Blankets can be made in any size we want, that’s one of the many advantages of making our own things. Sometimes though we want to make sure that the blanket we make is going to fit the item, person or use we are making it for. I want to share with you some guidelines and some pieces I have made.
I hope that this post will help you get out of the blanket size rut and on the right track to the project you want to make.
Currently subscribers to my newsletter receive my blanket size guide as a thank-you for signing up. HERE is a link if you’re interested.
I use blankets of various sizes in my home, all of which I have made.
The blankets in the photo above are lap blankets, but are different sizes. The Falling Leaves blanket is wider and shorter than the Them Babies Came By blanket that I made to be longer to cover my lap when I have my legs crossed in the chair.
Either can be made to be larger or smaller, square or rectangle because they are made with simple construction and any weight yarn can be used; swatch for more info. The Falling Leaves blanket it made up of single and double crochets. If you make a larger blanket, make more leaves. Them Babies Came By is made of motifs that are joined as you go and as long as you haven’t put the edging on you can always add more rows or columns until you get the size you want. The pattern has a worksheet to help you figure it all out.
The lacy piece in the photo above is the blanket version of Barren Soul. As you can see it is larger than a lap blanket but not quite big enough to cover a twin bed. Most of the time it keeps my back warm hanging on this chair, but sometimes the room gets cold enough that I cover all of me up with it.
This blanket, another join as you project, which has no pattern but I have a CAL planned later this year, will cover a twin bed. It is made up of 276, 5 round granny squares. These were worked with fingering weight yarn and a size “G” crochet hook.
The finished size for the blanket above is 55″ / 137.5 cm wide and 102″ / 255 cm long.
I have also made blankets that are 12″ / 30 cm square for littles to carry around with them. Blankets with intentionally placed holes for seat belts in the car or stroller.
If you only have a small amount of a yarn that you want to use, start with it and make it the center or a particular corner of the blanket.
While all these examples are crocheted, knitted blankets are a thing. I just don’t have any. No particular reason I just haven’t made any.
If you want to make sure that your recipient will be able to use the blanket, ask them what size would be helpful to them. You might have twin blanket in mind, but they’d love to have a blanket for the couch while gaming or watching TV.
Ask about colors but remember that a child’s favorite colors might change before you finish the blanket. That happened to a friend of mine recently. It’s okay. They will still love it.
Most of the blankets are motifs, except Falling Leaves, but you can work in rows width-wise, like Falling Leaves, length-wise, like the blanket in the photo below or from corner to corner.
There are corner to corner patterns in both crochet and knit. An advantage of working corner to corner is that if the amount of yarn you have is limited and you want to make a square, you can do that. Weigh your yarn. Work from the first corner until about half of the yarn has been used up. Then start decreasing. This will make a square and the yarn will be used up.
What is your favorite blanket making method? Share in the comment below.
Happy Making!
Azariahs Fibre Arts 