Sharon Blignaut’s Crochet Block a Week CAL 2014: Your Complete Free Guide to One of the Most Beloved Crochet-Alongs Ever

If you’ve spent any time in online crochet communities, you’ve probably come across Sharon Blignaut’s Crochet Block a Week CAL 2014. This crochet-along captured the hearts of thousands of yarn lovers around the world, and even years later it remains one of the most searched and celebrated free crochet projects on the internet. Whether you’re just discovering it for the first time or you’re returning to finally finish those blocks you started years ago, this guide is here to walk you through everything you need to know.

Let’s dive into the history, structure, materials, tips, and everything else that makes this CAL such a timeless gem.

What Is a Crochet-Along, and Why Did This One Become So Popular?

A crochet-along, often shortened to CAL, is essentially a community event where crocheters from all over the world follow the same pattern at the same time. The idea is to work through a project together, sharing your progress, troubleshooting problems, and celebrating milestones as a group. Some CALs are run by yarn companies, some by designers, and some by individual bloggers who simply want to share their love of crochet with a wider audience.

Sharon Blignaut’s Crochet Block a Week CAL 2014 belongs firmly in that last, most heartwarming category. Sharon, a South African crochet designer and blogger, ran this CAL across an entire year, releasing one new crochet block design every single week. That commitment — 52 weeks, 52 blocks, all offered completely free — is what set this project apart from the beginning.

The blocks ranged in style from traditional granny squares to intricate lace motifs, from textured shells to delicate flower designs. No two blocks were alike, and each one offered participants a chance to practice a different stitch or technique. By the end of the year, crocheters had a collection of 52 unique blocks that could be joined together into a stunning, one-of-a-kind blanket.

The fact that everything was free made it accessible to beginners and experienced crocheters alike. The global crochet community took notice, and what started as a single blogger’s passion project grew into a worldwide movement with dedicated Facebook groups, Pinterest boards overflowing with finished projects, and blog posts from participants in dozens of countries sharing their own finished squares.

About Sharon Blignaut

Sharon Blignaut is the creative force behind the blog My Crochet, where she has been sharing her designs, tutorials, and love for all things yarn for many years. Based in South Africa, Sharon has always brought a warm, approachable style to her crochet content. Her patterns are written clearly, her photography is beautiful, and her willingness to share her work freely has made her a beloved figure in the global crochet community.

The 2014 Block a Week CAL wasn’t Sharon’s first foray into community-driven crochet. She understood from the start that the joy of making something beautiful is multiplied when you make it alongside others. That philosophy is woven into the fabric of the CAL itself, quite literally.

Her designs reflect a wide range of influences, from classic South African craft traditions to contemporary crochet trends, which is part of why the block collection feels so rich and varied. If you’ve never visited her blog before, the CAL archives are a wonderful starting point, but once you’re there you’ll find yourself exploring her other patterns and tutorials too.

The Structure of the CAL: 52 Blocks Over 52 Weeks

The core concept is beautifully simple. Starting at the beginning of 2014, Sharon released one new block pattern every week for the entire year. Each block was designed to be worked up individually, stored safely until the year was complete, and then joined together at the end into a full blanket or throw.

This weekly rhythm was part of what made the CAL so manageable for so many people. Rather than committing to a giant project all at once, participants could break it down into small, satisfying weekly goals. Completing one block each week feels achievable even for crocheters with busy schedules. And the anticipation of seeing the new design each week kept people engaged and excited throughout the year.

The blocks were designed on a consistent size, which is crucial if you want them all to join together neatly at the end. Sharon recommended working each block to the same gauge and dimensions so that the finished blanket would lie flat and look uniform. This is worth paying attention to, especially if you’re picking the project up now and working multiple blocks at a time.

Materials and Yarn Recommendations

One of the great things about this CAL is its flexibility. Sharon designed the blocks to be worked in a consistent yarn weight, and she provided clear guidance on the hook sizes and tension required, but you’re not locked into any specific yarn brand or colorway. This is your blanket, and the color choices are entirely up to you.

Yarn Weight

The majority of the blocks in this CAL are worked in a double knitting or light worsted weight yarn, though some crocheters have successfully used chunky yarn for a cozier, oversized version and sport or fingering weight for a delicate, heirloom-style blanket. If you’re following the pattern as written, sticking with the recommended weight will give you the most accurate results and make joining the blocks at the end much simpler.

Hook Size

The hook size Sharon recommends aligns with the yarn weight she used, but as with any crochet project, your personal tension may mean you need to go up or down a hook size to match the specified gauge. It’s always worth working a small test swatch before diving into the blocks, especially since you’ll be making 52 of them and you want them all to match.

Color Choices

This is where the CAL really becomes personal. Some participants chose a color palette of two or three coordinating shades and worked every block in the same combination for a cohesive, almost quilt-like look. Others went full rainbow and used a different color for every single block. Many crocheters used this as an opportunity to work through their yarn stash, pulling out small amounts of leftover yarn in colors they loved.

There’s truly no wrong answer here. Looking at finished versions of this CAL online, you’ll find everything from soft neutrals and creams to vivid jewel tones to dreamy pastels. Each one is completely different, and each one is gorgeous in its own way.

How Much Yarn Do You Need?

The total amount of yarn depends on your color choices and the size you’re working. If you’re using many different colors, you can often work with relatively small amounts of each. If you’re using just two or three colors across all 52 blocks, you’ll need significantly more of each. Sharon’s original pattern provides guidance on yardage, so check the individual block posts on her blog for the most accurate estimates.

Understanding the Block Designs

The 52 blocks in this CAL cover an impressive range of crochet techniques and aesthetics. Even if you’ve been crocheting for years, you’re likely to encounter at least a few stitches or construction methods that are new to you, which makes the CAL an excellent learning experience as well as a creative one.

Some of the most popular blocks from the collection include traditional granny squares worked in multiple rounds of clusters and chain spaces, textured blocks featuring raised stitches or popcorns that create beautiful three-dimensional surfaces, lace-style blocks using open mesh patterns that look delicate and intricate but are simpler than they appear, floral blocks with crocheted flowers or petals worked in rounds, and geometric blocks with interesting angular shapes and color transitions.

Each block comes with a written pattern, and many also include a stitch diagram, which is invaluable if you’re a visual learner or if you’re unfamiliar with the particular stitch used in a given week’s design. Sharon’s instructions are detailed and clear, and she generally explains any unusual techniques within the pattern itself.

Tips for Keeping Your Blocks Organized

If you’re working through all 52 blocks, organization is your best friend. Here are some practical suggestions that many CAL participants have found helpful.

Label each block as you finish it. You can pin a small paper tag with the block number to each finished square, or slip them into labeled ziplock bags. When you’re ready to join them, you’ll be grateful you kept track.

Keep a progress chart. Print out a simple grid with the numbers 1 through 52 and check each one off as you complete it. Seeing those checkmarks accumulate is surprisingly motivating.

Block your squares as you go. Blocking means lightly wetting or steaming each square and then pinning it to shape while it dries. This helps each block hold a uniform size and shape, which makes joining much easier. If you wait until the end to block 52 squares all at once, it becomes a much bigger undertaking.

Store your finished blocks flat or folded neatly. Stuffing them loosely into a bag can cause them to lose their shape, especially if they haven’t been blocked yet.

Joining the Blocks: Methods and Layout Options

Once you have all 52 blocks finished, the most exciting and also occasionally most daunting part begins: joining them together. There are several methods you can use, and the right one for you depends on the look you want to achieve and how visible you want the join to be.

The flat slip stitch join creates a nearly invisible seam on the right side of the work. It’s a good choice if you want the blocks themselves to be the star of the show without any decorative joining lines.

The join-as-you-go method is worked as you crochet each new block, attaching it to its neighbors in the last round. If you’re working the CAL in real time and planning ahead, this can save a lot of time at the end, though it does require more careful planning of your layout.

The granny square join or chain space join creates a small decorative element between each block, often a small diamond or cross shape. This can add visual interest and also helps if your blocks aren’t quite identical in size, since the join can absorb small differences.

The whip stitch or mattress stitch seam is worked with a tapestry needle rather than a crochet hook. It’s flat and discreet, and many crocheters find it quicker than crochet joins for a large project like this one.

Before you join a single block, lay all 52 out on the floor or a large table and arrange them. This is an incredibly satisfying part of the process, and it’s worth taking your time. Try different arrangements to see what looks best. You might want to distribute the colors evenly, or group similar shades together, or alternate complex and simple blocks.

Adding a Border

A well-chosen border can transform your joined blanket from a collection of blocks into a truly finished, polished piece. Many participants chose to work one or more rounds of a simple shell stitch or single crochet border around the entire blanket, often in a neutral color that ties all the blocks together.

If you’re feeling ambitious, Sharon’s blog and the broader crochet community have plenty of inspiration for more elaborate borders, including ripple edges, picot details, and multi-round lace borders. The key is to choose something that complements the blocks without overwhelming them.

Finding the Free Patterns

All of the original block patterns from the 2014 CAL are available free on Sharon Blignaut’s blog, My Crochet. If you search for her blog along with “Block a Week CAL 2014,” you should be able to find the archive of all 52 weekly posts. Some participants have also compiled links to all 52 blocks in Facebook groups or on Pinterest, which can make it easier to find them in sequence.

It’s worth bookmarking each pattern or saving the pages to a PDF as you go, since blog posts can sometimes become harder to find over time. Having your own offline copy of each pattern means you’ll always have access even if links change.

Why This CAL Still Resonates Today

It might seem surprising that a crochet-along from 2014 is still so widely searched and talked about, but the reasons aren’t hard to understand. Great design is timeless. The blocks Sharon created are beautiful, and a blanket made from them will be just as stunning in 2025 as it was a decade ago.

There’s also something deeply appealing about the slow, intentional nature of the project. In a world that moves faster than ever, the idea of spending a full year making something by hand, one block at a time, feels like a genuinely countercultural act. It’s a reminder that some of the best things in life can’t be rushed.

The community aspect still lives on too. Even though the original 2014 event is long past, there are still active online groups where people share their progress, ask for help, and cheer each other on. Many crocheters are starting the project now, years later, and finding themselves welcomed into a warm and generous community.

And of course, the fact that every single pattern is free makes it accessible to anyone with yarn, a hook, and a willingness to learn. Sharon’s generosity in sharing her designs without charge is part of what gives this project its special quality. It was made with love and offered with love, and that comes through in every block.

Getting Started Today

If you’ve been thinking about trying this CAL, there’s genuinely no better time than right now. You don’t need to wait for a new year to begin. You don’t need to work through the blocks in any particular order if you prefer to mix things up. You can work one block a week to honor the original spirit of the project, or you can sit down with your yarn and work through several blocks in a single weekend.

All you need is a ball or two of yarn in your chosen colors, a hook in the appropriate size, and access to Sharon’s free patterns. From there, the only thing standing between you and a beautiful handmade blanket is time and a little bit of practice.

If you’re new to crochet, this is actually a wonderful project for building your skills because each block introduces something slightly different. You’ll finish the year not just with a gorgeous blanket but with a significantly expanded crochet vocabulary.

If you’re an experienced crocheter looking for a meaningful long-term project, the CAL offers the perfect blend of variety and cohesion. It’s structured enough to keep you on track but flexible enough to let your creativity shine through your color and joining choices.

A Final Word

Sharon Blignaut’s Crochet Block a Week CAL 2014 is one of those rare projects that manages to be many things at once. It’s a skill-builder and a creative outlet. It’s a solo project and a community experience. It’s free, it’s flexible, and it results in something genuinely beautiful. That combination is hard to beat.

Whether you’re pulling out those half-finished blocks from a bag in the back of your closet, downloading the patterns for the very first time, or returning to this project after years away, know that you’re in excellent company. Thousands of crocheters around the world have sat exactly where you’re sitting, with yarn in their hands and a vision of a finished blanket in their minds.

Pick up your hook. Choose your colors. Start with block one.

You’ve got 52 beautiful squares ahead of you, and every single one of them is completely free.