Crochet Throw Blanket
A throw is the project most crocheters make first at full blanket size, and it is a good one to learn on because one repeated stitch builds the whole thing. Work a swatch, measure it, and use the yarn calculator before you buy: the difference between a 45 inch and a 55 inch throw is several skeins.
Plan this project at my size -> The planner scales the material list and the time estimate to the size you want.
What it costs in materials
The quantities below are a basis, not a shopping list. Each one is stated per unit of the scale this project is measured in, and the planner multiplies it by the size you choose and adds your waste allowance. Where the quantity is 0 the item is a tool or a piece of equipment you either have or do not: a larger version of the same project does not need more of it.
| Material | Quantity basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Worsted weight yarn | 0.24 skeins per inch of width | At a 50 inch width this is roughly 12 skeins of 200 yards. Buy the same dye lot. |
| Crochet hook Tool, not a quantity | As needed | 5.0 mm for worsted, adjusted until your swatch matches. |
| Stitch markers Tool, not a quantity | As needed | A pack, for counting the foundation chain and marking turning points. |
| Yarn needle Tool, not a quantity | As needed | For weaving in ends. A blunt tapestry needle, not a sharp one. |
These figures do not include prices, on purpose. Material prices change by supplier, season and country, so the planner asks you to check them yourself rather than presenting an invented number as a fact. Scale this list to your size ->
How long it takes
- Working time
- 1.1 hours
- Finishing
- 2.0 hours
- Example at 50 in
- 57.0 hours
per in of width
Blocking, seaming, curing or mounting, on top of the working time
The planner gives you this figure for whatever size you enter
These are estimates for someone working steadily, not for a first attempt at a new technique and not for a rushed one. Most people take longer on the first version and much less time on the third, which is why the planner also shows a stretch estimate about a quarter higher than the working figure.
Steps
-
1
Work a swatch
Chain about 30 and work 20 rows in your chosen stitch. Measure the middle of the swatch over 4 inches and write the number down.
-
2
Calculate your chain
Multiply your stitches per inch by the finished width, then round to a whole number of pattern repeats. The stitch calculator does this for you.
-
3
Work the body
Repeat the stitch row until the piece measures your finished length, checking the width every ten rows. Stop when you have enough yarn for the border, not when you run out.
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4
Add the border
Work a simple round of single crochet around the whole blanket to square the edges and hide the turning bumps. Two to four rounds is plenty.
-
5
Block and finish
Weave in every end, then wash and lay the blanket flat to dry. Blocking evens out the stitches and softens the fabric more than any other single step.
Skills you will practise
- chain
- single or half double crochet
- turning chains
- edging in the round
If any of these are new to you, work them on scrap first. Practising a technique on the real piece is how an afternoon turns into a week.
Tips
- Count your foundation chain twice. A chain that is two stitches short is invisible now and obvious across a whole blanket later.
- Keep a row counter. Most blankets are abandoned because the maker loses track, not because they lose interest.
- Buy one extra skein. A border on a large blanket uses more yarn than most people budget for.
Tools for this project
Work out the quantities before you buy anything. Each tool shows its formula and its assumptions.
Blanket Yarn Calculator
Yarn estimates for bed and throw blankets by size, with the standard blanket dimensions already filled in.
Crochet Hook Size Converter
Convert crochet hook sizes between metric millimetres, US letter sizes and the old UK numbering.
Crochet Project Cost Calculator
Add up the yarn, supplies, pattern and labour costs of a crochet project, then see a suggested selling price.
Gauge Calculator
Turn a measured swatch into stitches and rows per inch and per centimetre, and see the stitch count for a width.
Knitting Needle Size Converter
Convert knitting needle sizes between metric millimetres, US numbers and old UK numbers.
Knitting Project Cost Calculator
Total the cost of a knitting project including needles and notions, then see a suggested selling price.
Guides
The Complete Guide to Crochet Hook and Yarn Sizes
If you have ever stood in a yarn aisle holding a pattern that says "4 mm hook, worsted weight" and wondered whether the skein in your hand is actually worsted, this guide is for you. By the end, you w...
How Much Yarn Do You Need for a Blanket?
Yarn math is the part of blanket making nobody warns you about. Run out at row 180 of 200 and you have a problem: dye lots rarely match perfectly, and a substitute yarn can change how the whole thing...
How to Calculate the Amount of Yarn You Need
You are about to start a project and the pattern says "6 skeins of worsted weight." Or worse, you are designing something yourself and there is no pattern at all. You want to buy once, not make three...
How Much Yarn Do I Need for a Blanket?
A practical method for estimating blanket yarn, why the answer varies so much, and the two measurements that decide it.