crochet: granny square blanket

I love the look of granny square blankets, but making dozens of individual squares and crocheting them together is sometimes too much for my patience. I decided to make one big granny square. It has a similar look, but is much less time consuming.

Supplies:

• worsted weight yarn 
• crochet hook (G6 or H8)
• tapestry needle to weave in ends

I used about twenty skeins of Red Heart Soft yarn in five colors (grape, teal, guacamole, tangerine, and white). You can use either a G6 or H8 hook. The G6 is smaller and will give you a tighter stitch, while the H8 is bigger and will be a bit looser. The bigger hook goes a little quicker, but it all depends on the look you're going for. For this blanket, I used an H8 hook. 

Pattern:

(note: this pattern is written using American crochet terms)

Round 1: Begin by making a slip knot and chain five stitches. Slip stitch into the first chain stitch. Chain 3, 2 double crochet (DC) into center. *Chain 2, 3 DC into center. Repeat from * twice more. Chain 2, slip stitch into top of chain 3. Turn.

Round 2: Chain 3, 2 DC into chain 2 space, chain 2, 3 DC into same space. *Chain 1, 3 DC, chain 2, 3 DC into chain 2 space. Repeat from * twice more. Chain 1, slip stitch into top of chain 3. Turn.

Round 3: Chain 3, 2DC into chain 1 space. *Chain 1, 3 DC, chain 2, 3 DC in chain 2 space. Chain 1, 3 DC in chain 1 space. Repeat from * twice more. Chain 1, 3 DC, chain 2, 3 DC in chain 2 space. Chain 1, slip stitch into top of chain 3. Turn.

Each subsequent round will be worked in the same way. In every chain 1 space, you will do 3 DC, chain 1. In ever chain 2 space, you will do [3 DC, chain 2, 3 DC, chain 1].

chain 2 space

chain 1 space

For my blanket, I did 16 rounds of each color with two rounds of white in between. So, 16 rounds of grape, 2 rounds of white, 16 rounds of teal, 2 rounds of white, etc. You can do whatever type of border you like. I just continued with the granny square, but on the last row I did [3 DC, chain 1, 3DC, chain 1] in each chain 1 space.