How to Crochet a Blanket for Beginners: Your Ultimate Guide to a Cozy Throw
How to Crochet a Blanket for Beginners: Your Ultimate Guide to a Cozy Throw
Nothing brings warmth and charm to a room quite like a handmade throw. As avid blanket fans (we’ve made quite a few, including patterns like this Mod Heirloom Crocheted Blanket and this Go-To Crochet Blanket), we know the joy a finished piece brings. The beauty of this particular blanket lies in its beginner-friendly design, created by a new crocheter herself!
Meet Your New Favorite Beginner Crochet Project
The inspiration for this lovely blanket comes from a wonderful story. Our friend and neighbor, Gwyn, initially learned to knit but recently decided to dive into the world of crochet. She wanted to create a special blanket for her husband, so she gathered some lovely yarn and got to work. When we saw her progress, we knew we had to share this simple, elegant pattern with you!
The beauty of this project is its versatility. While the colors shown evoke a wonderful fall feeling – think burnt orange, taupes, and tans reminiscent of harvest and changing leaves – you can truly make it your own. It’s also an excellent way to use up yarn from your stash! No matter your color choices, this design incorporates super easy stitches and a simple striping pattern that’s perfect for practicing color changes.
The rectangular shape keeps things straightforward, making it easy to track your stitches and count rows. Even if you’re an experienced crocheter, you’ll appreciate the simplicity and beautiful colorwork of this quick project. It’s truly a wonderful entry point for anyone wanting to learn how to crochet a blanket for beginners.
How to Make an Easy Fall Crochet Throw Blanket: Step-by-Step
Ready to start your own cozy creation? Here’s a detailed guide on how Gwyn made this easy crochet blanket. A big thank you to her for sharing her journey and this fantastic pattern with us!
Step 1: Gather Your Yarn
To begin, you’ll need approximately four different colors of worsted weight yarn. If you’re aiming for that beautiful fall aesthetic, select shades like reds, yellows, burnt oranges, browns, taupe, grey, and other warm neutrals. Imagine the rich colors of gourds, corn, and autumn leaves!
The yarns used in this example were a mix from Gwyn’s stash and ours, including popular choices like Lion Brand Heartland Yarn in Acadia and Mount Rainier. You might also find similar shades in Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Taupe and Rust. Remember, creativity is key – feel free to mix and match any colors that inspire you!
Pro Tip: Lion Brand Heartland yarn is a fantastic choice for blankets due to its softness and beautiful heathered color tones.
Step 2: Hook Up Your Project with a Crochet Chain
Grab your US Size J (6.0 mm) crochet hook and one of your chosen skeins of yarn. The very first step in nearly any crochet pattern is creating an initial chain, which will form the width of your throw blanket. Don’t worry if you’re new to this; you can find a helpful tutorial on how to make an initial crochet chain here from Annie’s Catalog.
Step 3: Master Double and Single Crochet Stitches
This blanket primarily uses two fundamental stitches: the double crochet (dc) and the single crochet (sc).
- Row 1: Double crochet across the entire chain. Learn how to double crochet with this tutorial.
- Row 2: Single crochet across the row. Here’s a guide on how to single crochet.
You’ll repeat these two rows for the remainder of your blanket, alternating between double crochet and single crochet. This pattern is excellent for getting comfortable with different stitches while keeping the overall project simple. If you’re a bit impatient like us and want your blanket to work up even quicker, you can opt to simply double crochet across every row. The finished look will be very similar, and it’s still a perfect way to learn how to crochet a blanket for beginners!
Step 4: Seamless Color Changes
Once you’ve crocheted a stripe to your desired width, it’s time to introduce your next color! Changing colors smoothly is a key skill, and you can follow this excellent tutorial on changing colors for a clean transition. Continue working your established stitch pattern, creating stripes as you go.
You can either keep your stripes equal widths by measuring or counting rows, or embrace your creative side and make them all different! Part of the fun of a handmade item is making it uniquely yours.
Step 5: Finishing Your Masterpiece
When your blanket reaches the desired length, it’s time for the final touches. Tie off your yarn securely and then carefully weave in all the loose ends. This creates a neat, professional finish for your beautiful new throw.
Embrace the Cozy Season!
Do you enjoy making blankets during the fall season? We’d love to hear if you have a favorite blanket pattern or if you plan to make one like this! Learning how to crochet a blanket for beginners opens up a whole new world of creative possibilities. Explore more crochet blanket patterns and other free crochet patterns on our blog!
Happy crocheting!
XO Jessica