Crocheting a large blanket

Dear users, dear authors,
Do you have any tips for crocheting large blankets?

Dear Josefa,

When it comes to large blankets, the first question is always how much yarn you’ll need. It’s essential to make a gauge swatch—a 20 x 20 cm piece worked in your desired pattern and then washed. Otherwise, you’re guaranteed to be in for a surprise. Based on the washed gauge swatch , you can calculate the number of stitches needed for the desired size. This is especially true for blankets that are to be knitted or crocheted in one piece. In my opinion, a 10 x 10 cm gauge swatch is too small for a large blanket.

On the other hand, it’s easier if you crochet or knit the blanket in separate sections —so-called “patches.” Then you make as many sections as you need and join them together at the end. The advantage is that the blanket can be expanded in any direction.

And it’s even less of a hassle if you knit or crochet a blanket from the inside out . You can stop at any size you like or keep knitting or crocheting until you run out of yarn. The advantage here is that there are few loose ends to weave in, and you can always see the current size.

I wish all blanket knitters and crocheters the best of luck.

Warm regards, Ina

Many years ago—about 45 years ago—I crocheted a blanket for my eldest daughter. Unfortunately, it’s no longer around because she literally loved it to death. :-)
For that blanket, I used a patchwork crochet technique, alternating one color after another. The blanket ended up measuring 130 cm x 150 cm. The squares and rectangles were different sizes. Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of that blanket. I crocheted one with granny squares for her younger sister, and that one was about the same size.

Best regards, Inge

This year I’m crocheting this temperature blanket: https://www.crazypatterns.net/de/items/77123/haekelanleitung-temperaturdecke
It’s really simple—you just crochet one row every day. Well, since the weather is so unpredictable, ordering yarn isn’t exactly easy, but you can always reorder and crochet several days’ rows at once.
I also did a gauge swatch since I’m not using the yarn specified in the pattern, but it’s not that important if you don’t mind whether the blanket ends up 10 cm longer or shorter.
So if you’re making something like this—for example, a colorful striped blanket from scraps—you just decide on the width at the beginning, and then you keep crocheting until you run out of scraps or the blanket is long enough for you.
As for how I’ve been working on it so far, I’ve found that I enjoy crocheting the blanket at the table on warm days, where it lies on the tabletop instead of on my lap—though of course that would be different in winter. :-))

I crocheted a large blanket (about 2x1.5 m) using the C2C—or Corner to Corner—method.
The big advantage of this is that it goes quickly at the beginning and end. 😂
It’s only in the middle section that you need a looooot of patience for each row.
At the time, I had 20 skeins of the polyester yarn I chose, which I used for various projects. In the end, if I remember correctly, I used about 450g of it. 
As a result, it’s a large but lightweight blanket.
You also need to consider beforehand whether the blanket might end up being very heavy, depending on the material (e.g., pure cotton) you choose. And also whether you want a very warm (e.g., merino) or a less warm blanket.

By the way, I inherited a huge bedspread (2.5x3.5m) from my husband’s grandmother. It’s crocheted from individual granny squares in various patterns and made of white cotton. Soooo heavy, but absolutely beautiful❤️

My largest blanket so far measures 94 x 94 cm.

Since I don’t like sewing pieces together, I crocheted it as a giant granny square.
At first, I didn’t know how big the blanket would end up being.
So I designed it in a way that allowed me to finish it at any point.

Another thing I don’t like, besides sewing, is crocheting or knitting the same motif what feels like countless times.

Crocheting a blanket definitely takes some patience. I made one as a wedding gift for my son—that’s what they asked for. They wanted it to be warm, not too colorful, and not kitschy. I don’t remember the exact measurements anymore, but take a look for yourselves… In any case, I had to buy more yarn a few times because the rounds just kept getting bigger and bigger.

I really liked the color combination of brown tones with teal—the colors just go so well with many neutral couch colors.

Best regards, Ina

Oops, I should mention that—contrary to the title of this thread—the blanket isn’t crocheted, but knitted.

Best regards, Ina

WOW, Ina, what a beauty!!!

Best regards, Inge

Thanks, Inge. I really appreciate your praise. I loved the color too—even just on the ball of yarn. But then, when knitted in such a rustic style, the colors blended together even more. I really liked the result myself, which is why I enjoyed knitting it all the more. Unfortunately, I didn’t write down what kind of yarn it was. But I suspect this color combination probably isn’t available anymore anyway. In any case, my son and his family love using the blanket, and that’s what matters most.

Best wishes, Ina

Wow, Ina, that blanket looks interesting. I could tell right away that it’s knitted.
How do you create that pattern (those thick edge lines)—or what should I call them?
I have a bit of a hard time with knitting. But I like it. I can’t figure out how to use double-pointed needles at all.

Dear Andrea,
I’m glad you like the blanket. The designer, Frankie Brown, posted the free pattern on Ravelry. Just search for “Ten Stitch Blanket ” there. There’s a German version. That’s the pattern I used to make my blanket.

It works really well and is a lot of fun. Basically (with thick yarn), you always have just 10 stitches on the circular needle—no set of double-pointed needles. You just keep knitting around and around. At the side edges, you pick up the existing edge stitch and knit two stitches together, so to speak. This creates the ridges, which are essentially knitted seams.

If you’d like to see a video tutorial, check out the videos on the “Nadelspiel” channel on YouTube. Elizza has knitted everything out in great detail there. I can’t post the link here, though. The first video, showing the start of the blanket, is 14:21 minutes long. There are follow-up videos as well. You can’t go wrong following along.

Unfortunately, this blanket is also available for purchase here on CP :-(( But I want to explicitly mention again that the original design for this blanket is by Frankie Brown, and he posted the pattern online for free to support a good cause.

I especially like this blanket because you knit from the inside out, which lets you adjust the size at any time. And I think it’s perfect for gradient yarns. Here’s a little example I made. And I’ll show you the “seams” up close again.

Dear Andrea, even if you’re not that great at knitting, this is an ideal project for beginners. I can highly recommend it, because I know it’s fun. Once you’ve knitted the corners with Elizza, it practically knits itself. It would be a lovely fall/winter project for you with the right yarn :-)

Best regards, Ina

I’m currently crocheting a floral granny square blanket out of cotton. It’s a long-term project, and I’ve finished 26 out of 70 granny squares. They’re about 20 cm in size; I’m planning to make it into a large, cozy blanket. 

I love crocheted blankets, especially those worked from the inside out. It can even be a little heavier. Right now, I’m toying with the idea of making an overlay mosaic blanket. I have plenty of cotton yarn. I’ve also knitted one before, with loooads of cables—it looks pretty, but it’s too “light” for me...
P.S.: I don’t think the commercial version of the “ten-stitch” pattern is available here anymore; the designer was “made aware” that it already exists... and has commented on it as well... 

....at least that's what I thought, it's still being offered for sale here.... maybe we should report it??? 
After all, she was informed about it in the comments above... 

A few years ago, I knitted a blanket for one of my grandsons with a stained-glass window look. He loves this blanket very much; my daughter always says that when he’s cold, he comes out of his room wrapped up in it like Gironimo. Back then, I used up leftover yarn for it

Best regards, Inge

@Ina and @Steffi,
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