Free Zig Zag Mosaic Crochet Blanket Pattern

Bring calm and rhythm to your crochet with my Heather Zig Zag Blanket, an easy mosaic crochet blanket pattern full of soothing texture and movement.

Worked using the inset mosaic crochet technique, my pattern blends solid and variegated yarns to create a modern zig zag design inspired by the gentle lines of heather-covered hills.

The pattern is easy to adapt — you can customise the size to suit your space and use any Aran or Worsted weight yarns you love. Whatever your choice of yarns or size, your blanket will have a unique look that flows beautifully with this simple stitch repeat.

The free crochet blanket pattern is written below in full (US crochet terms), and if you’d prefer a printable version, you can find the PDF in my Etsy, Ravelry and LoveCraft shops.

Jump to:  Measurements  |  Materials  | Free Crochet Pattern

If you enjoy exploring new mosaic designs, take a look at my Amberlight Blanket — another free pattern using this beautiful technique. You might also find inspiration in my Mosaic Crochet Blanket Patterns for Your Next Project roundup and this collection of 17 Easy Mosaic Crochet Patterns for Confident Beginners.

Skill Level

Easy (this project uses basic crochet stitches, two colours and no shaping)

Measurements

The instructions for this pattern make a blanket that is approx. 40” (w) x 55” (L). This size is suitable for a lap blanket or throw.

How to Customise the Size of your Mosaic Crochet Blanket

You can customise the Heather Zig Zag blanket to any size:

• For the length (the stitches in this pattern), work your foundation chain to a multiple of 12 (and add 14) – measure as you go and stop when you’re close to your preferred size.  Don’t forget to add the 14 chains!
• For the width (the rows in this pattern) you can work more or less repeats of rows 3 – 34 or I would suggest you end the repeats on row 18.  Ending on row 18 balances the symmetry of the wave pattern.
• Once the border has been set up, it is only two rounds and will not make much difference to your finished size for your calculations.

You might find the table below helpful for blanket sizes:

• Lap blanket
• Throw blanket
• Twin/Single blanket
• Full/Double blanket
• Queen blanket
• King blanket

Materials

• Aran/Worsted weight yarn (#4):  Yarn A (solid colour) 1050yds/975m;  Yarn B (variegated) 1096yds/1000m
• 5mm Crochet Hook
• 4.5mm Crochet Hook (border)
• Stitch Markers
• Scissors
• Yarn Needle

Yarn Choices

This lap blanket design uses Yarnsmiths Create Aran in white for Yarn A and Yarnsmiths Pebble Haze Prints Aran (Chesil) for Yarn B.

I had yarn left over from my Fireside Plaid Throw Blanket and loved how this worked up – so I just needed to top it up! 

These yarns are easy to care for – both are machine washable at 30 degrees and can be ironed and tumble dried on a low setting.

You can substitute any yarn of the same weight or yarn that meets gauge.  When you crochet your swatch, make sure you’re happy with how the blanket drapes and the flexibility of the blanket. 

Recommendations for Customising your Yarn Choices:

• For Yarn A I would recommend you choose a lighter colour (white in this pattern) as this highlights the zigs and zags of the blanket pattern design.  Yarn A is also used for the set-up rows for the border and the final round of the border.
• For Yarn B, try an ombre or variegated yarn.  When the instructions are to change to Yarn B, just substitute your chosen colour.  The rows worked in Yarn B create the zig zag in between the peaks and troughs.  Yarn B is also used to work the crossed double crochet stitches of the border.
• If you use too many different colours for Yarn B, be aware you’ll have more ends to sew in as it will be more difficult to pick the yarn up when you next need to work with your sequence of colours.

Gauge

With a 5mm hook

14 single crochet stitches and 18 rows = 4” x 4”

Gauge isn’t critical for this project, but if your gauge is too far out, it’s possible to adjust your stitches using my stitch gauge converter.

Stitches and Abbreviations

If you need help working any of the stitches, you’ll find full instructions in my stitch library.

Mosaic Double Crochet (mdc): a normal double crochet worked in the skipped stitch of the same colour three rows below, working the stitch in front of the two rows of chains in the other colour.

• single crochet (sc)
• crossed double crochet (Xdc)
• slip stitch (sl st)

Abbreviations

Change colour (cc): Colour changes take place on the last pull through of the single crochet at the end of a row.  When you have two loops on the hook, yarn over with the new colour and pull through the loops on the hook.  Colour change made.

• chain (ch)
• each (ea)
• repeat (rep)
• Right Side (RS)
• skip (sk)
• space (sp)
• stitch (st)
• wrong Side (WS)

How to Mosaic Crochet (Inset)

The inset technique uses two rows in one colour, back and forth, then the next colour is switched to for the next two rows – this repeats throughout the project. 

The yarn not in use is not fastened off but left at the side of the work, ready to be picked up again after two rows.

Both loops are worked into as you normally would. 

All mosaic double crochet stitches are worked on the right side. 

The first row of colour creates the pattern and the second row in the same colour repeats it. 

• Where a mosaic double crochet was used in the first row, in the second row a single crochet is worked into this stitch. 
• Where a chain space was made in the first row, the same chain space is made on the second row.  
• One more chain is made than the number of stitches skipped.  This is to give space so that the fabric doesn’t pull in. 

I’ve included the photo below of the Heather Zig Zag blanket so that you can see how the right side and wrong side work up using this technique.

How to Follow the Mosaic Crochet Chart (Inset)

• The chart is read from the bottom up.
• Each square in a chart row represents a single stitch and each chart row represents two rows of crochet worked back and forth in the same colour.
• The colour in the first and last squares of the row is the yarn colour of the row.
• Odd numbered rows (right side) are read from right to left.
• Even numbered rows (wrong side) are read from left to right.
• When a square in the chart row is a different colour from the working colour, a chain space is made and stitches skipped.  The skipped stitches will be worked with a mosaic double crochet in the next odd numbered row.
• The first and last stitch of all rows is a single crochet.
• Rows 1 and 2 are single crochet in each stitch.
• The zig zag pattern is worked from rows 1 – 34 and repeats from rows 3 – 34.
• In this project, the rows are the width and the stitches are the length. 

My Pattern Notes

• Pattern is a multiple of 12 (+14 for starting chain).
• Yarn A = solid/neutral colour; Yarn B = variegated
• Chain one does not count as a stitch.
• Chain three counts as a double crochet.
• Row 1 is worked into the back bumps of the chain.
• The turning chain (chain 1) is at the end of a row, if you’re used to chaining 1 at the start of the row, you can do this too.
• Colour changes take place at the end of the row on the last pull through of the last single crochet.
• Pattern repeats are written like this: *stitches to repeat*
• The border set up is worked on the short edges only.
• Round 1 of the border, the corner stitch is the last stitch in the row.
• The double crochet worked in the skipped stitch of the border is worked in front of the double crochet already made.
• Border corner space in round 1 = 1 crossed double crochet, 2 double crochets, 1 crossed double crochet.
• Use a stitch marker in the second double crochet of the corner space to mark the corner stitch.
• Weave in ends as you go.
• Use these pattern notes alongside the how to mosaic crochet section and the instructions.

Heather Zig Zag Crochet Pattern Written Instructions (US crochet terms)

With Yarn A and 5mm hook

Ch 182

Row 1 (WS): 1sc in 2^nd ch from hook, 1sc in ea ch to end, ch1, turn

Row 2 (RS): 1sc in ea st to end, cc to B, ch1, turn

Row 3: 1sc, *ch4, sk 3 sts, 9sc, * rep to end, ch1, turn

Row 4: *9sc, ch4, sk ch4-sp, * rep to last st, 1sc in last st, cc to A, ch1, turn

Row 5: 1sc, *3mdc, 9sc, * rep to end, ch1, turn

Row 6: rep row 2

Row 7: 3sc, ch4, sk 3 sts, *9sc, ch4, sk 3 sts, * rep to last 7 sts, 7sc, ch1, turn

Row 8: 7sc, ch4, sk ch4-sp, *9sc, ch4, sk ch4-sp, * rep to last 3 sts, 3sc, cc to A, ch1, turn

Row 9: 3sc, 3mdc, *9sc, 3mdc, * rep to last 7 sts, 7sc, ch1, turn

Row 10: rep row 2

Row 11: 5sc, ch4, sk 3 sts, *9sc, ch4, sk 3 sts, * rep to last 5 sts, 5sc, ch1, turn

Row 12: 5sc, ch4, sk ch4-sp, *9sc, ch4, sk ch4-sp, * rep to last 5 sts, 5sc, cc to A, ch1, turn

Row 13: 5sc, 3mdc, *9sc, 3mdc, * rep to last 5 sts, 5sc, ch1, turn

Row 14: rep row 2

Row 15: 7sc, ch4, sk 3 sts, *9sc, ch4, sk 3 sts, * rep to last 3 sts, 3sc, ch1, turn

Row 16: 3sc, ch4, sk ch4-sp, *9sc, ch4, sk ch4-sp, * rep to last 7 sts, 7sc, cc to A, ch1, turn

Row 17: 7sc, 3mdc, *9sc, 3mdc, * rep to last 3 sts, 3sc, ch1, turn

Row 18: rep row 2

Row 19:  *9sc, ch4, sk 3 sts, *rep to last st, 1sc, ch1, turn

Row 20: 1sc, *ch4, sk ch4-sp, 9sc, * rep to end, cc to A, ch1, turn

Row 21: *9sc, 3mdc, * rep to last st, sc1, ch1, turn

Row 22: rep row 2

Row 23: rep row 15

Row 24: rep row 16

Row 25: rep row 17

Row 26: rep row 18

Row 27: rep row 11

Row 28: rep row 12

Row 29: rep row 13

Row 30: rep row 14

Row 31: rep row 7

Row 32: rep row 8

Row 33: rep row 9

Row 34: rep row 10

Row 3 – 34 form the zig zag pattern

Rep row 3 – 34 another 4 times

Rep rows 3 – 18 once

Fasten off

Setting up Border

With a 5mm hook

Working along one of the short edges

Rejoin Yarn A

Sl st loosely and evenly along short edge for a multiple of 2 (plus corners)

Fasten off

Rejoin Yarn A at 1^st sl st, ch1

Sc in top loop of ea sl st across short edge

Fasten off

Rep for other side along short edge

Border

Working on RS

With a 4.5mm hook

Join Yarn B 3 sts before any corner st (see pattern notes)

ch3

Round 1: dc in next st, *sk 1 st, dc in corner st, dc in sk st, 2dc in same corner st, dc in next st, dc in same corner st (corner sp made), Xdc to corner st, * rep around, join with sl st to top of starting ch3

Fasten off

Change to Yarn A

ch1

Round 2: *sc in ea st to corner st, 2sc in corner st, 2sc in next st, * rep around ending last rep in last 2dc, join with a sl st to 1^st sc.

Fasten off

Congratulations! Your lap blanket is ready to be blocked/washed.

Copyright Notice

The pattern and photographs of this design are the property of Sharon Goodwin at Jera’s Jamboree.  This pattern and design are subject to copyright and are for personal, non-commercial use only.  You may not share, resell, alter or redistribute this pattern in part or in whole. You may, however, sell any finished items you make.  If you would like to include this pattern in a roundup, you may take one photo and link back to this pattern.

I’d love to see how your Heather Zig Zag Blanket turns out — whether you’ve chosen soft pastels, bold contrasts, or a soothing mix of variegated and solid tones.
Share your finished blanket or work-in-progress in the Jera’s Jamboree Crochet Community on Facebook so we can all admire your colour choices and celebrate your make together.

Save to Pinterest

If you’re planning to crochet this mosaic blanket later, don’t forget to save the image below to Pinterest. Pinning helps you find it easily when you’re ready to start and inspires others who love modern mosaic crochet blanket patterns too.