Aran cotton granny square blanket

Aran cotton Granny Square Blanket

Amanda Hurrell Eight-by-Six©

 

Sizes and Materials List

Hook Size UK 5mm

Yarn: Hobbycraft Women’s Institute Home Cotton
160m metres per 100g ball

Yarn substitute: any Aran cotton, suggestions Paintbox Aran but you will need to purchase more yarn and this uses a smaller hook size.

pattern size of approx. 100 x 100cm

One each of the following colours 100g ball + Cream 5  x 100g

Wash care instructions: machine washable 40deg mild wash, cool tumble dry, do not iron, do not bleach.

Colours

Dark pink 122-09 (for centre and 1^st row of border)
Cream 122-02, alternate on every other row
Light blue 122-13
Light Pink 122-08
Yellow 122-04
Purple 122-17
Dark Blue 122-18

Tips & Notes

One great tip I learnt is to flip your work on each row. This is a great way to keep your granny square, well square and not wonky. It works like magic and since using this method I’ve never looked back. To do this you flip over your square so that the previous row and join are now in the bottom left hand corner of the square (wrong side facing you) and you start the next row in the top right of the square.

On the first and subsequent rounds I chain 2 in the corners between the tr clusters. To keep the stitches closer together, I don’t chain in-between the treble clusters along each side, some people like to ch-1.

Abbreviations

ch = chain
ss = slip stitch
dc = double crochet
tr = treble

Gauge: crochet to your own comfortable gauge, it’s a fun, relaxing way to make a fabulous blanket so you need to enjoy it. Grab yourself a coffee and off you go.

Skill Level: beginner  

Pattern Instructions

This pattern is written in U.K. terms and we will be using the basic granny square pattern for this blanket. It’s an easy pattern for beginners and loved by experienced crafters too. Making granny squares is very satisfying and when making just one large granny square you can make this simple yet effective blanket. There are many variations of the granny square, this is my method.

Let’s start

Make the foundation round/circle Slip knot your yarn and insert onto your 5mm hook. Using Dark Pink Ch 4, insert hook into first chain and slip stitch to first chain to make a circle.

Round one: Ch 3 (this will count as your first tr) 2tr, ch-2, *3tr, ch-2* repeat 3 times. Slip stich (ss) to join round You’ve completed your first round.

Round two Flip square. Change colour to contrast cream Ch 3 in one of the ch-2 spaces from the previous round (this will count as your first tr) 2tr, ch-2, 3tr (no chain) *(3tr, ch 2, 3tr) in next ch-2 space *repeat 3 times. You should now have 4 corners. SS to join. You’ve completed your second round.

Round three Flip square. Change colour to light blue and join in right-hand corner ch-2 space (reverse of Round 2) ch 3 (this will count as first tr) 2tr, ch-2, 3tr, 3tr (in next 2-ch space=side), 3tr ch-2 3tr in next chain space, 3tr, repeat 3 times then slip stitch to third chain where you started. You have completed round 3.

Continue to add each row using the above method in Round three. I have used one colour for each of the rounds (rows) alternating as shown in my colour list. Continue to follow my colour chart until you reach your desired size (mine is 32 rows plus the border, 35 rows in total). This gives you a blanket size of approx. 100 x 100 cm, big enough to cover you on chilly days. It grows quickly using a 5mm hook.

Border

Round One: using the right side facing, into one of the corners granny cluster method as used for the main blanket using Cream (ch3, tr2, ch2, tr3), ss to beginning of this round and cut yarn.

Round Two: with right side facing, ch2 (counts as first dc) dc4 into the first corner then DC into each stich using Dark Pink then ss to first stitch from the beginning of this round.

Round Three: with right side facing I started along one side, ch2 (counts as first dc) dc3 on the first corner stitches (not into the corner) then dc into each stich using Light Blue then ss to first stitch from the beginning of this round.

border row 3

border row 3

Finishing

Weave in ends (although I do this as I go along, you can also crochet over the previous row leaving just one end to cut and one end to sew in). Wash if required using manufacturer’s instructions, line dry and enjoy your new blanket.

Colour sequence

Dark pink
(cream, alternate on every other row)
Light blue
Light Pink
Yellow
Purple
Light Blue
Dark Blue

Continue with Pink, etc

Credits
My blanket journey started 5 years ago when my dad was first diagnosed with cancer and I’d learnt to crochet. I started with a granny stripe blanket taking it along to my dad’s hospital appointments. I was amazed at how many people stopped to look at me crocheting all the bright colours in the waiting room, it wasn’t a gloomy visit, far from it. At the end of my dad’s treatment I gave him that blanket which he still uses today and my love of crochet took over my life. I decided this year that rather than bake I’d Crochet instead - one of my Orla Kiely 1970s inspired blankets, big and cosy for autumn nights. 

Pattern and photos by Amanda Hurrell, Eight-by-Six©
You are welcome to use my pattern to make blankets to sell, but please do not copy the pattern Please credit me back with eightbysix, thank you.