This easy double crochet blanket pattern uses a sneaky trick to create stripes without adding extra ends to weave in. The result is a minimalist, modern blanket made entirely with basic stitches.
The free blanket pattern is below, or purchase the ad-free, printable PDF here.
This double crochet afghan pattern is part of a collaboration with Lion Brand Yarns. This post contains affiliate links.
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- Single and Double Crochet Blanket Pattern
- Crochet Techniques You’ll Practice
- Worsted Weight Blanket Yarn
- All-in-One Crochet Kit
- Print this Pattern
- The Block Stitch Blanket – Free Pattern
- Find Your Next Blanket Pattern
- More Crochet Blanket Resources
- That was so fun! Now what?
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Single and Double Crochet Blanket Pattern
Blankets made with basic crochet stitches can sometimes look a little bland. But they don’t have to! This blanket uses single crochet and double crochet stitches to create a striped look without fastening off at the end of each row. (Horray for reducing yarn tails to deal with at the end!)
Crochet Techniques You’ll Practice
The skills you’ll practice in this easy double crochet afghan pattern include:
- Chain stitches (ch)
- Single crochet (sc)
- Half double crochet (hdc)
- Double crochet (dc)
- Keeping yarn organized with two yarn colors attached
- Adding fringe to a blanket edge
- Weaving in ends
Modification for Beginners
If you’re just learning how to crochet, work the entire pattern in one color for a very meditative and interesting first crochet blanket project.
Learn the Boxed Block Stitch
The boxed block stitch is the specific name for the combination of stitches used in this blanket pattern. I really like the clean and minimal look and we’ve used this stitch in the Prism Block Stitch Blanket and the Casita Tea Towel pattern.
Follow our tutorial to learn how to crochet the boxed block stitch step-by-step. While this tutorial demonstrates how to work in the round to create a square, the concept of alternating a row of double crochet with a row of single crochet is the same in the pattern below.
Worsted Weight Blanket Yarn
You’ll need approximately 2100 yards of worsted weight yarn to crochet this beginner-friendly blanket.
For the sample, we used Lion Brand Re-Spun, which is a one hundred percent polyester yarn made from recycled plastic. I love this collection’s muted, modern colors, and you can’t beat the price point.
If you don’t have access to Re-Spun yarn, you can use any medium weight acrylic or other washable fiber.
Expected Blanket Size
The finished size of your double crochet stitch blanket will be approximately 40 x 50 inches, making it a generously-sized couch throw.
Substitute a bulky weight yarn such as Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick for a larger chunky blanket. To make a smaller blanket, sub a lighter DK weight yarn.
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Supplies + Materials
• Lion Brand Re-Spun (Weight: 4/med – 394 yds, 6.0 oz, 170 g)
-COLOR A: Cove (138-168E) – 5 skeins (approx. 748 g)
-COLOR B: Deep Denim (138-110AS) – 1 skein (approx. 50 g)
-COLOR C: Cider(138-125V) – 1 skein (approx. 50 g)
-COLOR D: Alpine (138-171Q) – 1 skein ( approx. 50 g)
• Size K (6.5 mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
• Size I (5.25 mm) crochet hook for border
• Stitch markers or safety pins
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Skill Level
Overall Pattern Notes
!! Gauge Check !!
Checking your gauge is not mandatory in this pattern. Making a practice swatch can help ensure your finished blanket is the expected size and uses the predicted amount of yarn though.
Use the following instructions to create a gauge swatch if desired.
To check gauge, with color A :
Foundation Row: Ch 37.
Row 1 (WS): Dc in fourth ch from hook and each ch to end of row, turn. (35 sts)
Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, sc in first dc, ch 3, sk next 3 dc, sc in between the fourth and fifth, *ch 3, sk next 3 dc, sc in between the third and fourth dc, rep from * til 4 sts remain, ch3, sk next 3 sts, placing last sc in tch of previous row; turn. (11 ch3sps)
Row 3 (WS): Ch 3, place 3 dc in each ch3sp across row until last sc remains, dc in last sc; turn. (11 clusters and 1 dc at each row end)
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If there aren’t enough stitches in 4” horizontally, decrease your hook size and re-swatch.
Want some company while you crochet?
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Main Blanket
Beginning with Row 3, the entire blanket is crocheted by simply alternating
two types of rows, a double crochet row and a chain space row.
First Solid Color Section:
With Color A and larger hook:
Foundation Row: Ch 139.
Row 1 (WS): Dc in the fourth ch from hook and each ch to end of row, turn. (137 dc) (45 ch3sps)
Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, sc in first dc, ch 3, sk next 3 dc, sc in between the fourth and fifth, *ch 3, sk next 3 dc, sc in between the third and fourth dc, rep from * til 4 sts remain, ch3, sk next 3 sts, placing last sc in tch of previous row; turn. (45 ch3sps)
Row 3 (WS): Ch 3, place 3 dc in each ch3sp across row until last sc remains, dc in last sc; turn. (45 dc clusters + 1 dc at each row end)
Row 4 (RS): Ch 1, sc in first dc, *ch 3, sk 3 dc, sc between dc cluster; rep from * until 1 cluster remains, ch 3, sk 3 dc, sc in last sc; turn. (45 ch3sps)
Row 5 (WS): Rep Row 3.
Rows 6-9: Repeat Rows 4 and 5 two more times for a total of 9 rows (This section should measure approximately four inches).
First Striped Section:
Place live loop of Color A on stitch marker. Attach Color B on opposite side from Color A live loop (where Row 9 began). Work Row 10 in same direction as Row 9.
While Color B is also in play, one row of each color is worked in one direction, then the entire piece is turned and one row is worked in each color in the opposite direction. (So the right side will be facing for two consecutive rows, then the wrong side will be facing for two consecutive rows.)
It can be helpful to look at the RS/WS designation for each row if you get lost.
At end of row, do not fasten off either color. Instead, place a stitch marker in
live loop of the color you just finished with and go back to pick up the other
color.
See photo tutorial for visual explanation.
Row 10 (WS): With Color B, rep Row 4. Turn.
Row 11 (RS): With Color A, rep Row 3. Do not turn. Go back and pick up Color B.
Row 12 (RS): With Color B, rep Row 4. Turn.
Row 13 (WS): With Color A, rep Row 3. Do not turn. Go back and pick up Color B.
Row 14-33: Repeat Row 10-13 five more times.
Rows 34-35: Rep Rows 10-11 once more for a total of 26 rows in this section; turn. (This section should measure approximately 10 inches).
Fasten off Color B.
Second Solid Color Section:
With Color A only:
Row 36 (WS): Rep Row 4, turn.
Row 37 (RS): Rep Row 3, turn.
Row 38 (WS): Rep Row 4, turn.
Rows 39-48: Rep Rows 3-4 five more times.
Row 49 (RS): Repeat Row 3 for a total of 14 rows in this section. (This section should measure approximately six inches).
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Second Striped Section:
Place live loop of Color A on stitch marker. Attach Color C on opposite side from Color A live loop (where Row 49 began). Work Row 50 in same direction as Row 49.
Row 50 (RS): With Color C, rep Row 4. Pick up Color A and turn.
Row 51 (WS): With Color A, rep Row 3. Do not turn. Go back and pick up Color C.
Row 52 (WS): With Color C, rep Row 4. Pick up Color A and turn.
Row 53 (RS): With Color A, rep Row 3. Do not turn. Go back and pick up Color C.
Rows 54-73: Rep Rows 50-53 five more times.
Rows 74-75: Rep Rows 50-51 once more for a total of 26 rows in this section, ending with a Row 3; turn. (This section should measure approximately 10 inches). Fasten off Color C.
Third Solid Color Section:
With Color A only:
Row 76 (RS): Rep Row 4, turn.
Row 77 (WS): Rep Row 3, turn.
Row 78 (RS): Rep Row 4, turn.
Rows 79-88: Rep Rows 3-4 five more times.
Row 89: Rep Row 3 for a total of 14 rows in this section. (This section should measure approximately six inches).
Third Striped Color Section:
Place live loop of Color A on stitch marker. Attach Color D on opposite side from Color A live loop (where Row 89 began). Work Row 90 in same direction as Row 89.
Row 90 (WS): With Color D, rep Row 4. Pick up Color A and turn.
Row 91 (RS): With Color A, rep Row 3. Do not turn. Go back and pick up Color D.
Row 92 (RS): With Color D, rep Row 4. Pick up Color A and turn.
Row 93 (WS): With Color A, rep Row 3. Do not turn. Go back and pick up Color D.
Rows 94-113: Rep Rows 90-93 five more times.
Rows 114-115: Rep Rows 90-91 once more for a total of 26 rows in this section, ending with a Row 3. (This section should measure approximately 10 inches).
Fasten off Color D.
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Fourth Solid Color Section:
With Color A only:
Row 116 (WS): Rep Row 4, turn.
Row 117 (RS): Rep Row 3, turn.
Row 118 (WS): Rep Row 4, turn.
Row 119-121: Rep Row 3 and 4 once more, then repeat row 3 again for a total of 6 rows. Do not fasten off Color A. (This section should measure approximately four inches).
Do not fasten off.
Border
With Color A still attached and smaller hook:
Round 1 (WS):
Side 1: Working along side, ch 2 (counts a 1 hdc), place 2 hdc in each double crochet row edge and 1 hdc in each chsp row edge to corner, (hdc, ch 1, hdc) in corner st…
Side 2 (bottom): Hdc in each foundation chain to corner, (hdc, ch1, hdc) in corner st…
Side 3: Continue along side placing 2 hdc in each double crochet row edge and 1 hdc in each chsp row edge to corner (hdc, ch 1, hdc) in corner st…
Side 4 (top): Hdc into each dc to corner, (hdc, ch 1) in corner st, slst to top of first ch 2.
Round 2 (WS): Ch 1, slst in first hdc and in each hdc around entire blanket, slst to first ch 1. Fasten off.
Tassel Fringe
With Color A:
Cutting Fringe: To quickly cut fringe pieces of all the same length, wrap yarn
around a piece of cardboard or book that is approximately 3 1⁄2 -4” tall. Cut at one end. Make 210 strands for top edge and 210 for bottom edge.
It can be helpful to do this in small batches. Separate strands into groups of six strands.
Joining Fringe: Beginning in corner slip stitch of bottom edge, insert hook from the top down and grab the center of the 6 strands. Pull fringe through blanket to create a loop. Insert hook through resulting loop and pull fringe tails through loop.
Place a tassel in every fourth stitch along blanket edge. Place final tassel in corner chain space. Trim as desired.
Repeat along opposite edge of blanket.
Congrats! You’ve made it all the way around the block (stitch blanket)!
Find Your Next Blanket Pattern
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More Crochet Blanket Resources
If you love crocheting blankets as much as we do, I think you’ll find these resources really helpful.
- 40+ Modern Free Crochet Afghan Patterns
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