Crochet Boxed Block Stitch Blanket Pattern

Crochet a blanket that radiates from the center outward by combining self-striping yarn and the melodic, relaxing boxed block stitch. Personalize your own unique rainbow crochet blanket! Get the full free pattern below or purchase the ad-free, printable PDF here.

This boxed block stitch crochet blanket pattern is part of a collaboration with Lion Brand Yarns. This post contains affiliate links.

Boxed Block Stitch Crochet Blanket Pattern

This simple combination of double crochet and chain stitches in this blanket are exceptionally easy and fast to work because you don’t have to look for the exact stitch to place your hook into. This pattern can be worked to crochet a baby blanket or a larger afghan, depending on your preference.

Keep reading for all the yarn and inspiration details, check out the detailed crochet boxed block stitch tutorial or scroll down for the full free pattern.

Learn it! View the full crochet block stitch tutorial ⇨

What Makes This Pattern So Relaxing

Given the state of affairs in the world over the past year, I’ve given some serious thought to the best type of project for times of stress or when you simply want some crochet meditation. Of everything I crocheted during this tumultuous year, this has been the most enjoyable project!

Why You’ll Love this Block Stitch Blanket

There are lots of reasons you’ll enjoy this relaxing blanket project. Here are a few:

Meditative Stitch Pattern

Instead of needing to insert your hook in a specific stitch, the boxed block stitch allows you to place your hook in a general area, which is so much easier. This stitch is very easy to find a nice rhythm and move at a steady clip.

Make Next: This double crochet blanket pattern uses the same stitch and concepts back and forth in rows instead of in the round.

Color Variations in the Yarn

Color-shifting yarn keeps things interesting. I always find it fascinating to see how the next color in a skein will play out in my project and it’s motivating to stick with a pattern to the end.

The Lion Brand Mandala Tweed Stripes pictured here is extra intriguing because each color section is actually two separate colors of yarn twisted together.

Adjustable Blanket Sizing

You can be done whenever you decide to. How’s that for control!? Ha. Since this blanket is crocheted with the block stitch worked in a square, you really can just call it quits whenever you’re happy with the size.

Whether you want a carseat blanket or a king size bedspread, you don’t have to do a lot of planning ahead.

Related: 33+ Crochet Blanket Border Ideas

Skill Level

Maybe the above bullets make this go without saying, but this is a very easy crochet blanket pattern. If you’re able to single crochet and double crochet and work in the round, this boxed block stitch crochet blanket will be a vacation for you!

If you’re still building your confidence reading crochet patterns, the step-by-step stitch tutorial explains everything you need to know for the main body of this blanket.

The Yarn To Achieve a Gradient Look

I’ve wanted to try the Tweed Stripes version of Lion Brand Mandala for a while, but I knew that I’d want to pair it with a solid to tone it down a bit.

Lion Brand Feels Like Butta is one of my favorite yarns for blankets (I mean, who doesn’t want to be wrapped in butter?) and it happens to be very similar in thickness to Mandala Tweed Stripes.

By using Mandala Tweed stripes in the color “Cat’s Eye” for the single crochet/chain rows of the boxed block stitch and Feels Like Butta for the double crochet rows, we get a little bit of color peeking out from the neutral canvas.

I love how the thin colorful stripes really create a rainbow effect without being too wild. Wouldn’t this make a great gift for a rainbow baby? (Like my sweet new nephew below!)

Lots of Possible Yarn Substitutes

You can really combine any two yarns to crochet a Prism boxed block stitch blanket. I’d love to try a version with chunkier yarn or solid colored stripes. The most important factor when choosing yarn though is to ensure your two fibers are very similar in thickness.

The left swatch below demonstrate how different Mandala Tweed Stripes in the color “Cat’s Eye” looks when combined with white instead of the grey pictured in the main sample above.

The swatch on the right uses Lion Brand Basic Stitch and Ferris Wheel to achieve a more subtle gradient. Ferris Wheel comes in some really unique color combinations that would work beautifully in this pattern. (See them all here!)

Related: If you love the look of the boxed block stitch, check out this farmhouse crochet towel pattern.

Printable Pattern Option

If you prefer couch crocheting like me, I think you’ll find the printable ad-free PDF version of this pattern to be a worthwhile investment.

While you can crochet a beautiful blanket from the free pattern below, if you want to print the Prism Blanket pattern, you’ll want to purchase the PDF. The ad-free PDF version is formatted with large, easy-to-read type and includes all the boxed block stitch tutorial photos.

Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF from Etsy here and from LoveCrafts here. (Thanks for your support!)

Grab a Handy All-In-One Kit

Lion Brand has turned the Prism Blanket into a crochet kit that includes both the yarn you’ll need, plus a digital copy of the pattern. How’s that for convenient?

You can even customize the colors you choose to make just the rainbow blanket your heart desires. Purchase the all-in-one kit here.

Pin it! click to pin this pattern for later ⇨

More Fun, Free Crochet Blanket Patterns

Prism Crochet Boxed Block Stitch Blanket
Free Pattern

Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF from Etsy here and from LoveCrafts here.

Save this pattern to your Ravelry here.

Pin it for later here.

View the step-by-step tutorial here.

Supplies:
Purchase a kit with all the yarn you need here.
• A: Lion Brand Feels Like Butta (Weight: 4/medium –  218 yds, 3.5 oz)
– Charcoal (215-150) – 5 skeins [(approx. 420 g)]

• B: Lion Brand Mandala Tweed Stripes (Weight:4/yarn weight –  426 yds, 5.3 oz)
– Cat’s Eye (552-220) – 1 skein [(approx. 100  g)]

• Tapestry needle
• Size J (6.0 mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
• Stitch marker

Measurements:
Approx 40×40”
See notes in main pattern to modify size

Gauge:
5 double crochet (odd #) rows + 5 chain (even # rows) = 4” 

5 “blocks” of double crochet (15 total dc) = 4”

Abbreviations and Glossary (US Terms):
ch – chain
chsp – chain space
dc – double crochet
rep – repeat
RS – right side
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
slst – slip stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
WS – wrong side

Overall Pattern Notes:

• Feel free to substitute yarn by choosing two yarns (Color A and Color B) that are the same weight (thickness). Experiment with two solid colored yarn, two self-striping yarns or anything else your creative heart desires. The Boxed Block Stitch tutorial swatches were made with Lion Brand Basic Stitch and Ferris Wheel yarn.
  
• One skein of Color B (Lion Brand Mandala Tweed Stripes) contains more yarn that is needed to make a 40X40” blanket. In sample pictured, some yardage of a few of the stripe colors was discarded in order to create more evenly-sized sections of color.
  
• Blanket size can be easily modified by eliminating or adding repeats of Rounds 4-5. As written, blanket shape will be a square.
  
• Learn the crochet boxed block stitch step-by-step in this detailed tutorial.

Main Blanket

Notes:

• Blanket is worked in the round with RS facing throughout.
  
• To reduce ends to weave in, Color A is kept attached throughout. Color B is fastened off between rounds. At the end of each odd-numbered round, place marker in live loop of Color A. Remove marker at beginning of next odd-numbered round.
  
• “Block” refers to each set of 3 double crochet in even-numbered rows.
  
• All odd-numbered rounds should increase by two blocks per side of square (8 blocks per round).
  
• All even number rounds should increase by 2 ch2sps per side of square (8 ch3sps per round).
  
• In odd-numbered rows, the beginning ch 4 always counts as 1 single crochet and 3 chains.

With color A:

Round 1 (RS): Ch 3, work 2 dc into the first chain made (all other stitches of this round are worked into the same chain as well), *ch 2, 3dc; rep from * twice, ch 2, slst to join in top of beginning ch; do not turn. Keep color A attached and place marker through live loop. (1 block per side, 4 corner ch2sps)

Round 2 (RS): Join Color B in first corner ch2sp, (ch 4, sc) in same ch2sp; *ch 3, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next corner ch2sp; rep from * twice, ch 3, slst to join in first beginning ch; fasten off. (8 sc, 8 ch3sps)

Round 3: Remove marker and insert hook in live loop of Color A: slst loosely into ch3sp directly above, ch 2 (slst + ch 2 counts as first dc), 2 dc in same sp, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner sp, 3 dc in next sp; rep from * twice, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in last corner sp, sl st to join in top of beginning ch. (3 blocks per side, 4 corner ch2sps)

Round 4: Join Color B in corner ch2sp, (ch 4, sc) in same corner sp; *ch 3, (sc between next 2 blocks, ch 3) to corner, (sc, ch 3, sc) in corner sp; rep from * twice, ch 3, (sc between next 2 blocks, ch 3) to corner, slst to join in first ch of round. (16 ch3sps)

Round 5: Remove marker and insert hook in live loop of Color A: slst loosely into ch3sp directly above, ch 2 (slst + ch 2 counts as first dc), 2 dc in same sp, *3 dc in each ch3sp to corner, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner sp; rep from * three times; 3 dc in each remaining ch3sp,  slst to join in top of beginning ch. (5 blocks per side, 4 corner ch2sps)

Rep Rounds 4-5  22 more times. Blanket should now contain 25 Color A rounds and 24 Color B Rounds. For a larger blanket, continue repeating Rounds 4-5, making sure to end with a Round 5 once desired size is reached. Keep Color A attached.

Border: With Color A: Ch 1, rsc around blanket working 1 rsc in each dc and 2 rsc in each corner ch2sp, slst to join in first rsc. Fasten off.

Weave in your rainbow of ends. You can do it. It’s gonna be so worth it. 

Gift your new handmade heirloom to anyone who needs a few extra rainbows in their life!

We love to see your finished projects! Use #MakeAndDoCrew and tag us on Instagram (@MakeAndDoCrew) to show off your stitches and have a chance to be featured.

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We love designing easy crochet blanket patterns and we’ve got lots to share with you. You can always find all our free crochet blanket patterns here or head directly to a category like C2C crochet blankets, baby blankets or fast afghan patterns.