As I was scheduling this post, I was struck by the date. September 11.

I tried to teach my kids about September 11. I was really frustrated that they didn’t understand how serious it was–that to them it was just another history fact.

They didn’t live through it. This is how my parents must have felt about the JFK assassination. It meant something deep down in their core. That’s how I feel about September 11.

I went to college in a small town in western Pennsylvania about an hour and a half from where the plane went down in Somerset. My first hint that something was different that day was a hall mate worried about her dad who lived near where the plane crashed. A plane crash sounded serious, so I went back to my room to watch the events unfolding on TV.

That day will never leave my mind. It was a day where all students flocked to the chapel to pray. It was a day where the phone lines were backed up because everyone was using the phones to make sure their family was ok. It was a day where no planes flew across the air. It was a day of horrible devastation, but also a day full of love as the country pulled together.

As I sit here trying to put a thread to draw this date back to my crochet project, I can’t. For me 9-11 stands on its own. As you work on your project today, use the time spent crocheting to remember that day. Remember all who lost their lives, those who gave their lives helping, and those who had to live on in the aftermath of a great tragedy.

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If you’d prefer, a PDF of this complete pattern (parts 1-5 and borders) can be purchased for $2.99 here.

Alphabet Blocks CAL: Part 5

Yarn: I used Herrschners Teddy Bear Yarn in six colors in my first version. In the second version I used Lion Brand Mandala yarn.

Hook: For the Herrschners yarn use a G-hook. For the Mandala yarn, use an H-hook.

Abbreviations: dc-double crochet; ch-chain; st-stitch; sk st-skip stitch

Special stitches: CDC–connecting double crochet (see this post); Ch 2 Join (see this post)

Notes: In this pattern, the next stitch will be either a dc or a ch. The ch 2 at the beginning of each row counts as the first dc.

Strip 5

Before starting strip 3, make sure you’ve completed strips one, two, three, and four.

Plain Square

Row 1: Join color C to the bottom right stitch of strip 2 with a sl. st. Ch 24. Dc in 3rd st from hook and each across. CDC in last st.

Row 2: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 23 st.

Row 3: Ch 2, dc in next 22 st. CDC in last st.

Row 4-12: Repeat Rows 2 and 3. (Switch to color D in the last st of row 12.)

W Square

Row 13: With Color D, ch 2, dc in next 22 st. CDC in last st.

Row 14: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 7 st.

Row 15: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 2 times. Dc in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 16: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 2 times. DC in next 2 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 3 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 7 st.

Row 17: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 3 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 18: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 3 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 7 st.

Row 19: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 20: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 7 st.

Row 21-23: Repeat rows 19 and 20 once and row 19 once more.

Row 24: Ch 2 Join, dc in the next 23 st, changing to color E in the last st.

R Square

Row 25: With color E, ch 2, dc in next 22 st. CDC in last st.

Row 26: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 7 st.

Row 27: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 28: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 7 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 9 st.

Row 29: Ch 2, dc in next 8 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 7 st. Ch 2, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 30: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1 dc in last 11 st.

Row 31: Ch 2, dc in next 10 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 4 times. DC in next 4 st. CDC in last st.

Row 32: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 7 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 9 st.

Row 33: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 34: Repeat Row 32.

Row 35: Ch 2, dc in next 10 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 3 times. Dc in next 6 st. CDC in last st.

Row 36: Ch 2 Join, dc in the next 23 st, changing to color F in the last st.

M Square

Row 37: With color F, ch 3, dc in next 22 st. CDC in last st.

Row 38: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 7 st.

Row 39: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 40-42: Repeat rows 38 and 39 once, and row 38 one more time.

Row 43: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 3 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 44: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 3 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 7 st.

Row 45: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 2 times. Dc in next 2 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 3 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 46: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 2 times. DC in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 7 st.

Row 47: Repeat Row 39.

Row 48: Ch 2 Join, dc in the next 23 st, changing to color A in the last st.

H Square

Row 49: With color A, ch 2, dc in the next 22 st CDC in last st.

Row 50: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 7 st.

Row 51: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Rows 52-54: Repeat rows 50 and 51 once, and row 50 once more.

Row 55: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 6 times. Dc in next 4 st. CDC in last st.

Row 56-59: Repeat rows 50 and 51 twice.

Row 60: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 23 st, changing to color B in the last st.

Plain Square: 

Row 61: With color B, ch 2, dc in next 22 st, CDC in last st.

Rows 62-70: Repeat rows 2 and 3. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.

Congratulations! You have finished your Alphabet Blocks Baby Blanket.

I think this blanket stands alone without a border, but check back tomorrow for two border options.