Sharon Blignaut’s Crochet Block a Week CAL 2014: Your Complete Free Guide

There is something wonderfully communal about a crochet-along. The idea of thousands of people all over the world sitting down with their hooks and yarn, working through the same pattern at the same time, creating something beautiful stitch by stitch — it captures everything that makes the fiber arts community so special. Among the many crochet-alongs that have captured the hearts of crafters, Sharon Blignaut’s Crochet Block a Week CAL 2014 stands out as one of the most beloved and enduring. Years after it originally ran, people are still discovering it, still working through it, and still sharing their finished blankets with pride. If you have stumbled across references to it and want to know everything there is to know — what it is, how it works, where to find the free patterns, and how to make the most of the experience — you have come to exactly the right place.

What Is a Crochet-Along?

Before diving into the specifics of this particular CAL, it helps to understand what a crochet-along actually is. A CAL, short for crochet-along, is an organized event in which a designer releases a pattern in installments over a set period of time, and participants work through each installment together. The social element is a huge part of the appeal. Participants share progress photos, ask questions, troubleshoot together, and cheer each other on. Online forums, Facebook groups, Ravelry threads, and Instagram hashtags have all become popular gathering places for CAL communities.

The block-a-week format is one of the most popular CAL structures because it is genuinely manageable for busy people. Rather than tackling an entire blanket pattern all at once, you commit to completing one square or motif per week. At the end of the run, you have a collection of blocks ready to be joined into a finished project. It is a brilliant way to build a large project without feeling overwhelmed, and it keeps the momentum going by giving you a steady stream of new patterns to look forward to.

Who Is Sharon Blignaut?

Sharon Blignaut is a South African crochet designer whose work has attracted a devoted following in the international crochet community. Her designs are known for their thoughtful construction, their variety of stitch techniques, and the way they manage to feel both accessible and interesting at the same time. She has a gift for creating patterns that teach you something new without making you feel out of your depth.

Her 2014 Crochet Block a Week CAL became one of her most celebrated projects, and it is easy to understand why. The blanket it produces is a patchwork of different block designs, each one a little different from the last, so the finished piece has tremendous visual interest and texture. Working through the CAL is essentially a masterclass in crochet construction techniques, and many participants have said that the project significantly expanded their skill set.

What the CAL Involves

The 2014 Crochet Block a Week CAL ran over the course of a full year, with a new block pattern released each week. That means by the end of the year, participants had 52 different block patterns — one for every week — that could be joined together into a large blanket. The scope of that undertaking is impressive, and the finished blankets that participants have shared over the years are genuinely stunning.

Each block is designed to be the same size once completed, so they join together neatly into a cohesive finished piece. The individual blocks vary in their construction and the techniques they use, which is part of what makes working through the CAL such an educational experience. You might work a classic granny square one week, a more complex textured block the next, and then a motif that introduces you to a technique you have never tried before. The variety keeps things fresh throughout the long run of the CAL.

The finished blanket, with all 52 blocks joined, is a substantial and impressive project. Many participants have framed their choice of colors and yarn as a way to create a personalized piece that reflects their own style. Some go for bold, contrasting rainbow schemes. Others opt for soft, neutral palettes. Still others choose a color story based on a favorite season, place, or feeling. The freedom to make those choices is part of what gives each finished blanket its unique character.

Finding the Free Patterns

One of the most important things to know about Sharon Blignaut’s Crochet Block a Week CAL 2014 is that all of the block patterns are completely free. Sharon made each weekly pattern freely available on her blog, and while the original CAL has long since concluded, the patterns remain accessible to anyone who wants to work through them at their own pace.

The best place to start is Sharon’s blog, where the patterns were originally published. A search for “Sharon Blignaut Crochet Block a Week CAL 2014” will lead you to the relevant pages. Because the CAL spanned a full year, the patterns are spread across many individual posts, each corresponding to a particular week. It can take a little time to gather them all together, but many members of the crochet community have done exactly that and have shared compiled lists of links to make the process easier.

Ravelry is another excellent resource. The Ravelry project pages for this CAL contain a wealth of information, including links to individual block patterns, discussions about yarn choices and gauge, finished project photos, and tips from people who have completed the blanket. If you are not already a member of Ravelry, it is free to join, and the community there is incredibly helpful.

Various crochet blogs and Pinterest boards have also compiled information about the CAL over the years, collecting links to the individual block patterns and sharing photos of finished projects for inspiration. A little time spent searching will turn up a great deal of helpful material.

Yarn and Materials

Because this is a free CAL without a specific commercial yarn sponsor, you have complete freedom when it comes to your material choices. That flexibility is both liberating and slightly daunting, so here are some things to think about as you get started.

The blocks are designed to be worked in worsted weight yarn, which is one of the most widely available and affordable weights. Worsted is also very pleasant to work with — it moves quickly on the hook, the stitches are easy to see and count, and the finished fabric has good body without being too heavy. If you are new to crochet or returning after a break, worsted weight is a comfortable choice.

The hook size you use should be whatever gives you the correct gauge for the size of block you are aiming for. Most participants work with a 5mm or 5.5mm hook with worsted weight yarn, but check your gauge swatch before committing to a large purchase of yarn. Getting the gauge right matters for this project because all 52 blocks need to be the same size in order to join cleanly.

For color choices, the sky truly is the limit. Some of the most striking finished blankets use a planned color palette worked consistently across all blocks. Others use a scrap yarn approach, working each block in a different combination of colors from an existing stash. Both approaches are valid and produce beautiful results, though the planned palette tends to give a more unified look while the scrap approach leans into a cheerful, eclectic patchwork aesthetic.

If you plan to purchase yarn specifically for this project, it is worth calculating your yardage needs before you buy. A 52-block blanket uses a significant amount of yarn, and running out of a particular color midway through is frustrating. Many participants recommend buying a little more than you think you need, especially for any background or border colors that run throughout the blanket.

Skill Level

Sharon Blignaut’s Crochet Block a Week CAL 2014 is designed to be accessible to a range of skill levels, but it is most comfortably suited to beginners with some experience and intermediate crocheters. If you are brand new to crochet and still mastering the very basics, you might find some of the blocks challenging. But if you are comfortable with the fundamental stitches — chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, and treble crochet — you will have the foundation you need to tackle every block in the series.

Part of the beauty of the format is that the blocks introduce techniques progressively. Even if a particular week’s block contains a stitch or construction method you have not tried before, the pattern walks you through it, and there is a whole community of people who have worked through the same block and can offer guidance. Tutorials for almost every technique used in the CAL can be found on YouTube, which makes it even easier to learn as you go.

If you are an experienced crocheter, the CAL offers a different kind of satisfaction: the pleasure of a well-designed project with thoughtful variety, the meditative rhythm of working through weekly blocks, and the eventual reward of a beautiful, heirloom-quality finished blanket.

Working Through the CAL at Your Own Pace

The original CAL ran in 2014, which means if you are discovering it now, you will be working through it at your own pace rather than following the original weekly schedule. This is completely fine and is in fact how many people have experienced it. The patterns are all freely available, so you can work as slowly or as quickly as you like.

Some people like to maintain the weekly rhythm even when working independently, finding that the regular structure helps keep them motivated. Others prefer to work in bursts, completing several blocks in a productive weekend and then setting the project aside for a week or two before picking it up again. However you approach it, the end goal is the same: 52 completed blocks, ready to be joined.

Keeping some kind of record as you go is helpful. Many people use a simple checklist, crossing off each block as it is completed. Others keep a project journal where they note the yarn and colors used for each block, which is useful information to have if you need to go back and make adjustments or repairs later. Photographing each completed block before joining is also a good idea — both as a personal record and as material for sharing your progress online.

Joining and Finishing

Once all 52 blocks are complete, the joining stage begins. There are several methods for joining crochet squares, and which one you choose will affect the look of the finished blanket. The most common options are the flat slip stitch join, the flat single crochet join, the join-as-you-go method, and the sewn mattress stitch. Each produces a slightly different aesthetic, and it is worth looking at examples of each before committing.

The slip stitch join creates a neat, nearly invisible seam and keeps the blanket as flat as possible. The single crochet join creates a visible ridge on the right side of the fabric, which some people love because it adds definition and structure. The mattress stitch, worked with a yarn needle, creates a very flat seam that virtually disappears into the fabric.

For a blanket with as much visual interest and texture as this one, many makers find that the single crochet join with a contrasting or complementary color actually enhances the finished look, creating a kind of grid effect that frames each block. But this is entirely a matter of personal preference.

After the blocks are joined, most blankets benefit from a border. A simple border can really pull the whole piece together, giving it a finished, polished look and stabilizing the edges. Many people work a few rounds of single crochet in a border color, perhaps finishing with a round of reverse single crochet for a neat corded edge. Others choose something more decorative, like a shell stitch border or a picot edge. Sharon’s patterns include border suggestions, but you can absolutely make your own choices based on your aesthetic preferences.

Blocking

Blocking is the process of wetting or steaming your finished crocheted pieces and then pinning or shaping them to their intended dimensions before allowing them to dry. For a project like this, where consistent block size is important, blocking each individual block before joining is highly recommended.

The process is straightforward. You wet the block thoroughly — either by soaking it in cool water or using a spray bottle — then gently press out the excess water and pin the block to your blocking mats or a foam surface, using rust-proof pins to hold it to the correct measurements. Allow it to dry completely before removing the pins. The difference in the finished appearance of blocked versus unblocked crochet is often dramatic, with blocked pieces looking much neater and more professional.

If working with acrylic yarn, steam blocking works better than wet blocking. Hold a steam iron close to the surface of the pinned piece without touching it, allow the steam to penetrate the fibers, and let it dry. This relaxes the acrylic fibers and sets the shape.

The Community Experience

Even though the original CAL concluded years ago, the community around Sharon Blignaut’s Crochet Block a Week CAL 2014 is still alive. People continue to discover the project, start working through it, and share their progress and finished blankets. Searching for the CAL on Instagram, Pinterest, and Ravelry will turn up a wealth of photos, tips, and community goodwill.

Sharing your own progress online — whether through a dedicated project page on Ravelry, posts on Instagram with relevant hashtags, or participation in crochet groups on Facebook — connects you to that larger community. There is something genuinely lovely about showing a work-in-progress photo and having someone comment that they loved that particular block, or that they found a helpful tip for the tricky part you are currently working through.

The enduring popularity of this CAL is a testament to the quality of the patterns and the strength of the community that formed around it. Long-running crochet projects can feel isolating when you are working alone, but knowing that thousands of other makers have worked through exactly the same patterns — and that many of them are still talking about it — makes the experience feel connected and shared even when you are sitting alone with your hook and yarn.

Why You Should Try It

If you love crochet and you are looking for a project with genuine depth and variety, Sharon Blignaut’s Crochet Block a Week CAL 2014 is one of the best free resources available to you. It offers 52 beautifully designed block patterns, completely free of charge, that together produce a finished blanket of real heirloom quality. Working through it will expand your skills, introduce you to new techniques, and give you a long-term project with the satisfying rhythm of weekly progress.

The fact that it is free makes it accessible to everyone, regardless of budget. The fact that it is self-paced means it fits into your life on your own terms. And the fact that the community around it is still active means you will never feel entirely alone as you work through it.

Pick your colors, gather your yarn, find a comfortable chair, and get started. One block a week is all it takes. A year from now — or sooner, if you find yourself utterly absorbed — you could have one of the most beautiful things you have ever made draped across your lap.