Crochet Retriever C2C Pattern

Follow this C2C crochet pattern to crochet a playful Golden or Labrador Retriever. The free graph pattern can be downloaded below or you can purchase the ad-free PDF with line-by-line instructions here.

This labrador retriever C2C crochet pattern is part of a collaboration with Lion Brand Yarns. This post contains affiliate links.

This corner-to-corner crochet pattern is perfect to crochet a pet portrait of your favorite lab or golden retriever. Use it to crochet a single pillow, an entire retriever-themed C2C blanket or any other pup project you can think of!

Keep reading for more yarn and customization details or scroll down for free pattern.

Jump to:

• The Best in Show Dog Blanket
• Pattern overview
• Customizing your Retriever
• Yarn + substitutions
• Print this pattern
• All-in-one kit
• Free Pattern
• More C2C Crochet Dog Patterns

The Best in Show Dog Blanket

• This C2C crochet lab / golden retriever pattern is part of the Best in Show Blanket. Find additional C2C crochet dog patterns as well as instructions on how to crochet the entire blanket here.
  

• If you’d like have all the dog graph patterns, plus written line-by-line C2C instructions all in one place, you can upgrade to the premium Best in Show Blanket PDF and get the complete download, including this French Bulldog pattern, immediately.

Pattern overview

As with all corner-to-corner graph patterns, this project is crocheted diagonally from the bottom right corner to the upper left corner.

This is a medium level C2C crochet pattern because, while it does contain several color changes, there are large sections where only one-three colors are used. If you’d like tips on wrangling your yarn, see this post on how to keep your yarn organized when using multiple colors.

TIP: It can be very helpful to wind smaller balls of each color before beginning the Golden / Labrador Retriever graph. This allows you to keep a color attached when it will be used in the next row and avoid carrying contrasting colors underneath as you work.

Customizing your Retriever

You can print the free graph pattern and color in different sections to modify the graph to look more like your favorite pup, especially if they’re a unique-looking mutt. But even if you keep the design as is, here are a few ways to personalize your crochet lab / golden retriever.

RELATED: Crochet a dog sweater with this easy pattern – in nine sizes!

Want to add more dog breed variety to your corner-to-corner crochet project? Melissa from Lovable Loops designed six additional dog graphs that can be used alongside this C2C retriever pattern. You can find Melissa’s C2C crochet dog patterns here.

Related: Crochet Borders and Edgings for Every Blanket

Yarn + substitutions

We used Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling yarn for this corner-to-corner golden retriever / lab design. It’s an acrylic, worsted weight yarn that wears really well even after a lot of use. Basic Stitch tends to be our go-to for C2C patterns because it’s available in a lot of colors and it really does magically resist pilling!

SUBSTITUTIONS: If Basic Stitch is not available near you, you can check YarnSub.com for similar suggestions. Feel free to use scrap yarn to crochet your perfect pup, just be certain all your yarn choices are quick similar in weight.

RELATED: How to Shop Your Stash: The Best Patterns for Using the Yarn You Have

Print this pattern

You are free to download and print the C2C graph pattern and crochet directly from it.

You will likely find it much easier to also cross reference the graph with the line-by-line C2C instructions included in the premium PDF. Written graph instructions are incredibly helpful with this C2C crochet retriever pattern because they:

• Reduce the likelihood of mistakes that need to be torn out.

• Allow you to crochet much faster than if counting squares in a graph.

• Make it easier to set down your work and know right where to pick the pattern back up.

You can purchase the golden / labrador retriever premium PDF with the graph pattern and written instructions here.

If you’re planning on crocheting more than one C2C dog design, purchasing the Best In Show Blanket premium PDF is the way to go. It includes the complete set of nine C2C dog graph patterns, the written instructions and all the tutorial photos.

All-in-one kit

If you’d like to crochet the entire Best In Show Blanket, you’ll love this convenient option! This bundle from Lion Brand includes all the Basic Stitch you’ll need, plus a bonus printable PDF of the 64 page pattern (delivered digitally).

Explanation:
This corner-to-corner crochet pattern is perfect to crochet a pet portrait of your favorite lab or golden retriever. Make it the foundation of a C2C blanket, pillow or whatever perfect pup project you have in mind!

Supplies:
Order a complete kit to crochet the Best in Show Blanket here. 

YARN:
• Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling Yarn (Weight: 4/medium – 185 yds, 3.5 oz)

• A:  Almond (202/121L)
  – 2 skeins (115g)
• BP:  Baby Pink (202/101F)
  –  1 skein (12g)
• BH:  Beige Heather (202/410F)
  – 2 skeins (115g)
• B:  Black (202/153)
  – 1 skein (12g)
• CH:  Charcoal Heather (202/403J)
  –  1 skein (6g)
• HN:  Hazelnut (202/122T)
  – 1 skein (9g)

ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES:

• Printed graph pattern (download here)
• Tapestry needle
• Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
• T-pins
• Steamer or iron with steam function (alternative: use a spray bottle)
• Blocking board

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How to Read Written Line-By-Line C2C Instructions (included in the PDF)

→ Row 21 [WS]: A11, (B Popcorn) x 6, A4

• Row # is always the same as the number of tiles in that row. (Row 21 = 21 total
tiles)

• Arrow indicates direction of row when RS of blanket is facing up.

• Letter indicates which color of yarn to use. (See “Supplies” for abbreviations.)

• Number indicates how many tiles of each color to work. Therefore, for this
example, you’d work 11 tiles in Color A (typical C2C stitches) , 6 tiles in Color B

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Overall Pattern Notes:

• IMPORTANT: All dog graphs are worked in the diagonal box stitch (also called corner-to-corner crochet) using half double crochet C2C stitches.

• This means each tile begins with a chain 5, then a half double crochet is worked in the third chain from the hook and the next two chains. Similarly at the beginning of each tile (after the slip stitch), use two chains instead of the usual three you’d use with a double crochet C2C project.

Crocheting the Golden Retriever Pattern

Crocheting the Golden Retriever / Lab Pattern

Notes:

• It can be very helpful to wind smaller balls of each color before beginning a graph. This allows you to keep a color attached when it will be used in the next row and avoid carrying contrasting colors underneath as you work.

• Each pixel in the graph corresponds with one tile in your afghan. A tile = 2 ch (the tch, which counts as a hdc) + 3 hdc

• While you may find it faster to work predominantly from the line-by-line
  written instructions in the premium PDF, double checking your work against the
  graph patterns periodically will help catch any mistakes sooner rather than
  later.

• While meeting the listed gauge is not essential, it will ensure finished square turns out 18X18″. Instead of working a separate gauge swatch though, you can begin following the graph pattern and measure gauge about 12 rows in to make sure you’re on track. (If the finished size is unimportant to you, don’t worry about the gauge.)

• Because of the nature of C2C crochet, certain tiles of different colors can
  appear slightly separated when crocheted. While weaving in ends, you may choose to “tidy” up designs by visually joining disconnected tiles.

Finishing:
Once you’ve completed your crocheted retriever pup, follow the finishing instructions in the Best in Show Blanket to learn how to block your square and add a border if you’d like.

Ready for more?

More C2C Crochet Dog Patterns

Click the link below to go to the blog post and free pattern for the each dog.

• French Bulldog / Boston Terrier
• Golden Retriever / Labrador Retriever
• Doodle
• Chihuahua
• Border Collie / Australian Shepard
• Havanese
• Pit Bull / Bulldog
• Poodle
• Husky