Complete Guide to Making a Crochet Blanket
Materials
Yarn – Sizing given for bulky yarn but other weights can be used.
Size J (6mm) crochet hook.
Abbreviations
ch = chain
ch sp = chain space
dc = double crochet
sc = single crochet
tr = triple crochet
Special Stitch
Shell – work the following in the ch sp or over stitch indicated: (1 dc, ch 1) three times, 1 dc.
Instructions
Instead of a beginning chain, the blanket is begun with a first row of chain and tr spaces.
Widths and Starting Chains
For these widths, start with this number of chain and tr spaces:
- 30.25″ = 25
- 35″ = 29
- 39.75″ = 33
- 44.25″ = 37
- 49″ = 41
Row Instructions
Row 1: Ch 5, sc in first ch, (ch 3, tr in last ch sp) odd number of times, ch 3, dc in last ch sp. Do not turn.
Row 2: Ch 1. Without turning the work, sc over dc just made. Working across the tr stitches, ch 1, shell over first tr, ch 1, sc over next tr, ch 1, shell over next tr, ch 1. Repeat from ** across all the tr stitches. Sc in ch 5 sp at end of row.
Row 3: Ch 4 and turn. Sc in first ch-1 sp of first shell, ch 3, sc in third ch-1 sp of same shell, ** ch 3, sc in first ch-1 sp of next shell, ch 3, sc in third ch-1 sp of same shell. Repeat from ** across all the shells. Ch 2, dc in ch space from row before shell row.
Row 4: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in ch-2 sp. Ch 1, shell in first ch-3 sp, ch 1, ** sc over next ch-3 sp, ch 1, shell in next ch-3 sp, ch 1. Repeat from ** across all the ch-3 spaces. Sc in ch 4 sp at end of row.
Repeat Row 3 and 4 until afghan is the desired length.
Finishing Options
For straight sides – End with a row 3. Finish off and weave in end.
For scalloped sides – You will need to have an odd number of shell rows. End with a row 4. In same ch sp, ch 1, shell, ch 1, sc. Working across the ch-4 spaces on the side, (ch 1, shell in next ch-4 sp, ch 1, sc in next ch-4 sp). At the last ch-4, after the sc, also work, ch 1, shell, ch 1, sc. Working across the bottom of afghan in the ch-3 spaces, (ch 1, shell in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, sc in next ch-3 sp). After the last sc, in same sp also work, ch 1, shell, ch 1, sc. Working across the last side of dc stitches, (ch 1, shell over next dc, ch 1, sc over next dc). At the last corner also work, ch 1, shell, ch 1. Join with sc from the beginning of the last row 4. Finish off and weave in end.
The blanket can be made in a solid color or can be made with any number of color changes. The best way to make a color change is to finish all but the very last pull through of the two loops of the last stitch of a row. Cut yarn with a few inches of tail and join with new color next to stitch. Pull new color through last two loops. Weave in ends.
