Alba Blanket Stitch – Tranquility CAL Part 12

If you’re looking for an interesting crochet stitch pattern for blankets, you’ll love the Alba Blanket Stitch. The Alba Blanket Strip is a unique stitch pattern featuring bold shells and beautiful spaces to create a slightly lacy and downright gorgeous blanket.

This interesting crochet stitch pattern is Part 12 of the Tranquility Blanket CAL co-hosted by myself and my good friend Agat of Made by Gootie.

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About this Interesting Crochet Stitch Pattern

This interesting crochet stitch pattern is Part 12 of the Tranquility Blanket CAL (crochet-a-long).

This pattern includes bold shells and chain spaces, manipulating the work to create a slightly lacy stitch with beautiful drape and visual interest.

The pattern itself sets a rhythm and it’s so easy to get into the swing of it. With a 4 row repeat, this interesting crochet stitch pattern will capture your attention in two of the rows and allow you to relax in a little in the other two.

I honestly loved this interesting crochet stitch pattern so much that I ended up designing the Alba Lapghan with it heavily featured.

With the dainty openings but strong features from the shells, I think you’ll fall in love with Alba – regardless of if you’re following the Tranquility Blanket CAL or if you’re making the Alba Lapghan.

Where to Get Part 12 of the Tranquility Blanket Pattern

This interesting crochet stitch pattern is a free pattern in this blog post. Scroll down to view the free version.

Because this pattern is a part of the Tranquility Blanket CAL, the PDF version of the pattern is only available in the Tranquility Blanket CAL eBook.

What makes the Tranquility Blanket eBook so great?

The Tranquility Blanket eBook is jam packed with patterns, notes, resources and everything you need to crochet your blanket and this unique crochet stitch pattern with confidence.

The eBook features:

• A thoughtful format with all the different patterns in the same layout, font, etc.
• Detailed yarn requirements so you can plan your colors accordingly.
• Construction information for both sizes.
• A resource library of tutorials
• Photo tutorials for special stitches
• Photo tutorials for patterns
• Links to video tutorials (when available)
• Detailed instructions for the border

Overall, this eBook is an absolute steal!

Gauge

16 hdc x 12 rows = 4 inches x 4 inches.

Gauge shouldn’t be massively important as this pattern was designed to follow the gauge of the other parts.

Note: I am a tight crocheter, so my tension is usually tighter than others. Learn more about gauge and what this means here.

Size(s)

As designed for the Tranquility Blanket CAL:

Lapghan: 5 inches tall and 40 inches wide.
Throw: 5 inches tall and 50 inches wide.

Abbreviations (US TERMS)

• Ch – Chain
• Sc – Single Crochet
• Hdc – Half Double Crochet
• Dc – Double Crochet
• 3LO – 3rd Loop Only (of hdc)
• Shell – (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all worked in the same stitch.
• Sk – Skip
• St(s) – Stitch(es)
• Spc – Space
• RS – Right Side
• WS – Wrong Side
• […] – Repeats are listed within brackets.
• (…) – Stitch counts are listed at the end of the row in parenthesis and bold italics.

Notes

• This pattern was designed as a part of the Tranquility Blanket CAL. This means that there will be no chains to start as this pattern assumes you will be starting this part on top of the previous part of the CAL.
• This pattern includes both sizes (Lapghan and Throw) in one set of instructions. Follow the instructions as listed for the size you are making. The stitch count is broken down per size.
  • For example, you will see “[156 sts Lapghan (192 sts Throw)]”. This means for a Lapghan you will have 156 stitches and for a Throw you will have 192 stitches.
  • Rows 3 and 4 break down the stitch count for you. For example: “[156 sts Lapghan – 120 dc, 24 ch 1 spcs | 12 sets of 2 shells (192 sts Throw – 162 dc, 30 ch 1 spcs | 15 sets of 2 shells)]” 
• Chain 1 or Chain 2 to begin a row do not count as a stitch. This means you will place your first stitch of the row in the very first stitch.
• “Shells” in the pattern refers to (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all worked into the same stitch.
  • When instructed to place 2 dc “in space between shells” you will place your stitches between the last dc of the first shell and first dc of the second shell as if working into a chain space. See Row 4, Picture 3 for visuals. 
• The (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) all worked into the same stitch can cover the next unworked stitch. If needed, push the (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) to the side to uncover the next stitch to make sure you are skipping the correct amount of stitches. 
• Please be sure to read over all descriptions for special techniques and special stitches BEFORE starting this pattern.
• Stitch multiple: The stitch multiple of this pattern is a multiple of 12 stitches.

Special Stitch – 3LO (3rd Loop Only)

This pattern uses the technique of placing stitches in the 3rd Loop Only of half double crochet stitches to create a pretty chainlike texture.

• In Pic 1 (above), the top of the hdc is highlighted pink. This would be the Front Loop. The 3rd Loop of the hdc sits below and slightly diagonal to the top of the stitch. The 3rd Loop is highlighted yellow.
• In Pic 2, a black arrow goes through the 3rd Loop (highlighted yellow) to indicate we will insert our hook ONLY into this loop.
• Pic 3 shows the hook inserted only into the 3rd Loop without highlights.
• Pic 4 shows the hook inserted into the 3rd Loop and the work is pulled forward to show the top of the stitch. The 3rd Loop is highlighted yellow (hook is in this loop), the Front Loop is highlighted pink and the Back Loop is highlighted white. Ignore the Front and Back Loop, use only the 3rd Loop.
• Pic 5 shows a single crochet placed in the 3rd Loop. Pic 6 shows the 3rd Loop highlighted with the single crochet placed.

Alba Interesting Crochet Stitch Pattern – Part 12 of the Tranquility Blanket CAL

If you have not read all of the notes for this crochet shell stitch pattern, please go read them now before starting.

This pattern assumes you are following along with the Tranquility Blanket CAL. Therefore, there are no starting chains. If you’d prefer to make your own blanket using this stitch pattern, chain 158 (or 194) and place your first dc of Row 1 in the 3rd ch from hook.

With right side of blanket facing, join yarn in first stitch.

Row 1 (RS) – Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch here or throughout), turn. 1 hdc in each st across. [156 sts Lapghan (192 sts Throw)]

Row 2 (WS) – Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in each st across. [156 sts Lapghan (192 sts Throw)]

Row 3 (RS) – Ch 2, turn. 1 dc in first st and each of the next 6 sts (Pic 1). [Sk 2 sts, Shell in next st (Pic 2). Sk 4 sts, Shell in next st (Pic 3). Sk 2 sts, 1 dc each of the next 2 sts (Pic 4) ]. Repeat inside brackets until 5 sts remain (Pic 5). 1 dc each of the remaining 5 sts (Pic 6). [156 sts Lapghan – 120 dc, 24 ch 1 spcs | 12 sets of 2 shells (192 sts Throw – 162 dc, 30 ch 1 spcs | 15 sets of 2 shells)]

Row 4 (WS) – Ch 2, turn. 1 dc first st and each of the next 6 sts (Pic 1). [Ch 1, sk 2 sts, 2 sc in Shell ch 1 spc (Pic 2). Ch 1, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in spc between shells (Pic 3). Ch 1, sk 2 sts, 2 sc in Shell ch 1 spc (Pic 4). Ch 1, sk 2 sts, 1 dc each of the next 2 sts (Pic 5) ]. Repeat inside brackets until 5 sts remain. 1 dc each of the remaining 5 sts (Pic 6). [156 sts Lapghan – 60 dc, 48 sc, 48 ch 1 spcs (192 sts Throw – 72 dc, 60 sc, 60 ch 1 spcs)]

Row 5 (RS) – Ch 2, turn. 1 hdc in each st and ch 1 spc across. [156 sts Lapghan (192 sts Throw)]

Row 6 (WS) – Ch 1, turn. 1 sc in 3LO each st across. [156 sts Lapghan (192 sts Throw)]

Rows 7 through 10 – Repeat Rows 3, 4, 5 and 6

Rows 11 through 13 – Repeat Rows 3, 4 and 5

Row 14 – Repeat Row 2

Change to your Transition Row color (Color D in the pattern) but do not work the transition rows. Continue with Border when it is released on November 25, 2024.

Tranquility Blanket CAL post. Then, move on to Part 4 when it is released on October 24, 2024.

Love this unique stitch pattern and want to make something else, too?

You can!

My Alba Lapghan is an expanded version of this pattern, which will guide you through making an entire blanket using this interesting crochet stitch pattern. It is not exactly the same as what you’ll find here and is expanded with more stitches to provide dense spaces and beautiful structure to the blanket.

Check out the Alba Lapghan pattern!

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Find More Crochet Blanket Patterns:

The Aspen Throw Blanket
The Friendship Blanket CAL (2021)
Harmony Throw Blanket CAL (2022)
2023 Crochet Temperature Blanket
Serenity Throw Blanket CAL (2023)