Blanket Made from Leftover Yarn

Hello, dear members 🧶
I’d like to make a large blanket out of leftover yarn in various thicknesses and qualities. Would it be better to crochet the blanket in one piece or out of separate squares? I’m not sure, so I thought maybe someone here might have a tip for me.

Thank you so much in advance 😊🍁 

I don’t like sewing—so I’d crochet this blanket in strips of varying widths.

Since the different yarns already add quite a bit of variety, I’d probably go with double crochet.

Hi LittleSunshine697,

I definitely wouldn’t make the blanket using yarns of different thicknesses and qualities. That could also cause problems when washing, since every type of yarn behaves differently.

At least, that’s my advice.

Best regards
Monika

I crocheted a shawl using many different yarns—all leftovers.

My thoughts on this: The yarns should be roughly the same weight; otherwise, the thicker yarn will probably make it wavy. So, for example, suitable for a size 3 hook.

I didn’t pay attention to the materials when making my shawl, and after the first wash, two of the yarns became very matted. Those two were probably only suitable for hand washing. In my shawl, it was just one row, so it’s not noticeable and doesn’t bother me. But if you have an entire piece made with that kind of yarn and it were to mat, that would be a real shame.

With squares, there’s also the risk when using different yarns that one granny square will end up larger or smaller than the others. Then they won’t fit together when you sew them together. Joining granny squares of different sizes into a blanket requires quite a bit of experience, since the edges need to line up at least on the outside.

Maybe crochet it in one piece, paying attention to the material and the yarn weight. 

Years and years ago, I made a blanket like this out of squares. I just made sure the squares were all the same size—which meant more or fewer stitches and rows, depending on the thickness of the yarn. I then crocheted them all together using the same yarn, which was generally thinner than the squares, rarely thicker (and if so, not by much). The blanket turned out great—not perfectly even, of course, but nice and soft and cozy, and definitely usable, just a little rustic.

Hey there...
I’d also go with crocheting squares... maybe wash them before crocheting or sewing them together... that way you’ll be on the safe side when it comes to the size of the individual pieces, and if any of them do end up felting, you can always decide whether to include them in the blanket or not.... 

I’m not really a fan of separate pieces that have to be joined together at the end. I like the option of crocheting the blanket in one piece better. If you take a look at the “risky” yarns beforehand and make a gauge swatch with them, which you also wash, then you’ll see whether the yarn shrinks. But only real wool shrinks if you wash it too hot.

I would also recommend using different crochet hook sizes: the thinner yarns with the larger hook, the thicker yarns with the smaller hook, so that everything evens out in the end. Every now and then you’ll need to measure the row to see whether everything is roughly the same width. At the end, you add a border around the blanket, which also helps hold it together.

I think the different qualities and thicknesses actually create a unique effect. Look, I once knitted scarves sideways. Lots of different qualities simply knitted together one after another.

Best wishes, Ina