Apr
Finding Actually Good Free Patterns Online
So the thing about free crochet blanket patterns is that you’re gonna scroll through like 500 pages of the same granny square variation before you find something actually interesting. I made this chevron blanket in spring 2022 when I was binge-watching The Office for the third time and honestly the repetitive pattern was perfect because I wasn’t really paying attention half the time.
Best places to look are Ravelry obviously, then maybe Red Heart’s website because they have a ton of free stuff, and honestly just random blogs. The blog patterns are hit or miss though because sometimes the instructions are written like the person assumes you already know what they’re thinking. I found this really cool mosaic blanket pattern on some lady’s blog and had to read the same row instruction like eight times before I figured out she meant to slip stitch, not single crochet.
Sorting By Actual Skill Level
Okay so patterns say beginner, intermediate, advanced but that doesn’t always mean what you think. A beginner pattern should literally just be single crochet or double crochet in rows or maybe a simple granny square. That’s it. If it mentions anything about colorwork or counting stitches in a specific pattern repeat, that’s not really beginner anymore.
I’d say true beginner patterns are like:
- Basic striped blankets where you just change colors every few rows
- Single granny square blankets
- Anything that’s just rows of the same stitch
- Those chunky blankets with super bulky yarn that work up fast
Intermediate is where you get into stuff like shell stitches, v-stitches, corner-to-corner (C2C) blankets, and patterns where you actually have to count. C2C looks impressive but it’s really just the same little square over and over, you’re just adding more squares diagonally. Made one in summer 2024 with Bernat Blanket yarn in that teal color and my cat would not leave it alone while I was working on it, kept trying to bite the working yarn.
Advanced patterns are the ones with actual charts, intricate colorwork, or those Irish crochet style blankets with a million different stitches. Also anything that says “join as you go” is automatically more annoying than it needs to be.
Yarn Choices That Actually Matter
So here’s what nobody tells you upfront: the yarn matters SO much more for blankets than for like, a hat or whatever. You’re using a ton of yarn and if you pick something scratchy or weird you’re gonna hate the finished blanket.
I’ve used a bunch of different brands and here’s the real talk:
Red Heart Super Saver is cheap and comes in every color but it’s kind of scratchy at first. It softens up after washing though. Good for blankets that are gonna get actual use and abuse. I made a blanket for my couch with this in like 2021 and it’s held up fine.
Caron One Pound is similar price point but softer right away. The skeins are huge which is nice because you’re not joining new yarn every five seconds. Comes in less colors though.
Bernat Blanket is that really chunky soft stuff, works up super fast but honestly it’s kind of annoying to work with because it splits easily and you can’t really see your stitches clearly. Good if you want something done quick though. Also it’s chenille so it sheds everywhere and– wait no I think some of their lines are chenille and some aren’t, anyway it can be messy.
Lion Brand Pound of Love is actually really nice, softer than Red Heart, good color range. This is what I’d use if I was making a baby blanket probably.
The one thing that really annoyed me about making that chevron blanket in 2022 was that I used three different dye lots of the same color because I didn’t buy enough yarn at the beginning and you can TOTALLY see the difference in the finished blanket. Like it’s not super obvious but I know it’s there and it bugs me every time I look at it.
Actually Calculating How Much Yarn You Need
Most patterns tell you yardage but if they don’t, you gotta estimate. A basic rule is like 3000-4000 yards for a throw blanket size (about 50×60 inches). But this changes a lot based on your hook size and how tight you crochet.
I always buy extra because running out of yarn partway through is the worst. And if you’re doing stripes or colorwork, write down how many rows you did of each color so you can calculate better. I never do this and then I’m always guessing and buying way too much of one color.
Pattern Types Worth Trying
Granny Square Blankets
Everyone makes one eventually. You can find infinite free patterns for different granny square variations. The traditional one is easy, you just keep going around in circles basically. Then you make like 50 of them and join them together which is its own special kind of tedious.
Solid granny square blankets look cleaner than scrappy ones in my opinion but scrappy ones are good for using up yarn stash. There’s also join-as-you-go methods which I mentioned before and yeah they’re supposed to save time but I always mess them up.
Corner to Corner (C2C)
This technique is really popular right now and it’s actually not that hard once you get the concept. You’re basically making little squares diagonally across the blanket. Good for graphgans if you want to make a blanket with a picture or design because each little square is like a pixel.
I started a C2C blanket with a geometric pattern I found on Pinterest but never finished it because I got bored halfway through. It’s still in a bag somewhere.
Ripple/Chevron Patterns
These make those wavy striped blankets. They look complicated but you’re just increasing and decreasing at regular intervals to make the peaks and valleys. The hardest part is the first row, getting the right number of stitches. After that it’s pretty mindless.
That spring 2022 one I made was a chevron and I used like four different colors of Caron Simply Soft I think? Maybe it was Red Heart Soft. I don’t remember exactly but it was something soft because it was supposed to be for my mom.
Virus Blanket
This pattern went viral (haha) a few years ago and it’s actually really pretty. It’s worked in rounds from the center out with this shell stitch pattern that makes a cool geometric look. Not really beginner level because you gotta pay attention to the stitch counts but it’s not super advanced either.
Temperature Blankets
Okay these aren’t really a pattern type but more of a concept. You assign colors to different temperature ranges and then crochet a row each day based on that day’s temperature. Takes a whole year obviously. I thought about doing one but honestly I know I’d forget after like three weeks.
Reading Patterns Without Losing Your Mind
Free patterns are written in different styles and some are just… not great. Here’s what to look for in a pattern that’s actually usable:
- Clear materials list with specific yarn weight and yardage
- Gauge information even though nobody actually does gauge swatches for blankets let’s be honest
- Abbreviations list or at least standard abbreviations
- Row-by-row instructions or a clear chart if it’s a graphgan
- Photos of the actual finished blanket not just a stock image
The annoying patterns are the ones that say stuff like “continue in pattern as established” without explaining what that means. Or when they give you instructions for like four rows and then say “repeat rows 2-4” but you can’t figure out how that’s supposed to work with the stitch count.
Common Problems You’re Gonna Run Into
Edges that curl or ruffle: This usually means your tension is off or you’re adding/losing stitches. Count your stitches at the end of each row for like the first ten rows until you get consistent.
Running out of yarn: Already mentioned this but seriously buy extra. You can always use leftovers for other projects.
Blanket coming out wonky shaped: Probably tension issues again or you’re pulling too tight on one side. Try to keep even tension and maybe go up a hook size if you crochet really tight.
Getting bored halfway through: Yeah this just happens with blankets. They take forever. I usually have two or three projects going so I can switch when I get sick of one. Very inefficient but whatever.
Specific Free Patterns Worth Looking Up
I’m not gonna link anything because that’s annoying but search these names:
Linen Stitch Blanket: Super simple, looks woven, works up kind of slow but looks really nice and professional.
Waffle Stitch Blanket: Textured and squishy, good for couch blankets. Uses more yarn than a basic stitch though.
Granny Stripe: Like a granny square but in rows instead of rounds. Faster than making individual squares.
Moss Stitch/Lemon Peel: Another simple texture stitch that looks good in solid colors.
Weekender Blanket: This is a specific pattern by Jess Coppom I think, uses super bulky yarn and works up in a weekend supposedly. I’ve never actually made it but see it recommended everywhere.
Tips Nobody Tells You
Use a yarn bowl or something to keep your skein from rolling around. I just use a mixing bowl from the kitchen and it works fine.
Weave in ends as you go instead of saving them all for the end. Future you will thank present you. I never do this and always regret it.
If you’re doing stripes, carry the yarn up the side instead of cutting it each time if the stripes are only a few rows apart. Saves yarn and ends to weave in.
Foundation chain that’s too tight will make your whole blanket wonky. Do it loose or use a bigger hook just for the foundation chain.
Blocking actually does make a difference for blankets even though it seems like a lot of work for something that big. I usually just wash it and lay it flat to dry and that’s good enough for me though.
When to Just Give Up on a Pattern
Sometimes a pattern just isn’t working and that’s okay. If you’ve frogged the same section three times and still can’t figure it out, maybe try a different pattern. Or if you hate the yarn you’re using, don’t force yourself to finish just because you already started. I had this happen with a blanket I was making with some acrylic yarn that was like… plasticky feeling? It was Red Heart I think but some weird line I’d never used before. Hated working with it, never finished the blanket, gave the yarn away.
Also if a pattern has mistakes in it and you can’t figure out what the designer meant, just move on. There are literally thousands of free patterns out there, you don’t need to struggle with a badly written one.
The best blanket patterns are the ones you can work on while watching TV or talking or whatever without having to think too hard. Save the complicated stuff for smaller projects where you can actually focus. That’s my approach anyway and I’ve made probably like fifteen blankets at this point so it seems to work okay.
