Crochet Blanket Tutorial: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
You'll learn to crochet a simple blanket from start to finish, even if you've never held a hook before.
A crochet blanket is just a long chain of loops, and you can finish one in a weekend if you pick the right yarn.
The first blanket I ever made was wonky. The edges curved, the corners curled, and it looked more like a trapezoid than a rectangle. But I finished it, and that's the lesson: you learn by doing. This tutorial gives you the basics so your first blanket comes out straighter than mine did.
You don't need to be an expert. If you can make a chain and a single crochet, you can make a blanket. The whole project is just repeating the same few stitches over and over. Here's how to do it.
You crochet a blanket by making a foundation chain, then working rows of a basic stitch like single or double crochet until it's the size you want. This tutorial walks you through every step, from choosing yarn to weaving in the last end.
What you need
Yarn
Medium weight (#4 worsted) acrylic or wool. A throw takes about 1,800 yards; a baby blanket about 800 yards.
Crochet hook
Size 5.0 to 6.5 mm, matching your yarn. A 5.5 mm is a good all-around choice.
Yarn needle
For weaving in ends. A blunt-tip needle works best.
Scissors
Any sharp scissors will do.
Stitch markers
Small plastic clips or safety pins to mark your place.
What yarn and hook should you use?
For a first blanket, pick a medium weight yarn, labeled #4 worsted weight. It's easy to see your stitches, and it works up quickly. Avoid very thin yarn or very fluffy yarn; both make it hard to find your loops.
Use a hook that matches your yarn. The yarn label will tell you a size, usually between 5.0 mm and 6.5 mm. A bigger hook makes a looser, drapey fabric; a smaller hook makes a denser, warmer one. For a beginner, go with the middle of the range on the label.
If you want a baby blanket, choose a soft acrylic or cotton yarn. For an adult throw, wool or a wool blend feels nice but costs more. Acrylic is the cheapest and easiest to wash.
Check your gauge: chain 20, work 10 rows of double crochet, and measure. If it's wider than your target, try a smaller hook. If it's narrower, go up a size.
How do you start a crochet blanket?
Make a slip knot and place it on your hook. Then chain the number of stitches you need for the width. For a throw blanket, chain about 120 for a 45-inch wide blanket with medium yarn. For a baby blanket, chain about 90.
Count your chains carefully. It's easy to lose track, so place a stitch marker every 20 chains. That way, if you need to count again, you only count the last section.
The foundation chain should be loose. If it's too tight, your blanket will pucker at the bottom. If you tend to crochet tight, use a hook one size larger just for the chain, then switch back.
If your chain twists, don't panic. Just straighten it out before you start the first row.
What's the best stitch for a beginner blanket?
The single crochet is the easiest, but it takes a lot of rows to make a blanket. The double crochet is faster and still simple. For a first blanket, I recommend double crochet. It works up about twice as fast as single crochet.
Here's how to do a double crochet: yarn over, insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull through (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops, yarn over and pull through the last two loops. One double crochet made.
At the end of each row, chain 3 and turn. That chain counts as your first double crochet of the new row. Work your next double crochet into the second stitch, not the one right next to the chain.
Put a stitch marker in the top of the chain-3 at the end of each row. It helps you know where to put the last stitch of the next row.
How do you keep the edges straight?
The most common mistake is adding or skipping stitches at the ends of rows. That makes your blanket wider or narrower as you go. Count your stitches at the end of each row for the first few rows. After that, you'll get a rhythm.
Another trick: work the last stitch into the top of the turning chain from the previous row. If you miss it, you'll lose a stitch. If you accidentally work into the chain below, you'll add one.
If you do make a mistake, don't rip out the whole row. Just undo the last few stitches and fix it. You'll get faster with practice.
Lay your work flat every few rows. If the edges look wavy or pulled in, you're probably off a stitch.
How long should you crochet before you stop?
There's no exact row count. You stop when the blanket is as long as you want. For a throw, that's usually around 60 inches. For a baby blanket, 36 inches is plenty.
Measure with a tape measure or just lay it across your lap. If you want to wrap up in it, it should reach from your shoulders to your knees. If it's for a bed, make it longer.
When you're happy with the length, cut your yarn leaving a 6-inch tail. Pull the tail through the last loop on your hook and pull tight. That's called fastening off.
If you run out of yarn mid-row, finish the row, then join a new ball. Tie a knot, weave in the ends, and keep going.
How do you finish the edges?
You can leave the edges plain, but they'll curl a bit. A simple border fixes that and looks neat. Work a round of single crochet around the whole blanket, putting 3 single crochets in each corner.
Start in any corner. Make a slip knot on your hook, insert it into a stitch, and chain 1. Then single crochet evenly along each side. When you get to a corner, put 3 single crochets in the corner space.
When you get back to the start, slip stitch into the first single crochet and fasten off. Weave in all loose ends with a yarn needle. That's it. Your blanket is done.
To weave in ends, thread the tail onto a yarn needle and sew it through the backs of several stitches. Snip the extra yarn close.
Step
Make a slip knot and foundation chain
Loop the yarn around your fingers, pull a loop through, and place it on the hook. Chain the number of stitches you need for your width. Count every chain.
Work the first row of double crochet
Skip the first three chains (they count as your first double crochet). Yarn over, insert hook into the fourth chain, and complete a double crochet. Repeat across the row.
Chain 3 and turn
At the end of the row, chain 3. Turn your work so the next row goes back the other way. The chain 3 counts as the first stitch.
Repeat double crochet rows
Work one double crochet into each stitch across. At the end, chain 3 and turn again. Keep going until your blanket reaches the length you want.
Fasten off
When the blanket is long enough, cut the yarn leaving a 6-inch tail. Pull the tail through the last loop and tighten.
Add a border
Work a round of single crochet around the whole blanket, with 3 single crochets in each corner. Slip stitch to join and fasten off.
Weave in ends
Thread each tail onto a yarn needle and sew it through the backs of nearby stitches. Snip the excess.
Ways to change it
Single crochet version
Denser and warmer, but takes about twice as long. Good for a winter lap blanket.
Half double crochet
A middle ground between single and double. Slightly taller than single, faster than double.
Striped blanket
Change yarn colors every 2 or 4 rows for simple stripes. Weave in ends as you go.
Granny square blanket
Make many small squares and join them. More portable, but requires seaming.
Baby blanket size
Chain about 90 and stop at 36 inches. Uses less yarn and works up faster.
The short version
- Use medium weight yarn and a matching hook for your first blanket.
- Chain loosely to avoid a tight bottom edge.
- Double crochet is the best stitch for speed and simplicity.
- Count your stitches at the end of each row to keep edges straight.
- A border fixes curling edges and looks finished.
- Weave in all ends to make the blanket last.
- You can finish a throw in about 10-15 hours.
Questions people ask
How many chains do I need for a throw blanket?
For a 45-inch wide throw with medium yarn, chain about 120. For a baby blanket, chain about 90.
What is the easiest crochet stitch for a blanket?
Single crochet is the easiest, but double crochet is nearly as easy and works up twice as fast.
How do I keep my crochet blanket from curling?
Curling happens when the edges are too tight. Loosen your tension, and add a border of single crochet around the finished blanket.
How much yarn do I need for a crochet blanket?
A throw blanket takes about 1,800 yards of worsted weight yarn. A baby blanket takes about 800 yards.
Ready to start your own blanket?
You have everything you need to make a simple crochet blanket. Pick your yarn, make a chain, and work row after row. The first one won't be perfect, but it will be yours. Happy hooking!
