In 2020 I started to design a humungous coral reef blanket and fell in love with the idea of a shoal of fish making the image of a ray. While the large blanket was put on hold for various reasons, I really wanted to recreate the blanket as a baby blanket with the ray being the central focus of the design. To me, a coral reef is bright and colourful and teeming with life. With shells and fish and bubbles all comingled together. The sad fact of life is that in so many places globally, this is no longer the case! There are so many places which suffer from coral dying, and coral bleaching. The causes are vast including: oceans warming, overfishing, pollution, deliberate vandalism and destructive fishing practices.

This is a little piece of the ocean for you to keep for yourself and to remember how a coral reef should be: full of life.

Difficulty – Intermediate

Techniques used:
• UK terms – BLDC – Back loop double crochet,
• US terms - BLSC – Back loop single crochet,
• Slip Stitches

What you will need for baby blanket
• I always recommend Stylecraft Special DK for this as I love the vibrancy of the colours and the yarn is a lovely texture and easy to work with.
o If using the example pattern colour – 1 x 100g ball DK yarn per background colour – 1 x 100g ball DK yarn of each per the design colours on the next page. This design is perfect for scrappy yarn as the colours of the coral reef.
o If using a single pattern colour and single background colour – 100g of 100g ball DK yarn preferred colour, then 1 x 100g ball DK yarn of white for sunrays and background colour - 4 x 100g ball DK yarn
o This blanket is also perfect for having the design detail in scrappy leftover yarn, in which case you will need up to 100g of scraps, then 1 x 100g ball DK yarn of white for sunrays and background colour - 4 x 100g ball DK yarn
• 4mm - 4.5mm hook
• Tapestry needle for ends
• Scissors
• Stitch markers

Dimensions: Assuming DK acrylic yarn with 4mm hook and 150 stitches wide x 150 rows 76cm (38in) width x 80cm (40in)

Gauge: 16 stitches x 11 rows for 10cm/4in square using BLDC (UK terms)/BLSC (US terms) and 4mm hook