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Christmas in the Sand Blanket Pattern

Christmas in the Sand Blanket Pattern
4.5★ Rating
12-15 Hours Time Needed
4.0K Made This
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Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic crochet experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

⏱️

Multi-Day Project

A rewarding 12+ hour journey—perfect for dedicated crafters who love detailed work.

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Soft Hug

Gentle, plush, and full of warmth, creating a sense of comfort and coziness wherever they find a home.

About This Christmas in the Sand Blanket Pattern

This pattern creates the Christmas in the Sand Blanket made from starburst granny squares joined with the CJAYG (continuous join as you go) technique. Youll make 35 colorful starburst motifs in super-bulky yarn, join them into a cozy 44 x 60 inch blanket, and add a three-round HDC border and tassels. The pattern includes yarn amounts, color chart, and video tutorial links to help you through every step.

Christmas in the Sand Blanket Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

Designed for super-bulky yarn to work up quickly, the blanket uses simple stitches like DC, HDC, and shells to build striking starburst motifs. Detailed notes and alternative yarn suggestions are included so you can customize colors and yarn choices.

Why You'll Love This Christmas in the Sand Blanket Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because the starburst motifs are joyful and cheerful, and they come together to form a blanket that feels handmade and vibrant. I enjoy the rhythm of working with super-bulky yarn which makes each motif quick to complete while still looking substantial. The CJAYG joining method is one of my favorites because it creates a neat, nearly seamless finish and saves you sewing time. I also love that the border and tassels are easy places to add personality—changing those colors instantly updates the whole look.

Christmas in the Sand Blanket Pattern step 1 - construction progress Christmas in the Sand Blanket Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Christmas in the Sand Blanket Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Christmas in the Sand Blanket Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love how easy it is to customize the color story for this blanket; swap the bright palette for pastels or neutrals to suit your decor.

If you want a chunkier blanket, try holding two worsted weight yarns together instead of super-bulky to create a similar gauge with more yarn options.

To make a smaller lapghan, reduce the number of motifs in the grid (for example 4x5 instead of 5x7) and adjust border rounds accordingly.

For a baby-sized version, use a lighter weight yarn and a smaller hook; youll get a softer, more delicate finished size while keeping the starburst look.

Swap the tassels for pom-poms or small crochet flowers to change the finishing touch and make the blanket more seasonal or thematic.

I sometimes embroider a small initial or motif onto one corner using contrasting yarn for a personalized gift touch.

Change the border sequence, making it longer or shorter, to add stripes or alternate colors for a striped edge effect.

Want texture? Try surface slip stitch stripes across the joined blanket or add a final round of puff or bobble stitches for tactile interest.

I recommend testing color placement by laying out motifs before joining so you can move starbursts around until the overall look is balanced and joyful.

If youre joining by sewing instead of CJAYG, use a matching background yarn and a blunt yarn needle, but remember youll need more of the background colour.

Dont be afraid to make a coordinating set—match a cushion or small lap blanket using the same starburst motifs for a charming handmade collection.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Not checking gauge before starting can drastically change the finished blanket size; make a sample starburst and measure to adjust hook size as needed. ✗ Skipping the CJAYG joining instructions will use more yarn than expected; follow the continuous join as you go method exactly or plan for extra background yarn. ✗ Forgetting that Ch2 counts as a DC and Ch3 counts as a TR will miscount stitches in rounds; always treat these chains as the pattern specifies when joining and finishing rounds. ✗ Placing tassels without securing them properly can lead to loss during washing; tie tassels with a removable bow as suggested so they can be removed and retied.

Christmas in the Sand Blanket Pattern

Make a bright, beachy starburst granny square blanket with bold colors and a soft super-bulky yarn. This pattern guides you through creating 35 starburst motifs, joining them using the CJAYG method, and adding a decorative multi-row border and removable tassels. Youll love the playful palette and the satisfying, quick stitches using super-bulky yarn. Perfect for gifting or adding a sunny touch to your home.

Intermediate 12-15 Hours

Materials Needed for Christmas in the Sand Blanket Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    WeCrochet Tuff Puff Super Bulky (44 yds/100g) - White 660 yds/1500g (15 skeins)
  • 02
    WeCrochet Tuff Puff Super Bulky (44 yds/100g) - Flamingo 41 yds/94g (1 skein)
  • 03
    WeCrochet Tuff Puff Super Bulky (44 yds/100g) - Pucker 116 yds/263g (3 skeins)
  • 04
    WeCrochet Tuff Puff Super Bulky (44 yds/100g) - Cactus Blossom 180 yds/410g (5 skeins)
  • 05
    WeCrochet Tuff Puff Super Bulky (44 yds/100g) - Canary 30 yds/69g (1 skein)
  • 06
    WeCrochet Tuff Puff Super Bulky (44 yds/100g) - Chartreuse 179 yds/407g (5 skeins)
  • 07
    WeCrochet Tuff Puff Super Bulky (44 yds/100g) - Pear 70 yds/158g (2 skeins)
  • 08
    WeCrochet Tuff Puff Super Bulky (44 yds/100g) - Mint 186 yds/423g (5 skeins)
  • 09
    WeCrochet Tuff Puff Super Bulky (44 yds/100g) - Marina 80 yds/181g (2 skeins)
  • 10
    WeCrochet Tuff Puff Super Bulky (44 yds/100g) - Jelly 42 yds/95g (1 skein)
  • 11
    WeCrochet Tuff Puff Super Bulky (44 yds/100g) - Fairy Tale 44 yds/100g (1 skein)

— Tools Required

  • 01
    US 9.00 mm M/N crochet hook
  • 02
    Needle for weaving in ends
  • 03
    Stitch markers (optional, helpful for corners)
  • 04
    Scissors
  • 05
    4 inch book or tassel maker for tassels
  • 06
    Yarn needle for sewing and finishing

Progress Tracker

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— Materials & Yarn :

Info :

US 9.00 mm M/N crochet hook. Needle for weaving in ends.

Infos :

WeCrochet Tuff Puff Super Bulky (44 yds/100g): White 660 yds/1500g (15 skeins). Flamingo 41 yds/94g (1 skein). Pucker 116 yds/263g (3 skeins). Cactus Blossom 180 yds/410g (5 skeins). Canary 30 yds/69g (1 skein). Chartreuse 179 yds/407g (5 skeins). Pear 70 yds/158g (2 skeins). Mint 186 yds/423g (5 skeins). Marina 80 yds/181g (2 skeins). Jelly 42 yds/95g (1 skein). Fairy Tale 44 yds/100g (1 skein).

— Finished Size :

Info :

44 x 60 inches after blocking

— Glossary (using US Crochet Terminology) :

Infos :

st(s)- stitch(es). ch- chain. ch-sp- chain space. sl st- slip stitch. YO- yarn over. rnd- round. cl st(s)- cluster stitch(es). HDC- half double crochet. DC- double crochet. tr- treble crochet. CJAYG- continuous join as you go. shell- a group of stitches all worked in the same space.

— Pattern Notes :

Infos :

- Ch 2 counts as DC throughout. - Ch 3 counts as tr throughout. - **Please note: for the yarn quantities listed above the colour White was used entirely- I had about a 6-inch tail when finished. The same can be said for the colour Fairy tale- only a small tail remained. Keep this in mind when ordering quantities. - Gauge will affect yarn quantities. If your squares are large than 8 inches square, you will require more yarn. - Please adjust hook size to meet gauge. - If you do not use the CJAYG method for joining your circles you will require more yarn. - This blanket is joined by using the CJAYG method. Please read the pattern in its entirety before starting. Video tutorials are included. - Don't forget to share your makes on Instagram and Facebook! I always love seeing what you've all worked up. Tag me on Instagram @nautikrallcrochet or Facebook @nautikrall_crochet, or use the hashtag: #christmasinthesandblanket

— Alternative Yarn Suggestion and Customizing :

Infos :

- If you want to change up the border for the blanket, I used 3 colours to complete 3 rounds of HDC around the blanket (Cactus Blossom, Chartreuse and Mint). For each round I used almost 2 whole skeins for each colour. - If you would like to include new or change up any of the colours here is a breakdown of the weights for each round of the starburst motif: Round 1= 7 g or just over 3 yds. Round 2= 16 g or just over 7 yds. Round 3= 20 g or 8.8 yds. - For joining each row, I used approximately 2 skeins of white. - If you would like to use up yarn from your stash-holding 3 strands of worsted weight yarn together should give you the equivalent thickness of super bulky yarn. Remember to check your gage! If your gage matches the pattern, then you should ideally need the same amount in *grams* for any yarn you're working with.

— Pattern Graph :

Info :

Pattern layout is 5 squares across by 7 squares down for a total of 35 motifs. See colour chart for individual square colour combos.

— Granny Square Colour Chart (written from Round 1 to Round 3) :

Infos :

1- Chartreuse, Marina, Cactus Blossom. 2- Fairy Tale, Mint, Chartreuse. 3- Mint, Pucker, Marina. 4- Chartreuse, Pear, Pucker. 5- Marina, Mint, Jelly. 6- Pucker, Marina, Pear. 7- Canary, Cactus Blossom, Mint. 8- Pear, Chartreuse, Flamingo. 9- Jelly, Canary, Cactus Blossom. 10- Flamingo, Fairy Tale, Pear. 11- Chartreuse, Cactus Blossom, Pucker. 12- Pucker, Mint, Marina. 13- Marina, Mint, Cactus Blossom. 14- Chartreuse, Cactus Blossom, Mint. 15- Fairy Tale, Pucker, Chartreuse. 16- Marina, Flamingo, Mint. 17- Jelly, Mint, Pear. 18- Flamingo, Cactus Blossom, Fairy Tale. 19- Chartreuse, Canary, Pear. 20- Chartreuse, Flamingo, Pucker. 21- Jelly, Chartreuse, Cactus Blossom. 22- Marina, Mint, Pucker. 23- Jelly, Cactus Blossom, Mint. 24- Jelly, Pear, Chartreuse. 25- Mint, Canary, Marina. 26- Pear, Fairy Tale, Mint. 27- Pucker, Canary, Chartreuse. 28- Cactus Blossom, Mint, Pear. 29- Fairy Tale, Pucker, Flamingo. 30- Marina, Chartreuse, Jelly. 31- Pucker, Marina, Chartreuse. 32- Mint, Fairy Tale, Cactus Blossom. 33- Jelly, Chartreuse, Marina. 34- Cactus Blossom, Chartreuse, Mint. 35- Cactus Blossom, Mint, Pucker.

— Pattern Granny Square (Classic Starburst) :

Round 1 :

Using first colour, Ch 4. Sl st into 4th ch from hook to create centre ring. Ch 2, work 11 DC into centre ring (12 DC total). Join with sl st to the top of the first official DC st (not the ch-2), Fasten off.

Round 2 :

Join new colour between any of the DC sts from rnd 1 and ch 2. Work 1 DC into the same sp. Work 2 DC sts into the sps between each DC st of rnd 1 (24 DC sts total). Sl st into the top of the first official DC st (not the ch-2), Fasten off.

Round 3 :

Join new colour between any of the DC shells from rnd 2 and ch 2. Work 2 DC into the same sp. Work 3 DC sts (shell) into each of the sps between DC shells of the previous rnd (36 DC sts total). Join with a sl st to the top of the first official DC (not the ch-2), Fasten off.

Info :

Please see the video tutorial below on how to make these starbursts: https://youtu.be/BbNzMPBpNKw

Round 4 :

**If you are joining squares using the "CJAYG" then IGNORE this round** - Join main background colour (White) into any sp between 3 DC shells and ch 3. Work [2 tr, ch 2, 3 tr] into same sp (first corner). *Work 3 DC into next sp between shells, twice. Work [3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr] into next sp between shells.* Repeat from * to * two more times. Work 3 DC into next sp between shells, twice. Join round with sl st into the top of the first DC st (not the ch-2). Fasten off.

— Assembling Blanket CJAYG :

Info :

With RS of starbursts face up, lay out all motifs in the arrangement from the colour graph above. Using background colour, start in top right-hand corner to join squares across the rows.

Info :

Example: First row will be joined from square number 5 across to square number 1. The second row will start with square number 10 and be worked across to square number 6.

Info :

Following along with the video tutorial, crocheting starbursts together until blanket is complete. Fasten off.

Info :

**Please see video tutorial below for how to join CJAYG starburst motifs together: https://youtu.be/9c-nszJMJbg

— Border :

Round 1 :

Join White (or main background colour) in any corner and ch 2. Work [2 DC, ch 2, 3 DC] into corner. Work 3 DC sts into each sp around blanket (aka work regular granny square stitch around blanket). When working the corner joins of two squares; put 2 DC on either side of join. Work [3 DC, ch 2, 3 DC] into corners. Repeat this all the way around the blanket and join with a sl st to the first DC (not the ch-2). Fasten off.

Round 2 :

Join new colour (Cactus Blossom) and Ch 1. Work a HDC into each st around, make sure to put 3 HDC into each corner (it may be helpful to use a stitch marker to indicate which is the middle st). Join with a sl st to the first HDC (not the ch-1.) Fasten off.

Round 3 :

Join new colour (Chartreuse) and Ch 1. Work a HDC into every st around, make sure to put 3 HDC into the middle stitch of each corner (the middle HDC in the corner from the previous rnd). Join with a sl st to the first HDC (not the ch-1.) Fasten off.

Round 4 :

Join new colour (Mint) and Ch 1. Work a HDC into every st around, make sure to put 3 HDC into the middle stitch of each corner (the middle HDC in the corner from the previous rnd). Join with a sl st to the first HDC (not the ch-1.) Fasten off.

— Tassels :

Info :

Using the colour Pucker, create 4 tassels for the corners of the blanket. I use this tutorial: https://youtu.be/6VDCJJOcYt0. Using a 4 inch book (or tassel maker), wrap yarn 20 times to achieve appropriately sized tassel. Trim ends and attach to blanket. Pro-tip: I tie my tassels onto the blanket with a little bow, this way when I need to wash the blanket I can easily remove them!

Assembly Instructions

  • With right side of starbursts face up, lay out all motifs in the arrangement from the colour graph above to ensure correct placement before joining.
  • Using the background colour (White), start in the top right-hand corner and join squares across the rows using the CJAYG method, following the video tutorial for technique.
  • Example joining order: The first row will be joined from square number 5 across to square number 1; the second row starts with square number 10 and works across to square number 6; continue in this pattern until all rows are joined.
  • After joining all motifs, work the border rounds around the entire blanket as specified: Round 1 (granny-style DC corners), then Rounds 2-4 in HDC with the specified colours, joining each round with a slip stitch and fastening off.
  • Make and attach 4 tassels to the blanket corners using colour Pucker; tie them on with a small bow so they can be easily removed for washing.

Important Notes

  • 💡Ch 2 counts as a DC throughout the pattern; treat the chain as the turning/dc count when joining and finishing rounds.
  • 💡Ch 3 counts as a tr throughout the pattern; use a ch-3 as the first treble where instructed.
  • 💡This blanket is joined using the CJAYG method; if you dont use CJAYG youll need extra background yarn for seaming.
  • 💡Gauge will affect yarn quantities significantly; adjust hook size to meet gauge and check your square size before proceeding.
  • 💡When working the border, use stitch markers to identify the middle stitch of corners to ensure the 3 HDC corner placement is neat.

This cheerful starburst blanket brings sunny, beach-inspired colors into your home and makes a standout handmade gift. The CJAYG joining method gives a clean finish and saves you sewing time, and the removable tassels make laundering simple and fun. Cozy up with this bold, bright throw and enjoy the compliments! 🧶✨

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished blanket measures approximately 44 x 60 inches after blocking when using the recommended super-bulky yarn and hook.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, you can use different yarn weights, but you must hold strands together or adjust hook size to match the gauge; using different weights will change the final size and yarn quantities.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate, so familiarity with DC, HDC, TR, shells, and the continuous join as you go (CJAYG) method is recommended for best results.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters complete this project in 12-15 hours overall, though time may vary based on experience level, yarn handling, and how quickly you work each motif.