How to Crochet a Simple Blanket
Crochet is an art form that uses a small hook to pull up and interweave loops of yarn to create decorative fabrics. A simple afghan, or crochet blanket, can be made from crochet "granny squares." Granny squares were invented to prevent waste; scrap yarn was used to make the squares to create a rainbow-colored blanket. A granny square uses two basic crochet stitches to create a small square. Squares are stitched together to make a final blanket as large or small as you want. This pattern will yield a lap robe or crib-sized blanket, but adding squares will expand the blankets dimensions.
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Things You'll Need
- G crochet hook
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
- 30 oz. yarn, worsted or sport weight
Instructions
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1
Tie a slip knot on the hook and slide it down the neck of the crochet hook about 1/2 inch. This will give you a starting loop on the hook.
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2
Chain four. Put two double crochets in the fourth chain from the hook. The three skipped chains count as a third double crochet. Together they form a cluster of three double crochet.
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3
Chain one. Put three double crochet in the same chain as the first double-crochet cluster. Repeat this two more times so that you have four clusters, separated by a chain one space.
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4
Join the ring by slip-stitch to the first double crochet. This ends Round 1. You should have 12 double crochets broken into four clusters, separated by chain-one spaces.
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5
Chain three. This counts as the first double crochet in Round 2. Double crochet in the next two stitches to create a cluster of three double crochets.
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6
Double crochet, chain three and double crochet in the chain-one space. This will form the corner of your block.
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7
Double crochet in next three double crochets, then form a second corner. Repeat this pattern four times to form four sides and four corners.
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8
Join with a slip-stitch in the first double crochet and finish off. To finish off, chain one and pull the clipped tail through the loop, pull the tail down tight to create a knot.
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9
Repeat these steps to create a total of 280 granny squares.
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10
Whip-stitch the squares together with a yarn needle and yarn in the same color as one of the blocks you are stitching together to form rows. Stitch 20 squares together for Row 1.
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11
Continue whip-stitching blocks together until the full afghan is constructed. Weave all exposed yarn ends into the afghan so that they are no longer visible.
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References
- Photo Credit Ben Bloom/Digital Vision/Getty Images
