I love going on holiday to the beach. My favourite thing about it is that the kids can play for hours and hours with buckets and spades and no fighting! Let’s bring the joy of the seaside to our crocheting with the beach time overlay mosaic crochet pattern.
This crochet strip features a charming bucket and spade motif to capture the essence of sunny days by the shore. Whether you’re building sandcastles in your memories or dreaming of your next coastal getaway, this strip is a delightful way to celebrate the carefree spirit of summer.
This crochet strip has been designed as part of the Months of the Year blanket crochet along (I’m July!), but it works equally well as a standalone project. Use it to add a touch of beachy charm to blankets, scarves, or other creative endeavours.
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More About this Overlay Mosaic Crochet Pattern
The bucket and spade motif featuring on the overlay mosaic crochet pattern is made using overlay mosaic crochet as the name suggests.
This is a beautiful crochet technique, which uses only the single and double crochet stitches to create amazing designs. Whilst it may look super complicated, it really isn’t. If you can do these simple stitches and can identify the front and back loops, then you will definitely be able to make this pattern.
The Months of the Year Blanket Crochet Along
I’m excited that my overlay mosaic crochet pattern strip is part of the Months of the Year Blanket CAL, which is running throughout 2025.
You can find out more about the whole blanket and get the complete pattern now below, or continue scrolling down to find the pattern for July:
Every month a new strip with be released on each designers blog and you will be able to crochet along by moving between the different blogs. To get back to the main CAL post, click the image below:
Overlay Mosaic Crochet
Overlay mosaic crochet is created by working into the back loops and front loops of different stitches. You work each alternate round or row in a different colour using a combination of two stitches: the US single crochet in the back loops only; and the US double crochet in the front loops only of the stitch two rows/rounds below the current round or row.
The single crochet will always be worked into a stitch of the other colour, whilst the mosaic double crochet stitches are worked into a stitch of the same colour as the one you are using. Amazingly though, we will only use one colour per round or row.
Click here to watch a tutorial on overlay mosaic crochet.
Overlay mosaic crochet is worked from right to left (for a right-handed crocheter) on the front of the work only. This means you would normally need to cut your yarn at the end of each row, and therefore have lots of ends.
Luckily though, there is the wonderful creation that is the envelope border, which we can add at the end. This encloses all of the ends in a lovely crocheted border, so we don’t have to weave in all of those ends. Or you could create tassels with the ends!
Sizing
11in wide x 6.5in tall (30cm x 16.5cm).
This is the width and height of one bucket and spade.
How to get the pattern
There are a few different ways that you can get your overlay mosaic crochet pattern for a beach blanket.
You can carry on scrolling down and read the pattern for free on the blog in US crochet terms. The blog has ads on it, which is how I am able to offer it for free. Please do bookmark the page and come back to it as you work on your pattern though, rather than trying to print it out. Spending time on this page is how I get paid.
Alternatively you can purchase the Months of the Year Blanket bundle, which contains both the charts and written instructions, tutorials etc. for the whole blanket.
You will need:
Any DK weight yarn in 2 colours (Yarn A and B). I used Stylecraft Special DK, 100% Acrylic (100g/3.5oz, 295m/323yds). For reference, the cream is Yarn A and orange is Yarn B in the image below.
4mm Crochet Hook or hook needed for your yarn
A tapestry needle for working in ends
Tension:
18 sts and 18 rows of single crochet in the back loops = 4in x 4in (10cm x 10cm).
If you are working the Months of the Year Blanket CAL, match the gauge on the main pattern rather than this one.
If your sample swatch is bigger than the tension given, try with a smaller hook size. If your swatch is smaller than the tension given, try with a larger hook size.
Yarn Alternatives
There are so many options for yarn for your Beach Time Crochet Strip. If you are making it into a blanket along with other crochet strips, consider matching the gauge of the main pattern and using a suitable yarn for that.
Otherwise here are some options:
Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK, 100% Cotton (50g/1.76oz, 125m/137yds)
Hayfield Bonus DK, 100% Acrylic (100g/3.5oz, 280m/306yds)
Brava Recycle, 100% Recycled Acrylic, (100g/3.5oz, 280m, 306yds)
Swish DK, 100% Fine Superwash Merino Wool (50g/1.76oz, 112m/123yds)
Abbreviations
blo – back loops only
ch(s) – chain(s)
flo – front loops only
mdc – mosaic double crochet
rep – repeat
RS – right side
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
ss – slip stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
WS – wrong side
[…] – stitch count
* – repeat the instructions from * around
Pattern Notes
Read through the pattern completely before starting and refer to the stitch tutorials as needed.
Ch1 does not count as a stitch throughout.
The first and last stitch of each row are single crochet worked through both loops of the stitch. All other single crochet are worked in the back loop only.
Join and fasten off your yarn on each row with a chain 1, so at the start of the row re-join your yarn with a chain 1 before the first sc. After the last sc, chain 1 to fasten off.
Cut your yarn at the end of each row and re-join the new colour at the beginning of the row, without turning.
Stitch counts are given in this pattern in [ ] at the end of each round. Where no stitch count is given, it is the same as the previous round.
There is a stitch chart at the end of the pattern, if you prefer to use a chart over written instructions.
This tutorial is written for right-handed crocheters. If you are left-handed, you will be working from left to right. Because the pattern repeats, you should be able to follow the pattern as it is. Alternatively you can follow the chart only, reading it from left to right, but you will not be able to switch between both the written pattern and the chart together.
If you are using this pattern in conjunction with the Months of the Year Blanket CAL, you will need to omit the foundation row.
The pattern is just written for one pattern repeat of 50 stitches. If you want to repeat it, you will need to start with a multiple of 48 + 2, and each row you will need to repeat stitches 2 to 49.
If you would like to turn your pattern into a blanket, repeat rows 1-30 until you reach the size you would like. Add tassels or an envelope border to finish your blanket.
Special Stitches
Below are the instructions for all the special stitches you will need for your crochet beach time strip.
Mosaic double crochet (Mdc)
- Yarn over and insert your hook into the unworked front loop of the stitch from the round below the one you would normally work into (it will be the same colour as the yarn you are using).
- Yarn over and pull through.
- Yarn over and pull through two loops.
- Yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops to complete the stitch.
Foundation sc
A foundation sc allows you to create that first round of your project without using a chain.
- Start with a slipknot and ch2 (this does not count as a stitch).
- Insert hook in second ch from hook and pull through a loop.
- Yarn over and pull through one loop (this makes the chain part of your first Foundation sc).
- Yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook (this makes the sc part of your first Foundation sc).
- Insert your hook into the chain part of the previous stitch, going through the two top āvā shape strands of the chain.
- Yarn over and pull through one loop (this makes the chain part of the Foundation sc).
- Yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook (this makes the sc part of the Foundation sc).
- Repeat steps 5 to 7.
Pin this overlay mosaic crochet pattern for later
Full-length Video Tutorial
If you prefer crocheting from a video tutorial, hop on over to my YouTube channel and watch full-length videos of the beach time crochet strip pattern being made.
This video will take you step by step through the process of making the whole crochet strip, including how to do overlay mosaic crochet.
Overlay Mosaic Crochet Pattern for a Beach Blanket
US Terminology.
For the Months of the Year CAL, use this upside down chart:
If you want the chart the right way up for another project, see below.
Foundation Row: with Yarn B, fsc50. [50]
See note: remember that all sc are made in the blo, except the first and last of each row. If repeating the motif more than once, crochet st 1, then repeat sts 2-49, finishing with st 50 at the end of the row.
Follow the chart from now on, or if you prefer the written pattern, you can find that here on Ravelry or Etsy.
Fasten off and finish off accordingly. If you are making the Months of the Year Blanket, continue to August for the next part of the pattern.
Once your item is complete, add an envelope border or tassels to finish.
If you like this overlay mosaic crochet pattern, check out my reversible rainbow crochet blanket, made using reversible overlay mosaic crochet.
Pattern help
There is a lot more detail regarding the special stitches in the beach time crochet strip premium pdf pattern. Also please do watch all of the stitch tutorials on my YouTube channel for extra guidance.
Don’t forget to upgrade to get the Months of the Year Blanket full pattern:
If you are struggling with the pattern, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Find me on Facebook or Instagram @concretegemscrochet or drop me a message.
The Beach Time crochet pattern is the intellectual property of Concrete Gems. It is strictly prohibited to share, copy, alter, or distribute this pattern in any form.
You are welcome to sell finished items made using this pattern on a small scale, provided you give design credit to @concretegemscrochet. Thank you for respecting the effort and creativity that went into creating this design.
What next?
Iāve really loved designing this summer overlay mosaic crochet pattern for you and hope you have had fun making it. Iām Gemma, a crochet tech editor, designer and overall crochet enthusiast. Iām also a mum of 3 kids, and enjoy running, reading, walking and crafting, but mostly crochet!
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If you enjoyed making this crochet strip, please consider sharing it to social media tagging @concretegemscrochet – I’d love to see what you made with it!
Other Overlay Mosaic Crochet Patterns you might enjoy
- Free Crochet Placemats pattern – and yes they’re reversible!
- Snowflake Headband Crochet Pattern – the perfect winter crochet accessory
- Small Crochet Handbag Pattern – with a mosaic crochet art deco front
Check out my other patterns here.
