The Best Easy Crochet Blanket Tutorial for Beginners – The Dirty Granny Baby Blanket

Are you ready to make a stunning yet simple crochet blanket project? The Dirty Granny Baby Blanket is perfect for beginners while still giving a beautiful and textured result. This is a one-row repeat process, meaning you’ll quickly get the hang of the pattern and can relax with this easy crochet blanket. The pattern relies on basic crochet stitches, making it an excellent project whether you're just starting or want something to work up quickly.

Check out this full guide to create your own Dirty Granny Baby Blanket! You will also find the video tutorial for extra help along the way:

Introduction to the Dirty Granny Baby Blanket

The Dirty Granny Baby Blanket is both easy and delightful to work up. This blanket pattern uses simple stitches and gives you an amazing result with a textured, granny-style look. One of the most appealing parts of this project? It’s a breezy one-row repeat, which means once you get the hang of the row, it’s smooth sailing from there!

For my version, I alternated four rows of color with one row of white throughout. The final size was approximately 38 inches by 48 inches (or 96 cm by 122 cm). But you can always adjust your starting chain if you want something bigger or smaller.

Materials Needed for Your Easy Crochet Blanket

Here's what you'll need to get started on this baby blanket:

• Yarn: I used 600 grams of yarn spread across three colors (200 grams each) and less than 100 grams of white. Feel free to play with your own color combinations!
• Hook: You’ll begin with an 8mm hook for the chain, then drop down to a 7mm hook for the rest of the blanket. If you don’t have those larger hooks, try using a 6mm hook but ensure you chain loosely!
• 13 Stitch Markers: These are key for managing your stitch count early on.
• Darning Needle: You’ll need this for sewing in any yarn ends.
• A pair of scissors: Essential for yarn cutting, of course!

And there you have it, your crochet essentials. Now let’s talk about the color selection and how you can tweak the design based on your creative vision.

Yarn and Color Selection

For my blanket, I played around with three colors and used white as a complement. The alternating rows create a stunning visual effect. If you want to know the exact colors I used, you can check the links to the yarn in the description on my website or the video.

But don’t be afraid to experiment—let your creativity shine! Consider going for playful pastels, bold shades, or even a monochrome look if that's your style. If you're feeling adventurous with color, I've curated some other easy crochet blanket patterns for more inspiration.

Pattern Basics and Understanding the Repeat

If you're worried because you don’t read traditional crochet patterns, don’t be! My patterns are written in plain English, so there’s no need to decode complex instructions. Just follow along with the written steps, which are very simple and easy to understand. If you prefer to grab the written pattern, it’s available on my website here: Dirty Granny Easy Crochet Baby Blanket.

The best part of this pattern is the one-row repeat. This means that once you get through the first row, you won’t need to constantly refer back. It’s highly beginner-friendly and very rhythmical, perfect for a relaxed crochet session.

Gauge and Size Information

The finished blanket comes out to 38 inches wide by 48 inches tall (which is 96 cm x 122 cm). While gauge is less critical for blankets compared to garments, try to keep it consistent, especially if you’re following the exact size mentioned.

If you want to change the size of your blanket, just ensure your starting chain is a multiple of eight. For example, I chained 104, but feel free to experiment based on your preference.

Starting with the Foundation Chain

The first step is making a slip knot and chaining multiples of eight. For a blanket the same size as mine, a chain of 104 stitches will get you there. Keep in mind, if you want a bigger or smaller blanket, simply adjust the number of chains, but always stay within multiples of eight for the pattern to work.

Make sure your initial chain is loose, especially if you use a smaller hook. You'll be working into the back loops of the chain to start, so don’t worry if it doesn't look completely neat yet; that will fix itself as the blanket takes shape.

Stitch Markers and The First Row

Stitch markers are crucial when starting your project. You’ll want to place a stitch marker after every eight chains. These markers ensure that your stitch count stays accurate as you begin that all-important foundation row.

Once your chain is ready, the first row is where the foundation of the repeating pattern is developed. You’ll work into the back loops, which helps the bottom edge of the blanket stay neat.

Let’s Talk About the Pattern Stitches: Glass and Olive

Now we’re getting to the fun part! There are two main stitch motifs I use through the entire pattern, which I call The Glass and The Olive.

• Glass Stitch: This motif consists of two double crochets, chain two, and then two double crochets in the same stitch. This creates a space in the middle, giving it the look of an elegant “glass.”

• Olive Stitch: This one’s simple but effective—just five double crochets into that single stitch, making it resemble a little olive bunch.

Once you master both, you alternate between them across each row. It’s like they’re dancing across your blanket, creating a gorgeous texture!

Repeating Rows and Keeping It Moving

From the second row onwards, you’ll be repeating the first row. All the way across, you’ll alternate between the glass stitch and the olive stitch. In each new row, glasses go into glasses and olives into olives.

You’ll continue these row repeats until you've reached the height you want for your blanket. It feels like a smooth rhythm once you get started, so don't worry about getting stuck in the middle. Just pause the video or come back to your notes if needed.

How to Change Colors

When you’re ready to change colors, don’t worry—it’s simple. You’ll want to switch colors at the end of a row. Start your last double crochet, but don’t finish it—drop your working yarn, grab the new color, and finish the stitch with that new yarn.

Leave a tail of both the old and new yarn and weave them in later using a darning needle. You can follow along with my video easily to see this technique in action.

Final Rows and Adding a Border

When your blanket has reached its full height, you’ll want to finish strong. End with your color pattern’s final four rows, and don’t forget to complete the last row of single crochets—it ties everything together cleanly.

To add the final touch, we’ll be working the edge with single crochets and chain stitches. These loose chains will help balance out the blanket, matching the looseness of the starting chain.

Finishing Touches and How to Weave in Ends

Once you’ve finished the edging, trim your yarn, leaving some length for weaving. Use your darning needle to sew in those ends—just be sure the tails are snug, so they don’t poke out later when you’re using your blanket.

And voila, you’ve finished your Dirty Granny Baby Blanket!

Sharing Your Work

I absolutely love seeing how everyone’s projects turn out! Feel free to share your completed blanket with me. You can find me across the usual social media platforms, and I’m always eager to see your creativity in action.

Whether this is your first project or your tenth, remember—you’re welcome in my crochet community. Have fun with colors and design, and don’t be afraid to make it your own.

Stay connected by checking out more crochet projects here.

Conclusion

Thanks so much for following along with this easy crochet blanket tutorial. The Dirty Granny Baby Blanket is a fun and simple beginner project, but the results are stunning! After a few rows, you’ll be cruising along, and before you know it, you'll have a cozy blanket ready to use or gift.

If you’re new to crochet or want to explore more patterns, visit my website here. Happy hooking, and remember to stay creative!