How to Create the Perfect Chunky Crochet Blanket: Unlock your Inner Designer

Designing a chunky crochet blanket can be an incredibly rewarding project. This guide will help you get started by covering everything from yarn choices and stitch selection to planning your project. I’ll walk you through my 7 essential steps to ensure a smooth and enjoyable process. If you would rather follow a pattern, have a browse of these free chunky crochet blanket patterns.

If you want to design your own chunky blanket, this guide is for you.

We’ll take a look at yarn choices, how much yarn you’ll need for different size blankets, stitches that work best with chunky yarn and my 7 simple steps for crocheting your own blanket.

Yarn Choices for a Crochet Chunky Blanket

If you need help with choosing your yarn, this section shows you the characteristics of each yarn type as well as the type of blanket I recommend they’re used for. 

I’m also sharing a formula for how to work out how much yarn you will need.

How Much Yarn for a Crochet Blanket

There’s a simple formula that I use to work out how much yarn I need. 

You’ll need to know the length and width of your blanket plus how many stitches per inch.

If you haven’t crocheted your swatch yet, you can find the ‘tension’ online in the product description or on the Ravelry yarns page. If you have the ball band, the tension will be on there.

Tension or gauge is how many stitches and rows are used in a square measuring 10cm x 10cm / 4in x 4in. To find the stitches per inch, divide the total by 4 to give you how many stitches per inch.

An example of the tension in the description of a yarn online can be seen in the image below:

Make a note of how many stitches per inch, then use the formula below:

(Length X Width X Gauge) / 6 = how many yards are needed

Length multiplied by Width multiplied by the Gauge divide that answer by 6 for how much yarn in yards.

Note: Length and Width are in inches and Gauge is in stitches per inch.

Here’s an example:

I want to crochet a throw that measures 60” (L) X 52” (W) and I’ve crocheted my swatch which tells me that using a 6mm hook with chunky yarn I have 4 stitches per inch.

60 (L)  X 52 (W) X 4 (Gauge) = 12480 divided by 6 = 3120

I will need 3120 yards to crochet my throw.

Easy!

Alternatively, you could enter the size into my yarn calculator tool and it will work it out for you.

If you want to use more than one colour evenly throughout the project, divide the amount of yarn by how many colours.  For instance, two colours divide by 2, three colours divide by 3 and so on.  In the example above, if we decide to use 3 colours, I would divide 3120 by 3 = 1040.  I will need 1040 yards of each colour.

Crochet Stitches that Work Well with Chunky Yarn

Now you’ve chosen your yarn, start thinking about the crochet stitches you would like in your design.

For chunky blanket patterns, you’ll want to choose crochet stitches that complement the thickness of the yarn while keeping your project soft, cozy, and not overly dense. Here are some of the best crochet stitches:

Double Crochet (DC)

• Why it’s great: A simple and open stitch, double crochet works well with chunky yarn, allowing the blanket to have some drape while still being warm and plush.
• Best for: A quick project, as chunky yarn and DC combine to make fast progress.

Half Double Crochet (HDC)

• Why it’s great: This is a versatile stitch that falls between single and double crochet in height, creating a dense but flexible fabric. It’s great for warmth without too much bulk.
• Best for: A solid, smooth texture in chunky yarn that still allows the blanket to drape nicely.

Granny Stitch

• Why it’s great: The granny stitch creates a classic openwork pattern that looks great with chunky yarn. This stitch can be worked in rows or in the round for a granny square.  It has a timeless feel and works quickly, especially in large blankets.
• Best for: An airy yet cozy blanket that’s still warm but not too heavy.

The image below shows the granny stitch worked in self-striping yarn.

Moss Stitch (a.k.a. Linen or Granite Stitch)

• Why it’s great: This is a simple stitch pattern alternating single crochet and chain stitches, creating a textured, woven-like fabric. It’s perfect for adding subtle texture and looks great in chunky yarn.
• Best for: Blankets with an even, neat texture that aren’t too dense.

Floret Stitch

• Why it’s great: The floret stitch really pops when combined with half double or double crochet stitches (check out my chunky stripes throw for the affect you can achieve). It adds texture and dimension to the blanket without making it too heavy.
• Best for: Sections of the blanket where you want more visual interest and texture.

In the image below you can see how much the floret stitches pop.

Ripple (Chevron) Stitch

• Why it’s great: This stitch creates a wavy pattern that adds visual interest. Chunky yarn will make the chevrons stand out beautifully, creating a cozy and eye-catching blanket.
• Best for: Adding visual interest and movement in a blanket, especially with colour changes.

I used the ripple stitch in my Forest Ripple poncho.  You can see the effect of the stitches in the image below.

Shell Stitch

• Why it’s great: Shell stitches create a decorative, scalloped texture that looks soft and luxurious when worked with chunky yarn.
• Best for: A feminine, textured design that adds a vintage or bohemian touch to the blanket.

I used a shell stitch variation in my Shell Bay blanket.  My pattern uses 5 stitches to make the shell.

V-Stitch

• Why it’s great: This stitch creates a lacy, openwork fabric. Chunky yarn makes the open sections larger, keeping the blanket light while still chunky and warm.
• Best for: A lightweight, breathable chunky blanket.

An example is my Tangerine Dreams blanket where I’ve used single crochet, ouble crochet), V-Stitch, and granny stitches.

There are many more stitches you can play around with in your swatch to see if you like the drape and weight.  Browse through my stitch library for inspiration.

You don’t have to work your blanket in only one stitch!  Try different stitches and have fun seeing what works together.

Do any of these stitches stand out to you for your next design?

Designing your One-Of-A-Kind Chunky Blanket

Now you have the basics of what you need, it’s time to put the knowledge into practise.

Follow my 7 simple steps to create your unique blanket. 

Grab your digital notebook, pad and pen or use my Google sheet to record the answers to the steps below:

1. Choose the size of your crochet blanket.  Use the table below as a guide to help you choose your size:

If you want to crochet a baby blanket, you’ll find the blanket size guide in this collection helpful (sizes include lovely, security/cuddle, stroller, newborn, receiving, toddler, swaddle and crib).

2. Choose your chunky/bulky yarn and corresponding crochet hook size.
3. Choose your crochet stitch.  If you choose a stitch that needs more than one multiple to complete the pattern, make a note of how many multiples you need for your stitch pattern.  For example, the granny stitch is worked in multiples of 4.  You need the stitch multiple to work out how many chains you’ll need to complete your blanket width.
4. Crochet a swatch at least 12.5cm/5” square – a swatch is a square piece of crocheted fabric that uses the yarn, hook and stitch you’ve chosen.  This will help you work out how many stitches and how many rows you need. You will use your swatch in the next step to work out how many chains and rows you need.
5. Use your swatch to work out how many chains you need. To find how many stitches you’ll need in your foundation chain, use this easy formula: (Width needed)  x (number of stitches in 10cm) divide this number by 10 = number of stitches.  Example for a throw; you need 132cm and you have 15 stitches per 10cm.  132 x 15 divided by 10 = 198 stitches.  You’ll need to add chains to account for your turning chain. For single crochet add one chain, for half double crochet add 2 chains and for double crochet add 3 chains.  You will work into the 2^nd chain, 3^rd or the 4^th chain on your first foundation row.  Does the multiple of your chosen stitch divide into your total stitch count?  If not, round up or down.
6. Use your swatch to work out how many rows you need.  To find how many rows, use the same formula as step 5: (Length needed) x (number of rows in 10cm) divide this number by 10 = number of rows.  Example for a throw; you need 152cm and you have 8 rows per 10cm.  152 x 8 divided by 10 = 121.6 rows.  Round up to 122 or down to 121. 
7. Finally, decide if you’re going to crochet a border.  Blankets don’t always need a border so don’t feel as if yours has to have one! Have a browse of these fab crochet borders for inspiration. If you’re looking to add a resource to your stitch library, Every Which Way Crochet Borders would be an excellent addition.

You can use the same 7 steps to crochet any blanket in any weight yarn for any stitch.  Transferrable skills are the best 🙂

And that’s it, you’re ready to start crocheting your chunky crochet blanket! 

I’d love to see your designs. Share with us in the Facebook community and show off your chunky blanket!

Have fun!

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