“The Basics and Beyond” crochet granny square blanket is the perfect project to reinforce foundational skills while pushing your creativity further. This design combines the timeless appeal of solid granny squares with a seamless join-as-you-go method, ensuring a polished, professional look.
Finished with a beautifully textured border, this blanket is both a comforting project and a stunning piece to showcase in your home.
The Basics and Beyond Crochet Blanket
This crochet blanket was designed with simplicity and elegance in mind. At its core, it features solid granny squares—a fundamental crochet motif—crafted in a way that eliminates the visible ch-3 spaces typically seen in classic solid granny squares. This creates a smoother, more seamless appearance.
Additionally, the blanket is joined using a join-as-you-go method that mimics the zig-zag slip stitch join, ensuring a nearly invisible transition between squares for a polished, cohesive finish.
While designing, I wanted to strike a balance between familiarity and innovation. The solid granny square structure keeps the project approachable, while the seamless joining and textured border add elements that elevate the final result. The subtle color transitions, achieved with five harmonious shades of Lion Brand Color Theory, enhance the modern yet timeless aesthetic of this blanket.
Best Yarn for Crochet Blankets
When choosing yarn for a crochet blanket, several factors come into play: softness, durability, color variety, and stitch definition. Lion Brand Color Theory was the perfect choice for this project.
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This yarn is not only incredibly soft and easy to work with but also provides a beautiful, polished stitch definition that highlights the granny squares and the border texture. The carefully curated color palette allows for endless combinations, making it easy to create a blanket that suits your personal style.
Another advantage of this yarn is its durability. Since blankets are often heavily used, it’s important to choose a yarn that holds up well over time. Color Theory’s machine-washable, easy-care qualities make this an ideal option for a long-lasting, everyday blanket.
Construction
The construction of this blanket is simple yet effective, making it a satisfying project for both beginners and experienced crocheters. It starts with solid granny squares, which are worked in rounds to create a dense, warm fabric. Instead of traditional seaming, the join-as-you-go method is used, replicating the zig-zag slip stitch join, ensuring a smooth, invisible connection between squares.
Once the squares are joined, the blanket is finished with a beautifully textured border made up of alternating front post and back post double crochet stitches. This creates a subtle ribbed effect, adding a perfect frame to the design while maintaining a classic and sophisticated look.
Why You Will Love This Blanket
There are so many reasons to love The Basics and Beyond crochet blanket! First, it’s an ideal skill-building project—whether you’re mastering solid granny squares, learning an advanced joining method, or adding texture with post stitches, this blanket takes you beyond the basics.
It’s also an incredibly versatile design. You can customize it with different color combinations, yarn choices, or even adjust the size to suit your needs. Plus, with its seamless construction and polished finish, it looks just as beautiful as a statement piece in your living room as it does draped over your bed.
Whether you’re making this for yourself or as a thoughtful handmade gift, this crochet blanket is sure to become a favourite project. If you’re ready to start, grab your yarn and hook, and let’s crochet something beautiful together!
Yarn Requirements
Lion Brand Color Theory yarn, 100% Acrylic 100gr/3.5 oz, 225m/246yds in colors
- Moonbeam- 420g, 945m
- Canyon-140g, 315m
- Bee Polen-75g, 169m
- Tormaline-100g, 225m
- Himalayan Salt- 150g, 337.5m
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Crochet Granny Square Blanket Finished Size
The finished size of the blanket is 110 cm x 125 cm after blocking.
Skill Level
Advanced Beginner
Gauge
The finished size of the square blocked after joining is 14.5 cm.
Crochet Hooks Needed
Size US G/7 (4.5 mm) crochet hook
Size US H/8 (5 mm) crochet hook
Materials:
- tapestry needle
- scissors
Yarn Substitude
- Lion Brand Heartland, 100% Acrylic, ~251 yards (230m) / 5 oz (142g)
- WeCrochet Brava Worsted, 100% Premium Acrylic, ~218 yards (199m) / 3.5 oz (100g)
- Caron Simply Soft, 100% Acrylic, ~315 yards (288m) / 6 oz (170g)
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Below you will find the free crochet pattern of the crochet granny square blanket. But I know some of you prefer a hard copy instead of using a screen.
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Crochet Terms:
- The pattern is written in US crochet terms
Abbreviation:
- dc- double crochet
- BRdc- bridge double crochet
- rep- repeat
- sl st- slip stitch
- st(s)- stitch(es)
- ssc- stacked single crochet
- ch(s)- chain(s)
- FPDC- front post double crochet
- BPDC- back post double crochet
- dc join – double crochet join stitch (see special stitch section)
- **- repeat the sts in the ** indicated times
- []- repeat the stitches in the [] indicated times
Pattern notes:
- For this blanket we will crochet 56 granny squares and then we will join them using the join as you go method. If you prefer to use a standard joining method you need to crochet one extra round for the squares using your base color.
- For the squares itself and for the joining I used 5 mm crochet hook and for the border 4.5 mm crochet hook.
- I arranged the squares randomly without following any color scheme.
- The finished size of the square blocked after joining is 14.5 cm.
Special stitches
Bridge double crochet (BRdc)- instead of making ch2, sl st on top of ch3, we will work 1 dc on top of beginning ch3.
Stacked single crochet – work 1 sc into the indicated stitch or space, then insert your hook into the front leg of the single crochet stitch, grab your yarn and pull through, Yarn over and pull through.
Front post double crochet(FPDC)- Yarn over (yo) and insert your hook from front to back between the posts of the first and second double crochet of the row below, and then from back to front again between the posts of the second and third stitches. The hook should now be positioned horizontally behind the double crochet that you’re working around. Yarn over and draw the yarn around the post of the stitch. ( 3 loops on the hook). Yarn over and draw the yarn through the 2 loops on the hook, twice.
Back post double crochet(BPDC)- Yarn over (yo) and insert your hook from back to front between the posts of the first and second double crochet of the row below, and then from front to back again between the posts of the second and third stitches. The hook should now be positioned horizontally behind the double crochet that you’re working around. Yarn over and draw the yarn around the post of the stitch. ( 3 loops on the hook). Yarn over and draw the yarn through the 2 loops on the hook, twice.
Granny Square Pattern
For those who will join the squares as you go crochet rounds 1-4 and for the rest crochet rounds 1-5.
You can follow the step-by-step video tutorial for the square HERE.
Rnd 1: Start with a Magic ring and secure with a knot, 1 ssc, 2 dc, * ch2, 3 dc * rep 2 more times, 1 BRdc on top of ssc to join ( 12 dc sts and 4 ch-spaces )
Rnd 2: 1 ssc, 1 dc in same space ( the corner space created by the BRdc ), 1 dc in next 3 sts, * 2dc,ch2,2dc all in next ch space, 1 dc in next 3 sts * rep 2 more times, 2 dc in next ch space, 1 BRdc on top of ssc to join. ( 28 dc sts, 4 ch spaces)
Rnd 3: 1 ssc, 1 dc in same space ( the corner space created by the BRdc ), 1 dc in next 7 sts, * 2dc,ch2,2dc all in next ch space, 1 dc in next 7 sts * rep 2 more times, 2 dc in next ch space, 1 BRdc on top of ssc to join. ( 44 dc sts, 4 ch spaces)
Rnd 4: 1 ssc, 1 dc in same space ( the corner space created by the BRdc ), 1 dc in next 11 sts, * 2dc,ch2,2dc all in next ch space, 1 dc in next 11 sts * rep 2 more times, 2 dc in next ch space, ch2, slip stitch on top of ssc or finish using the perfect finish method. ( 60 dc sts, 4 ch spaces) Fasten off.
If you don’t want to use the join as you go method crochet one extra round using your base color yarn
Rnd 5: 1 ssc, 1 dc in same space ( the corner space created by the BRdc ), 1 dc in next 15 sts, * 2dc,ch2,2dc all in next ch space, 1 dc in next 15 sts * rep 2 more times, 2 dc in next ch space, ch2, slip stitch on top of ssc or finish using the perfect finish method. ( 76 dc sts, 4 ch spaces) Fasten off.
The total amount granny squares per color is as follows:
Canyon- 17
Bee Polen-9
Tormaline- 12
Himalayan Salt- 18
I arranged the squares randomly. Here is a pic of the color placement for reference.
How to join as you go granny squares?
If you want to use a different joining method skip these steps and continue with the border. The joining I use is a join as you go method that duplicates the zig zag slip stitch method. Keep in mind that you may need more base color yarn if you use different joining method.
For the full step-by-step explanation on the join as you go method please check the blog post How to join as you go granny squares.
Basics and Beyond Crochet Blanket’s Border
If you use the join as you go method do not fasten off your yarn we will continue with the border. If you use different joining method start working the border at the right bottom corner of your blanket in the first st after the corner.
First Round
Side one: ch3(does not count as a st), 1 FPDC in next st,* ( 1 dc in next st, 1 FPDC in next st) rep 8 times, sk 1 st, 1 dc in next ch sp, 1 FPDC around the joining line, 1 dc in next ch-sp, sk 1 st, 1 FPDC in next st,* rep until one st before the corner,
First, Second and third corners – sk 1 st, 2dc,ch2,2dc all in the corner sp,
Second, third and fourth side– sk 1 st, 1 FPDC in next st, [* 1 dc in next st, 1 FPDC in next st* rep 8 times, sk 1 st, 1 dc in next ch sp, 1 FPDC around the joining line, 1 dc in next ch-sp, sk 1 st, 1 FPDC in next st,] rep until one st before the corner,
Fourth corner– sk 1 st, 2dc,ch2,2dc all in the corner sp, join on top of first FPDC.
Rnd 2: ch1, [ 1 FPDC in next st, * 1BPDC in next st, 1 FPDC in next st * rep until the corner sp, 2dc, ch2, 2dc all in next corner sp, ] rep 4 times, 1 FPDC in next st, 1 BPDC in next st, join on top of first st.
Rnd 3: ch1, [ 1 FPDC in next st, * 1BPDC in next st, 1 FPDC in next st * rep until the corner, 2dc, ch2, 2dc all in next corner sp, ] rep 4 times, *1 FPDC in next st, 1 BPDC in next st* rep twice, join on top of first st.
Rnd 4: ch1, [ 1 FPDC in next st, * 1BPDC in next st, 1 FPDC in next st * rep until the corner, 2dc, ch2, 2dc all in next corner sp, ] rep 4 times, *1 FPDC in next st, 1 BPDC in next st* rep 3 times, join on top of first st. Fasten off and weave the ends in.
And here it is your ” Basics and beyond ” crochet blanket is ready to snuggle under it.
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