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Home / How to Knit a Baby Blanket for Beginners Step by Step

How to Knit a Baby Blanket for Beginners Step by Step

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Have you ever wanted to make your own contribution to the family linen collection? One of the easiest ways to do this is to crochet. The projects go fairly quickly, and the results can be treasured for years to come. Let's get started!

  1. 1

    Determine the finished size you want. The size of your blanket will depend on the purpose and the recipient. Here are some common blanket sizes, listed in inches and centimeters:

    • Infant receiving blanket: 36x36 inches (90x90 cm)
    • Child's afghan: 36x42 inches (90x105 cm)
    • Teenager's afghan: 48x60 inches (120x150 cm)
    • Adult's afghan: 50x70 inches (125x175 cm)
    • Lap blanket: 36x48 inches (90x120 cm)

  2. 2

    Select your yarn. The size and thickness of your blanket, as well as your crocheting skill, can help you choose a type of yarn. If you're just beginning to crochet, choose a yarn with a smooth texture, a light color (so you can see your stitches clearly) and worsted (medium) weight.[1]

    • Count on needing 3-4 skeins of yarn for a lap blanket or a receiving blanket. Double that estimation for a larger blanket.
    • If you are at all unsure about whether you have enough yarn for the project at hand, get an extra skein or two.
    • If you're buying yarn that's produced in a dye lot, make sure each skein has the same dye lot number on the label. Otherwise, your skeins might be slightly different colors.

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  3. 3

    Choose a hook size. Crochet hooks range in size from B (2.25mm) to S (19mm).[2] Here's what to keep in mind when you're selecting a hook:

    • The bigger the hook, the bigger the stitch. Bigger stitches are easier to see, and they mean you'll get through the blanket faster. However, you'll also use up more yarn.
    • Bigger stitches are also looser and make for more lightweight blankets. If you want a particularly warm blanket, choose a smaller hook for tighter stitches.
    • If you're just starting to crochet, choose a hook that's size N or bigger. You can work your way up to smaller hooks as you get more comfortable with crocheting.

  4. 4

    Choose a stitch. Your stitch will determine the look and composition of your blanket. There's an endless array of stitches to choose from, and you can even improvise on basic stitches to create your own. This article will outline a few easy patterns you can start with.[3]

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  1. 1

    Chain stitch the width of the afghan. Keep the chain loose so you have plenty of room to crochet inside the stitches later. Hint: Make the number of stitches in your chain divisible by 5 or 10. It makes it easier to keep track of whether you're inadvertently increasing or decreasing each round. Know how many "extra" chains you'll need. Depending on the type of stitch you plan to use, you'll have a certain number of stitches that become part of the "turn" when you move on to the second row. For a single crochet, it's one chain; for a double crochet, it's three.[4]

  2. 2

    Turn around and start on the second row. Once you're done chaining, turn your work so that you'll be moving from right to left along the top of the chain.[5] For a single crochet, insert the hook into the second loop from the needle. For a double crochet, insert the hook into the third loop from the needle.

  3. 3

    Keep crocheting each row until you have the length you want. You can count your stitches as you go, or you can periodically stop and count up the stitches on the row you just finished. Dress it up (optional). Crocheting only into the far side of each loop (instead of through both loops) gives a nice ridged appearance to the finished crochet.

  4. 4

    Finished.

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  1. 1

    Start crocheting granny squares . Keep going until you have enough to complete your blanket. Play around with the color combinations. You can keep your granny square all one color, or alternate the colors in each section. You could even make a design like a maze or a heart, although that takes more planning. Go one step further and do opposite color combinations for different squares.

  2. 2

    Stitch the squares together. Slip stitch the squares together in rows, then slip stitch the rows together to make a granny square blanket. Crochet a border around the blanket (optional). If you wish, you can add a border around the connected squares to give the blanket a more finished look.[6]

  3. 3

    Finished.

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  1. 1

    Make vertical zig-zag rows.

    • Crochet foundation chain in multiples of 12 +2

    • Row 1: sc 2 into 2nd ch, then *sc 5, skip 1 ch, sc 5, sc 3 into next ch. Repeat from * to last 12 ch. Then sc 5, skip 1 ch, sc 5, sc 2 into last ch, ch 1 and turn.

    • Row 2: sc 2 into 2nd ch, then * sc 5, skip 2 ch, sc 5, sc3 into next ch. repeat from * to last 12 ch. sc 5, skip 2 ch, sc5, sc 2 into last ch, ch 1 and turn. Repeat row 2 until you have your desired length.

  2. 2

    Make horizontal zig-zag rows. Use same steps as the vertical zig-zag rows except you will crochet into the back loop only of each stitch. This method will produce a horizontal zig-zag effect that gives loft or thickness to your project.

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Add New Question

  • Question

    How many chains should I start with to make a double crochet blanket for a king size bed?

    Glitterunicorn

    Glitterunicorn

    Community Answer

    Measure the bed and depending on your yarn and hook size, make as many chains as needed until you reach the desired length.

  • Question

    What did you mean by SC in the back loop only of each stitch?

    Community Answer

    SC = Single Crochet. As you hold the crocheted "fabric", the top edge has two edges––one close to you and one further away. The one that is further away is considered the "back" loop.

  • Question

    How long does it take to make a blanket?

    Community Answer

    It depends on how big or how small you want the blanket ti be. Usually, you can crochet a smaller blanket in a few hours. A larger blanket may take you a few days or weeks, depending on how much free time you have.

  • Question

    How many 100 gram balls of yarn are required for a 6'x4' blanket?

    Community Answer

    1 to 3 balls of yarn would be needed.

  • Question

    How many squares should I make for a teen's blanket?

    Community Answer

    It all depends on the size of the teen and what they will use it for.

  • Question

    How many chains do I need to crochet a blanket for single bed?

    Community Answer

    You would need to crochet 12 chains to have stronger reinforcement on a single blanket for a single bed. If necessary, make 16 chains for more durability.

  • Question

    I did the center of my afghan in the mile a minute pattern. I am now double crocheting the outer part of the afghan, but three double crochets into every space seems to create a ripple affect as it gets larger. Could I use a size smaller than my 4 with the same yarn and would that help to smooth it out?

    Glitterunicorn

    Glitterunicorn

    Community Answer

    Yes, you can use a size smaller than 4 with the same yarn, but it will be hard. An easier way to do this is reduce the number of stitches to two stitches to create a different effect. Remember patterns work differently for different people.

  • Question

    How do I prevent my crochet from becoming loose?

    Diana Quezada

    Diana Quezada

    Community Answer

    You don't want it to be too tight or very loose. Keep the string snug around your pointer finger.

  • Question

    How many stitches do I chain to make an average-sized blanket?

    Community Answer

    160 stitches are needed to make an average adult-sized blanket. For children's blankets, 80 stitches would be required to make an average-sized blanket. It all depends on the size of the person for whom you are making the blanket.

  • Question

    I want to make an afghan with an easy pattern. What size needle do I use and what type of yarn?

    Community Answer

    Crochet needles are called hooks and I used a US 19 with no problems. The easiest yarn to use is light-colored, soft, and not fuzzy.

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Video

  • "Granny squares" can be more like granny hexagons or octagons.. depending on how many initial clumps of three you crochet into the middle.

  • There are many ways to make a blanket so consider your options depending on what the blanket is for.

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About This Article

Article Summary X

To crochet a blanket, start by chain stitching the width of the afghan. If you're new to crocheting, do this with a light-colored yarn, because this will make it easier for you to see your stitches. When you've finished chaining, turn your work around so you're moving from right to left and crochet the rows until you get the length you want. For example, if your blanket is for an infant, aim to make it 36 inches long. If you want to learn more, like how to make a zig-zag pattern with your stitches, keep reading the article!

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How to Knit a Baby Blanket for Beginners Step by Step

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Crochet-a-Blanket