Hi guys! It’s always exciting when I get the chance to share a new blanket pattern with you. So without further ado, here is the Maisie Blanket: a two-striped granny square blanket, made with half double crochets, and very few holes.
This is a modified version of the traditional granny square, which is normally made with double crochets, and has large chain spaces between each cluster.
If you love the look of granny square blankets, but you aren’t a fan of the big holes, the constant colour changes, or the never-ending ends to weave in, then this project is for you.
If you prefer to print the pattern, the ad-free printable PDF includes a complete video tutorial and instructions for 9 blanket sizes (Baby to King)!
Otherwise, the free pattern below, shows you how to crochet a lapghan sized blanket (47″ x 47″), with instructions to make a custom size.
Pin this Striped Granny Square Blanket – HERE!
Crochet Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
- This blanket uses the same stitch, and pattern repeat throughout the project, which makes it easy, relaxing, and meditative.
- There are step-by-step pictures, helpful tips, and a video tutorial included below.
Fun Blanket Features:
This blanket has some special features that make it unique:
- It uses an easy colour changing technique that minimizes the number of ends you need to weave in at the end of the project. You don’t have to carry the yarn, OR constantly fasten on and fasten off with each new round.
- There are only a FEW ends to weave in (maybe 10) total – you only have ends to weave in when you run out of 1 skein (ball) and have to attach a new skein to your project.
- Alternating between 2 colours creates a beautiful optical illusion, so you can’t tell where the stitches start or end.
- This blanket uses the same stitch and row-repeat throughout the project, so this is a relaxing project that can ease the tension of the day.
- The colour changes keep things interesting and make it fun to watch your blanket grow.
The materials and yarn section, along with the Etsy PDF button, contain affiliate links that support the content on ThisPixieCreates. If you make a purchase through one of my affiliate links, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. Thank you so much for your support! Find more information about affiliate links, as well as my Privacy & Disclosures Policy here.
Materials:
- 6.0mm crochet hook
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
- 2 Stitch Markers or Safety Pins
- Steamer, Iron with a Steam Setting, or Spray Bottle (Optional)
- Blocking Mats (Optional)
- Blocking Pins or Straight Pins (Optional)
Yarn:
Lion Brand Heartland, Weight 4 Medium (100% Acrylic, 251 yd / 230 m, 142 g / 5 oz)
- Colours: Grand Canyon (A), Badlands (B)
- Yarn Note: You can use any yarn weight or fiber of your choosing because this blanket is versatile. Just remember to check your gauge before starting because you may have to adjust your hook size to suit your yarn.
Yardage/Number of Skeins:
- Colour A – 1144 yds / 1046 m – 5 skeins
- Colour B – 61343 yds / 1228 m – 6 skeins
- Total Yardage – 2487 yds / 2274 m
Choosing Colours:
Choosing colours is the trickiest part, but don’t worry – no matter what colours you choose, your blanket will be beautiful.
If you prefer a soft, more muted blanket, then choose colours with a low level of contrast (two similar shades, two dark colours, or two light colours). However, if you want a blanket with more visual interest, then choose colours with a high level of contrast. You can do this by:
- Choosing a light shade and a dark shade: Each colour has multiple shades ranging from light to dark. The best contrast happens between a light and dark shade. They can be 2 shades of the same colour (ex. light blue and dark blue), or 2 shades of a different colour (ex. light purple and navy blue).
- Using the colour wheel: Look at the colour wheel and choose your first colour. Then, look across the colour wheel, and find your next colour.
- Choosing a neutral and a pop: Choose 1 neutral colour and 1 pop of colour. Neutral colours like grey, white, black, beige, brown, cream, or off-white, do a great job of highlighting more saturated colours.
The Ad-free Printable PDF for the Maisie Striped Granny Square Blanket includes video tutorials and sizing instructions for 9 blanket sizes (Small Baby, Large Baby, Custom, Lapghan, Small Throw, Medium Throw, Large Throw, Queen, and King).
Abbreviations:
- Ch – chain
- St(s) – stitch(es)
- Sp – space
- Sk – skip
- Sl st – slip stitch
- Hdc – half double crochet
- CL – cluster – 2 hdc in same sp
- Pom-Pom (see tutorial below)
- YO – yarn over
- Rnd – round
- RS – right side
- WS – wrong side
Gauge: Approximately 6 Rnds = 4” x 4”
After you finish Rnd 6, measure your square to see if the length and width = 4″.
- If your gauge is too small (more than 6 rnds = 4”), try using a thicker weight 4 yarn or a larger crochet hook.
- If your gauge is too big (less than 6 rnds = 4”), try using a thinner weight 4 yarn or a smaller crochet hook. You can also try adjusting your tension.
Pattern Measurements:
The Maisie Striped Granny Square Crochet Blanket is a lapghan sized square blanket that measures 47″ wide by 47″ long (including the border). To create your own custom sized blanket, you can find instructions below.
- Size: Lapghan
- Width: 47″
- Length: 47″
- Border Thickness: 3″
Customize the Size of Your Blanket:
- This is a square blanket, which means that the length and width will be the same.
- To make a custom sized blanket, repeat Rnd 4, while alternating between Colour A and B, until satisfied with the size. Your blanket should end on a Colour B rnd, before starting the border.
- The border adds 3″ to the length and width of the blanket.
Special Stitches:
Cluster (CL):
A cluster is made up of 2 hdc in the same space.
Space (Sp):
A space refers to the gap between each cluster. These gaps between the clusters do not have any ch-sps. The only ch-sps are the 4 corner ch-1 sps of the square.
Fasten on:
Insert hook into any corner ch-1 sp, YO with indicated colour, and pull through the sp.
Fasten off:
YO, and pull through the loop on the hook to make a long tail. Cut the strand, and pull it tight to close the knot that this creates.
Changing Colour:
Colour changes always happen at the end of the rnd. The rnds alternate between Colour A and B, by using stitch markers.
Rnd 1 (Colour A):
- After making a sl st to join Rnd 1, pull up on the loop on the hook, mark it with a stitch marker, and leave it for future rnds. Turn.
Rnd 2 (Colour B):
- Fasten on with Colour B into any of the 3 remaining corner ch-1 sps.
- When you reach the corner ch-1 sp with the stitch marker from Rnd 1, move the loop and working yarn of Colour A to the front of the granny square.
- Our goal is to “trap” Colour A in the ch-1 sp, so that we can access it for the next rnd.
- To do this, push the loop and working yarn to the left, and (CL, ch 1) in the corner ch-1 sp.
- Then, move the loop and working yarn to the right, and make a CL in the same corner ch-1 sp to complete the corner.
- After making a sl st to join Rnd 2, pull up on the loop on the hook, mark it with a stitch marker, and leave it for future rnds. Turn.
Rnd 3 (Colour A):
- Locate Colour A’s stitch marker. It should be on the back side of the granny square.
- Remove the stitch marker from the loop, insert the hook into the corner ch-1 sp, and place the loop on the hook. Tighten it up, and pull it through the ch-1 sp to fasten on.
- Complete Rnd 3 as instructed, while trapping Colour B’s loop/working yarn between the CLs of the corner ch-1 sp, like in Rnd 2.
- After making a sl st to join Rnd 3, pull up on the loop on the hook, mark it with a stitch marker, and leave it for future rnds. Turn.
For Rnd 4 onwards, repeat Rnd 3 colour changing instructions, while alternating between Colour A and B.
Video Tutorials:
Pattern:
Notes:
- Sl st in the first hdc of the rnd to join.
- Pull the tail to tighten the ch-circle center.
- Pull up on the loop on the hook, remove the hook, and mark it with a stitch marker. Turn.
- <4 CL, 4 ch-1 sps>
Rnd 2: With Colour B, fasten on into any of the 3 remaining ch-1 sps and ch 2; CL in first ch-1 sp, [(CL, ch 1, CL) in next ch-1 sp] 3 times, (CL, ch 1) in first ch-1 sp to complete the corner.
- Join with a sl st.
- Pull up on the loop on the hook and mark it with a stitch marker. Turn.
- <8 CL, 4 ch-1 sps>
Rnd 3: With Colour A, ch 2, CL in first corner ch-1 sp, [CL in next sp, (CL, ch 1, CL) in corner ch-1 sp] 3 times, CL in next sp, (CL, ch 1) in first corner ch-1 sp.
- Join with a sl st.
- Pull up on the loop on the hook and mark it with a stitch marker. Turn.
- <12 CL, 4 ch-1 sps>
Rnd 4: With Colour B, ch 2, CL in first corner ch-1 sp, {CL in each sp until corner ch-1 sp, (CL, ch 1, CL) in corner ch-1 sp} 3 times, CL in each sp until first corner ch-1 sp, (CL, ch 1) in first corner ch-1 sp.
- Join with a sl st.
- Pull up on the loop on the hook and mark with a stitch marker. Turn.
- <16 CL, 4 ch-1 sps>
Rnds 5 – 66: Repeat Rnd 4, while alternating between Colour A and B each rnd.
- Each rnd increases by 4 CLs.
- Rnd 66 should have a stitch count of 264 CL & 4 ch-1 sps.
- Your blanket should measure approximately 44″ wide x 44″ long, before starting the border.
- Continue onto the border, without fastening off.
Pom-Pom Border:
- The border adds approximately 3” to the length and width of the blanket.
- The stitch count is shown in <>, but you can use it as an approximation.
- For the final pom-pom, you may have to sk more or less than 3 hdc sts.
- You can find the pom-pom tutorial below.
- The border pictures and video are from a different blanket, but the process is the same.
- Make sure the RS of the blanket is facing you!
Rnd 1: Starting in the first hdc, [ch 6, make a pom pom, ch 3, sk 3 hdc, sl st into next hdc] around. The last sl st will be worked into the first ch of the first pom-pom to join the rnd. <132 pom-pom>
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Pom-Pom Tutorial:
A pom-pom is made up of 2 poms (top and bottom) that are folded over top of each other to make a double thick, circular stitch.
- Step 1: YO, insert hook into third ch from hook, YO, draw up a loop – there should be 3 loops on the hook. (Pictures 1, 2 & 3)
- Step 2: YO and pull through the first 2 loops. (Pictures 3 & 4)
- Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 – 2, 2 more times in same ch. There should be 4 loops on the hook. (Picture 5)
- Step 4: YO and pull through all 4 loops. The first half of the pom-pom is done! (Picture 6)
- Step 5: Ch 3, then repeat Steps 1 – 4 to make the second half of the pom-pom. (Picture 7, 8 & 9)
- Step 6: Pull the second pom over the first pom, so one is sitting on top of the other. (Picture 10)
- Step 7: Sl st into the side of the ch where you placed the first pom, to close the stitch. (Picture 11)
Blocking this Striped Granny Square Blanket:
Blocking is the process of wetting a piece of crochet to make the ends and rows straight. To block this blanket, you will need a steamer or spray bottle, straight pins, and a blocking mat or foam.
Block your work by stretching out the blanket (vertically and horizontally), and placing straight pins along each side of the blanket to hold it in place. Spray the blanket with water, or use a steamer, making sure to stay at least 2” away from the blanket. Gently press the steam/water into the fabric with your hands. Let the blanket dry completely before unpinning it.
Questions?
Other Crochet Patterns You’ll Love!
