Winter Deer and the Aurora

WINTER DEER & AURORA | THREE-COLOR CROCHET BLANKET

Two winter deer stand among snow-covered fir trees beneath a full moon and mint-green aurora. Snowflakes, stars and evergreen branches surround the scene in a complete decorative frame.

PATTERN SPECIFICATIONS
250 picture stitches x 285 rows: all 71,250 original color positions and the complete frame.
A forest green: 44,894 picture cells.
B ivory: 16,939 picture cells.
C mint green: 9,417 picture cells.
Both techniques add 2 A edge sc per side: 254 worked stitches per row. Foundation ch 255.
English instructions, US crochet terms and right-handed directions.

TWO TECHNIQUES
Tapestry: BLO single crochet on both RS and WS, carrying both inactive strands inside each stitch.
Mosaic: tapestry-overlay hybrid with color changes within rows. A/B/C without X are sc; BX is an ivory anchored overlay DC, CX a mint anchored overlay DC. Every X is on an odd RS row where the current cell and two cells below have the same color. All three yarns travel through each row, with both inactive strands enclosed, including in each DC anchoring loop.
Mosaic CUT uses BLO sc. Mosaic NO-CUT uses BLO sc on odd RS rows and FLO sc on even WS rows; only marked odd-row cells use anchored DC. The pattern includes the full anchored-stitch instructions and an illustrated reading example.

CUT AND NO-CUT
Each technique includes separate setup and every written row for BOTH methods.
CUT: all rows right to left with RS facing; cut all three yarns after each row.
NO-CUT: keep all three yarns attached and turn after EVERY row; odd rows right to left, even rows left to right.
Choose one method. Row 1 is at the bottom; column 1 is on the right. Written sequences are already in working order. Finish a whole 250-stitch picture row across page joins before starting the next row; add the four edge stitches only at the outer sides.

READABLE CHARTS
Each complete PDF includes 56 A4 chart sections in 8 columns x 7 bands, with 31-32 columns and 40-41 rows per section. Print at 100% / Actual size for 5.5 mm square cells. Every tile has a 10-cell / 55 mm ruler, color letters, row/column labels, heavier lines every 10 cells and essential reading rules.
Mosaic marks are 8.2 pt bold; Tapestry letters 9 pt bold; coordinate labels 9 pt. Written sequences use 10.3 pt text with visible direction arrows. A numbered assembly map gives exact sheet ranges.
The matching large-format vector single-page charts are for screen zoom. Use A4 sections for printing; fitting the whole design onto one A4 sheet reduces cell size.

YARN AND SIZE
Use three smooth yarns of the same weight, a suitable hook, markers, scissors, blunt needle, tape measure and scale. Make the measuring panel for the chosen technique and CUT/NO-CUT method. Weigh each color, including both carried strands. The 9-page guide includes complete sample rows, edge/chain calibration, formulas, a worked example and two border options.
The offline calculator starts with blank measurements. It calculates picture yarn, side edges, foundation/lifting chains, an adjustable A outside border (default 12%), applicable CUT tails and reserve (default 10%). Each color has its own yarn label and independently rounded ball count.
CUT tails at 15 cm per end add 85.5 meters PER COLOR. NO-CUT has no repeated-row tails.
At exactly 5 stitches and 5 rows per inch, the picture is 50 x 57 in; the body including side stitches is 50.8 x 57 in before an outside border. Finished size depends on washed gauge.
Body width = 254 x washed 20-stitch width / 20.
Body height = 285 x washed 20-row height / 20.
An outside border adds twice its width to both dimensions. With a 10 x 10 cm 20-stitch/20-row swatch, the body is 127 x 142.5 cm before a border. Yarn quantities in the example demonstrate calculations; enter personal sample measurements for shopping.

PACKAGE
Two complete pattern PDFs; two single-page vector charts; a 9-page yarn/size/finishing guide; offline calculator; original cell PNG and CSV; full-picture preview; written-row CSV; English/Chinese descriptions and start guides.
Digital instructions only. Yarn, tools and a finished blanket are not included.

PAGE GUIDE
Mosaic: 117 pages. Charts 6-61 (56 sections).
CUT setup 62; written rows 63-89. NO-CUT setup 90; written rows 91-117.
Tapestry: 96 pages. Charts 5-60 (56 sections).
CUT setup 61; written rows 62-78. NO-CUT setup 79; written rows 80-96.