Tired of making the same old afghans that look like they were meant for a previous decade? It can be difficult to find a fresh pattern for blankets, especially one that looks professionally made. We were able to find such a blanket using the Harlequin pattern, which results in a beautiful, soft, cozy blanket that can be thrown over a couch, a bed, or in the back of a car for a picnic. You can use up to three different colors, or simply go with one. However you decide to personalize your blanket, you’ll be pleased with the results.
If you’d like to try out this pattern before jumping into a large project, there is a link in the pattern for a hot pad utilizing the same stitch. When you’re ready to put together the blanket, you’ll need to gather up the following materials:
- 8 balls of yarn (the pattern recommends using something like Bernat Roving, which is mostly acrylic with a little bit of wool. It should be washed by hand or on a delicate wash cycle, but never put in the dryer. You can choose to use one, two, or three colors, or use a different color every row)
- A size “L” hook
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
You’ll also need to know and be comfortable with the following stitches:
- Chain (ch)
- Single crochet (sc)
- Double crochet (dc)
- Half double crochet (hdc)
- Double crochet [number of stitches] together (dc#tog)
You should also be familiar with the following terminology:
- Skip (sk)
- Yarn over (yo)
- Back post (bp)
- Front post (fp)
- Repeat (rep)
What we love about this pattern, besides its obvious charm, is how simple it is — all these stitches and terms are familiar to almost every crocheter. The finished size for the blanket is 34 x 34 inches, but if you would like a larger blanket, you only need to keep adding rows and making them however long you desire. Ready to create your own cozy blanket? You can find the written instructions, along with photo and video tutorials, here.