Crochet guide
Crochet stitches for blankets
Any crochet stitch can make a blanket. Choose by the fabric you want: a closed stitch for warmth, a tall stitch for speed and drape, a raised stitch for texture. This guide compares ten stitches, each with its own page.
On this page 7 parts
How to choose
Start from what the blanket is for, then pick the fabric. Stitch names on this page are United States terms, with the United Kingdom name in brackets where it differs.
- For warmth, choose a closed stitch. Holes let warmth out, so a fabric with few or small holes is warmer. A thicker fabric is warmer still.
- For speed, choose a tall stitch. A blanket in double crochet (UK treble crochet) grows faster than one in single crochet (UK double crochet), because each row is taller.
- For drape, choose a tall or an open stitch. Short, tight stitches make a firm fabric. A larger hook also loosens the fabric.
- For texture, choose a raised stitch, such as waffle or basketweave.
- For a first blanket, double crochet is a common choice.
Ten stitches compared
| Stitch | The fabric | Good to know | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double crochet (UK treble crochet) | Closed enough for a blanket, with a soft drape | Tall stitches, so the blanket grows quickly | Beginner |
| Single crochet (UK double crochet) | Closed and firm, with almost no holes | Short stitches, so it grows slowly | Beginner |
| Moss stitch | Closed and supple, with good drape | Looks the same on both sides | Easy |
| Lemon peel stitch | Closed, with a light bumpy texture | Two basic stitches, taking turns | Beginner |
| Blanket stitch | Closed and warm, in small groups that lean | One row, repeated | Easy |
| Crunch stitch | Closed, dense and textured | A slip stitch and a half double crochet (UK half treble crochet), taking turns | Easy |
| Waffle stitch | Thick, with a raised grid | Takes more yarn than a plain stitch | Intermediate |
| Basketweave stitch | Raised blocks that look woven | Textured on both sides | Intermediate |
| Chevron stitch | Rows that zigzag | Usually made of one basic stitch | Easy |
| V-stitch | Open, loose and airy, with a lot of drape | Suits a light blanket | Easy |
Two more ways to build a blanket
- Squares. A blanket can be made of small squares, worked one at a time and joined. You decide the size by the number of squares. See joining squares.
- Corner to corner. The blanket is worked in diagonal rows of small blocks, from one corner to the opposite one. It is a common way to crochet a picture from a grid. See corner to corner.
Which stitches take the most yarn
Thick, textured stitches. A raised or layered stitch builds a thick fabric, and all of that thickness is yarn. Waffle stitch is one example.
Height matters too. The shorter the rows, the more yarn the same area takes. So short stitches, such as single crochet, use more yarn than tall ones, such as double crochet.
To put a number on it, make a small swatch in your stitch and weigh it. The blanket yarn calculator turns the swatch into an estimate for the whole blanket.
Before you start
- Pick the size. The blanket size chart lists common sizes, from a baby blanket to a bed cover.
- Make a swatch. A swatch shows you the real fabric: how it drapes, how much it stretches and how wide your stitches come out.
- Work out the chain. Many stitches need a set multiple of chains. Each stitch page gives its multiple, and the starting chain calculator works out the chain for the width you want.
Questions people ask
Which stitch is right for a baby blanket? Any of the stitches above will do. Waffle stitch is one that is often chosen. A baby blanket will need washing, so make it in a soft yarn that can be washed: crochet yarn types has a row for baby blankets. See the baby blanket patterns.
Which stitch is quickest? A tall, plain one. Double crochet is the usual answer.
How many chains do I start with? That depends on the width you want, the size of your stitches and the multiple the stitch needs. The starting chain calculator works it out from a swatch.
Where to go next
- For other projects, see which crochet stitch to use.
- Ready to follow a pattern? Browse the blanket patterns.