Round 1 – Crochet 4 chain stitches, then close it into a ring with a slip stitch. Of course, you can use a magic ring, but it’s easier for me like this because it doesn’t slide apart. Crochet 3 chain stitches into the ring (this will be the first double crochet) + 1 chain stitch (so a total of four), and (1dc, 1 chain stitch) x7. Close the circle with a slip stitch, which you place into the 3rd stitch of the chain (you will have a total of 8 dc).

Round 2 – Slip stitch into the space under the first chain, then crochet 3 chain stitches (= 1 dc) into the same space, dc, 2 chain stitches, 2 dc into the next space, 2 chain stitches… (a total of 16 dc). Close with a slip stitch, which you place into the top stitch of the chain.

Round 3 – Slip stitch onto the top of the next stitch, slip stitch into the space under the chain and starting from here crochet 3 chain stitches (= 1 dc), dc, 2 chain stitches, 2 dc still into the same space, (2 dc, 2 chain stitches, 2 dc into the space under each 2 chain stitches) x7, slip stitch into the top stitch of the chain (the 2dc-2chain-2dc is a shell. You will have a total of 8 shells. These will be the peaks of the blanket)

Round 4 – Slip stitch onto the top of the next stitch, then slip stitch into the space and starting from here crochet 3 chain stitches, (2 dc, 2 chain stitches 2 dc – into the space, then dc into the next stitch. Skip 2 stitches, [1 dc, (2 dc, 2 chain stitches, 2 dc – into the space), 1 dc into the next stitch] x7, slip stitch onto the top of the chain.

Round 5 – Slip stitch into the next stitch, 3 chain stitches, 1 dc into the next stitch, shell (2 dc, 2 chain stitches, 2 dc) into the space, dc into the next 2 stitches, skip two stitches. (2 dc, shell into the space, 2 dc) x7, close with a slip stitch.

This continues until you reach the desired length, that is, you increase the round by 1 stitch before and after each shell.

I crocheted 19 rounds. In the blanket shown in the picture above, I changed color in each round, but in the second comfort blanket I changed every 2 rounds, it matched better with her dress.

What could be a problem:

• it’s quite hard to spot the place for the dc after the shell, you need to push the shell aside a bit, it will be there, and the skipping of two stitches will come out.
• color change: when you are crocheting the last dc and you haven’t finished it yet, i.e. there are two stitches on the hook, pull it through with the new yarn.

To avoid finishing it afterwards, I cut the yarn at the color change and crocheted along with it in the next stitches. This way the finishing is not visible on the back, you don’t have to deal with it separately.

• It’s a good solution to sew fabric onto the back of the blanket, this way the place of the color change is not visible at all.