— Crochet Patterns, Free Patterns —

Up and Away Hot Air Balloon C2C Blanket – Free Crochet Pattern

December 13, 2024
This image shows a crochet blanket with a corner-to-corner (C2C) design featuring a hot air balloon floating among clouds. The balloon is green with a brown basket, and the sun is brightly shining in the upper corner, its yellow rays stretching out into the sky. The background alternates between light blue for the sky and white for the clouds, with some gray clouds scattered across the scene. The blanket has a delicate scalloped border in green, which adds a charming finish to the overall design. The blanket is displayed on a dark wooden floor.

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This image shows a crochet blanket with a corner-to-corner (C2C) design featuring a hot air balloon floating among clouds. The balloon is green with a brown basket, and the sun is brightly shining in the upper corner, its yellow rays stretching out into the sky. The background alternates between light blue for the sky and white for the clouds, with some gray clouds scattered across the scene. The blanket has a delicate scalloped border in green, which adds a charming finish to the overall design. The blanket is displayed on a dark wooden floor.

One of the best parts of being a crocheter—or maker of any kind—is the magical moments when you get to create something special for those closest to you. In this case, it was my firstborn. That pregnancy was a surprise, but a happy and welcome one, and it set my mind ablaze with all the sweet things I could make for a baby; booties, blankets, hats, toys, anything I could imagine or find on Pinterest. But blankets are my specialty, and designing this one was one of those magical moments. I wanted to create something truly special for his nursery. I knew I wanted an aviation theme to inspire a sense of adventure, and a hot air balloon was the perfect motif; weightless and free, soaring across the sky to parts unknown.

This image shows a crochet blanket with a corner-to-corner (C2C) design featuring a hot air balloon floating among clouds. The balloon is green with a brown basket.

As I worked on it, I liked to imagine it would become his favorite blanket—dragging it from home on every errand we ran. A comforting thing that would offer both warmth and a reminder of my love for him. Every stitch was intentional, from the soft clouds to the vibrant sun, I wanted it to evoke a feeling of wonder. This project became much more than a creative endeavor; it was a way for me to prepare for the transition into motherhood, and to channel my excitement and anticipation into something tangible. Funnily enough, this did not become his favorite blanket. Because that’s how children are, but this blanket now holds a sentimental value to me, a precious keepsake that represents those early days of dreaming about my little guy’s future. And I’m so pleased to share this crochet pattern with you.

This image shows a crochet blanket with a corner-to-corner (C2C) design featuring a hot air balloon floating among clouds. The balloon is green with a brown basket, and the sun is brightly shining in the upper corner, its yellow rays stretching out into the sky. The background alternates between light blue for the sky and white for the clouds, with some gray clouds scattered across the scene. The blanket has a delicate scalloped border in green, which adds a charming finish to the overall design. The blanket is draped over a chair.

This corner-to-corner (C2C) crochet blanket features a hot air balloon floating gracefully through a serene sky. The design includes a large green balloon with a brown basket, fluffy white and gray clouds, and a bright yellow sun peeking through, its rays extending warmly into the sky. The little details make this blanket come alive, and it is perfect for an aviation-themed nursery or as a special baby gift. Finished with a delicate green scalloped border, this blanket is simply stunning, making it a beautiful keepsake for any little one.

This image shows sun brightly shining in the upper corner, its yellow rays stretching out into the sky. The blanket has a delicate scalloped border in green, which adds a charming finish to the overall design.

Corner-to-corner (C2C) crochet is a fantastic technique that’s perfect for creating graphgans like this one. If you’ve never tried it before, C2C is worked diagonally, starting from one corner of your blanket and building in blocks until you reach the opposite corner. This unique approach allows for intricate designs and vibrant images to really come to life, making it an ideal method for anyone looking to incorporate detailed graphics into their blankets. The repetitive motion of working up the squares is rhythmic and satisfying, while the end result is always stunning—a beautifully textured and eye-catching blanket that’s sure to impress. Whether you’re new to C2C or already love it, it’s a wonderful way to explore creativity and create something truly special. If you’re new to C2C crochet, don’t worry—I’ll link you to the best and most thorough C2C tutorial I know of; Mikey from the Crochet Crowd (click here for his YouTube tutorial), so you’ll be crafting like a pro in no time.

This image shows a crochet blanket with a corner-to-corner (C2C) design featuring a hot air balloon floating among clouds. The balloon is green with a brown basket, and the sun is brightly shining in the upper corner, its yellow rays stretching out into the sky. The background alternates between light blue for the sky and white for the clouds, with some gray clouds scattered across the scene. The blanket has a delicate scalloped border in green, which adds a charming finish to the overall design. The blanket is displayed on a wooden fence.

Crocheting this blanket for my son was a beautiful reminder of the magic we experience as makers—transforming ideas and emotions into something tangible and lasting. While it may not have become his go-to blanket, it will always represent the joy and anticipation I felt during those first days of motherhood. The process, from dreaming up the design to carefully working each stitch, made this project more than just a crochet blanket—it became a symbol of love, excitement, and hope for the future. Now, as I share this pattern with you, I hope it brings as much joy and meaning to your creative journey as it did to mine.

Happy Crocheting!

Hailee Lynn of Knotted Up In String

Up and Away Hot Air Balloon C2C Blanket Pattern

A digital mockup of the Up and Away Hot Air Balloon c2c blanket

Materials

A suggested yarn palette created with six swatches of yarn in white, gray, light blue, green, gold, and brown.
I Love This Yarn in White, Light Gray, Glacier, Light Sage, and Sungold. And Vanna’s Choice in Barley.
A suggested yarn palette created with six swatches of yarn in white, gray, light blue, green, gold, and brown.
Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran in Paper White, Misty Grey, Washed Teal, Pear Green, Mustard Yellow, and Coffee Bean

Skill Level

Gauge and Size

  • This chart is 53×80 squares
  • The approximate finished size using the recommended medium worsted weight yarn and hook size is 40”x60” or 101x152cm
  • Gauge will vary depending on the brand of yarn used and your personal tension, but a 7×7 square made with the recommended medium worsted weight yarn and hook should be approximately 5”x5” or 13x13cm. Your personal gauge can affect the finished size by several inches/centimeters.

The free pattern continues below. If you would like to purchase an ad-free, printable PDF version of the pattern, you can find it here on Etsy, here on Ravelry, or here on Ribblr! The PDF pattern includes helpful notes, a clickable table of contents, a one-page chart, an oversized chart over four pages that can be printed and taped together for easier viewing, row-by-row written instructions, and row-by-row color blocks.

The PDF version also includes a yarn conversion chart for DK and Chunky weight yarn.

This image showcases a multi-page preview of the Up and Away Hot Air Balloon C2C crochet blanket pattern in a neatly designed PDF format. The layout includes a cover page with the blanket design, a materials list, written instructions, and color charts. The text "Ad-free PDF Pattern Available in my Shops" overlays the image, indicating that the full pattern can be purchased. The preview highlights the detailed and user-friendly structure of the pattern, complete with color-coded sections and grids.

Chart

The c2c graph for the Up and Away Hot Air Balloon c2c pattern.

Written Instructions

↗ Row 1 [WS]: (White) x 1 (1 square)
↙ Row 2 [RS]: (White) x 2 (2 squares)
↗ Row 3 [WS]: (White) x 3 (3 squares)
↙ Row 4 [RS]: (White) x 4 (4 squares)
↗ Row 5 [WS]: (White) x 5 (5 squares)
↙ Row 6 [RS]: (White) x 6 (6 squares)
↗ Row 7 [WS]: (White) x 7 (7 squares)
↙ Row 8 [RS]: (White) x 8 (8 squares)
↗ Row 9 [WS]: (White) x 9 (9 squares)
↙ Row 10 [RS]: (White) x 10 (10 squares)
↗ Row 11 [WS]: (White) x 11 (11 squares)
↙ Row 12 [RS]: (White) x 12 (12 squares)
↗ Row 13 [WS]: (White) x 13 (13 squares)
↙ Row 14 [RS]: (White) x 14 (14 squares)
↗ Row 15 [WS]: (White) x 15 (15 squares)
↙ Row 16 [RS]: (White) x 16 (16 squares)
↗ Row 17 [WS]: (White) x 17 (17 squares)
↙ Row 18 [RS]: (White) x 18 (18 squares)
↗ Row 19 [WS]: (White) x 19 (19 squares)
↙ Row 20 [RS]: (White) x 20 (20 squares)
↗ Row 21 [WS]: (White) x 21 (21 squares)
↙ Row 22 [RS]: (White) x 22 (22 squares)
↗ Row 23 [WS]: (White) x 23 (23 squares)
↙ Row 24 [RS]: (White) x 24 (24 squares)
↗ Row 25 [WS]: (White) x 25 (25 squares)
↙ Row 26 [RS]: (White) x 24, (Gray) x 2 (26 squares)
↗ Row 27 [WS]: (Gray) x 3, (White) x 24 (27 squares)
↙ Row 28 [RS]: (Gray) x 3, (White) x 21, (Gray) x 4 (28 squares)
↗ Row 29 [WS]: (Gray) x 4, (White) x 21, (Gray) x 4 (29 squares)
↙ Row 30 [RS]: (Gray) x 5, (White) x 20, (Gray) x 5 (30 squares)
↗ Row 31 [WS]: (Gray) x 6, (White) x 19, (Gray) x 6 (31 squares)
↙ Row 32 [RS]: (Gray) x 7, (White) x 19, (Gray) x 6 (32 squares)
↗ Row 33 [WS]: (Gray) x 7, (White) x 18, (Gray) x 8 (33 squares)
↙ Row 34 [RS]: (Gray) x 9, (White) x 18, (Gray) x 7 (34 squares)
↗ Row 35 [WS]: (Gray) x 7, (White) x 19, (Gray) x 9 (35 squares)
↙ Row 36 [RS]: (Gray) x 10, (White) x 19, (Gray) x 7 (36 squares)
↗ Row 37 [WS]: (Gray) x 7, (White) x 20, (Gray) x 10 (37 squares)
↙ Row 38 [RS]: (Gray) x 11, (White) x 19, (Gray) x 8 (38 squares)
↗ Row 39 [WS]: (Gray) x 9, (White) x 19, (Gray) x 11 (39 squares)
↙ Row 40 [RS]: (Gray) x 12, (White) x 19, (Gray) x 9 (40 squares)
↗ Row 41 [WS]: (Gray) x 10, (White) x 19, (Gray) x 12 (41 squares)
↙ Row 42 [RS]: (White) x 1, (Gray) x 11, (White) x 20, (Gray) x 10 (42 squares)
↗ Row 43 [WS]: (Gray) x 11, (White) x 20, (Gray) x 11, (White) x 1 (43 squares)
↙ Row 44 [RS]: (White) x 2, (Gray) x 10, (White) x 21, (Gray) x 11 (44 squares)
↗ Row 45 [WS]: (Gray) x 11, (White) x 21, (Gray) x 10, (White) x 3 (45 squares)
↙ Row 46 [RS]: (White) x 4, (Gray) x 10, (White) x 21, (Gray) x 11 (46 squares)
↗ Row 47 [WS]: (Gray) x 11, (White) x 22, (Gray) x 9, (White) x 5 (47 squares)
↙ Row 48 [RS]: (Yellow) x 1, (White) x 6, (Gray) x 8, (White) x 22, (Gray) x 11 (48 squares)
↗ Row 49 [WS]: (Gray) x 12, (White) x 22, (Gray) x 5, (White) x 9, (Yellow) x 1 (49 squares)
↙ Row 50 [RS]: (Yellow) x 2, (White) x 9, (Gray) x 4, (White) x 23, (Gray) x 12 (50 squares)
↗ Row 51 [WS]: (Gray) x 13, (White) x 23, (Gray) x 3, (White) x 10, (Yellow) x 2 (51 squares)
↙ Row 52 [RS]: (Yellow) x 3, (White) x 36, (Gray) x 13 (52 squares)
↗ Row 53 [WS]: (Gray) x 14, (White) x 36, (Yellow) x 3 (53 squares)

Bottom Left Corner: Begin decreasing on odd rows (this will form the left side of the blanket) and continue increasing on even rows

↙ Row 54 [RS]: (Yellow) x 4, (White) x 22, (Brown) x 2, (White) x 12, (Gray) x 13 (53 squares)
↗ Row 55 [WS]: (Gray) x 13, (White) x 11, (Brown) x 3, (White) x 21, (Yellow) x 5 (53 squares)
↙ Row 56 [RS]: (Yellow) x 5, (White) x 21, (Brown) x 5, (White) x 10, (Gray) x 12 (53 squares)
↗ Row 57 [WS]: (Gray) x 11, (White) x 10, (Brown) x 6, (White) x 20, (Yellow) x 6 (53 squares)
↙ Row 58 [RS]: (Yellow) x 7, (White) x 19, (Brown) x 7, (White) x 9, (Gray) x 11 (53 squares)
↗ Row 59 [WS]: (Gray) x 10, (White) x 9, (Brown) x 8, (White) x 18, (Yellow) x 8 (53 squares)
↙ Row 60 [RS]: (Yellow) x 10, (White) x 2, (Yellow) x 1, (White) x 13, (Brown) x 9, (White) x 9, (Gray) x 8, (White) x 1 (53 squares)
↗ Row 61 [WS]: (White) x 1, (Gray) x 7, (White) x 10, (Brown) x 7, (White) x 14, (Yellow) x 14 (53 squares)
↙ Row 62 [RS]: (Yellow) x 15, (White) x 12, (Brown) x 1, (Gray) x 1, (Brown) x 7, (Gray) x 3, (White) x 7, (Gray) x 6, (White) x 1 (53 squares)
↗ Row 63 [WS]: (White) x 1, (Gray) x 4, (White) x 8, (Gray) x 4, (Brown) x 6, (Gray) x 2, (Brown) x 1, (White) x 12, (Yellow) x 15 (53 squares)
↙ Row 64 [RS]: (Yellow) x 16, (White) x 11, (Brown) x 1, (Gray) x 3, (Brown) x 5, (Gray) x 5, (White) x 12 (53 squares)
↗ Row 65 [WS]: (White) x 11, (Gray) x 6, (Brown) x 4, (Gray) x 4, (White) x 12, (Yellow) x 16 (53 squares)
↙ Row 66 [RS]: (Yellow) x 16, (White) x 12, (Brown) x 1, (Gray) x 5, (Brown) x 3, (Gray) x 6, (White) x 10 (53 squares)
↗ Row 67 [WS]: (White) x 9, (Gray) x 7, (Brown) x 1, (Gray) x 7, (Brown) x 1, (White) x 11, (Yellow) x 17 (53 squares)
↙ Row 68 [RS]: (Yellow) x 17, (White) x 11, (Brown) x 2, (Gray) x 15, (White) x 8 (53 squares)
↗ Row 69 [WS]: (White) x 8, (Gray) x 7, (Brown) x 1, (Gray) x 6, (Brown) x 2, (White) x 11, (Yellow) x 18 (53 squares)
↙ Row 70 [RS]: (Blue) x 2, (Yellow) x 16, (White) x 11, (Brown) x 4, (Gray) x 4, (Brown) x 1, (Gray) x 8, (White) x 7 (53 squares)
↗ Row 71 [WS]: (White) x 5, (Gray) x 14, (Brown) x 5, (White) x 11, (Yellow) x 13, (Blue) x 5 (53 squares)
↙ Row 72 [RS]: (Blue) x 6, (Yellow) x 13, (White) x 10, (Green) x 1, (Brown) x 6, (Gray) x 2, (Brown) x 1, (Gray) x 11, (White) x 3 (53 squares)
↗ Row 73 [WS]: (White) x 2, (Gray) x 12, (Brown) x 1, (Gray) x 1, (Brown) x 6, (Green) x 2, (White) x 9, (Yellow) x 14, (Blue) x 6 (53 squares)
↙ Row 74 [RS]: (Blue) x 6, (Yellow) x 14, (White) x 9, (Green) x 4, (Brown) x 6, (Gray) x 13, (White) x 1 (53 squares)
↗ Row 75 [WS]: (Gray) x 14, (Brown) x 5, (Green) x 5, (White) x 8, (Yellow) x 14, (Blue) x 7 (53 squares)
↙ Row 76 [RS]: (Blue) x 7, (Yellow) x 15, (White) x 6, (Green) x 7, (Brown) x 4, (Gray) x 14 (53 squares)
↗ Row 77 [WS]: (Gray) x 13, (Brown) x 3, (Green) x 9, (White) x 6, (Yellow) x 15, (Blue) x 7 (53 squares)
↙ Row 78 [RS]: (Blue) x 8, (Yellow) x 3, (Blue) x 1, (Yellow) x 9, (Blue) x 1, (Yellow) x 1, (White) x 5, (Green) x 11, (Brown) x 1, (Gray) x 13 (53 squares)
↗ Row 79 [WS]: (Gray) x 13, (Green) x 12, (White) x 4, (Blue) x 3, (Yellow) x 8, (Blue) x 3, (Yellow) x 2, (Blue) x 8 (53 squares)
↙ Row 80 [RS]: (Blue) x 8, (Yellow) x 1, (Blue) x 4, (Yellow) x 8, (Blue) x 4, (White) x 3, (Green) x 13, (Gray) x 12 (53 squares)

Top Right Corner: Continue decreasing on odd rows and begin decreasing on even rows (this will form the top side of the blanket)

↗ Row 81 [WS]: (Gray) x 12, (Green) x 13, (White) x 2, (Blue) x 4, (Yellow) x 4, (Blue) x 1, (Yellow) x 3, (Blue) x 13 (52 squares)
↙ Row 82 [RS]: (Blue) x 12, (Yellow) x 3, (Blue) x 2, (Yellow) x 3, (Blue) x 5, (White) x 1, (Green) x 13, (Gray) x 12 (51 squares)
↗ Row 83 [WS]: (Gray) x 11, (Green) x 15, (Blue) x 4, (Yellow) x 3, (Blue) x 3, (Yellow) x 2, (Blue) x 12 (50 squares)
↙ Row 84 [RS]: (Blue) x 12, (Yellow) x 1, (Blue) x 4, (Yellow) x 2, (Blue) x 4, (Green) x 16, (Gray) x 10 (49 squares)
↗ Row 85 [WS]: (Gray) x 10, (Green) x 16, (Blue) x 4, (Yellow) x 1, (Blue) x 5, (Yellow) x 1, (Blue) x 11 (48 squares)
↙ Row 86 [RS]: (Blue) x 11, (Yellow) x 1, (Blue) x 5, (Yellow) x 1, (Blue) x 3, (Green) x 16, (Gray) x 10 (47 squares)
↗ Row 87 [WS]: (Gray) x 9, (Green) x 17, (Blue) x 9, (Yellow) x 1, (Blue) x 10 (46 squares)
↙ Row 88 [RS]: (Blue) x 19, (Green) x 17, (White) x 1, (Gray) x 8 (45 squares)
↗ Row 89 [WS]: (Gray) x 4, (White) x 4, (Green) x 17, (Blue) x 19 (44 squares)
↙ Row 90 [RS]: (Blue) x 18, (Green) x 17, (White) x 5, (Gray) x 3 (43 squares)
↗ Row 91 [WS]: (Gray) x 2, (White) x 5, (Green) x 18, (Blue) x 17 (42 squares)
↙ Row 92 [RS]: (Blue) x 16, (Green) x 18, (White) x 6, (Gray) x 1 (41 squares)
↗ Row 93 [WS]: (White) x 6, (Green) x 18, (Blue) x 16 (40 squares)
↙ Row 94 [RS]: (Blue) x 15, (Green) x 18, (White) x 6 (39 squares)
↗ Row 95 [WS]: (White) x 5, (Green) x 18, (Blue) x 15 (38 squares)
↙ Row 96 [RS]: (Blue) x 14, (Green) x 18, (White) x 5 (37 squares)
↗ Row 97 [WS]: (White) x 4, (Green) x 19, (Blue) x 13 (36 squares)
↙ Row 98 [RS]: (Blue) x 13, (Green) x 18, (White) x 4 (35 squares)
↗ Row 99 [WS]: (White) x 3, (Green) x 19, (Blue) x 12 (34 squares)
↙ Row 100 [RS]: (Blue) x 12, (Green) x 18, (White) x 3 (33 squares)
↗ Row 101 [WS]: (White) x 2, (Green) x 18, (Blue) x 12 (32 squares)
↙ Row 102 [RS]: (Blue) x 11, (Green) x 18, (White) x 2 (31 squares)
↗ Row 103 [WS]: (White) x 2, (Green) x 17, (Blue) x 11 (30 squares)
↙ Row 104 [RS]: (Blue) x 10, (Green) x 18, (White) x 1 (29 squares)
↗ Row 105 [WS]: (White) x 1, (Green) x 17, (Blue) x 10 (28 squares)
↙ Row 106 [RS]: (Blue) x 10, (Green) x 16, (White) x 1 (27 squares)
↗ Row 107 [WS]: (Green) x 16, (Blue) x 10 (26 squares)
↙ Row 108 [RS]: (Blue) x 9, (Green) x 16 (25 squares)
↗ Row 109 [WS]: (Green) x 15, (Blue) x 9 (24 squares)
↙ Row 110 [RS]: (Blue) x 9, (Green) x 14 (23 squares)
↗ Row 111 [WS]: (Green) x 13, (Blue) x 9 (22 squares)
↙ Row 112 [RS]: (Blue) x 9, (Green) x 12 (21 squares)
↗ Row 113 [WS]: (Green) x 11, (Blue) x 9 (20 squares)
↙ Row 114 [RS]: (Blue) x 10, (Green) x 8, (Blue) x 1 (19 squares)
↗ Row 115 [WS]: (Blue) x 1, (Green) x 7, (Blue) x 10 (18 squares)
↙ Row 116 [RS]: (Blue) x 11, (Green) x 3, (Blue) x 3 (17 squares)
↗ Row 117 [WS]: (Blue) x 16 (16 squares)
↙ Row 118 [RS]: (Blue) x 15 (15 squares)
↗ Row 119 [WS]: (Blue) x 14 (14 squares)
↙ Row 120 [RS]: (Blue) x 13 (13 squares)
↗ Row 121 [WS]: (Blue) x 12 (12 squares)
↙ Row 122 [RS]: (Blue) x 11 (11 squares)
↗ Row 123 [WS]: (Blue) x 10 (10 squares)
↙ Row 124 [RS]: (Blue) x 9 (9 squares)
↗ Row 125 [WS]: (Blue) x 8 (8 squares)
↙ Row 126 [RS]: (Blue) x 7 (7 squares)
↗ Row 127 [WS]: (Blue) x 6 (6 squares)
↙ Row 128 [RS]: (Blue) x 5 (5 squares)
↗ Row 129 [WS]: (Blue) x 4 (4 squares)
↙ Row 130 [RS]: (Blue) x 3 (3 squares)
↗ Row 131 [WS]: (Blue) x 2 (2 squares)
↙ Row 132 [RS]: (Blue) x 1 (1 square)

Total: (White) x 1548, (Gray) x 851, (Blue) x 719, (Green) x 622, (Yellow) x 374, (Brown) x 126

Optional Border

The border consists of two granny stitch rows and a shell stitch row.
Row 1: Attach the white yarn with a sl st in the space between any square. Ch 3 (this counts as a dc) and work 2 dc in the same space. *Ch 1, 3 dc in next space, repeat to corner, in corner spaces work [3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc] in same space. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st to the top or ch 3, sl st across next two dc. Fasten off.
Row 2: Attach blue yarn in any ch 1 space and repeat the first row.
Row 3: Attach green yarn in any ch 1 space, ch 3, work 4 dc in the same space, *sc in the next space, work 5 dc in the next space. Repeat around (in corner spaces work 8 dc) Join with sl st to ch 3.
Finish off and weave in all ends.

Congratulations! You’ve just finished your very own Up and Away Hot Air Balloon blanket. Tag me on social media @knottedupinstring so I can see your blanket!

Want to save this pattern for later? Pin this to your favorite Pinterest board!

A Pinterest pin for the Up and Away Hot Air Balloon c2c crochet pattern. the photo shows a crochet blanket with a corner-to-corner (C2C) design featuring a hot air balloon floating among clouds. The balloon is green with a brown basket, and the sun is brightly shining in the upper corner, its yellow rays stretching out into the sky. The background alternates between light blue for the sky and white for the clouds, with some gray clouds scattered across the scene. Text information states Free C2C Crochet Pattern. Up and Away Hot Air Balloon Blanket. Written Instructions | Chart. The pin will lead to the website Knotted Up In String.

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