From the outside looking in, crocheting can seem pretty complicated and intricate.
With all those patterns and different stitches to master, getting started as a beginner feels a bit overwhelming.
But don’t fret! Once you get the hang of it, crocheting isn’t nearly as tough as it seems, and learning how to crochet a blanket is a great place to start.
To understand a bit more about crocheting and how to crochet a blanket, keep reading!
How to Crochet a Blanket: Getting Started
Tools and Supplies
As with any crafting or DIY project, to learn how to crochet a blanket, you’re going to need some supplies, including:
If you knit or weave, you’ll probably have most of this stuff lying around.
But if you’re totally new to the knitting and crocheting game, any basic craft, yarn, or knitting store will have all of this and more.
As for your pattern, there are tons online that you can find for free! Do some research beforehand and find a pattern you like – there’s one out there for you!
Once you find your pattern, you’ll have a better idea of the yarn weight you need, how much yarn the project requires, and the size of crochet hooks you should use.
Tips and Tricks
For beginner crochet patterns, it’s a good idea to use some stitch markers.
With a large project, especially one with simple stitches that work up fast, it’s easy to lose count and add stitches, miscount stitches, or accidentally crochet two stitches together.
Uneven rows will result in a wavy, slanted blanket that looks a bit off-kilter. There’s nothing wrong with this! In fact, if done purposefully, this could look pretty cool.
But if you want to create an even, uniform blanket, try adding a stitch marker every 20 or so stitches, as well as at the beginning and end of each row. It will take a bit more time to do it this way, but it will help you to achieve a perfect crochet blanket!
As with any large-scale crafting project, learning how to crochet a blanket is a labor of love. Have patience! Rushing will only lead to mistakes and inconsistencies. Besides, crocheting can be a form of kinetic meditation – allow yourself the time to enjoy it.
Another key tip to help you learn how to crochet a blanket is to practice before you buckle down and begin the real thing.
Practice your slip knots, chain stitches, and single stitches just to get the motions down. Tension is very important in crocheting, so it’s important to get a feel for things before you begin anything major.
How to Crochet a Blanket: A Step-by-Step Guide
Choose Your Pattern or Template
For beginners who are learning how to crochet a blanket, it’s a good idea to start off with an easy pattern consisting of a simple stitch.
Big, colorful crocheted blankets made of intricate granny squares are beautiful and aspirational, but you’ll want to be sure you have your basics down first.
So, when choosing a pattern, look for a smaller size consisting of single or double-stitch ribs and a single yarn color.
Crocheting Terms and Abbreviations
When reading a template or pattern explaining how to crochet a blanket, you’ll likely run into a few short-hand abbreviations that are important to acknowledge. Some abbreviations you might see include:
- st/s = stitch/es
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- rep = repeat
- sp = space
- sl st bl = slip stitch back loop
- hdc bl = half double crochet back loop
Knowing these terms will be crucial to cracking the code of any crochet guide or pattern.
Collect Your Supplies
Before you get started in earnest, make sure you have everything you need within reach!
You will also want to check that you have enough yarn. The amount you need will depend on the pattern, the yarn weight, the sitch, and the size of your crochet hook.
Most patterns will clearly indicate all of these things and how many skeins of yarn you’ll need, but if not, you can determine the volume of yarn by plugging a few things into a simple formula.
If you multiply the length, width, and yarn gauge of the intended project and then divide that number by six, you should get an estimate of how many yards of yarn you need.
For example, if you want to crochet a 30 x 40 square-inch blanket with worsted-weight yarn, that would look like 30 x 40 x 5 / 6 = 1,000. So, you’ll need 1,000 yards of yarn.
Again, this is just an estimate. It’s always better to round up than down! You would much rather have more yarn than you need than not enough.
How many yards of yarn are in any given skein will differ greatly, but it should be stated somewhere in the yarn or brand information.
Start to Crochet a Blanket Following the Pattern
Now that you’re all prepped and ready with the right supplies, you can get to the fun part!
Most blanket crochet patterns will begin the same way, with a slip stitch and a chain of whatever specified length, usually measured by the number of stitches, referred to as the gauge.
From there, you’ll build out the rest of the blanket by adding more stitches to the chain.
It can be intimidating to get started on your first project, but before you know it, you’ll have the movements down pat, and you’ll be crocheting like a pro.
Creating a Chain of Stitches
To make a beginning or foundational chain, you’ll start with a simple slip knot.
Create a loop with the yarn, leaving about 6 inches of yarn at the free end (side not attached to the skein) behind the loop.
Now, insert your crochet hook through the loop and catch the free end, pulling it through and tightening it, leaving it loose enough around the hook to move easily.
Once you’ve made your slip stitch, hold it with your non-working hand’s thumb and index finger (the hand not holding the hook).
Take the working yarn over the hook back to front and catch it. Pull the hook back through the slip knot; now, you have your first chain stitch!
Continue this motion until you have a chain of stitches at the desired length. Your chain should be firm but not so tight that you can’t insert your hook into the stitches to continue the work.
Crocheting a Single Stitch Row
For a single stitch row, insert your hook into the second chain stitch through the center of the “V” shape and yarn over from back to front.
Pull the yarn through the chain and catch it on the hook. You should now be left with two loops on the working area of your crochet hook.
Yarn over again and pull it through both loops so that one new loop remains on the hook. Keeping this loop on, insert the hook into the next chain stitch and repeat the process.
Finish Your Blanket
To finish off a crocheted blanket, you’ll want to tie or fasten the yarn off from the working end where it connects to the skein, leave a short tail, and then cut the yarn.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll want to take your yarn needle and weave in the tail and any other loose ends into the pattern.
Now that your ends are woven in and secured, your crochet project is done!
Enjoy Your New Blanket!
Congratulations – you just learned how to crochet a blanket! Now you have a cozy blanket that you can really be proud to show off.
How to Crochet a Blanket FAQs
How do I know what yarn to choose?
When it comes to choosing your yarn, there are two main factors to consider: fiber and weight. The fiber choice is ultimately up to preference, but the weight of the yarn is a bit less straightforward.
There are seven different yarn weights, with one being the lightest (finest) and seven being the heaviest (bulkiest).
When crocheting, you can use any of these weights. However, the finer the yarn, the more you’ll need, and the more delicate the product will be. It will likely take some time to work up and be a bit more challenging to execute.
You will need less yardage of heavier yarns, and the project will be easier to complete, but it will be quite bulky and not as compact.
Determining your yarn weight will also determine your crochet hook size, which will be indicated on the yarn label.
Can I learn how to crochet a blanket as a beginner?
Absolutely, yes! In fact, because of its uniform shape and size, learning how to crochet a blanket is probably one of the better beginner projects you could choose.
What is the easiest stitch to crochet?
A single crochet is the easiest and most basic stitch, but double and half double stitches are also great, beginner-friendly ones to learn.
Other simple crochet stitches include the moss stitch, the treble stitch, the chevron stitch, the cluster stitch, and the side saddle stitch.
Can I wash a crocheted blanket?
Sure you can!
The specifics of washing your crocheted blanket will depend mostly on the type of yarn you use, and, thus, the type of fibers your blanket is made of.
But in general, a cool, gentle wash or hand wash followed by air drying should be just fine.
Weaving in Loose Ends: Wrapping up the Guide on How to Crochet a Blanket
Now that you know the basics of how to crochet a blanket, it’s time to get stitching!
A blanket is a perfect starting point for any beginner crocheter. Before you know it, your home will be covered in cozy, crochet throws, and everyone you know will be getting a blanket or scarf as a gift.
For even more details on how to crochet a blanket, here are our recommendations for the best yarn for crochet!
Leah is a writer for That Sweet Tea Life and is passionate about learning and trying new things.
She has a master’s degree in English and loves to write about and share her colorful & crafty DIY experiences!
Leah can be reached at leah@applepiemedia.net