The Grape Escape (Road Trip CAL 2025)
Welcome to the Final Stop: The Grape Escape
We’ve made it! 🎉 Welcome to the twelfth and final stop on our incredible Road Trip CAL journey—The Grape Escape. I hope your crochet travels have been full of joy, color, and a few new stitches along the way. It’s been so much fun watching this blanket grow, strip by strip, as we’ve toured the U.S. together through yarn.
As we pull up to the last destination, I’m inviting you to slow down, take in the view, and relax into this final leg of the adventure.
Prefer having everything in one place?
You can grab the full Road Trip CAL ebook—all 12 strips in one downloadable file, including the passport for easy tracking. It’s a great option if you like to work offline, print your patterns, or simply enjoy having the entire journey at your fingertips!
Why “The Grape Escape”?
This last stop on our road trip brings us to one of my favorite places in the entire world—the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Known for its eleven long, narrow lakes carved by ancient glaciers, this region is a treasure trove of natural beauty and cozy, small-town charm.
But what really makes it special is the wine. 🍇 With over 130 wineries tucked into its rolling hills, the Finger Lakes is one of the most celebrated wine regions in the country. And I feel so lucky to live right on Seneca Lake, one of the largest and deepest of the lakes, right along the wine trail. It’s not uncommon to catch a glimpse of the water sparkling through the vineyards or to spend a lazy afternoon sipping local wine while overlooking a breathtaking view.
Whether it’s the purple-blue hues of the grapes hanging heavy on the vine, the rows upon rows of twisting grapevines, or the way the lake breeze gently rolls across the fields—there’s something undeniably calming and inspiring about this place. And I’m blessed to call this place home. I feel like I’m living on vacation every day.
Translating the Finger Lakes Into Crochet
With this rich landscape in mind, I designed The Grape Escape strip to reflect the unique beauty of this region.
- The sections of cables and post stitches represent the long, twisting rows of grapevines, full of texture and rhythm—just like the vineyards themselves.
- The Almond Ridge stitch creates a flowing, wave-like pattern that brings to mind the gentle movement of the lakes, especially when the wind skips across the water on a summer afternoon.
Together, these stitches tell the story of this beautiful corner of New York State—a peaceful escape full of nature, wine, and wonder.
Ready to get Started?
Keep on scrolling to unlock the final strip of our Road Trip CAL—The Grape Escape. Inspired by the vineyards and lakeside views of the Finger Lakes, this last stop brings the journey to a beautiful, textured finish you won’t want to miss. Let’s wrap up this adventure in style!
Video Tutorial for the Grape Escape Blanket Strip
Materials
- Lion Brand Heartland worsted yarn (color used in sample photos in this blog post: Capitol Reef)
- H8 (5.00mm) crochet hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle (for sewing in ends)
- Tape measure
- Removable stitch markers (optional)
Skill Level
- This strip is classified as intermediate due to the use of cable techniques and post stitches. While it may be a step up from beginner patterns, this is best suited for confident crocheters who are comfortable working around stitches.
Tutorial Notes
- This pattern is written in English using standard US crochet terms.
- The chain 1 at the beginning of each row does not count as a stitch.
- Each row has 2 ‘sections’. Section 1 (cables) has 18 stitches. Section 2 (almond stitch) has 20 stitches. These Sections are repeated across the row.
- You will repeat Sections 1 and 2, beginning and ending with Section 1.
- Rows will begin and end with 5 stitches of either hdc or sc, depending on which row you’re on.
- Section 2 will always be worked in the blo.
Stitches Used and Abbreviations
- ch = chain
- st/sts = stitch/stitches
- sc = single crochet
- yo = yarn over
- sl st/sts = slip stitch/stitches
- hdc = half double crochet
- FPdc = Front Post double crochet
- FPtr = Front Post treble crochet
- blo = back loop only
Special Stitches
FPdc (front post double crochet)
Cables:
Gauge
first four rounds should measure 2″ across
Measurements
- Approx. 5” (12.7 cm) tall and 50” (127 cm) wide
Pattern Instructions
Row 1 [RS]: hdc in each st across, ch 1, turn.
Row 2 [WS]: sc in each st across, ch 1, turn.
Row 3: hdc in first 5 sts, [FPdc around next st 2 rows below] 2 times, hdc in next st, [FPdc around next st 2 rows below] 4 times, hdc in next st, [FPdc around next st 2 rows below] 2 times, hdc in next st, [FPdc around next st 2 rows below] 4 times, hdc in next st, [FPdc around next st 2 rows below] 2 times, * [sl st in next 4 sts, hdc in next 4 sts] 2 times, sl st in next 4 sts, [FPdc around next st 2 rows below] 2 times, hdc in next st, [FPdc around next st 2 rows below] 4 times, hdc in next st, [FPdc around next st 2 rows below] 2 times, hdc in next st, [FPdc around next st 2 rows below] 4 times, hdc in next st, [FPdc around next st 2 rows below] 2 times; rep from * across to last 5 sts, hdc in last 5 sts, ch 1, turn.
Row 4: sc in first 5 sts, sc in next 18 sts, * [sl st blo in next 4 sts, hdc blo in next 4 sts] 2 times, sl st blo in next 4 sts, sc in next 18 sts; rep from * across to last 5 sts, sc in last 5 sts, ch 1, turn.
Row 5: hdc in first 5 sts, [FPdc around next FPdc below] 2 times, hdc in next st, sk next 2 post sts, FPtr around 3rd post, FPtr around the 4th post, FPtr around 1st skipped post, FPtr around 2nd skipped post, hdc in next st, [FPdc around next FPdc below] 2 times, hdc in next st, sk next 2 post sts, FPtr around 3rd post, FPtr around the 4th post, FPtr around 1st skipped post, FPtr around 2nd skipped post, hdc in next st, [FPdc around next FPdc below] 2 times, *[hdc blo in next 4 sts, sl st blo in next 4 sts] 2 times, hdc blo in next 4 sts, [FPdc around next FPdc below] 2 times, hdc in next st, sk next 2 post sts, FPtr around 3rd post, FPtr around the 4th post, FPtr around 1st skipped post, FPtr around 2nd skipped post, hdc in next st, [FPdc around next FPdc below] 2 times, hdc in next st, sk next 2 post sts, FPtr around 3rd post, FPtr around the 4th post, FPtr around 1st skipped post, FPtr around 2nd skipped post, hdc in next st, [FPdc around next FPdc below] 2 times; rep from * across to last 5 sts, hdc in last 5 sts, ch 1, turn.
Row 6: sc in first 5 sts, sc in next 18 sts, * [hdc blo in next 4 sts, sl st blo in next 4 sts] 2 times, hdc blo in next 4 sts, sc in next 18 sts; rep from * across to last 5 sts, sc in last 5 sts, ch 1, turn.
Row 7: Repeat Row 3 (remember that Section 2 is always worked in the blo from now on).
Row 8: Repeat Row 4.
Row 9: Repeat Row 5.
Row 10: Repeat Row 6.
Rows 11-18: Repeat Rows 3-6 two more times.
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Thanks so much for road-tripping along with us! If you haven’t already, don’t forget the Road Trip CAL ebook is still available. It includes all the strips and the passport, bundled together in one easy download—perfect for keeping this blanket journey forever on hand.
What Do You Think?
I hope you’ve enjoyed this scenic little detour into my corner of the world. The Grape Escape strip is a celebration of the vineyards, lakes, and peaceful beauty that define life here in the Finger Lakes. As you work through the rows, I hope you can imagine the sun glinting off Seneca Lake and the gentle curve of grapevines across the hills. Whether you’re sipping wine or tea, crocheting this strip is meant to bring a little calm and joy—just like a visit to wine country.
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These photos are the property of Spotted Horse Design Co. This tutorial is for your personal use only. Please do not copy/paste, distribute, or alter and claim as your own.
