Modern Crochet Rectangle Blanket
This modern take on the crochet Granny Square Blanket was a delight to design and make.
You may have seen my pages on the Rectangle Granny. This is a blanket based on rectangles, but a modern updated rectangle design with each rectangle using a single colour, creating a contemporary feel.
Materials
Crochet Hook: 4mm or size needed to achieve gauge
Yarn: DK weight yarn in five different colours, 100g/295m for each of four colours and 300g/875m in the fifth (joining) colour.
The sample uses Stylecraft Special DK as follows:
Lime (A) – (100g/590m),
Silver (B) – (100g/295m)
Duck Egg (C) – (100g/295m),
Cream (D) – (100g/295m),
Graphite (E) – (300g/875m),
Notions: Scissors, needle to weave in ends
Finished Size: Approximately 88cm x 112cm, the actual size of your blanket will depend on your tension (how tightly you crochet)
Crochet Level:
Beginners
Gauge:
Rectangle made as constructed in the pattern = 4cm x 15.5cm, adjust hook size as necessary Gauge is not critical for this project, but may affect yarn quantities
Abbreviations/Crochet terminology
UK terms are used throughout.
dc | Double Crochet |
htc | Half Treble Crochet |
ch | Chain |
ss | Slip stitch |
Beg-ch | Beginning chain |
st(s) | stitch(es) |
Htr Cluster | 2 half treble crochet stitches worked in the same stitch or space |
(…) | Group of stitches to be worked in the same stitch or space |
*to* | Instructions between asterisks will be repeated as specified |
Stitch Guide/Conversion Guide
UK term | US term | Description |
|---|---|---|
Double Crochet (dc) | Single Crochet (sc) | Insert hook into stitch, yarn over hook, pull through stitch (2 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull through remaining two loops to leave 1 loop on the hook |
Half Treble Crochet (htr) | Half Double Crochet (hdc) | Yarn over hook. Insert hook into stitch, yarn over hook, pull through stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull through remaining three loops to leave 1 loop on the hook |
Slip Stitch (ss) | Slip Stitch (ss) | Insert hook into stitch, yarn over hook, pull through stitch and through loop |
Making the Rectangles
You will need to make a total of 100 rectangles; 25 rectangles in each of Lime (A), Silver (B), Duck Egg (C) and Cream (D). Each rectangle consists of a chain of 21, 1 row of double crochet and then 2 rounds of half treble crochet (htr) clusters (made up of 2 half treble crochet stitches).
Video tutorial
A video tutorial for the Modern Rectangle can be found here.
Written instructions
The written instructions for making the rectangles can be found here: Modern Crochet Rectangles
Make 25 rectangles in each of the four colours.
Arrangement of Rectangles
You can arrange your rectangles as you please. I arranged mine as follows:
Joining the Granny Rectangles
The Rectangles are joined using the joining colour (E), which is Graphite in my sample.
I used the join-as-you-go joining method, which meant that each rectangle was joined to the adjacent rectangle whilst the third round was added to each rectangle. The third round is worked in the same way as for the second round, but with an additional htr cluster along each side.
The join-as-you-go joining method is outlined here. The principles of this joining tutorial are adapted to apply to the modern crochet rectangles made with half treble crochet (UK terms) clusters rather than squares made with treble clusters.
Border
The border is simply 6 rows of htr clusters (a group of 2 htr), all worked in the joining colour E (Graphite) as follows:
Border round 1: Using yarn E (Graphite), pull up a loop in any ch2 corner space. Ch2 (counts as first htr), 1htr into same space, work along the side of the blanket inserting *2htr in each space formed between the htr clusters from the row below.
When you come to the join between the two rectangles insert a htr cluster in the corner space of both the first rectangle and the second (see photo below).
When you arrive at the corner of the blanket work (2htr, ch2, 2htr) in the corner* and then repeat from *to* until you reach the start of the round, 2htr in corner space where you started, ch2, ss into top of beg-ch.
Border Round 2: Turn the blanket over, ss into the chain 2 corner space that you just formed. Ch2 (counts as 1htr), 1htr into same space, work along each side of the blanket working 2htr in each space formed between the treble clusters from the row below and working (2htr, ch2, 2htr) in each corner.
When you reach the start of the round, 2htr in corner space where you started, ch, ss into the top of the beg-ch.
Border Round 3-6: Repeat Border Round 2.
Fasten off and weave in all ends. I don’t usually block my blankets, but you can do this if you wish.
