Cozy Cabin Granny Throw

What You Will Need

Yarn:

• Cream (C), about 600 yards (550 m)
• Tan or beige (T), about 650 yards (595 m). This also covers the border and the tassel.
• Chocolate brown (N), about 350 yards (320 m)
• Cranberry red (R), about 350 yards (320 m)
• Tip: Use a DK weight cotton or cotton blend yarn. Cotton gives the clusters crisp definition and keeps the blanket soft and washable. Buy a little extra of each color, and check that the dye lots match.

Tools:

• 4.0 mm (G/6) crochet hook. Use a hook one size smaller or larger if your gauge does not match.
• Yarn needle with a large eye for weaving in ends
• Stitch markers
• Sharp scissors
• Blocking mats and pins (optional but helpful)
• Optional: wooden beads and a tassel for the corner decoration

Gauge: 6 clusters and 8 rows in granny stitch = 4 x 4 inches (10 x 10 cm). Please make a swatch, since the gauge decides the size of your blanket.

The Basics (US Terms)

• ch = chain
• dc = double crochet
• sc = single crochet
• sl st = slip stitch
• sp = space
• cluster = 3 dc worked in the same place
• C, T, N, R = cream, tan, brown, red
• The blanket is worked flat in rows. Row 1 is the right side.

The Granny Stitch

• Foundation chain: Make a multiple of 3 chains, plus 4.
• Row 1: Work 2 dc in the 4th ch from the hook (the skipped chains count as the first dc). Skip 2 ch, 3 dc in the next ch. Repeat from * across to the last 3 ch. Skip 2 ch, dc in the last ch.
• Row 2 and all following rows: Ch 3 (counts as a dc), turn. Work 3 dc in the space between the next two clusters. Repeat from * across. Finish with 1 dc in the top of the turning ch from the row below.

The most common mistake in granny stitch is losing the last dc of the row. Always work a dc into the top of the turning chain, and count your clusters every few rows.

Stripe Sequence

This 12 row sequence repeats for the whole blanket. Each row is one color.

| Rows | Color | |---|---| | 1 to 2 | Cream (C) | | 3 | Red (R) | | 4 to 5 | Brown (N) | | 6 | Red (R) | | 7 to 8 | Tan (T) | | 9 | Red (R) | | 10 to 11 | Cream (C) | | 12 | Red (R) |

Changing colors:

1. Change colors at the end of every row. On the last dc of the row, work until 2 loops remain on the hook, then pull the new color through.
2. Carry the unused yarn loosely up the side if the color returns within 2 or 3 rows. Otherwise, cut it and weave in the ends later.
3. Weave in your ends as you go, or add them to the border later, so you are not left with a mountain of tails at the end.

Let Us Get Started

Part 1: The Blanket

1. Foundation: With cream, ch 184.
2. Row 1: Work Row 1 of the granny stitch. (about 60 clusters)
3. Rows 2 to 110: Work Row 2 of the granny stitch, following the stripe sequence. Repeat the 12 row sequence 9 times (108 rows), then work 2 more rows in cream. (about 60 clusters)
4. Fasten off and weave in all ends. If you want a longer or shorter blanket, add or remove rows in sets of 12 so the stripes stay balanced.

Part 2: The Border

Worked with tan yarn.

1. Round 1: With the right side facing, join tan in any corner. Ch 1, then work 3 sc in the corner. Work sc evenly along each side, placing about 3 sc in each space between clusters along the top and bottom edges, and about 2 sc in each row along the side edges. Work 3 sc in each corner. Join with a sl st to the first sc.
2. Round 2: Ch 1. Sc in each stitch around, working 3 sc in each corner stitch. Join with a sl st.
3. Round 3: Repeat Round 2.
4. Round 4 (optional, for a rope edge): Ch 1, do not turn. Work 1 reverse sc (working left to right) in each stitch around. Join with a sl st and fasten off.
5. Weave in all remaining ends.

Assembly and Finishing

Blocking:

1. Pin the blanket flat on blocking mats, and gently spray or steam it. Let it dry fully.
2. Blocking opens up the clusters and evens out the stripes, so the edges lie flat.

Making the Tassel (optional):

1. Wrap tan yarn about 30 times around a piece of cardboard that is 5 inches (13 cm) tall.
2. Slide a short length of yarn through the top and tie it tightly. Cut the loops at the bottom.
3. Wrap another piece of yarn around the tassel about 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the top, tie it, and tuck in the ends. Trim the bottom evenly.
4. Sew the tassel to one corner of the blanket. For the look in the photo, thread a short string of wooden beads on a cord, tie it to the tassel, and sew the other end to the corner.

A Few Friendly Tips

• Swatch first: Make a 5 x 5 inch swatch in granny stitch and check your gauge. If you have too many clusters per inch, go up a hook size. If you have too few, go down.
• Keep the edges straight: Always work a dc into the top of the turning ch. Count the clusters at the end of every 10 rows, and use a stitch marker at the first stitch of the row.
• Yarn planning: Buy enough yarn from the same dye lot, since you will use a lot of it. Slight color differences can show up in a large blanket.
• Weaving ends: Ends can be hidden inside the border. As you work Round 1, crochet over the tails to save time.
• Different sizes: For a baby blanket, chain 100 (32 clusters) and work 70 rows. For a larger lap blanket, chain 223 (73 clusters) and work 140 rows.
• Make it your own: Try soft pastels, cool winter blues, or a single bright accent color in place of the red.
• Care: Machine wash gently on a cool setting and lay flat to dry. Wash it alone the first time, in case the red bleeds.

I hope you enjoy making this cozy cabin blanket. It is such a relaxing project, and every striped row makes it more fun to watch it grow.

If you run into any trouble or just want to share how your blanket turned out, please reach out. I love seeing what you create.

Happy crocheting!