Here’s a great blanket project that can travel with you no matter where you go since you‘re working on only one square at a time—and that’s no blarney!
Intermediate
J/10 (6mm) crochet hook
I/9 (5.5mm) crochet hook or one hook size smaller than gauge hook
9 skeins Worsted (no. 4) weight yarn for MC
7 skeins Worsted (no. 4) weight yarn for CC (project shown uses Berroco Weekend [205 yds/187m skein per 3.5 oz/100g] in colors no. 5923 Tomatillo [MC] and no. 5925 Taffy [CC])
431⁄4" × 57" (109.9cm × 144.8cm)
7 sts = 2" (5.1cm) and 5 rows = 23⁄4" (7cm) in Braided Cable pattern (measure from WS)
Braided Cable, Front Post Treble Crochet, Back Post Treble Crochet, Knurl
With larger hook, ch 47.
Row 1 (WS): Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn (45 dc).
Row 2 (RS): Ch 2 (counts as 1st dc here and throughout), fpdc around next dc, *sk next 2 sts, fptr around each of next 2 sts, working in front of sts just made, fptr in each of 2 skipped sts, fptr in each of next 2 sts, fpdc around next st. Rep from * across to last st, dc in last st. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 2, bpdc around next dc, *sk next 2 sts, bptr around each of next 2 sts, working behind sts just made, bptr in each of 2 skipped sts, bptr in each of next 2 sts, bpdc around next st. Rep from * across to last st, dc in last st. Turn.
Rows 4–21: Rep Rows 2 and 3 nine more times.
Row 22: Rep Row 2 once more.
Row 23: Ch 2, bpdc in each st across. Turn.
For CC squares (lighter color), finish off. Join MC (darker color) to complete edging. For MC squares, do not finish off, but continue on to edging.
With MC, ch 1, *sc in each st across, ch 2 (for corner), turn square 90°, work 45 sc across side of square, ch 2, turn 90°, rep from * once more. Join with a sl st to 1st sc. Finish off (180 sc).
Follow the diagram for connecting squares, alternating the direction of the braids and the color of the squares. To connect one square to another (for columns), with MC and RS facing out, join with a sl st in the ch-2 in the upper left corner. Starting in the next st and working through all 4 lps, work the Knurl st from left to right across the row, ending with a sl st in the ch-2 corner on the right side of square. Finish off. Make 3 columns of 4 squares each, then connect the 3 columns.
Rnd 1: Using smaller hook and MC, and with RS facing, join with a sl st in any corner. Sc in same st and along side of throw across to corner, work (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp. *Sc in each st across to next corner, work (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp. Rep from *, ending last rep with a sc, ch 2, join to 1st sc with a sl st. Finish off MC.
Rows 2 & 3: With CC, ch 1. *Sc in each sc around, working (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner ch-2 sp. Join with a sl st.
Row 4: With MC, rep Row 2.
Row 5: Ch 1, work Knurl st around, from left to right, working 1 Knurl st in each sc and 2 Knurl st in each corner. Join with a sl st to the 1st st. Finish off.
Weave in ends and block if needed.
Assembly Diagram (alternating braids)