Learn to Crochet a Granny Square Blanket Kit
Perhaps if you’re learning to crochet, a blanket sounds like a daunting first project. Why not a pot holder? Because crocheted blankets are amazing! Just like the ones your grandma made half a century ago, they’re artful and beautiful and timeless, much better than a pot holder and just as easy!
Our Learn to Crochet a Granny Square Blanket Kit (no longer available) is the first step to putting your own creative energy into this wonderful crafting tradition. You will learn everything there is to know about making a basic granny square, including how to wind a skein of yarn into a ball, how to work the necessary stitches, and how to sew your finished squares together into a blanket that will appreciated fifty years from now!
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
Our Kit comes in three beautiful palettes and includes all the Worsted Twist you’ll need to make a baby-size blanket, plus four crochet hooks, a tapestry needle, folding scissors and a step-by-step booklet designed for first-time crocheters.
Forget the pot holder and get ambitious. And most importantly, don’t let granny have all the fun! -Whitney
Update: New Colors!
October 18th, 2017
An update of our original Learn to Crochet Kit, we named this version the Granny Square Blanket Kit (no longer available), and it comes in four brand new palettes: quirky Caravan, sweet Cake Shop, cozy Cottage, and stellar Constellation!
UPDATE: NEW YARN
JUNE 25, 2021
Our classic Granny Square Blanket pattern is now in Purl Soho’s Cotton Pure! A lighter, machine-washable version, read all about it here.
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.
Materials
Our Granny Square Kit includes everything you’ll need to make one blanket (NOTE: This bundle is no longer available.)…
- 6 skeins of Purl Soho’s Worsted Twist, 100% merino wool.
- Inner Color: 1 skein
- Middle Colors A + B: 1 skein each
- Outer Color: 3 skeins
- A size H crochet hook, or size needed to make a 5 3/8-inch granny square
- A tapestry needle (also known as a darning needle)
- A Granny Square Blanket Pattern (Please Note: The Granny Square Blanket Pattern is no longer for sale, but all of its instructional information is now available for free in our How To Make A Granny Square and Sewing Crocheted Squares Together tutorials. For details about making this particular blanket, please email us at customerservice@purlsoho.com. We’ll be happy to help!)
Shop our wonderful collection of aran + worsted-weight yarn to find a suitable substitute for this project, and remember that it’s always a good idea to check your gauge before you cast on… Our All About Gauge Tutorial shows you how!
Size
Finished Dimensions: 25 x 31 inches
Can you get left handed instructions with kit.
Hi Penny,
We don’t have separate left handed instructions for this kit, but we do address the question in our instructional booklet. First, we say that, because both hands are active in crochet, many left handed crocheters feel comfortable working the same way right handers do. But if not, you can reverse right for left and left for right as you read the instructions, as well as try holding the images up to a mirror for a left handed view!
Thank you so much for your question and please let us know if you have any others!
Whitney
Hi, this is a beautiful crochet project, if I wanted to make a lap quilt would you double the amount of each of the yarns? Like 2 gray, 2 blue, 2 beige and 6 off white?
Thank you for your thoughts. And all the inspiration!!
Hi Tamara,
Right now the blanket is 5 x 6 squares (and measures 25 x 31 inches). So, let’s say you increased the size to 8 squares x 10 squares, which would give you a blanket that measures about 40 x 51 inches. You would still only need one skein of the Inner Color. You would need 3 skeins of each of the two Middle Colors, and you would need about 8 skeins of the Outer Color.
If you have a different size in mind, please let us know and we’ll figure it out for you! Thanks for much for your question and good luck!
Whitney
Hi Whitney,
I would like to make this blanket in the lap size you described above. Can I order the kit and then the extra skeins of yarn? What is the best way to do that?
Thank you!
Carla
Hi Carla,
Thanks for your interest in this pattern. I suggest you buy the kit and then the supplemental skeins on the “Shop” side of the site. Click here to see all the colors of Worsted Twist.
All the best,
Adam
Love seeing Crochet here! Very modern and retro at same time. Thanks!
How much would I need of each color to make a bedspread for a queen size bed? Do you have cotton alternatives? Thx
Hi Mechelle,
Here is some data that might help you with your calculations:
For our 25 x 31-inch (5 x 6-squares) blanket, we used…
Inner Color, about 30 grams
Middle Colors A + B, almost 90 grams each
Outer Color, about 280 grams
And each square measures 5 3/8 inches (about 5 to 5 1/4 inches once you’ve sewn it to its neighbors!).
If you let me know how many squares wide and high you’d like to make your queen-size version, I’ll happily help you figure out your yarn requirements!
And a wonderful cotton alternative would be Blue Sky’s Dyed Cotton: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/721-Blue-Sky-Dyed-Cotton It’s soft and cozy and comes in lots of nice colors!
Thanks so much for your question and please let us know if we can help you with more calculations or anything else!
Whitney
I love the cotton alternative. How much of each would I order? I have my color picked out! I love this retro modern pattern.
Hi Toby,
Sounds like you have a plan! If you want to make your blanket the same size as ours (25 x 31 inches) and you’re using Blue Sky’s Dyed Cotton, you could order the same number of skeins that we used: 1 for the Inner Color, 2 for the two Middle Colors, and 3 for the Outer Color. However, the cotton is about 14 yards shorter than the yarn we used, and both the Middle and Outer Colors may be cutting it a bit close. So, if you like to play things on the safer side, you could order an extra of each of the Middle and Outer Colors, keep them in their skein form (unless you need them!), and return them for store credit (within six months), if you don’t end up needing them.
I hope this gets you started! Please let us know if you have any other questions and thanks so much for this one!
Whitney
I’d love to make this for my daughter who just moved across country but I’d like to change the colors. Can I change the colors and make sure it’s napping size?
Hi Sally,
If you’d like to change the colors (and size), I suggest buying just the instructional booklet (as a hard copy or PDF download) and then buying your yarn separately.
The booklet is available here:
https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/9822-Purl-Soho-Learn-to-Crochet-a-Granny-Square-Blanket-Kit
Our Worsted Twist selection is right here: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/9239-Purl-Soho-Worsted-Twist
And our Worsted Twist Heather is here: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/9634-Purl-Soho-Worsted-Twist-Heather
And as far as making a napping size blanket goes, I just answered a similar question from Tamara. In my response, I suggested a blanket 8 x 10 squares, which would give you finished measurements of about 40 x 51 inches. For that size, you would still only need one skein of the Inner Color. You would need 3 skeins of each of the two Middle Colors, and you would need about 8 skeins of the Outer Color.
You may also find the question from Mechelle and my answer to her illuminating, because for her I listed how much of each yarn we used for our blankets.
Please let us know if we can help you with more calculations. Telling us what finished dimensions you’d like your blanket to have would help us be more specific. Thank you so much for your question and good luck!
Whitney
I have not purchased the booklet but you say in the preliminarty instructions to crochet these beautiful blocks and then sew them together. I have found over the years that no matter how loose you sew if you make an afghan sized blanket the stitches always crack and you are repairing over and over. I have found if I slip stitch the squares together and then the rows the blanket has the same give as the crocheted squares do. I would like to see your comments on this.
Thanks.
Hi Idonna,
There are definitely many schools of thought on the subject of joining crocheted squares. We like sewing them together with a whipstitch because it makes a neat, low-profile seam, and for us, it has proven very durable and flexible. Here’s how we do it…
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2015/06/26/sewing-crocheted-squares-together/
But more importantly, we encourage everyone to join his or her crocheted squares with his or her favorite method, whatever it is!
Thanks so much for starting this conversation and please let us know if you have any other thoughts on the subject!
Whitney
I’m dyslexic and have a lot of problems with instructions, I was wondering if your booklet is written with my short commings in mind…..how likely is it that I can be succesful in the project?
Hi Lesa,
Our instructional booklet is thoroughly illustrated with full-color photos, and we go to great lengths to make our written patterns as clear as possible. However, there are a lot of written instructions in our booklet, so perhaps supplementing our booklet with online video tutorials would be the perfect recipe for you!
Thank you so much for asking and please let us know if you have any more questions!
Whitney
I purchased the booklet but would love to have access to a video as well. I have knit for years but am finding that crochet is a bit more difficult for me to grasp. I believe that in addition to referring to the booklet a video would be an excellent addition.
Thanks,
Sandra
Hi Sandra,
Thanks for writing in! We are unable to produce a video at the moment but we will certainly keep your request in mind for the future!
Best,
Cassy
Thanks for this great pattern! Quick question: I have finished my inner square and am about to switch colors but I don’t understand how to create a slip stitch simply by pulling the yarn through. It’s between steps 1 and 2 in the pattern (for round 2) where I’m getting confused. Thanks in advance, Purl!
Hi John,
That’s an excellent question, because to me it feels like a slip stitch, but now that you ask, I realize it’s more of a chain 1. I’m sorry for the confusion, and we’ll work on rectifying that error!
Thank you so much for your question and please let us know if you have any more questions along the way. Good luck with your blanket!
Whitney
I don’t know what you mean by URL. Not very computer sauvy, but I would like to learn how to crochet, tried before without success. If I order a kit will I be able to contact you for instructions. How do I go about ordering a kit for the baby afghan in the colors blue white and yellow.
Hello Faye!
URL is the official term for a web address. If you would like to order our Dash of Desert Blue Crochet kit, just click here: http://bit.ly/1WaraBo
Enjoy and happy stitching! -Alyson
Super fun design!!
I’m interested in making a blanket that is around 10×14 squares (which I think is roughly queen blanket size). Can you help me figure out how much additional yarn I’ll need?
Thanks in advance!
Hello Lauren! We’re so happy you enjoy this design!
A blanket that is 10 squares by 14 squares will end up being about 54″ by 75″ and a standard queen size quilt is recommended to be about 60″ by 80″. I think its close enough! You could always add another row of 14 squares making a total of 154 instead of 140 squares. That being said, you’re just about doubling the size of the pattern, so if you distribute the colors in the same way as shown in our pattern, I would recommend getting double the amount of yarn recommended for each colorway.
Best of luck and happy crocheting! Thanks -Alyson
I never crochet. Is this kit ok for me? Are you planning any class that I should take first? I´m not good on following written instructions.
Hello Juliane!
This kit is designed just for you! The pictures and instructions included in the kit’s booklet are intended for complete beginners. If you are interested in a beginning crochet class, stay tuned on our website here: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/140-purl-products-purl-classes, for upcoming courses. Thanks for writing in! -Alyson
Hi, Could you help me to calculate exactly how many additional skeins of each color I would need to add to the blanket kit for the “Slice of Pink Grapefruit” if I want my blanket to measure 40 by 51 inches?
Thank you!
Hello Carla!
Making a larger version would be so lovely! Are you planning on keeping the ratio of dark squares to light squares the same? The pattern creates 10 of each type of square for a total of 30 squares. In order to make the size blanket you’re looking for, you would need to make a total of 63 squares. I would make 21 of each type if you’d like to keep the ratio the same. If you’re getting the same gauge as our pattern, you should have enough if you just duplicate the quantity of yarn in the kit.
That would mean two Pink Grapefruit, two Tabby Gray, two Wheat Flour and 6 Heirloom Whites. Best of luck with your lovely blanket! -Alyson
I’ve decided to make the 8 X 10 version of this lovely blanket based on the info you gave someone else in a comment here. After staring at the pattern for the smaller version in the instruction booklet, I cannot find the logic behind why the placement of the squares looks so right! How would you layout the 8 X 10 version? I prefer to tap into your design expertise if you’re willing to offer it!
Cheers!
Margaret
Hello Margaret!
In the PDF or paper version of the pattern we have mapped out how we recommend placing the squares. We did our best to evenly place the different types of squares throughout. We’re so glad you enjoy this pattern! Happy crocheting! -Alyson
Could you please tell me how much yarn I need to make a throw for a queen-sized bed, e.g. about 50″ x 70″? Beautiful pattern, as always you Purl Bee mavens.
Many thanks,
Karen
Hello Karen,
Thank you for your question.
Each square is roughly 5 3/8″ (5 to 5/1/4″ once you sew it to it’s neighbors). The blanket in our kit is 5×6-squares measuring 25X31-inches. A 10×14-square blanket would be about 54×75-inches (getting you very close to 50×70-inches).
You are just about doubling the size of the pattern, so if you distribute the colors in the same way as shown in our pattern, I would recommend getting double the amount of yarn recommended for each colorway.
Happy crocheting!
Kumeko
Is it recommended to do another round of blocking after sewing all the squares? I’ve just finished the seaming and there are some joints which feel slightly bumpy – I feel a round of blocking will straighten things out and give a neater finish.
This is my first venture into crochet and I’m thrilled with the results. Thank you for taking the effort to put together such a wonderful, easy-to-follow kit!
Hello, Rehana!
Thank you so much writing in! I am so glad that your first venture into crochet was a success! You can do another round of blocking if you feel so inclined, it certainly won’t harm your beautiful blanket. Blocking always gives a completed piece a nice, crisp look, so if those joints are bugging you, I say go for it! Thanks again for your question!
Best,
Kumeko
Why do we need so many different sizes needles for this project. I am a beginner so I am still learning a lot of things about crochet.
Hi Angela,
Great question! The answer is that you will actually only use one hook when you make your blanket, but we wanted to include a range of hooks for people to experiment with. Some people may hook up a small, tight square with a size G hook, for example, whereas someone else might get a loose and sloppy square with the same size hook. Everyone crochets differently, so everyone needs to find the right hook for each project.
We also wanted to set beginner crocheters up with a useful set of hooks, because hopefully this blanket is just the beginning!
Thanks so much for your question and please let us know if you have any more!
Whitney
I love all your projects but for now I will pick this one lol – are the colors gray or more of a brown taupe? On the computer they look gray just wanted to make sure I love gray. Thanks so much!
So glad to hear you’ve found a project you’re interested in! The Tabby Gray color shown in these photos is an earth tone gray. We hope this helps with the decision! Thanks for writing in!
Keith
I love this pattern! I’m hoping to make a larger blanket but some of the yarns are out of stock. Am I safe to order the kit now and hope for a restock of the yarns soon?
Thanks!
Hi Anna,
Thank you for writing in! Unfortunately, some of the colors like “Desert Blue” and “Yellow Zest” are discontinued and we won’t be reordering them. I suggest you make a custom color palette with the colors we have right now. Let me know if you need help!
Best,
Adam
Hi! I’m very excited to baby-step into crochet and make this blanket (I’m using pre-stashed Cascade 128 in red, white, and black for a donation, and Blue Sky Fibers Cotton for our apartment) – thank you for such a beginner-friendly pattern! I have two questions though. The PDF has great detail but it’s hard to visualize the motions; is there a video of one of these squares being done on the website or youtube? Also, it looks like there isn’t any border after sewing the pieces together – is that correct? Please let me know when you can. Thanks!
Hi Bekka,
Thanks for writing in! We do not currently have a video tutorial on how to make a granny square but you can certainly try searching YouTube for a video of making a granny square.
You are correct! There is no additional border after that square are sewn together. We think that it looks clean, neat and lovely as is!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
There is an error in the printed book, but I cannot locate the correction on website, can you please point me to the url
Hello, Susangni!
Thank you for writing in! You can find the correction here. Please let us know if you have further questions!
Best,
Kumeko
Here’s what I want to do. I’d like to make this blanket in a 40 x 50 ish size using the Blue Sky Cotton yarn. I saw an earlier note telling how much yarn is needed to make the kit-sized blanket (25 x 30) in this yarn and what colors would be similar to those in the Slice of Grapefruit kit? Thanks.
Hi Kristin,
Thanks for writing in! You’ll need roughly double the amount of skeins for a 40×50″ blanket. For color options in the Blue Sky Cotton that go with the Slice of Grapefruit colorway, I’d say you should go for bone, drift, pink parfait and graphite. Thanks!
-Adam
Thinking of making this for a friend having her first baby. Is this yarn machine washable?
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for writing in! For our Worsted Twist, we recommend hand washing. If you are looking for a washable alternative, Anzula’s For Better or Worsted would be a great option!
Best,
Cassy
I’d love to make this as a baby shower gift, but do you have a recommendation for a yarn that is machine washable?
Hi Christine,
Thanks for writing us! I suggest Anzula For Better or Worsted. It’s machine washable, super soft and a dream to work with!
-Adam
I was wanting to try this in all one color. How many yards do I need total for a baby size? I’m planning on using the anzula for better or worsted as it’ll be a baby blanket.
Thanks so much!
Hello Amanda,
Thank you for writing in! This blanket will be gorgeous in Anzula’s For Better or Worsted. According to my calculations you will be ok with 4 skeins of For Better or Worsted, but might want to get a fifth skein to be on the safe side.
I hope this is helps!
Warmly,
Marilla
Thank you so much! Now to try to pick a color…
I am really looking forward to making this blanket but wondering if there’s any reason I can’t begin each square with an adjustable loop instead of the chain-6 foundation ring?
Thank you 🙂
Catherine
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for writing in and our apologies for the delayed response! You certainly can use an adjustable loop here if you wish!
Best,
Cassy
Wondering if you will be offering this kit again? I love the quirky caravan option – but it does not seem to be available??
Hi Kate,
Thanks for writing in! I am sorry to say that the Caravan colorway is discontinued as it contains colors that have been discontinued and are no longer available. Both Copper Penny and Artemisia Green are no longer available. You could put together your own colorway and use Red Panda in place of Copper Penny and Ash Gray in place of Artemisia Green. The colors are different to the original but I think are still in keeping in the spirit of the original Carvan colorway!
Best,
Casys
Would it be possible to put together a learn to crochet kit with the grey yarns shown above? It seems that the kits are no longer available but so cute. Thank you, Kathie
Hi Kathie,
Thanks so much for the kind words! Unfortunately, we are no longer stocking these kits and a few of the original colors of yarn have been discontinued, but all the other materials are available separately and I would be happy to recommend similar colors! To create your own kit, you will need to order our Granny Square Blanket Pattern, a Size H crochet hook, a tapestry needle, and 6 skeins of Worsted Twist. To replicate the original colors, you will need 3 skeins of Heirloom White, 1 skein of Reed Gray, 1 skein of Gray Shade, and 1 skein of your center color, which could be any bright contrasting color – True Tourquoise, Mountain Rose, and Fresh Pickle would all be super cute options!
I hope that helps, and happy stitching!
Julianna