “Files” section of her group. Please reach out to her if you have any issues with these downloads.

If you don’t have Facebook, click here to access the chart free on my blog.

Vanessa & I have had a live chit-chat about her design. You can watch it here.

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Section 8

Dala Horse by Sunflower Cottage Crochet

(Goes Live Nov 27th at 8am EST)

This is repeat also takes up the whole 50 stitches. What a fun horse pattern standing amongst some snowflakes.

Watch Helen & I chat about her pattern, her design process, & whatever happens to come up in a LIVE chitchat Monday Nov 27 at 12pm EST. Click here to watch.

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Section 9

Skadi Hills by High Desert Yarn

This 10-stitch repeat is a mosaic replica of the C2C version Joana designed for my C2C Nordic CAL from 2021. Click here to see that blanket.

Watch Joanna & I chat about her pattern, her design process, & whatever happens to come up in a LIVE chitchat Monday Dec 5th at 12pm EST. Click here to watch.

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Section 10

The Envelope Border

Use this technique to crochet a double/envelope border around your blanket instead of weaving in all those pesky ends!

~Find Out How to Do The Technique Here~

Action Items:

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

• Gather your yarn & hook

  • Wool Ease by Lion Brand (or any worsted/medium weight yarn)

    • 2,285 yards of Color A (Linen)
    • 2,025 yards of Color B (Cranberry)
  • Size H/5.0mm Hook
• Learn the basics of overlay mosaic crochet.
• Purchase the ebook.
• Get started on section 1.
• Happy Crocheting!