Year of Color 2026 — Month 5 of 12
Welcome to Year of Color!
Midnight Bloom is a free crochet granny square pattern worked in the round from the center out, using six shades of Cascade Heritage fingering weight yarn. Part of the Year of Color 2026 MAL, this square builds a six-shade gradient from the palest sky blue at the center through deep navy at the edges, finishing with an open lacy border that frames the whole piece.
The starburst construction means each round naturally carries the color deeper and darker as the square grows. The result looks like a flower that opened in the dark, or a burst of light seen from the ocean floor. Despite the intricate appearance, the technique is straightforward crochet worked one color at a time, combining double crochets and long front post trebles.
The name comes from that same image: something blooming in the depths, where the darkest shade is on the outside and the light is at the heart.
Materials
Yarn: Cascade Heritage Fingering in 5781 Clear Sky 
(A), 5630 Anis 
(B), 5745 Riviera Heather 
(C), 5604 Denim 
(D), 5637 Cerulean 
(E), 5603 Marine 
(F)
Hook: E/4 (3.5mm) or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge: After completing color A and B sections, square should measure 2.75″ from corner to corner. Block finished square to 8.5″ × 8.5″.
Because this pattern has very few consecutive stitches, a traditional gauge swatch isn’t practical. Check your size early by measuring corner to corner after completing colors A and B.
Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors
Finished size: 8.5″ × 8.5″
Special Stitches
Long Front Post Treble (Lfptr): YO twice around hook, insert hook around post of st TWO rows below, yo and pull up an elongated loop (just a bit less than the height of the stitch before it), *yo and pull through 2 loops* a total of three times. When you’re done with this st, it should be at the same height of the st before it. Sometimes, you need to work the st after this in order to be able to assess if the Lfptr is a good height. But once you figure out how tall to pull that first YO, the rest of the Lfptr’s should be easier.
Start Your Free Crochet Granny Square
Rnd 1: With Clear Sky (A), make a MR. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in MR. *ch 2, 3 dc in ring* 3 times. Ch 2 and join to first dc. Tighten MR; 4 sets of (3 dc and ch 2).
Rnd 2: Sl st to next corner ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1, * in next corner (dc 3, ch 2, dc 3), ch 1* 3 times, sl st in first dc and FO; 4 sets of (3 dc and ch 2), 4 ch-1.
Color sequence for the square
- Clear Sky
(A) - Anis (B)
- Riviera Heather (C)
- Denim (D)
- Cerulean (E)
- Marine (F)
New set of colors
Rnd 3: Join Anis (B) in any corner ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc (one corner made), *ch 1, in next ch-2 sp, (dc, Lfptr in center st 2 rnds below, dc), (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ch-2 corner* 3 times, ch 1, sl st to join with starting dc; 4 corner sets (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) and 4 middle groups (1 dc, 1 Lfptr, 1 dc) and 8 ch-1(1 on each side of the middle groups).
Rnd 4: Sl st to next corner ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 1 * [in next ch-2 sp, (dc, Lfptr in center st 2 rnds below, dc), ch 1] rep until you’re at the next corner, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ch-2 corner, ch 1* 3 times, sl st to first dc and FO; 4 corner sets (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) and 8 middle groups (1 dc, 1 Lfptr, 1 dc) and 12 ch-1(1 on each side of the middle groups).
Continue working the New set of colors section, attaching a new color with each set (Riviera Heather (C) to Cerulean (E). Each round will add 4 middle groups and 4 ch-1.
Work final color: Join Marine (F and work Rnd 3 only (do not work Rnd 4). After that, work the Final Round instead.
Final Round: Sl st to next corner ch-2 sp, ch 1, 5 sc in ch-2 corner sp, 3 sc in next 3 dc, * (2 sc in ch-2 sp, 3 sc in next 3 sts) 9 times, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, 3 sc in next 3 dc, 5 sc in ch-2 corner sp, 3 sc in next 3 dc, rep from * around, sl st to beginning sc, FO.
In The Loop
Your Lfptr should sit at the same height as the surrounding stitches. If it pulls the fabric in, your loop is too short. If it creates a bump or bulge, it’s too tall. A little practice and you’ll find the sweet spot quickly.
About Year of Color
This square is part of Year of Color 2026, a 12-month program that teaches you a new colorwork technique every month through two free square patterns (one crochet, one knit). Each month features a curated color palette, technique tutorials, and color inspiration articles. By December, you’ll have 12 squares to join together into whatever you’d like, and a whole year of new skills to show for it.
MORE ABOUT YEAR OF COLOR
What you get each month:
- Free crochet blanket square pattern (8″ × 8″)
- Free knitted blanket square pattern (8″ × 8″)
- Color inspiration articles exploring the month’s palette
- Technical tips and tutorials
- Cultural and historical color spotlights
- Community engagement opportunities
2026 Color Themes:
January: Winter Whites & Creams • February: Soft Pastels • March: Jewel Tones • April: Spring Brights • May: Shades of Blue • June: Orange & Blue • July: Sunset Colors • August: Warm Neutrals • September: Dark & Moody • October: Triadic Colors • November: Rich Harvest • December: Winter Sky
Cascade Yarns is partnering on the project to help make quality color education accessible to fiber artists at every skill level. You can join at any time and work at your own pace — the patterns aren’t going anywhere!
I’m Jody Richards, the math-geeky, web-dev-turned-fiber-arts-obsessive behind Knotions. Crafting runs deep in my family: my mom was an avid embroiderer and sewist, and she sparked a lifelong love of making things. I’ve been combining that love with a very analytical brain ever since.
I have degrees in Math and Computer Science and spent 30 years in web technology before making Knotions my full-time focus. You might know me as Ravelry member #85, or from patterns like the Natalya Mitts and Chevvy Socks.
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