Desertscape Crochet Blanket – Catalina Mountains (Part 4)
Inside – Crochet the Catalina Mountains section of the Desertscape Crochet Blanket with this free colorwork chart.
In this blog post, you will use Intarsia Crochet to work up the Catalina Mountains. This is Part 4 of the Desertscape Crochet Blanket Pattern – a free blanket pattern.
Inspiration for the Catalina Mountains Section
Over the last few weeks, you’ve read (and crocheted!) some of my favorite things in the desert. So far, we’ve explored the Golden Barrel Cactus, a Saguaro Forest, and the Cactus Blooms. Now, we’re connecting these elements by giving them a home – the Catalina Mountains.
The Santa Catalina Mountains are located northeast of Tucson, AZ. It’s home to Mt. Lemmon, who rises to over 9,000ft high, Sabino Canyon, and many of the plants we’ve explored during this CAL. What I love about this mountain range is that it combines the low desert and the high desert in the same area. It’s a unique place to Southern Arizona, and it needed it’s own space in the Desertscape Crochet Blanket.
The Catalina Mountains in Crochet Colorwork
You’ve worked up the Saguaro Forest (Part 2), so the Catalina Mountains won’t be foreign territory. This section uses the same technique – Intarsia Crochet. Hopefully, those bobbins and color changes aren’t driving you crazy! But, if they are – please reach out. I’d be happy to help troubleshoot any issues you’re running into.
My best advice for the colorwork sections…
- Slow down, and take your time counting.
- Use a stitch marker at every 50sts to section off the chart repeats.
- Double check your counting after each chart repeat.
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
- This pattern is worked in turning rows.
- Each stitch is worked in SC.
- Start the colorwork chart on an ODD row of the blanket. Example, Row 1 of the Catalina Mountains Chart will be Row 47 of the whole blanket.
- Rows are written as 50 stitch repeats. Repeat the written instructions (or colorwork chart) 3 times to complete 1 row of the blanket.
- Use a stitch marker at the beginning of each repeat to keep track of your stitches.
- CH 1 and turn at the end of each row. The CH 1 DOES NOT count as a stitch.
- Stitch count is 200 STS per row.
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
ST(S) – stitch(es)
MC – main color
CC – contrasting color
Written Instructions
Remember to repeat each row 3 times.
← Row 1 [RS]: *CC* 50
→ Row 2 [WS]: *CC* 50
← Row 3 [RS]: *MC* 3, *CC* 10, *MC* 5, *CC* 14, *MC* 5, *CC* 10, *MC* 3
→ Row 4 [WS]: *MC* 4, *CC* 8, *MC* 7, *CC* 12, *MC* 7, *CC* 8, *MC* 4
← Row 5 [RS]: *MC* 4, *CC* 8, *MC* 7, *CC* 12, *MC* 7, *CC* 8, *MC* 4
→ Row 6 [WS]: *MC* 5, *CC* 6, *MC* 9, *CC* 10, *MC* 9, *CC* 6, *MC* 5
← Row 7 [RS]: *MC* 5, *CC* 6, *MC* 9, *CC* 10, *MC* 9, *CC* 6, *MC* 5
→ Row 8 [WS]: *MC* 6, *CC* 4, *MC* 10, *CC* 10, *MC* 10, *CC* 4, *MC* 6
← Row 9 [RS]: *MC* 6, *CC* 4, *MC* 11, *CC* 8, *MC* 11, *CC* 4, *MC* 6
→ Row 10 [WS]: *MC* 7, *CC* 2, *MC* 12, *CC* 8, *MC* 12, *CC* 2, *MC* 7
← Row 11 [RS]: *MC* 7, *CC* 2, *MC* 13, *CC* 6, *MC* 13, *CC* 2, *MC* 7
→ Row 12 [WS]: *CC* 1, *MC* 14, *CC* 1, *MC* 6, *CC* 6, *MC* 6, *CC* 1, *MC* 14, *CC* 1
← Row 13 [RS]: *CC* 2, *MC* 12, *CC* 3, *MC* 6, *CC* 4, *MC* 6, *CC* 3, *MC* 12, *CC* 2
→ Row 14 [WS]: *CC* 3, *MC* 10, *CC* 5, *MC* 5, *CC* 4, *MC* 5, *CC* 5, *MC* 10, *CC* 3
← Row 15 [RS]: *CC* 2, *MC* 12, *CC* 3, *MC* 7, *CC* 2, *MC* 7, *CC* 3, *MC* 12, *CC* 2
→ Row 16 [WS]: *CC* 1, *MC* 14, *CC* 1, *MC* 8, *CC* 2, *MC* 8, *CC* 1, *MC* 14, *CC* 1
← Row 17 [RS]: *MC* 50
→ Row 18 [WS]: *MC* 50
← Row 19 [RS]: *MC* 50
→ Row 20 [WS]: *MC* 50
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 8, 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
