Stash-buster Squares Blanket
This Stash-buster project is to use up leftover yarn from other projects. You can use any yarn you want to use. I used leftovers of Stylecraft Special DK – each square used approximately 7-8g of DK yarn (each square measured approximately 11.5cm x 12cm). I used a size 4mm hook.
The stitches used in these squares are double crochet (dc) and half treble crochet (htr) (UK terms). The main body of the square is based on a modified lemon peel stitch (the lemon peel stitch alternates between double crochet and treble crochet, but this pattern uses a half treble instead of the treble crochet). A video tutorial is available – see link further down the page.
I left a long tails of approximately 30cm, so that I can sew the squares together using these long tails.
I made a total of 70 squares for my project, and arranged them in a 7 by 10 formation. I sewed the squares together. My blanket measured 79cm x 119cm at this stage. I did, however, decide to add a simple white border, and on completing this my finished blanket measured 82cm x 122cm.
Without a border
With a border
Abbreviations/Crochet Terms
UK terms are used throughout.
ss | Slip stitch |
dc | Double crochet |
htr | Half treble crochet |
ch | Chain |
*to* | Instructions between asterisks will be repeated as specified |
st(s) | Stitches(s) |
beg-ch | Beginning chain |
Stitch Description/UK-US Conversion
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 |
Chain (ch) | Chain (ch) | Yarn over hook, pull through loop |
Abbreviations/Crochet terminology
UK terms are used throughout.
Crochet Level
Suitable for beginners
Written Pattern (UK terms)
- Foundation chain – Ch18
- Row 1 – dc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch to the end, turn. [17 stitches]
- Row 2 – ch1 (does not count as a st), htr in the first st, *dc in the next, htr in the next* repeat from *to* to the end, ensuring that the last st worked is a htr. Turn.
- Row 3 – ch1 (does not count as a st), dc in first st, *htr in the next st, dc in the next st*, repeat from *to* to the end ensuring that the last st is a dc. NOTE: the dc’s are worked into a htr st from the row below and the htr’s are worked into a dc.
- Rows 4 -15 – repeat row 2 and row 3
- Row 16 – repeat row 2
- Row 17 – ch1 (does not count as a st), dc in each st to the end. Cut yarn leaving a long tail of approximately 30cm (if you are going to sew your squares together).
Video Tutorial for a Stash-buster Square
Joining
I made 70 squares for my project and arranged them in a 7 by 10 formation. Sew the squares together. The video tutorial also shows one method of sewing the squares together. Alternatively, you may want to crochet the squares together.
Border
You can leave your blanket as it is. Alternatively you can add a simple border of 3 rounds of moss stitch (linen stitch) border with white yarn, as follows.
Instructions for the border
You will need approximately 35-40g of a border colour. Make sure you don’t work the border too tightly, you can use a bigger hook size if necessary.
- Using border colour, pull up a loop in the top right corner.
- Ch3 (counts as 1dc and ch1), skip 1 st, work 1dc in the next.
- Continue to work [ch1, skip 1 st, dc in the next st] until the corner
- Work [dc, ch2, dc] in the corner space
- Work along the side of the blanket with [ch1, skip 1 st, dc in the next st], note – work these sts evenly, placing a dc in approximately every other row
- Work [dc, ch2, dc] in the corner
- Work along the bottom edge of the blanket with [ch1, skip 1 st, dc in the next st]
- Work [dc, ch2, dc] in the corner
- Work along the final side of the blanket with [ch1, skip 1 st, dc in the next st]
- When you reach the corner that you started the round, work [dc, ch2] in the corner space at the start, then ss into the ch2 beg-ch to close the round.
- Turn the blanket over, ss back into the chain space just formed – ch3 (counts as 1dc and a ch1).
- Work a dc in the first chain space, ch1, work a dc in the next chain 1 space
- Continue to work along the side with [ch1, dc in the chain space] until the corner
- Work [dc, ch2, dc] in corner space.
- Work [ch1, dc in the chain space] around the rest of the blanket, working [dc, ch2, dc] in each corner. Work [dc, ch2] in the corner space at the start of the round, ss into the ch2 beg-ch.
- Repeat steps 11-15, to work a 3rd round of the border.
