How to Crochet Granny Stripes

Your granny stripe blanket starts with a chain row.

Granny stripes are the simplest of crochet patterns, yet can be used to striking effect to produce clothing, throws, blankets and accessories. They are a particularly good way of using up leftover scraps of yarn from finished projects, and even the drabbest of colors perks up when it is set in between brighter and more colorful stripes. Providing your ability to crochet the basic stitches of chains and double crochets, quickly master the granny stripe technique and then experiment by varying the width of stripes, stitches used and size of finished items.

Things You'll Need

• Worsted weight yarn
• Size G crochet hook

Instructions

1. Join yarn to your crochet kook with a slip stitch and work enough chains for the width of stripe you want. Seven stitches make approximately one inch, using worsted-weight yarn and a size G hook.

2. Crochet row one. Work three double crochet stitches in the eighth chain from the hook. Repeat the following pattern until the last three chain stitches: chain one stitch, skip the next three chain stitches and work three double crochets in the next chain. Make one chain stitch in the third chain from the end of the row, skip two chains and then make a double crochet stitch in the last chain. Turn and start row two.

3. Crochet row two by making three chain stitches and working two double crochet stitches in the first chain space below. Repeat the following pattern to the end of the row: Make one chain and then three double spaces in the next space below. Turn to start row three.

4. Change the color of yarn every two rows. Change colors by starting odd numbered rows with the tail of another color of yarn. Weave in yarn tails with a darning needle as you got, so that you do not have the tedious task of doing this at the end of the project.

5. Crochet row three. Chain four stitches, work three double crochet stitches in next chain space and chain one stitch. Repeat in this manner to end of row. Make a double crochet stitch in the top of the turning chain below and turn.

6. Crochet row four by chaining three stitches and work two double crochets in the first chain space below. Then repeat the following pattern to the end of the row: chain one stitch and then make three double crochet stitches in next chain space. Finish the row by making one chain stitch and three double crochet stitches in the turning chain space.

7. Continue repeating rows three and four, until your piece is the length you want. Change colors with every repeat of the pattern as much or as little as you want.

References

• Caron International: Granny Stripes Afghan
• Craft Yarn Council; Learning Center; Double Crochet

Resources

• "Granny Crochet Favorites"; Jean Leinhauser; 1990