TJA Crochet Classroom // Winter 2024
Simple Double Crochet Blanket
You can customize/improvise a simple double crochet blanket with my help, or you can look at a few blanket pattern photos to see if any deisgns call to you while still being beginner-friendly.
Skill Level: Beginner [1/5]
Options I’d Enjoy Using for a Quick Chunky Blanket (Chunky #5 Weight Yarn):
Malabrigo Chunky
This is a hand-dyed yarn that is beautifully soft and offers a wide range of nice colors (both solid and variegated colors).
Heirloom quality 100% Merino Wool
Caron Chunky Cakes
Fun self-striping colors, but not as wide of a range of color options.
100% Acrylic
Bernat Softee Chunky
Solid colors, with a range of 15-16 color options.
100% Acrylic
Minimum Yardage for Blanket:
I recommend that you purchase at least 700-1000 yds of the #5 Chunky Weight Yarn to create as big of a baby blanket as possible. A stroller-sized blanket is 30” x 35”, an average crib-size blanket is 36” x 54” and the average size of a small throw is 52” x 60”.
Note that you can crochet enough chains to create whatever width you want by eyeballing it. And then crochet a one-row repeat of the same stitch texture until you like the length. That is how I wing it on a lot of blankets I’ve made. We can work on the construction of your blanket together if you need a soundboard to bounce ideas off of.
Hook to Use: US L (8.00 mm) crochet hook. *Note: If you feel like you are crocheting too loosely I’d recommend going down a hook size to make a fabric you are happy with.
Notions: Locking stitch markers (optional - but can help keep track of the total stitch count and mark the beginning and end of the row to avoid missing/skipping stitches), tapestry needle (for weaving in the tails at the end of the project).
If we choose to not do a plain double crochet blanket, here are some blanket patterns/designs that I found when searching for a simple but still polished looking blanket:
https://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2018/02/caron-chunky-cakes-crochet-cluster-v-stitch-blanket.html
https://daisyfarmcrafts.com/crochet-even-moss-mock-cable-baby-blanket/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV9n2Hu51Yk&ab_channel=AMoreCraftyLife
https://easycrochet.com/crochet-pattern-natural-striped-blanket/
Swatch Instructions & Technique Tutorials
Simple Swatch Instructions:
Leaving a 4-6” long tail, create a slip knot.
Place the slip knot on your crochet hook and work 23 chains. (Pro Tip: The live loop atop the crochet hook does not count as a stitch.)
Beginning in the second chain from hook, create and anchor 1 single crochet into each remaining chain. (You are left with 22 total single crochets in this row.)
To begin the next row of single crochets, chain 1 to reach the height of a single crochet, turn your work, and anchor 1 single crochet in every stitch of the row.
Repeat the same "begin the next row of single crochets" instructions (emboldened above) over and over, then begin to practice double crochets on the same swatch in the same way, but chaining 2 to reach the height of this stitch.
If you were working up double crochets from the very beginning of the swatch, go into the third chain from your hook. It would read as follows:
Leaving a 4-6” long tail, create a slip knot.
Place the slip knot on your crochet hook and work 23 chains. (Pro Tip: The live loop atop the crochet hook does not count as a stitch.)
Beginning in the third chain from hook, create and anchor 1 double crochet into each remaining chain. (You are left with 22 total double crochets in this row.)
To begin the next row, chain 2 to reach the height of a double crochet, turn your work, and anchor 1 double crochet in every stitch of the row.