Inside – The Two Track section of the Desertscape Blanket keeps you rambling through this crochet along. Learn how to crochet the Lemon Peel Stitch with this section.
You’re officially halfway through the Desertscape Blanket – congratulations! In Part 5 – Two Track – you will learn how to use the Lemon Peel Stitch, crochet in the 3rd Loop, and use the Slip Stitch to create your own sandy dirt road through the desert. Keep reading to learn about what inspired this stitch pattern.
Two Track in the Desertscape Blanket
dirt roads – grand canyon – the start of a new life – filled with bumps – but it’ll take you undiscovered places
Hi 👋 I’m Joanna, a city-born girl, who quickly morphed into a remote-living-in-a-national-park girl who learned-so-much-more-about-herself girl, because it all-started-on-a-two-track-road. Okay, I’m done with the dashes. may-be
Anyways, as I started a new life on the South Rim of Grand Canyon, AZ, I found the wonder of a two track road winding through the tall ponderosa pine trees. When you live remote (I’m talking an 80 mile drive to the nearest town kind of remote), you realize that you must create your own adventure with what you have. No more strolling through Target for 2 hours to enjoy an afternoon. So me (the City Girl), who married That National Park Ranger, found adventure and enjoyment strolling through the two tracks around Grand Canyon, AZ.
What I love about the two track road is that it forces you to s l o w d o w n. Most two tracks only have enough room for one vehicle, and they’re filled with bumps and ruts. If you go too fast, you could cause a crash, or get hung up in a rut too big. My husband and I explored some of the best, untouched, places by traveling a two track around Grand Canyon, AZ.
IMO, it’s the only way to explore the desert, high or low.
How to Crochet the Two Track Section
This crochet stitch combines the Lemon Peel (think all those bumps and ruts) with crocheting in the 3rd Loop of the Half Double Crochet. Sprinkle a little Slip Stitch action in there, and you have the marvelous Two Track Section of the Desertscape Blanket!
What I love about this section of the Desertscape Blanket is the Lemon Peel Stitch. The meditative up-down-up-down is soothing and speedy. Plus, it’ll be one of those stitches you can crochet it into anything! Blankets, pillows, hot pads.. the list can just go on, just like a two track.
Watch this video tutorial for a step by step guide to the Two Track.
Ready to stitch up the Desertscape Blanket? Scroll down for the free pattern, or purchase the Desertscape Blanket eBook in my Etsy Shop or Ravelry Store.
Yarn + Substitutes
Paintbox Yarns are my all time favorite budget yarn. The Desertscape Blanket uses the Simply Aran in Champagne White and Pine. Their acrylic yarns are soft, plush, and never split while I crochet. Plus, a big reason I keep coming back to Paintbox Yarns is the color palette. It’s to dye for, and the colors on the screen are reliable in person.
Shop Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran here.
If you want to use yarn from your LYS (local yarn store), or your stash, then I recommend staying with a mostly acrylic yarn. You’ll get the same results as I did while you work on your blanket.
Desertscape Blanket CAL Info
The Desertscape Blanket is a new, free crochet pattern on the High Desert Yarn Blog. We’ll explore textured stitches and Intarsia crochet charts that feature all things majestic in the desert. A new section will be released each Monday starting on April 10, 2023.
If you’d like email reminders when each section is released, you can sign up here.
The CAL is taking place in the HDY Handmade Community on Facebook. We’ll share our WIP pictures, and support each other during the crochet process. I’ll be available in the Facebook Group and through email to answer any questions.
Join the HDY Handmade Community here.
If this is the first you’re hearing of the Desertscape Blanket CAL – Welcome!! I’m thrilled to have you join us. Everyone in the HDY Handmade Community on Facebook is working through the project at their own pace.
If you need to start with Part 1, then click here for the Golden Barrel Cactus pattern.
If you need to start at the very beginning, you can read through the Desertscape Blanket CAL Information page. It gives you all the details about the whole blanket pattern, and help you deep dive into meeting the right gauge.
Click here to read through all of the Desertscape Blanket information.
Pattern Instructions
NOTE ABOUT THIS FREE CROCHET PATTERN :
Thank you for choosing this free pattern as part of your crochet journey! It’s an honor for you to be here, browsing the High Desert Yarn Blog. This pattern is 100% free for you to crochet from, but please, do not screenshot, or copy+paste this pattern. However, work directly from this webpage. The ad revenue from this website allows me to offer free crochet patterns. If you do not like the scrolling, or ads, then you may purchase the ad-free PDF in my Etsy Shop or Ravelry Store. Thank you for your cooperation. Happy creating! -Joanna (Owner + Creative)
Materials
- Yarn – Worsted Weight/category 4
- I used Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran in Champagne White and Pine.
- Substitutes : Any other worsted/category 4 yarn will work
- Crochet Hook – H/8 (5.00mm) or correct hook to meet gauge
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle
Notes
- CH 1 at the end of a row DOES NOT count as a stitch.
- This pattern is worked in turning rows.
- In Row 8 the Lemon Peel stitch is NOT WORKED into the SL ST of the previous row, but the top of the SCs two rows down. Please see the video tutorial if you need help with the placement of these stitches.
- Row 1 of the Two Track pattern is Row 67 of the whole blanket.
Gauge + Finished Size
Gauge for the whole Desertscape Blanket is based off of the Intarsia Crochet sections. It’s important that you work up the practice swatch on the Information Page BEFORE starting the Desertscape Blanket. If you need help meeting gauge, please send an email to Joanna at hello@highdesertyarn.com
The height of this section will meet approximately 5″.
Stitch Abbreviations
American (US) terms used throughout.
CH(S) – chain(s)
SC – single crochet
HDC – half double crochet
DC – double crochet
SL ST – slip stitch
ST(S) – stitch(es)
YO – yarn over
Special Stitches
Lemon Peel
- This stitch is created with alternating SC and DC over 2 STS.
- When you turn the work, SCs are worked into DCs of the previous row, and DCs are worked into SCs of the previous row.
- You will need an EVEN stitch count in each row for this stitch to work.
- Click here for a Video Tutorial for the Two Track Section.
Written Instructions
Rows 1 – 4: [SC in next ST. DC in next ST.] Repeat […] until end of row. CH 1. Turn. (200 STS)
Row 5: HDC in each ST across. CH 1. Turn. (200 STS)
Row 6: SC in 1st ST. SC 3rd Loop in each ST until 1 ST remains. SC in last ST. CH 1. Turn. (200 STS)
Row 7: SC in 1st ST. SL ST in each until 1 ST remains. SC in last ST. CH 1. Turn. (200 STS)
Row 8: [SC in next ST. DC in next ST.] Repeat […] until end of row. CH 1. Turn. (200 STS) Be sure to place your stitches in the SC ST of 2 rows down.
Rows 9 – 10: [SC in next ST. DC in next ST.] Repeat […] until end of row. CH 1. Turn. (200 STS)
Row 11: HDC in each ST across. CH 1. Turn. (200 STS)
Row 12: SC in 1st ST. SC 3rd Loop in each ST until 1 ST remains. SC in last ST. CH 1. Turn. (200 STS)
Row 13: SC in 1st ST. SL ST in each until 1 ST remains. SC in last ST. CH 1. Turn. (200 STS)
Rows 14 – 16: [SC in next ST. DC in next ST.] Repeat […] until end of row. CH 1. Turn. (200 STS)
Copyright Policy
You are free to use this crochet pattern to make and sell the final product, but do not republish or distribute this pattern in any way. DO NOT claim it as your own in part or in whole. Please give credit to High Desert Yarn, as the designer, in your listings, on your blog, or social media platforms. All images are property of High Desert Yarn. Do not use any of these images as your own.
Ready for the next section?
It’ll be released on May 15, 2023! So, what can you do in the meantime?
- Signup for email reminders to never miss a new section – click here
- Share your progress to the HDY Handmade Community Group – click here
High Desert Yarn is made possible by YOUR support. Thank you for reading this blog post, and helping build High Desert Yarn. Happy Creating, Joanna
