Crochet Checkerboard Blanket Tutorial

Transform soft yarn into an elegant work of art with the checkerboard crochet blanket. Perfectly combining bold texture with timeless style, this pattern results in a design that’s both eye-catching and practical. Whether you’re crafting a snuggly baby blanket or a chic throw, this project is sure to stand out wherever you showcase it.

Crochet Checkerboard Blanket

This crochet checkerboard design is an exciting mix of simplicity and charm. With alternating colors and a seamless border that adds a polished touch, the blanket achieves a modern look while maintaining its handcrafted warmth. Using basic techniques like the half double crochet and front/back post double crochet, it’s suitable for beginners yet satisfying for seasoned crafters. Customizable with your choice of colors, this blanket design allows you to express your personal style with every stitch.

Credit Daisy Farm Crafts

Step By Step Pattern

Materials

To create this blanket, you will need:

• Yarn: Bernat Softy Baby Cotton – Choose two contrasting colors (e.g., Pool Green and Aqua Mist for the main blanket; Feathered Gray or your preferred shade for the border). You’ll need:
  • 2 skeins of the lighter color for the blanket
  • 1 skein of the darker color for the border
• Crochet Hook: G/4mm hook
• Optional Tools: Yarn needle (for weaving in ends), scissors, and stitch markers

Stitch Guide

Here are the basic stitches and techniques used:

• Half Double Crochet (HDC):
  1. Yarn over.
  2. Insert your hook into the designated stitch.
  3. Yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook).
  4. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.
• Front Post Double Crochet (FPDC):
  1. Yarn over.
  2. Insert your hook around the post of the stitch (from front to back).
  3. Yarn over and pull through the loop, then complete a double crochet.
• Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC):
  1. Yarn over.
  2. Insert your hook around the post of the stitch (from back to front).
  3. Yarn over and pull through the loop, then complete a double crochet.
• Carrying Yarn for Color Changes:
  • Lay the unused yarn along the row as you crochet, working over it to carry it seamlessly.

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Notes

Helpful Tips:

• Gauge Recommendations:
  Ensure your blanket stays even by maintaining a consistent gauge. If you work too tight or loose, your checkerboard squares may warp.
• Customization Ideas:
  • Adjust the blanket’s size: Multiply 6 stitches by an odd number to fit your desired width and height, then add 1 chain.
  • Experiment with colors to create unique combinations like monochrome shades or bold contrasts.
• Practice with a Sample:
  If you’re new to carrying yarn or checkerboard patterns, practice with a small swatch (e.g., a chain of 31 stitches).

Pattern Instructions

Foundation Steps:

• Start with the base chain:
  • Multiply 6 by an odd number based on the desired size of your blanket. Add 1 for the turning chain. For a sample, chain 31 stitches (6 × 5 + 1).
• Half Double Crochet Foundation Row:
  • Begin in the second chain from the hook and work 6 half double crochets.
  • After completing the 6th stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop but stop before finishing the stitch.
  • Add your second color by laying it on the hook and pulling it through to finish the stitch.

• Switching Colors:
  • Work the next group of 6 HDC stitches, carrying the first color along the row by working over it.
  • On the 6th stitch, switch back to the first color by pulling it through to complete the stitch.
• Key Color-Carrying Rule:
  • Keep one color at the front and the other at the back to avoid twisting yarn.
• Repeat:
  • Alternate colors every 6 stitches for the full row, ending with the first color.
  • Chain 1 and turn your work.

Building the Checkerboard:

6. Continue for Four Rows:
   • Alternate colors every 6 stitches, carrying the yarn along the row.
   • After 4 rows, switch the color sequence so the initial color starts as the second group of stitches.
7. Expand the Blanket:
   • Repeat the alternating color technique until you reach your desired height. For a baby blanket, Tiffany recommends 23 blocks high (6 × 23 + 1).
   • This creates a 36×36-inch blanket.

Border Instructions:

Step 1:
After finishing the blanket, cut the lighter color yarn and pull through with the darker color to start the border.

Step 2:

• Work 3 half double crochets (HDC) along the end of every other row on the sides of the blanket.
• At the corners, work 3 HDC into the corner space to create a neat turn.

Step 3:

• Across the bottom and top edges, skip 2 stitches and work 3 HDC into the next stitch. Repeat this all the way across.

Step 4:

• Complete the first round of the border and chain 2 to prepare for post stitches.

Post Stitch Border:

Step 1:

• For the second border round, alternate front post double crochet (FPDC) and back post double crochet (BPDC) stitches for a ribbed texture.

Step 2:

• Work double crochet, chain 2, double crochet into the chain spaces at the corners to maintain sharp edges.

Step 3:

• On the following round, reverse the post stitches (work FPDCs into previous BPDCs and vice versa) for a ridged effect.

Final Round:

Step 1:
Work a final round of single crochet (SC) stitches.

Step 2:
At the corners, add just 2 single crochets to the chain spaces.

Step 3:
Slip stitch into the first SC to finish the border and tie off.

Step 4:
Use a yarn needle to weave in all ends neatly.

Video Tutorial