Get the biggest impact of color change yarn when you crochet the Mulberry Afghan, a FREE block stitch baby blanket pattern designed in collaboration with Lion Brand.
Spring has sprung, and that means the new baby announcements are rolling in. My husband’s cousin is weeks away from welcoming her first little girl, so Auntie Toni is pulling out all the stops. The simple block stitch design of the new Mulberry Afghan gets a boost from the use of color change yarn. Learn to make the Mulberry Afghan from start to finish with this free pattern and tutorial video.
This post contains affiliate links that support the content on TLYCBlog.com. All opinions are my own. Find my Privacy & Disclosures Policy here.
Pin It Now, Make It Later!
Get The Mulberry Afghan
- FREE PATTERN – Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Mulberry Afghan + helpful tutorial video.
- PRINTABLE PDF – Pick up the one-page PDF version of the Mulberry afghan from Ravelry and TLYarnCrafts.com.
- ALL-IN-ONE KIT – Customize your Mulberry Afghan kit from Lion Brand. Kit includes all the yarn to make your blanket + a PDF version of the pattern.
Beginner Tunisian Crochet Baby Blanket
Tunisian crochet and I are joined at the hip, but there are lots of makers who’ve yet to experience the joy of this fun technique. Tunisian crochet lives at the cross-section of knit and traditional crochet, bringing the best features of both crafts together.
If you’re new to Tunisian crochet, the Mulberry Afghan is a wonderful project to learn with. This block stitch baby blanket uses basic stitches and techniques, while gently introducing you to more advanced concepts like an extended post stitch, color changes, and adding a border. The final effect is stunning, making your blanket look more complicated than it actually was.
How to Choose The Right Yarn
I don’t tend to leave much space in my stash for acrylic yarns. But, after designing the Daphne Afghan and Omar Wrap, it’s safe to say that Lion Brand’s Mandala Ombre has a standing invitation to my yarn stash.
Lion Brand’s Mandala Ombre is a category 4 worsted weight cake yarn featuring smooth color changes. I chose the colorway Joy for the Mulberry Afghan at the request of my mother-in-law. The colors in Joy transition from grape jam to deep lavender, finishing with a few shades of calming gray. The overall effect of this block stitch baby blanket is subtle, letting purple come to the forefront without being overwhelming.
I paired the colorful Mandala Ombre with Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling, an economical category 4 worsted weight acrylic yarn that comes in dozens of classic shades. Using white keeps this blanket fresh and bright while slightly toning down the abundance of color.
Customize your Mulberry Afghan all-in-one kit on the Lion Brand Website!
If cake yarn just isn’t your thing, go off script and get creative when making the Mulberry Afghan. The unique block stitch baby blanket is a blank canvas, lending itself well to solid colors, color blocking, and even scrap busting. Have fun placing colors based on your unique style. Swap in any worsted weight yarns so you don’t have to change tools.
Click Here to Pin This Post
Get The Mulberry Afghan
- FREE PATTERN – Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Mulberry Afghan + helpful tutorial video.
- PRINTABLE PDF – Pick up the one-page PDF version of the Mulberry afghan from Ravelry and TLYarnCrafts.com.
- ALL-IN-ONE KIT – Customize your Mulberry Afghan kit from Lion Brand. Kit includes all the yarn to make your blanket + a PDF version of the pattern.
Mulberry Afghan Details
DESCRIPTION
Let the yarn do all the work when stitching up the beginner-friendly Mulberry Afghan. This stunning block stitch baby blanket uses color-changing cake yarn to produce bands of soft color, outlined in a coordinating neutral. Bordered with simple double crochet and slip stitches, you’ll be planning your next blanket before you finish the first.
MATERIALS
- A – Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling, worsted weight (#4); 100% acrylic. Sample uses 550 yards (3 skeins) in the color “White”.
- B – Lion Brand Mandala Ombre, worsted weight (#4), 100% acrylic. Sample uses 620 yards (2 cakes) in the color “Joy”.
- 6.5mm Tunisian crochet hook with 32″ cord (I love this one!)
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Locking stitch markers (optional)
- Blocking supplies (learn more about blocking here)
FINISHED SIZE
35″ wide x 38″ long
GAUGE
5″ = 16 rows x 19 stitches in Block Stitch pattern
ABBREVIATIONS
- CC = change color
- Ch = chain
- Dc = double crochet
- Lts = Last Tunisian Stitch (see Special Stitches)
- RetP = Return Pass (see Special Stitches)
- Sl St = slip stitch
- St(s) = stitch(es)
- Tss = Tunisian simple stitch
- XLTfpdc = extra long Tunisian front post double crochet (see Special Stitches)
SPECIAL STITCHES
–Extra Long Tunisian Front Post Double Crochet (XLTfpdc): yarn over, insert hook under the front and back vertical bars of the stitch 3 rows below, yarn over, pull up a loop, chain 1, yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook. Skip the Tss behind the XLTfpdc on the working row.
–Last Tunisian Stitch (Lts): Insert hook under BOTH vertical bars of the last stitch and complete as for Tss.
–Return Pass (RetP): Ch 1, (yarn over, pull through the next 2 loops on hook) until 1 loop remains on hook.
Mulberry Afghan Pattern
Let’s make the Mulberry Afghan together! Follow along with this tutorial video:
Blanket Body
With A, ch 119.
ROW 1: Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, pull up a loop in the back bump of each ch across, RetP, CC to B.
ROWS 2-3: Tss across row, RetP, CC to A at end of Row 3.
ROW 4: Tss 2, (XLTfpdc 1, tss 3) across row, working last st as for Lts, RetP, CC to A.
ROWS 5-111: Rep Rows 2-4. Do not CC at end of Row 111. Fasten off B.
Sl st bind off loosely with A. Do not fasten off.
Blanket Border
ROUND 1: Ch 1, 5dc in st at base of ch (this is the first corner), mark 3rd dc, rotate to work along row ends, dc in each row end to next corner, 5dc in corner, mark 3rd dc, rotate to work along foundation ch, dc in each foundation ch to next corner, 5dc in corner, mark 3rd dc, rotate to work along row ends, dc in each row end to next corner, 5dc in corner, mark 3rd dc, rotate to work along bind off row, dc in each bind off st, sl st in first dc of round. Do not turn.
ROUND 2: Ch 1, dc in same st as join, dc to marked st, (5dc in marked st, drop marker, dc in each st to next marked st) around, finishing last rep at beginning dc, sl st in first dc of round. Fasten off A. Weave in end from round.
ROUND 3: Join B with sl st in any st along bottom of blanket, sl st in each dc around.
Fasten off. Weave in remaining ends. Steam block to finished measurements.
Prefer an ad-free version of the Mulberry Afghan? Find it in my shop!
The Mulberry Afghan is Peanut approved, folks! My cat, Peanut Butter, always knows when I’m about to take photos of my makes, and his pose game is on point. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he wanted this blanket all to himself! This one is spoken for, but maybe I can make a mini version for him.
Share your projects with me on Instagram @TLYarnCrafts. Then drop by my private Facebook group, TLYC Makers, and share there too!
Find more FREE crochet baby blanket patterns here:
Love this blanket!!!
This is so beautiful!
Hi Toni, thank you for the lovely pattern. I am new to Tunisian Crochet and find this to be the perfect project to start learning. Unfortunately 6.5mm tunisian needle hook in currently unavailable. Can I use 6mm size, if so how many should I cast to get the right size.
Hi! I’d recommend getting a 6.5mm hook to make sure you reach the correct gauge for this project. You can find individual corded hooks on Amazon if they re sold out from Lion Brand.
Toni,
Love this pattern! How would I this a bit larger? Is it possible?
Hi! The block stitch starts with a multiple of 3 plus 4. You can use that math to calculate how to make your blanket bigger 🙂
Thanks Toni!!
I was wondering if someone can help me on this. I am making the baby blanket and loving it. I am about half way through and when I am done, I would love to make an Afghan from this pattern. But I have no clue on how figure out how many to chain, how many rows, and how much yarn I would need. I am very new to all this and have no clue. Thanks for any help.
Hi darling! The starting chain count is listed here in the pattern, so you can make the blanket as large as you like. Check Pinterest for some blanket size charts to put you on the right path. You’ll work rows until your blanket is the size you like. It’s tough to estimate yarn based on a blanket you haven’t made yet, but I’d say get more than you think you need. Designing a blanket (like you’re trying to do) is a lot of trial and error, but totally worth the effort!
I enjoyed this project immensely! Tunisian crochet soothes my worries and is a kind of meditation for me. This pattern shows off Tunisian beautifully and the slow changing ombré glows through the “window panes.” Thank you for bringing this out, Toni!
I’m truly so happy you enjoyed it. I love that meditative quality of Tunisian crochet as well – that’s why I just can’t get enough 🙂
I’m making this for my son who is now VERY grown so making necessary modifications. I’m doing it in a green ombré with black to outline the blocks… I will finish up with a wide, tight stitched border, using the green again for accent. I finally have enough rows on the blanket to get a feel for how it will look… had to tear out last night, started with the wrong color lol. I am going to LOVE working on this!
Fell in love with the baby blanket the moment I saw it. I am almost finished it, but have a question about the last row before the border. Once the last coloured row is in, it says to slip stitch with colour A (white), but this would seem to miss the X-long post stitches. Am I suppose to do a row of white (with the XL post stitches) and then do a row of slip stitches OR is the last row of slip stitches also include XL posts?
Hi! With this pattern, you’re repeating rows 2-4 throughout. Row 4 is a White row with the long stitches. You’ll follow that row with the row of slip stitches.
Hi! This is wonderful and you’re so clear. I’m a beginner and your videos are great. I’m making this blanket but concerned about waiving in the ends… it’s for a baby so it will be washed. Won’t the ends start getting lose without a knot?!
Hi! I didn’t cut the yarn each time. Instead, I carried the yarn up the sides of the work. So there should be minimal ends.
Hi! I love all your videos-you’re an amazing teacher! LOVE Tunisian crochet! Working on a blanket now in TKS. I have a few Scheepjes Whirl cakes that I’m contemplating doubling up (two held together) for this pattern. Wanted to try pairing it with a stretchier yarn, like Bernat Bundle up, for the white/cream. Any tips, warnings, concerns? I haven’t seen any Scheepjes Tunisian patterns, so maybe there’s a reason?! Would love to see a pattern/tutorial on how you would use that yarn-either crochet or Tunisian crochet!
Hi! Great question. I haven’t used Scheepjes for much as it’s a little tricky to find it in stores. But, from what I’ve seen, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be a good fit for this project. Give it a try and see how it goes 🙂
This pattern with tutorial was the perfect inspiration for me to try Tunisian crochet. I just love the look of it! Your teaching method made it so easy to follow. I have made numerous hats and a blanket using this pattern. Such beautiful results. Had to get your book as soon as it was published. I’m “hooked” on Tunisian crochet thanks to you.
Hi Toni! big fan and subscriber for a few years now. Love your videos and got your book for Christmas last year. My grandson’s wife is expecting Twin Identical girls!! oh my! My 1st great grandbabies. So, making this beautiful blanket for them X’s 2. My 1st Tunisian crochet project ever, guess you can teach an old dog new tricks, lol, especially if you’re the teacher. I’ve done some of your crochet patterns, but 1st ever Tunisian. Looks great so far but I am worried about the curling. Seem’s to be doing it a lot. Am I doing something wrong? Will the crochet border straighten that out a bit? These blankets are very special to me. Thank You
Congrats on these new additions, and to you becoming a great grandmommy!!! So excited for you. Don’t worry – the curling is typical with Tunisian crochet. Adding the border will help, as does steaming the blankets at the end. Once you steam them, they won’t curl up again.
I ended up needing to use a slightly larger needle at 7mm because that’s what I had and it was fine until I got to the border where it started to kind of curl. Is that because I used the different hook or is there something else?
Thanks! I love your patterns and have already made several of your projects. Your tutorials helped me learn how to crochet and they are so easy to follow
Toni,
I literally just finished making this baby blanket! It is absolutely amazing.! I loved Following along with your video. Your instructions were crystal clear and made me feel as if I’d been crocheting for years. Well worth the effort! Thank you!
It makes my heart so happy to hear that! Glad you enjoyed it. I’m sure your blanket looks amazing!