Crochet a Giant Granny Square Blanket in Gradient Yarn
One granny square that never stops: round after round of 3-dc clusters in a gradient cake yarn, so the colours shift by themselves. Turning every round keeps the big square from twisting.
3 min read
A giant granny square is the easiest blanket there is: you start one granny square and keep going until it covers the couch. With a gradient "cake" yarn, which changes colour slowly along its length, the blanket fades from one colour to the next without a single colour change.
The tip that makes it work, from Elise's video on her lilthings channel: turn your work after every round. A big granny square worked always from one side slowly twists into a pinwheel. Turning keeps it square.
Video tutorial by Elise on her YouTube channel, lilthings: watch "crochet easy blanket for beginner | crochet colour gradient blanket for couch bed" on YouTube.
Written from the video tutorial.
Materials
- 2 or more cakes of gradient yarn
- 3.0 or 3.5 mm hook
- A stitch marker, scissors and a darning needle
Pattern
Round 1
Magic ring, chain 2. [3 dc, chain 3] four times into the ring. Pull the ring closed and slip stitch into the first dc (mark it).
Round 2
Chain 2 and turn. In each of the four chain-3 corner spaces, work [3 dc, chain 3, 3 dc], with a chain 1 between corners. Slip stitch to the first stitch.
Round 3 and every round after
Chain 2 and turn.
- In each chain-1 space along the sides: [3 dc, chain 1].
- In each chain-3 corner: [3 dc, chain 3, 3 dc, chain 1].
Each round adds one more cluster to each side. Keep going until the blanket is the size you want.
Joining a new cake
When a cake runs out, tie the new end to the old one with a secure overhand knot, and carry on. With gradient yarn, try to join a new cake whose colour matches where the old one ended, so the fade continues smoothly.
Finishing
On the last round, slip stitch to the first stitch, chain 1, cut the yarn and weave the tail through the back of a cluster.
Tips
- Turn every round. It's the whole secret to a square that stays square.
- Clusters go into spaces, never into stitches. It's quicker and keeps the lace even.
- Plan the size. The continuous granny square blanket calculator helps you work out how many rounds you need for a given size.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my granny square twist?
Stitches lean slightly in the direction you work. Over many rounds, that lean builds up and the square turns into a pinwheel. Turning after each round alternates the lean, so it cancels out.
Can I use normal yarn?
Yes. Change colour at the start of a round for stripes, or use one colour throughout. For the traditional small square, see our classic granny square.
How many cakes do I need?
It depends on the size you want. Elise lists two or more cakes; a bed-sized blanket takes many more. Weigh one finished round near the end and you can estimate how much the next rounds will need.
Questions & notes
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