Continuous Spiral Crochet Baby Blanket Guide – Step by Step!

Imagine snuggling a newborn in a blanket you made with your own two hands. This Continuous Spiral Baby Blanket is not only visually stunning with its color-changing yarn, but it's also surprisingly simple to crochet. Plus, its unique square design ensures it lays flat and looks perfect every time.

If you're looking for a crochet project that's both beautiful and practical, this spiral crochet blanket is the answer. Here’s why you'll absolutely adore this pattern:

1. Perfectly Square: Forget about blankets that distort over time. This design stays perfectly square, ensuring that the corners don’t "walk out," maintaining a neat and tidy look.
2. No Blocking Required: Say goodbye to tedious post-crochet tasks. One of the best things about this blanket is that it doesn't need blocking. As soon as you're done crocheting, it's ready to be gifted or displayed.
3. Seamless Design: No more struggling with joining or stepping up! This pattern works in a continuous spiral, making for a smooth, uninterrupted crocheting experience.
4. Yarn Conservation: Have some fancy, color-changing yarn you want to stretch? Alternating it with a solid color allows you to get twice as much blanket, making the most of your precious yarn.

Whether you're a crochet newbie or a seasoned pro, this Easy Crochet project is designed for everyone. The repetitive nature of the spiral is relaxing, and the color changes keep things interesting.

Before diving into this exciting project, let’s gather all the necessary supplies. Here's what you’ll need to create this stunning spiral baby blanket:

• Color-Changing Yarn: For the mesmerizing spiral effect, I recommend using a color-changing yarn like Picasso yarn from Icy Yarns. This yarn, composed of 44% acrylic and 50% polyester, creates beautiful color transitions. Alternatively, you can use Red Heart Stripes or any color-changing yarn you love. You can get the yarn here: http://bit.ly/2G2JYRi.
• Solid Color Yarn: To complement the color-changing yarn, I suggest using Softly Baby yarn, which is 50% acrylic and 50% polyamide, making it incredibly soft and perfect for baby blankets. You can also use a solid color yarn that matches the tones in your color-changing yarn. If you can't find Softly Baby, Favorite from Icy Yarns is a great substitute. You can find Softly Baby yarn here: http://bit.ly/3H0k52w.
• Yarn Quantity: For a standard baby blanket, you will need four balls of Picasso yarn and two skeins of Softly Baby or Favorite yarn. One pack of each will yield two baby blankets or one larger blanket.

• Scissors
• Stitch marker (or a bobby pin/paperclip)
• Crochet hook: Use the hook size suggested for your yarn. For Picasso and Softly Baby, a 5mm crochet hook works perfectly.

Let's begin with the foundation of our blanket – the slip knot and initial ring.

1. Start with your color-changing yarn and create a slip knot. Any method you prefer for making a slip knot will work.
2. Avoid leaving an excessively long tail, as we’ll be working over it to secure it.
3. Place the slip knot onto your crochet hook.
4. Next, chain three. These chains will form the beginning of our ring.

To accurately count your stitches, remember not to include the knot or the loop on your hook. Focus on counting the "v" shapes in between.

Now, let’s form the initial ring:

1. Insert your hook into the very first stitch, right on top of the knot.
2. Slip stitch to form a ring. To do this, lay the tail of your yarn along your work, creating a "u" shape.
3. Hold the ring open with your finger and thumb, grab the yarn, and pull it through both loops on your hook.

Make sure to keep the ring open and maintain your hook's position to ensure the stitch is correctly placed.

In this round, we'll build the foundation of our Granny Square Crochet Blanket. Follow these steps carefully:

1. Chain three. This chain counts as your first double crochet.
2. Work two double crochets into the center of the ring. Remember to crochet over the tail to secure it. If you find it difficult to crochet over the tail, you can weave it in later.
3. Chain two to form the first corner.
4. Work three more double crochets into the center of the ring.
5. Chain two to complete the second side of your square.
6. Work three more double crochets into the center of the ring. If you need more space, pinch the ring and slide the stitches back to prevent overlapping.
7. Chain two for the corner.
8. Work three more double crochets into the center of the ring to finish the square.

This round is similar to starting a traditional granny square, but we're setting the stage for our unique spiral design.

Now for the fun part – creating the spiral effect!

1. Make a stitch into the second chain from the hook (skip the first chain).
2. Work a double crochet into that stitch.
3. Make a double crochet into the third chain, ensuring you pick up two strands of the stitch with your hook.
4. Pull up a loop and insert a stitch marker to keep your place. Once you become more comfortable with the pattern, you might not need the stitch marker, but it's helpful in the beginning.

Time to introduce our solid color yarn and create the contrast that makes this blanket so eye-catching:

1. Join the solid color yarn (in my case, white) into the very same spot where you made your last double crochet. This is at the top of the chain three.
2. Insert your hook into the same spot, loop the white yarn onto your hook, leaving a tail long enough to weave in later.
3. Pull the yarn through and slip stitch with both strands to join. I like to join this way so it looks the same as a regular stitch.
4. Chain two. Remember to crochet over the tail to secure it as you go.

The slip stitch and the chain two count as your first chain three, which then counts as your first double crochet.

Now, let's work with our solid color yarn to build the second round of our spiral:

1. Work one double crochet into each of the next three stitches. This part might look a bit different; if you stretch out the stitches slightly, you'll see one loop that’s a bit loose. Make sure to pick up both strands to create a proper stitch.
2. In the corner space, work two double crochets, chain two, and two double crochets. This creates a solid granny square corner.
3. Continue working one double crochet into each stitch along the side.

Remember, every stitch gets a stitch, and our corners get two double crochets, a chain two, and two more double crochets.

Let's finish this round and prepare for the next color transition:

1. Work two double crochets, chain two, and two double crochets into each corner space.
2. Work one double crochet into each stitch along the last side.
3. Stop one or two stitches before the end of your color-changing yarn.
4. Switch your stitch marker to hold the loop.

Now it's time to switch back to our color-changing yarn and continue building the spiral:

1. The first double crochet goes into the slip stitch, right into the center of the "v" where you joined your yarn.
2. Work one double crochet into each stitch.
3. When you reach the corner, chain two.
4. Work a double crochet into the top of the chain three (the third chain). This creates your new corner for the color-changing round.

Remember, every stitch along this side gets a double crochet.

To continue the spiral pattern, simply alternate between the color-changing yarn and the solid color yarn, working around and around.

Wrap your yarn and keep going into every stitch. In the corner space, work two double crochets, chain two, and two double crochets. Place a stitch marker in the corner to keep track of where you started your spiral.

To ensure a seamless spiral, switch colors strategically. Switch colors when getting close to the stitch marker or the start of the spiral.

You might even switch hooks to bring the color-changing yarn closer to the corner, ensuring your colors are evenly distributed.

To prevent the blanket from “walking out” and losing its square shape, we’ll introduce small corners every third row.

Every third row will feature small corners consisting of one double crochet, a chain two, and one double crochet. These small corners maintain the blanket's shape and prevent it from becoming distorted. Make sure you keep track of your stitch marker.

Here’s how to work the small corner row:

1. Work one double crochet into each stitch.
2. In the corners, work one double crochet, chain two, and one double crochet.
3. Continue around, repeating these steps.

For rounds six and seven, we’ll return to regular corners consisting of two double crochets, a chain two, and two double crochets. Work one double crochet into each stitch along the sides.

Remember to use your stitch marker to keep track of where you started your spiral. By looking back at your previous rows, you can easily determine whether you need to work a regular corner or a small corner.

In round eight, we’ll reintroduce small corners. This means working one double crochet, chain two, and one double crochet into each corner.

This alternating rotation of two rows with regular corners followed by one row with small corners is key to maintaining the blanket’s shape.

Continue the pattern by alternating between regular corners and small corners every third round. Keep crocheting until you run out of yarn or the blanket reaches your desired size.

When you're nearing the end and working on the last row of white, if there's not enough yarn to complete the round, simply end it there.

Here’s how to finish off the last row of your spiral blanket:

1. Work two double crochets into the last space (even if the pattern calls for one) to fill it out nicely.
2. Cut the yarn, chain one, and pull the hook through to secure the stitch.

To complete your spiral blanket, you’ll need to secure all the loose ends:

1. Chain one and cut the yarn, leaving a tail long enough to weave in.

2. Pull the hook up and snug the yarn to tighten the knot.

3. Weave in all the ends to secure them, ensuring they are neatly hidden within the stitches.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully crocheted a beautiful continuous spiral baby blanket. Snuggle up with your new creation or gift it to someone special.

Even with a straightforward pattern, you might encounter a few common issues. Here’s how to address them:

• Blanket Not Staying Square: Double-check that you’re incorporating small corners every third row, as this is crucial for maintaining the blanket's shape.
• Stitch Count Issues: Regularly count your stitches to ensure accuracy, especially after each corner.
• Yarn Tangling: Manage your yarn by using yarn bowls or bags to prevent tangling.

Want to add a personal touch to your continuous spiral blanket? Here are a few ideas:

• Color Combinations: Experiment with different color combinations and yarn types to create a truly unique blanket.

• Border Options: Add a simple border, such as a single crochet or shell stitch, for a polished look.

• Size Adjustments: Adjust the size by adding or removing rows to create anything from a small lovey to a large throw blanket.

I’d love to see your finished blankets! Share your projects on social media using the hashtag #SecretYarnery. Tag me so I can admire your beautiful work!

For more crochet inspiration and helpful tutorials, check out these resources:

• Explore more Granny Squares Collection for different patterns.

• Check out the beginner circle crochet guide for more crochet tips and tricks.

• Discover FREE PATTERNS for your next project.

• Find PRINTABLE PDF PATTERNS for easy reference.

• Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER for the latest updates and exclusive offers.

This Continuous Spiral Crochet Blanket is a delightful project that combines simplicity with stunning visual appeal. Its easy-to-follow pattern and unique design make it perfect for both beginners and experienced crocheters. So grab your hook and yarn, and let’s create a beautiful, snuggly masterpiece together!