Follow the Meandering Mississippi River
New Mississippi River Free Blanket Pattern!
You know how they say the sum is greater than its parts? Well that’s exactly how I feel about collaborative crochet projects! I think bringing together the creativity of many designers creates a sum that is greater than the parts and always amazing. Which is why I was so excited to participate in the Road Trip Collaborative Blanket Crochet Along! If you have enjoyed the other blanket CALs over the last few years, then I know you will love the Free Road Trip Blanket CAL just as much! Collaborative projects like this one are so much fun, and I hope y’all enjoy getting to know all the designers and try out great new crochet projects as well!
This Mississippi River Free Blanket Pattern is part of a collaborative blanket design project! I am so thrilled for y’all to join myself and all the other talented crochet designers to crochet the Meandering Mississippi River Strip as part of the Road Trip Blanket Crochet Along! Read on to learn more and find my Free Crochet Pattern and learn more about the Crochet Along. I hope y’all love this pattern as much as I do! 💜 Happy hooking!
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Mississippi River Free Blanket Strip Pattern!
For my contribution to the Crochet Road Trip Blanket, I knew immediately that I wanted to design a strip inspired by the mighty Mississippi River. This winding waterway has played a role in most of my adult life and has featured in my own road trips over the years. So it was just perfect! I currently in Minnesota where the headwaters are, and I spent a decade living in Louisiana, where the river delta is. I went to college at LSU in Baton Rouge and stayed on in LA for a total of 10 years. In those years, I made countless road trips between the two states, and the Mississippi was my constant companion. It made perfect sense to design my blanket strip around the river that’s been with me at so many stages of my journey.
I named my strip Meandering Mississippi River as a nod to the river’s iconic winding path and the way it gently twists and turns through the heart of the country. The stitch pattern I chose mimics this natural flow, with fun textural waves and ripples that reflect both movement and calm. Whether you’ve driven along the river, grown up near it, or just admire its power and beauty from afar, I hope this design invites you to slow down and enjoy the rhythm of your own crochet road trip, stitch by stitch.
Here’s me at the Mississippi River in MN! 👇
More Free Blanket Square Patterns!
Don’t let the fun stop here! If you enjoy Collaborative Blankets, you can check out all the other squares I have designed! Which is your next project? 💜
Hopscotch Blanket Square (& Washcloth) for Melánge Afghan CAL
Rosette Succulent C2C Afghan Square for Plants with Yarn Blanket CAL
Festive Snowflake Tapestry Square for Cozy Christmas Cushion CAL
Purple Turnip Square C2C Afghan Square for Community Garden Blanket CAL
Sweet Flora Afghan Square for Bouquet of Flowers Afghan CAL
Nordic Snowfall Square for Nordic Afghan CAL
Sweet Stripes Blanket Square for Friendship Blanket CAL
Need some help with the stitches? I provide photo tutorials within the pattern to help you with the included techniques and more! I am always happy to help you with any questions you may have. Don’t crochet yet? I would love to help you Learn to Crochet with my fun Crochet Tutorials, which are FREE right here on my blog!
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About the Road Trip Blanket CAL
How it Works:
One of my favorite things to do in the summer during my 20s was to hop on a road trip with friends or my BF! There is nothing like hitting the road, sometimes with no destination in mind and cranking up the radio and just driving with the windows down living it up!
So when I heard about the collaborative Road Trip CAL that MadameStitch and Spotted Horse Design Co. are hosting this summer – I knew I had to join the fun! Y’all are going to love this FREE collaborative Blanket crochet-along inspired by a virtual road trip too!
So Debbie, Christine, myself and 9 other designers have contributed sections, each of them inspired by places that have meaning to us. And as you work through the blanket, you’ll get to go on a trip around the world!
Each week on Monday and Thursday a new blanket strip section for the CAL will be released on the designer’s blog for FREE. There will be a total of 12 sections with a different theme and unique stitch pattern. The strips make a stunning blanket for a virtual crochet road trip that spans the globe!
Road Trip Blanket CAL DETAILS:
🧶 Event Runs from June 16th – July 28th, 2025
🧶 New FREE blanket strip section pattern released each Monday and Thursday
🧶 Finished Road Trip Blanket will measure approximately 53″ x 73″
🧶 Blanket Strip Patterns are FREE on Designer’s Blog
🧶 Have a BLAST crocheting a virtual road trip that ends with an amazing Blanket!
Get Crocheting with Road Trip Blanket eBook:
Would you rather work at your own pace? Want to skip the hopping and ads and just crochet your blanket? Then YOU need the eBook my friend!
When you purchase the Road Trip Blanket eBook you get:
🗺️ All 12 blanket strip sections full printable, ad-free PDF Patterns, all in one document.
🗺️ Full printable instructions for creating the border and all the details in one easy PDF.
🗺️ Designer support for all 12 sections, and YOU get to support the designers!
🗺️ All info is together in one place and easy for you to find and print!
The Road Trip Blanket eBook is such a convenient way to store all the patterns and easily find them when you want to make another blanket! At just $15.99 for this incredible pattern collection, plus the border and joining tutorials it is hard to find a deal like this anywhere else! Your support means the world to us designers too! But hurry and grab your copy today! The price goes up after July 30, 2025!
Like Free Patterns? Then make sure you check out my most popular Free Pattern –> Tiny Dinosaur Amigurumi! Want to see even more? You can find all of my other Free Crochet Patterns <– Right here!!
Make your Mississippi River Free Blanket Pattern!
Materials:
- YARN: Lion Brand Heartland Worsted Weight 4 yarn, (100% Acrylic, 5 oz/ 142 g, 251 yds/230 m)
- Sample Colors: Olympic and Haleakala
Experience Level: Intermediate
Pattern Key: Written in US English terms
st(s) – stitch(es)
sp(s) – space(s)
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
tr – treble crochet
st tr – stacked treble (see special stitches)
yo – yarn over
BLO – back loop only
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
Special Stitches:
Stacked Treble Crochet (st tr): Sc, insert hook into front vertical bar of single crochet, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through both loops on hook, insert hook into next front vertical bar, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through both loops on hook.
Want the Power to Pause Your Project??
Want a better way to keep track of your works in progress? Download a FREE copy of my Printable WIP Cards and never forget which hook, or yarn, or pattern you were using again!
PATTERN NOTES:
- Read through the entire pattern first.
- Beginning chain does not count as a st, so first st of each row should be placed in the same st as beginning ch.
- Repeat stitches between [ and ] or { and } the number of times indicated.
- Work stitches between ( and ) in the same stitch.
- Most rows are worked with a repeating pattern of sc, hdc, dc, and tr to create an undulating pattern to represent both the flow of water and meandering nature of the Mississippi River.
- The first 2 and last 2 rows are worked in green to represent the banks of the river and green that flanks it along its path.
- This strip is worked back and forth in rows. Blocking is highly recommended.
- This is a crochet pattern for creating the blanket strip section. You can use your finished strip however you like.
- Previous knowledge of crochet is assumed.
- This Mississippi River Free Blanket Pattern Strip guide was created as part of a collaborative crochet along for the Road Trip Blanket CAL hosted and organized by Debbie of MadameStitch and Christine of Spotted Horse Designs Co.
- Please see the main event page for more information about the cushion, for detailed corner to corner tutorial links, joining the strips and creating the blanket HERE.
- This pattern is FREE to view here on my website, and has been thoroughly tech edited. Please feel free to share any comments or ask any questions you may have! I welcome your feedback!!
- This pattern and all images are my intellectual property. You are welcome to make as many as you like to sell, give away, etc. You may NOT sell, or alter and claim as your own this pattern or chart. You may not use my photographs. This pattern is not for mass production.
- If you want to share this pattern online, you must only share a link to my blog post. You may not copy and paste my text or the pattern to another site. Thank you for respecting my work.
- By using this pattern, you are agreeing to abide by these terms.
Pattern Release Details
This Meandering Mississippi River Free Blanket pattern Section is available to view and work from right here on my blog! The pattern is free here on my blog, OR you can purchase the ad-free, printer friendly, PDF copy of the entire blanket eBook for one low price. The Road Trip Blanket CAL eBook PDF also includes a detailed written instructions to make the entire blanket with joining and border.
Experience the ebb and flow of the Meandering Mississippi River as it makes its way from the headwaters in northern Minnesota to the river delta at the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. This blanket strip includes flowing lines, and stitches of varying heights to represent the flow and movement of the river and its waters along the course.
Do you love a discount? How about specials, exclusive sneak peeks, and giveaways? If so, you want to join my VIP List and/or Facebook Community where you can find all of those things AND a special coupon to use on patterns in my Etsy or Ravelry shop! In addition, my VIPs are the first to hear about new pattern releases, sales (some are exclusive to the group/list), CALs (crochet alongs) and lots of fun crochet discussions!
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FREE BLANKET PATTERN:
Blanket Strip Section Pattern Directions:
Experience the ebb and flow of the Meandering Mississippi River as it makes its way from the headwaters in northern Minnesota to the river delta at the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. This blanket strip includes flowing lines, and stitches of varying heights to represent the flow and movement of the river and its waters along the course.
BLANKET STRIP: 5” long X 50” wide
Row 1: (RS) With Green, ch 1, [sc in next 7 sts, hdc in next 15 sts, sc in next 8 sts,] 6 times, (90 sc, 90 hdc).
Row 2: (WS) Turn, ch 1, [sc in next 8 sts, hdc in next 15 sts, sc in next 7 sts,] 6 times, (90 sc, 90 hdc). Drop Green yarn and join Blue yarn.
Row 3: (RS) Work in BLO this round. With blue, turn, ch 1, [hdc in next 7 sts, sc in next 15 sts,hdc in next 8 sts,] 6 times, (90 sc, 90 hdc).
Row 4: (WS) Turn, ch 1, [hdc in next 8 sts, sc in next 15 sts, hdc in next 7 sts,] 6 times, (90 sc, 90 hdc).
Row 5: (RS) Work in BLO this round. Turn, ch 1, hdc in each st across, (180 hdc).
Row 6: (WS) Turn, st tr, ch 1 and skip next st, tr in next st, ch 1 and skip next st, [dc, ch 1, skip next st,] 2 times, [hdc, ch 1, skip next st,] 2 times, {sc, ch 1, skip next st, sc in next 2 sts, ch 1 and skip next st, sc, ch 1 and skip next st, [hdc, ch 1 and skip next st,] 2 times, [dc, ch 1 and skip next st,] 2 times, tr, ch 1 and skip next st, tr in next 2 sts, ch 1 and skip next st, tr, ch 1 and skip next st, [dc, ch 1 and skip next st,] 2 times, [hdc, ch 1 and skip next st,] 2 times,} 5 times, sc, ch 1, skip next st, sc in next 2 sts, ch 1 and skip next st, sc, ch 1 and skip next st, [hdc, ch 1 and skip next st,] 2 times, [dc, ch 1 and skip next st,] 2 times, tr, ch 1 and skip next st, tr in next st, (83 ch-1 sp, 24 sc, 24 hdc, 24 dc, 25 tr).
Row 7: (RS) Work in BLO this round. Turn, ch 1, hdc in each st and ch-1 sp across, (180 hdc).
Row 8: (WS) Turn, [sc, ch 1 and skip next st,] 2 times, [hdc, ch 1, skip next st,] 2 times, [dc, ch 1, skip next st,] 2 times, {tr, ch 1, skip next st, tr in next 2 sts, ch 1 and skip next st, tr, ch 1 and skip next st, [dc, ch 1 and skip next st,] 2 times, [hdc, ch 1 and skip next st,] 2 times, {sc, ch 1 and skip next st, sc in next 2 sts, ch 1 and skip next st, sc, ch 1 and skip next st, [hdc, ch 1 and skip next st,] 2 times, [dc, ch 1 and skip next st,] 2 times,} 5 times, tr, ch 1, skip next st, tr in next 2 sts, ch 1 and skip next st, tr, ch 1 and skip next st, [dc, ch 1 and skip next st,] 2 times, [hdc, ch 1 and skip next st,] 2 times, sc, ch 1 and skip next st, sc in next st, (83 ch-1 sp, 25 sc, 24 hdc, 24 dc, 24 tr).
Row 9: (RS) Work in BLO this round. Repeat Row 7, (180 hdc).
Row 10: (WS) Repeat Row 6, (83 ch-1 sp, 24 sc, 24 hdc, 24 dc, 25 tr).
Row 11: (RS) Work in BLO this round. Repeat Row 1, (90 sc, 90 hdc).
Row 12: (WS) Repeat Row 2, (90 sc, 90 hdc). Drop Blue yarn and join Green yarn.
Row 13: (RS) With Green, Repeat Row 3, (90 sc, 90 hdc).
Row 14: (WS) Repeat Row 4, (90 sc, 90 hdc).
Road Trip Blanket CAL
Road Trip Blanket CAL DETAILS:
🧶 Event Runs from June 16th – July 28th, 2025
🧶 New FREE blanket strip section pattern released each Monday and Thursday
🧶 Finished Road Trip Blanket will measure approximately 53″ x 73″
🧶 Blanket Strip Patterns are FREE on Designer’s Blog
🧶 Have a BLAST crocheting a virtual road trip that ends with an amazing Blanket!
⭐️ Learn more about this CAL find the links to all 12 Sections – click here
⭐️ Buy the eBook of entire blanket pattern + border – click here
Sneak a peek at the Meandering Mississippi! 👇
If you enjoyed this textured Meandering Mississippi River Free Blanket pattern and you would like to see more Free Crochet Patterns (<– like these) going forward, please help me grow by sharing Blog Post ❤️ and subscribe to my newsletter?!? You can use the social media buttons below the post to easily share! Thank you so much for your amazing support! If you have any questions or need assistance with the pattern, feel free to contact me or leave a comment on the blog. I would love to help!
Want the Power to Pause Your Project??
Want a better way to keep track of your works in progress? Download a FREE copy of my Printable WIP Cards and never forget which hook, or yarn, or pattern you were using again!
