Gingerbread CAL blanket

I discovered a really cute blanket that someone designed and it's exactly the new skill I wanted to learn, that technique is called mosaic crochet. I have always wanted to learn how to make double-sided blankets, as in the design shows up on both sides (reversed colours on the back).

Well, it turns out it's actually quite simple as a concept and just tedious as you go, like most crochet projects. For each section that you do, you only work with 2 colours, alternating each row. Essentially you would only just do single crochets in the back loop, but when this colour is needed, then you do a double crochet in the front with the loop that's the same colour, available 2 rows down.

And the secret to make the negative design on the back, if on the row below, you did a double crochet, well, do the same thing in the back now with the other colour. The designer has some really good short videos explaining it at the very beginning of the project, so I won't bother repeating it.

Without further ado, here is a link to the project if you ever want to try it for yourself: https://juniperandoakes.com/blog/mosaic-gingerbread-blanket-crochet-along/

Essentially, she releases 1 section per week over a 12 month week span leading up to Christmas. Obviously, I noticed this pattern too late but that's also a good thing because I can now work at my own pace and have all the pattern pieces at once.

So this blog is just to document some of the steps and progress along the way. As I am first posting this, the blanket is clearly not done yet.

Section 1, 2, 3

Between each of the main sections, we have the alternating doodads and stripes, it's such an elegant touch to separate the bigger designs. I folded the blanket over so you can see the negative image on the back side as well.

Section 5, 6, 7

Again, we have the doodads and the stripes separating the main portions. The gingerbread houses in this section though are so gorgeous! And I love that it's alternating between gold and white houses. I did have to redo parts of this section as I was missing 3 stitches by the end and some of the rooftops had a small error. 

Section 8,9, 10, 11

The rest of the blanket is essentially mirroring back the bottom, so we have the candy cane motif again, and then the gingerbread men.

I will add more pictures once I finish those sections. Since it's all a repeat of sections I have already done, it feels a little tedious. It's less motivating because I am not learning/seeing anything new and exciting but it does go faster since I have a much lower chance of repeating the same mistakes.

And back to the doodads and stripes again!

Section 12

The border! Used to hide all the little tassels so you don't have to weave them in. Check out the final blanket!