Puffed Star Baby Blanket – Free crochet pattern

Free pattern by Jessica Myers

Materials: Soft sport or DK weight yarn G (4.25 mm) crochet hook.
Optional: pearls for the join
between the motifs.
Gauge: One piece is 2 3/4 inches(7 cm) in diameter.
Notes: For best results, be sure to pull the loops up to the same height as the 1st ch4 each time. Just give it a small tug or two to make sure it is there before moving on. It adds to the puffiness of the piece. This piece can be made as large or small as you would like, just add or subtract motifs accordingly.

Special stitches

Elongated dc cluster (edccl): *YO, insert hook into space indicated, yo, draw a lp up to even with the top of the row (1st ch4), yo, draw lp through two lps on hk; rep from * twice, yo, draw lp through all four lps on hook.

Beg edccl: *YO, insert hook into space indicated, yo, draw a lp up to even with the top of the row (1st ch4), yo, draw lp through two lps on hk; rep from *, yo, draw lp through all three lps on hook.

Motif: Ch 4, sl st to form a ring.
Round1:ch 4, beg edccl, ch 3, *edccl, ch 3; rep from * twice more, join to top of ch4 with sl st
Round 2: turn, ch4, beg edccl in ch3 sp, (ch 1, edccl) twice in same sp, *(ch 1, edccl) three times in next ch3 sp; rep from * around, ch 1, join to top of ch 4 with a sl st. End off.

Join each motif at the corner ch-1 spaces using a join as you go adding a pearl to the joining stitch.

Optional joining: You can make all the squares individually and sew them together with the pearl.

Finishing: You can back the blanket with fabric and edge it with lace as shown in the photo, or leave it plain

Beginner-friendly diagram and continuous crochet motif pattern: