Here is a beautiful textured sampler crochet blanket or throw blanket pattern. A sampler crochet pattern is made up of a variety of stitches, and also called a multi stitch pattern.
This unique crochet throw blanket has a striking textured design with three main stitch patterns.
There are video tutorials for each of the main three stitches.
Free Pattern for Textured Crochet Throw Blanket
This richly textured blanket is called the Stay Wild Moon Child blanket, and was also affectionately known as the Uni Blanket (see the next paragraph for why).
Design Inspiration
I made this beautifully textured crochet blanket throw for my daughter when she moved out of home to go to University this year. I wanted it to provide comfort and as a reminder my love for her, on her adventure away from home.
My daughter wanted a combination of space but not “lacey or stringy”, solid but not heavy, holes but not messy, texture but not cluttered.
And not structured and boring, it was to look wild and free.
I know what you’re thinking, maybe it should be called the Goldilocks blanket!
I chose three different crochet stitches and used a simple transition stitch to smoothly go from one stitch patttern to the next. The result is a beautiful modern textured boho crochet sampler blanket, or a multi-stitch blanket.
I also used the idea of “wild and free” when constructing the blanket. I chose a stitch pattern and repeated it for as long as I wanted, then chose the next stitch pattern based on what I felt like crocheting at the time.
The pattern includes instructions on how to go wild and free, as well as the full pattern for the blanket I made.
Why Stay Wild Moon Child? It’s a phrase I’ve been saying to my girl for years. She’s an incredible, beautiful free spirit, has an affinity with the moon and the blanket design is a tribute to her.

Add to Ravelry here.
Construction
The blanket is worked back and in forth in rows, turning your work at the end of each row, starting at the bottom and working up to the top. The border is worked in the round on the right side of the work, without turning.
The pattern consists of three stitch patterns and a Transition pattern.
The three stitch patterns video tutorials can be found here as follows:
Pattern A: Astro Cluster Stitch
Pattern B: Puffs and Shells Stitch
Pattern C: Spiked Arcade Stitch
Pattern
This pattern is written in US terms. For UK terms see the Abbreviations list. Please read all notes, materials and stitches before starting your project.
Materials
Yarn
Aran/ Worsted weight yarn : 3.6 oz (100g) / 180yrds (165m) x 14 balls/ 2520 yards (2310m)
Yarn amounts are estimates, you may use more or less yarn depending on your hook, tension and required size of project.
Hook
5mm: US size 8/H
Gauge/ Tension
6 inch / 15 cm = 1 full rep 24 sts measures across the work.
1.8 inch /4.5cm = 1 patt rep Astro Cluster st measured across rows 2-5 of patt.
Gauge is not essential for this project. However if your gauge is different you may need more or less yarn than stated and your project may be a different size than indicated.If your gauge is tighter, go up a hook size. If your gauge is looser, go down a hook size.
Finished Size
Throw blanket: 51 inch (130cm) x 58 inch (145cm) approx.
Notes
The pattern is written in US terms. I have added UK terms in ( ) in the Abbreviations list.
Alternative instructions are included at the end of each stitch pattern for the Wild and Free version, where you choose how many repeats of each stitch pattern you make.
Abbreviations
- Chain: Ch
- Chain space: ch-sp
- Double crochet: dc (tr)
- Half double crochet: hdc (htr)
- Repeat: rep
- Right side: RS
- Single crochet: sc (dc)
- Space: sp
- Spike double crochet: spike-dc (spike-tr)
- Spike single crochet: spike-sc (spike-dc)
- Stitch: st
- Stitches: sts
- Treble crochet: tr (dtr)
Special Stitches
Pattern A (Astro Cluster Stitch)
2 Double Crochet Cluster: 2dcCl (2trCl): Work into same ch-sp, [yarn over, insert hook in next ch2-sp, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over, draw through 2 loops] 2 times (3 loops on hook), yarn over, draw through all 3 loops on hook.
Pattern B (Puffs and Shells Stitch)
V-Stitch: v-st: Work [1 dc, 2 ch, 1 dc] into same st.
Puff St: [Yarn over, insert your hook into the st indicated, yarn over and pull up a loop] 3 times in total, yarn over and pull through all 7 loops on your hook.
Shell: Work 3 dc into the ch-sp as indicated.
Pattern C (Spiked Arcade Stitch)
Spike sc: Working two rows below, insert your hook into the centre stitch of the missed sts, yarn around hook and pull up a loop, enclosing the ch3-sp, yarn over and pull through two loops to finish the single crochet.
Spike dc: Working two rows below, yarn over, insert your hook into the centre stitch of the missed sts, yarn around hook and pull up a loop, enclosing the ch3-sp, (yarn over and pull through two loops) twice to finish the double crochet.
Let’s Crochet
Begin by chaining 198.
Proceed in Pattern A (Astro Cluster stitch) as follows:
Row 1 (RS): Starting in the 5th ch from hook (missed sts count as first dc), dc in each st across (195 dc)
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), sc in next st, (ch 2, miss 2 sts, v-st in next st, ch 2, miss 2 sts, sc in next st); rep across, dc in last st. Turn. (32 reps)
Row 3: Ch 4 (counts as first tr), tr in next st, *[ (2dcCl, ch 2) twice, 2dcCl ] into the v-st ch2-sp**, ch 1; rep from * across ending last rep at **, tr in each of the last 2 sts. Turn.
Row 4: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next st, ch 1, working in the ch-sps only (dc, ch 1) in each ch2-sp and ch1-sp across, dc in each last two sts. Turn.
Row 5: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each st and sp across. (195 sts)
Rows 6- 9: Rep Rows 2-5.
(For Wild and Free version, rep rows 2-5 as many times as you want.)
Proceed in Pattern B (Puffs and Shells stitch) as follows:
Row 10 (WS): Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in first st, *[sc, ch 4, puff st] in the next st, miss 2 sts; rep from * across, sc in each of the last 2 sts. Turn. (64 reps)
Row 11: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in the next st, shell in each ch4-sp across, dc in each of the last 2 sts. Turn. (196 sts)
(Note: the st count increases by 1 stitch in Row 10 which you may notice in Row 11 and think you’ve accidentally gained a st, however it decreases by 1 st in Row 12 to even out.)
Row 12: Ch 3 (counts as your first dc), dc in next st, [miss 1 st, dc in each of the next 2 sts, working around the last 2 dcs, work a dc into the missed st], rep across the row until 2 sts remain, miss 1 sts, work a dc into the last st. Turn. (195 sts)
Row 13: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each st across. Turn. (195 sts)
(For Wild and Free version, Rep Rows 10-13 as many times as you want.)
Proceed in Pattern C (Spiked Arcade stitch) as follows:
Row 14 (WS): Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in first st, sc in next st, ch 1, miss 1 st, *sc in next st, ch 5, miss 3 sts, sc in next st **, ch 3, miss 3 sts; rep from * ending last rep at ** with 3 sts remaining, ch 1, miss 1 st, sc in next 2 sts. Turn.
Row 15: Ch 1 (not a st), sc in the first st, sc in the next st, *11 dc in the ch5-sp **, [working 2 rows below, spike sc around ch3-sp into centre missed st]; rep from * ending last rep at **, miss ch-sp, sc in each of the next 2 sts. Turn.
Row 16: Ch 4 (counts as first tr), tr in next st, ch 2, miss 3 dc, *sc in next st, ch 3, miss 3 dc, sc in next st **, ch 5, miss 6 dc; rep from * ending last rep at **, ch 2, miss 3 dc, tr in each of the next 2 sts. Turn.
Row 17: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next st, 5 dc in ch2-sp, miss sc, *[working 2 rows below, spike sc around ch3-sp into centre missed st], miss sc **,11 dc in ch5-sp; rep from * ending last rep at ** work 5 dc in ch2-sp, dc in each of the next 2 sts. Turn.
Row 18: Ch 1 (not a st), sc in first st, sc in next st, ch 1, miss dc, sc in next st, * ch 5, miss (3dc, spike sc, 3 dc), sc in next st **, ch 3, miss 3 dc, sc in next st; rep from * ending last rep at **, ch 1, miss 1 dc, sc in each of the last 2 sts. Turn.
Rows 19-22: Rep Rows 15-18.
(For Wild and Free version, rep rows 19-22 as many times as you want.)
Row 23 (or for Wild and Free, after a Row 18 repeat): 3 ch (counts as first dc), dc in sc, dc in ch1-sp, miss sc, * 5 dc in ch5-sp, miss sc **, 1 dc in ch3-sp, [working 2 rows below, spike dc around ch3-sp into centre missed st], dc in ch3-sp; rep from * ending last rep at **, 1 dc in ch1-sp, dc in each of last 2 sts. Turn. (195 sts)
Proceed in Transition Pattern as follows:
Row 24 (WS): Ch 3 (counts as first st), [dc in next st, ch 1, miss next st] across until 2 sts rem, dc in each last two sts. Turn.
Row 25 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each st and sp across. (195 sts)
Proceed in Pattern B (Puffs and Shells stitch) as follows:
Rows 26- 37: Rep Rows 10-13 a total of 3 times.
(For Wild and Free version, Rep Rows 10-13 as many times as you want.)
Proceed in Transition Pattern as follows:
Rows 38-39: Rep Rows 24-25.
Proceed in Pattern C (Spiked Arcade stitch) as follows:
Rows 40-44: Rep Rows 14-18.
(For Wild and Free version, rep Rows 14-18 as many times as you want.)
Row 45: Rep Row 23.
Proceed in Transition Stitch as follows:
Rows 46-49: Rep Rows 24-25.
Proceed in Pattern A (Astro Cluster stitch) as follows:
Rows 50-61: Rep Rows 2-5.
(For Wild and Free version, rep Rows 2-5 as many times as you want.)
Proceed in Transition stitch as follows:
Rows 62-65: Rep Rows 24-25.
Proceed in Pattern C (Spiked Arcade stitch) as follows:
Rows 66-70: Rep Rows 14-18.
Rows 71-78: Rep Rows 15-18.
(For Wild and Free version, rep Rows 15-18 as many times as you want.)
Row 79: Rep Row 23.
Proceed in Transition Stitch as follows:
Rows 80-81: Rep Rows 24-25.
Proceed in Pattern B (Puffs and Shells stitch) as follows:
Rows 82-89: Rep Rows 10-13.
(For Wild and Free version, rep Rows 10-13 as many times as you want.)
Proceed in Transition Stitch as follows:
Rows 90-91: Rep Rows 24-25.
Proceed in Pattern A (Astro Cluster stitch) as follows:
Rows 92-95: Rep Rows 2-5.
(For Wild and Free version rep Rows 2-5 as many times as you want.)
Proceed in Pattern C (Spiked Arcade stitch) as follows:
Rows 96-100: Rep Rows 14-18.
(For Wild and Free version rep Rows 15-18 as many times as you want.)
Row 101: Rep Row 23.
Proceed in Pattern A (Astro Cluster stitch) as follows:
Rows 102-105: Rep Rows 2-5.
(For Wild and Free version rep rows 2-5 as many times as you want.)
Proceed in Pattern B (Puffs and Shells) as follows:
Rows 106-113: Rep Rows 10-13.
(For Wild and Free version rep rows 10-13 as many times as you want.)
Row 114: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each st across.Turn. (195 sts)
Row 115 (RS): Ch 2 (counts as first st), hdc in each st across. Do not turn, do not fasten off. Continue to border.
Border
Notes: Rotate your work clockwise. Work evenly around, as a guide this means work 1 hdc into each sc row end, 2 hdc into each dc row end, 3 hdc into each tr row end. For the corners work (hdc, ch 2, hdc). For the foundation row work 1 hdc into each st.
You will be working in the round on the right side (RS) of your work. Do not turn your work at the end of the round.
Border Round: (1 hdc , ch 2, 1 hdc) into last st for the corner, rotate your work clockwise, 1 hdc in first st of edge row, work hdc evenly as described above. Repeat for foundation row and last side edge, finishing last side edge at the end of Row 114 (or at the end of the second last row), work (1 hdc, ch 2, 1 hdc) in first st of Row 115 (or final row), sl st into top of first st. Fasten off.

I would love to know if you make the Stay Wild Moon Child Blanket, and if you went “wild and free” when making it. Let me know in the comments, or tag me @thestitchfoundry on Instagram.
Add to Ravelry here.
Thank you to Karen L for corrections.
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I am so looking forward to making your “Wild and Free” blanket. I too have a daughter who loves the moon and stars. Thank you for sharing your beautiful creation.
Hi Pat, thank you so much for letting me know. I hope you enjoy making it!
I’m half way through the pattern. I think your stitch count for Row 10 is incorrect. I beleive it is 64 reps. I’m doing the blanket with Red Heart Super Saver Ombre – Scuba
Thanks so much! yes you are right, I appreciate you letting me know. Have edited it now 🙂
I’m going to try to make this into a rectangular wrap about 60 to 66 inches long, and between 18 and 30 inches wide.
I’ll be using Scheepjes Colour Crafter (#3 yarn) and I’ll try a J (6.0mm) hook on a sample piece. If that doesn’t seem right, I go up or down in size to get the desired effect.
That sounds lovely, thanks for letting me know! Colour crafter is so nice to work with.