A crochet blanket is one of those projects you get the most out of: you use it all year round, and no two handmade blankets ever turn out exactly the same. This guide walks you through how to crochet a blanket from start to finish: the main techniques, how much yarn you need, and how to finish the edges so they don't curl.
All stitch names here are US terms. If you follow UK patterns: US single crochet = UK double crochet, and US double crochet = UK treble.
Checklist: decide this before you start
- Is it a throw for the sofa, a baby blanket for the crib, or something in between?
- Are you going for a classic blanket in rows, granny squares, or a chunky blanket in thick yarn?
- Do you have enough yarn from the same dye lot, or are you working with several colors on purpose?
- Do you know which hook goes with your yarn?
- Do you have a plan for the border, so the blanket lies flat?
Which type of blanket suits you?
| Type of blanket | Yarn | Technique | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic blanket in rows | Soft medium-weight yarn (DK or worsted) | Double crochet in straight rows | Average |
| Granny square blanket | Leftover yarn, several colors | Granny squares | Long, but easy to pick up and put down |
| Textured blanket | Medium-weight yarn in one or two colors | Moss stitch or waffle stitch | Long |
| Chunky blanket | Bulky or super bulky yarn | Single crochet with a large hook | Short |
Which yarn is best for a crochet blanket?
For a classic blanket that feels soft and doesn't get too heavy, an acrylic or cotton-acrylic blend is a practical choice: it's machine washable and won't felt. Durable Comfy is 100% microfiber acrylic (100 g / 266 m, for a 3 to 4 mm hook) and makes a blanket that stays soft wash after wash. Cotton gives a cooler, heavier blanket with nice stitch definition, good for summer. For fast progress on a big surface, go for a bulky yarn and a big hook; you'll see real progress after a couple of evenings. Wool is warm, but check that it's superwash if the blanket needs to go in the washing machine.
Decide on the size first
A typical throw for the sofa measures about 130 × 170 cm (50 × 65 in). A larger sofa or bed blanket is closer to 150 × 200 cm (60 × 80 in), and a crib blanket is usually around 80 × 100 cm (30 × 40 in). For more on baby sizes, see our guide to the crochet baby blanket.
To work out how many stitches, rows or squares you need, crochet a swatch of about 10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in) in your chosen stitch, measure it, and scale up. It feels like a delay, but it saves you from a blanket that ends up 30 cm too narrow.
The row method: a classic crochet blanket
Make a foundation chain as long as the width you want. Then work row after row in double crochet (or single crochet for a denser fabric) until the blanket reaches the right length. Count your stitches every few rows: a blanket that slowly gets wider or narrower usually means a stitch was added or skipped at the row ends. For a textured look, try moss stitch or waffle stitch. Both lie flat and look great on a blanket, though waffle stitch eats noticeably more yarn.
Granny square blanket: combining squares
A granny square blanket is made of separate squares that you sew or crochet together afterwards. That makes it ideal for using up leftover yarn, and you can work on it in small pieces whenever you have half an hour. How to crochet the square itself is covered in our granny square guide. For a blanket, simply make as many squares as you need for the size you want, then join them in rows. Weave in the ends as you go, or you'll face a mountain of tails at the end.
Chunky blanket: fast results with thick yarn
If you don't have the patience for hundreds of rows in fine yarn, a chunky blanket is a good alternative. With a bulky yarn and a matching large hook, you work straightforward rows of single crochet and see a big piece of blanket appear within a few evenings. Keep in mind that thick yarn takes more strength from your hands and wrists, so build in breaks during longer sessions.
Finishing the border so the blanket doesn't curl
When a blanket curls or ripples at the edges, the edge stitches are usually looser or tighter than the stitches in the middle. Work a firm border of a few rounds of single crochet around the whole blanket, and put 3 stitches into each corner stitch so the corners stay square and flat. Along the side edges of a row blanket, a common guide is about 1 sc per sc row end and 2 sc per dc row end; adjust if the edge starts to ruffle (too many stitches) or pull in (too few). If the whole blanket still curls, the cause is usually your tension rather than the border. Washing and drying the finished blanket flat (blocking) also evens things out.
Crochet blanket FAQ
How much yarn do I need for a crochet blanket?
It depends a lot on size, yarn weight and stitch. For an average throw in medium-weight yarn, count on roughly 800 to 1,200 g (very roughly 1,800 to 2,600 yards of worsted weight). A chunky blanket needs fewer meters of yarn, but because bulky yarn is heavier per meter, the total weight is often the same or higher. Dense and textured stitches use more yarn than open ones.
What's the fastest stitch for a blanket?
Double crochet is faster than single crochet because each stitch adds more height, though the fabric is a bit looser. For the quickest progress, combine double crochet with a thicker yarn.
Can I crochet a blanket without a pattern?
Yes. A blanket in straight rows doesn't need a complicated pattern: you repeat the same stitch until it's long enough, as long as you keep the same stitch count in every row.
Why does my blanket curl at the sides?
Usually because the edges are worked with a different tension than the rest. A firm border with extra stitches in the corners usually fixes it.
Is a chunky blanket suitable for a baby?
Chunky yarn is lovely for an adult throw, but for a baby blanket a finer, softer yarn and a closed stitch are a better choice. Our crochet baby blanket guide goes into that in detail.
Get started
Rows, granny squares or chunky: pick the method that fits your patience, then spend most of your thinking time on the yarn, because that decides how the blanket feels for years. New to crochet altogether? Start with our guide to crochet for beginners and make a few practice swatches first.
