Need to unwind this Holiday season? Try crocheting the Mariposa Blanket for free.
Inside – Find the free pattern for the Mariposa Crochet Blanket. This is a lightly textured blanket ideal for practicing mindful crochet during the busy seasons of life.
Every year the magical holiday season passes, but I still feel empty come mid-January. Do you feel this way after the holidays? This year I’m choosing to combat the emptiness by staying present with my favorite cold weather activity – crochet.
Burnt Out to Staying Present
When do you start feeling the tingles of the holidays? Usually, I start to feel them in mid-August. They’re faint, but full of anticipation. The steady stream of holidays as Autumn turns to Winter is my most magical time of the year.
However, I tend to fill it with expectations instead of reality, busyness instead of meaning, and stress instead of peace. This year I choose to reclaim the magic and peace of the season instead of marking off all the “must dos” that try to make it meaningful.
If you’re giving me a head nod with a big “AMEN”, then the Mariposa Crochet Blanket is exactly what you need to slow down and savor this season.

Inspiration for the Mariposa Crochet Blanket
The Mariposa Blanket was designed as I drove my car swiftly over the edge of Burn Out Canyon. Maybe not what you expect to hear. However, every person comes to the edge of Burn Out Canyon, and it’s nice to turn our head and smile at the person next to us. You are not alone in the Busy Season, or the Burn Out.
As I craved rest, calm, and peace this Autumn, my hook gravitated to a soft yarn and my favorite stitches. I wanted a crochet project that would comfort me mentally and physically. The Mariposa Crochet Blanket delivered on both fronts.
Featured Stitches
Letting your mind wander and relax is the name of the game for the Mariposa Blanket. This blanket marries two different stitches – the Moss Stitch and the Slanted Puff Stitch. The Moss Stitch makes this blanket fly off your crochet hook! It makes this large crochet project manageable to finish even in the busy seasons of life.
However, the Slant Puff Stitch contrasts the Moss Stitch’s speed with a steady, slow movement. As I worked up the Mariposa Blanket, I knew a Slanted Puff Stitch row would take more time to work up. These were the rows that made me slow down and relish in the meditative crochet.
The Mariposa Crochet Blanket gave me the opportunity to reflect on my day, pray through my troubles, and let my brain loosen up from the tasks of the day. I know it can do the same for you.




Meditative CAL to Soothe Your Mind + Soul




Relish in the freedom of pursuing calm with the Mariposa Blanket.
Raise your hand if you know the Holiday Season can get out of control. *Raises my hand.* Y’all, it’s a little ridiculous. Especially as a mom, the keeper and maker of memories, the burden can get heavy with the Need To’s, Want To’s, and Should Do’s. I am slowly reclaiming reality, and making sure my kids remember the atmosphere of the Holidays rather than the checked off list of tasks. One way I’m doing that is by making space to reflect and remember during this current season.
How will this Meditative Crochet-a-long help you savor the season?
In a practical sense, the pattern itself will open up space to think and process. But, I also created several free PDF printables to give you the opportunity to write down moments you want to remember this time of year.
There are two different types of printables – 1. Memory Calendar – capture a quick memory of every day you work on the blanket. 2. Journal Pages – extra space to contemplate a question for the week.
Sign up here to have the Memory Calendar + Journal Pages delivered to your inbox.
The CAL Details
- What – the Mariposa Crochet Blanket (free pattern on the blog)
- When – November 1 through December 6, 2022
- Where – High Desert Yarn Handmade Community on Facebook.
- Why – to savor + slow down during this busy season
Make this Mariposa Crochet Blanket CAL for what you need.
Now, you might not want to journal or keep a memory tracker. I get it. Those practices aren’t for everyone. However, I encourage you to crochet part of this blanket in the quiet moments of your week. If the quiet feels a bit unnerving, stick with it for a few times. Sometimes, I can’t handle being left alone with myself, but when I stick it through, some of my best thinking comes from crocheting in the quiet.
Ideas to Make this CAL Meditative
- Crochet in the quiet moments without the TV on, or listening to music/podcast
- Keep the journal pages and a pen with your blanket to write down thoughts as you crochet
- If you’re religious, use the crochet time to pray and listen to God
Each week in the HDY Handmade community we will share a memory from this season, or something we’re learning this time of year.
Before you dive into this crochet pattern..
save it to your Crochet Pinterest Board.
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 either my Etsy Shop, or Ravelry Store. Thank you for your cooperation. Happy creating! -Joanna (Owner + Creative)
Materials
- Yarn
- Lion Brand Heartland, worsted/category 4 (251yds/142g), 100% Acrylic
- Substitutes : Any other worsted/category 4 yarn will work
- Lion Brand Heartland, worsted/category 4 (251yds/142g), 100% Acrylic
- Crochet Hook – J/10 (6.00mm) or correct hook to meet gauge
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle
- Stitch Markers (optional)
Notes
Experience Level = Advanced Beginner. It will help if you have an understanding of the Single Crochet, Chain and Puff Stitch before starting this pattern.
Check your gauge! This is important if you want your blanket to be the same size as the pattern.
CH 1 at the end of a row DOES NOT count as a stitch.
Stitch Markers – You may find them useful for counting the starting chain by 50 CHs.
Foundation Single Crochet (FSC). You may substitute the starting chain for the FSC.
Gauge
15 STS x 11 Rows = 4″ x 4″ Square
- Create gauge using the stitch pattern below
- Gauge is measured BEFORE blocking
- Stitches are counted on the Moss ST row
Gauge Stitch Pattern
CH 20
Row 1 : SC in the 2nd CH from the hook. SC in each CH across. CH 1. Turn. (19 STS)
Row 2 : SC in 1st ST. [CH 1. Skip ST. SC in next ST.] Rep […] across the row. CH 1. Turn. (19 STS)
Row 3 : SC in 1st ST. SC in next ST. [CH 1. Skip ST. SC in next ST.] Rep […] across the row. CH 1. Turn. (19 STS)
Row 4 – 7 : Repeat Rows 2 – 3
Row 8 : Skip 1st ST. SC in next ST. PUFF in the skipped ST. [Skip ST. SC in next ST. PUFF in skipped ST.] Rep […] until 1 ST remains. SC in last ST. CH 1. Turn (19 STS)
Rows 9 : Repeat Row 8
Repeat Rows 2 – 9 until the swatch measures 4″ tall.
Finished Sizes
This free crochet pattern includes two different sizes – Baby and Throw. The ad-free, premium PDF includes five sizes total, and instructions to create a custom size. You can purchase this pattern in my Etsy Shop or Ravelry Store.
Baby – 52″ x 42″
- Starting Chain – 196
- Ending Rows – 119
- Approximate Yardage – 1,000
Throw – 60″ x 52″
- Starting Chain – 226
- Ending Rows – 143
- Approximate Yardage – 3,015
Stitch Abbreviations
American (US) terms used throughout.
- CH(S) – chain(s)
- SC – single crochet
- PUFF – puff stitch
- ST(S) – stitch(es)
Special Stitches
Moss Stitch
This stitch is a combination of a Single Crochet and Chain. Written instructions are given in the pattern [CH 1. SK next ST. SC in the next ST.] As the Moss Stitch builds, you will place SCs into the CH SP of a previous row.
Here are two more resources to help you with this stitch.
- Photo Tutorial – Click Here
- Video Tutorial – Click Here
Slanted Puff Stitch
You will fall in love with this stitch! It combines a SC and a PUFF ST. In the pattern, you will skip 1 ST, SC in the next ST, and then PUFF ST into the stitch you skipped.
How to Crochet a Puff Stitch
YO and insert hook into ST. YO and pull up one loop (3 loops on hook). YO and insert hook into same ST. YO and pull up one loop (5 loops on hook). YO and insert hook into same ST. YO and pull up one loop (7 loops on hook). YO and pull through all 7 loops. Puff Stitch is complete.
- Slanted Puff Stitch Video Tutorial – Click Here
- https://youtu.be/sHhrPoo6lIQ
Pattern Instructions
- Purchase the ad-free, premium PDF pattern on Etsy or Ravelry
- Pin this free crochet blanket pattern to your Crochet Pinterest Board here
- Join the HDY Handmade Community on Facebook
Baby Size
CH 196
Row 1 : SC in the 2nd CH from the hook. SC in each CH across. CH 1. Turn. (195 STS)
Row 2 : SC in 1st ST. [CH 1. Skip ST. SC in next ST.] Rep […] across the row. CH 1. Turn. (195 STS)
Row 3 : SC in 1st ST. SC in next ST. [CH 1. Skip ST. SC in next ST.] Rep […] across the row. SC in the last ST. CH 1. Turn. (195 STS)
Row 4 – 7 : Repeat Rows 2 – 3
Row 8 : Skip 1st ST. SC in next ST. PUFF in the skipped ST. [Skip ST. SC in next ST. PUFF in skipped ST.] Rep […] until 1 ST remains. SC in last ST. CH 1. Turn (195 STS)
Rows 9 : Repeat Row 8
Rows 10 – 15 : Repeat Rows 2 – 7
Repeat Rows 8 – 15 fourteen (14) times. You will have a total of 119 rows.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Throw Size
CH 226
Row 1 : SC in the 2nd CH from the hook. SC in each CH across. CH 1. Turn. (225 STS)
Row 2 : SC in 1st ST. [CH 1. Skip ST. SC in next ST.] Rep […] across the row. CH 1. Turn. (225 STS)
Row 3 : SC in 1st ST. SC in next ST. [CH 1. Skip ST. SC in next ST.] Rep […] across the row. SC in the last ST. CH 1. Turn. (225 STS)
Row 4 – 7 : Repeat Rows 2 – 3
Row 8 : Skip 1st ST. SC in next ST. PUFF in the skipped ST. [Skip ST. SC in next ST. PUFF in skipped ST.] Rep […] until 1 ST remains. SC in last ST. CH 1. Turn (225 STS)
Rows 9 : Repeat Row 8
Rows 10 – 15 : Repeat Rows 2 – 7
Repeat Rows 8 – 15 seventeen (17) times. You will have a total of 145 rows.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Ready for more of the Mariposa Stitch?
Buy the Mariposa Pattern Bundle.
Includes the Blanket, Bookmark, + Coaster
Shop Etsy — Shop Ravelry




Enjoyed making the Mariposa Blanket?
There are a few ways you can help other crochet lovers find out about this roundup. I’d greatly appreciate if you…
- Share it in your favorite Facebook Crochet Community Group.
- Save it to your favorite Pinterest Board.
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