How many chains do I need for a blanket? is probably the most common question I get asked. The answer is…well, there IS no definitive answer! The size of your crochet blanket doesn’t just rely on chain number, it also takes personal gauge, yarn thickness, size of hook and the blanket pattern into account. So, what may make a baby blanket for one person, might make a lap blanket for another. But here’s the great thing about blankets. They don’t need to be worn or sized to body of the person using the blanket. So, the truth is, you can make it ANY SIZE YOU LIKE!
That said, there ARE ways to ensure you don’t end up with a tiny doll-sized blanket instead of a full adult sized one! We’ve all seen the internet stories of people ordering furniture for their house, only to end up with a miniature-sized rug or chair. While it might make for fun viewing, you don’t want to recreate the crochet version.
So, if you can’t rely on chain number to get the right size…what can you do? You can measure your chain! It’s simple. I’ve created a quick reference guide on blanket sizes so you can measure your chain with a measuring tape and make sure you avoid any teeny-tiny blanket nightmares!
Instead of asking “how many chains do I need for a blanket?” it’s better to ask, “how long should my chain be for a blanket?”
Ready to get your hands on the guide?
Whether you save, pin or print this guide and stick it to your fridge, it’s the perfect handy reference for your crochet blanket making. So, now you’ve no excuse – get hooking!
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11 Comments
Margaret Davies
July 9, 2020 at 2:22 pmThank you
Doreen
July 16, 2020 at 11:02 amI understand measuring instead of counting chains, but when I lay out my chain over a bed for example, The finished blanket ends up larger than needed because I must be laying the chain too loose. I’m thinking I should give it a tug, not tight, but stretching it a bit because once the blanket is completed it has weight to it and as you’re spreading it out on the bed it ends up longer. Does that make sense?
marieaspencer
September 28, 2020 at 4:59 amI just finished my first ever crochet project, it was the lilac and vanilla baby blanket, I just learned to crochet a few weeks, by watching your videos, which are absolutely brilliant, you make it so easy to follow, with the way you explain and demonstrate everything, I can not thank you enough, Sarah-Jayne, I think we can simply say I am now “hooked” can’t wait to attempt my next project, thank you again. x
BellaCocoTeam
September 29, 2020 at 5:37 pmYou are very welcome 🙂
janet
November 6, 2020 at 12:55 pmWhat blanket size is ok but how many chains and how many do you add to it like chain 100 + 1 that is what i need to know it is no good saying do a blanket by 10x 10 how many chains do you do afterwards like a turning chain
BellaCocoTeam
November 10, 2020 at 4:21 pmHi Janet It’s not as simple as saying how many to chain unfortunately as the size you end up with will all depend on your yarn, hook and personal tension A good idea is to crochet a small swatch which you can then measure and use to work out how many to chain. I also have a blog post explaining blanket sizing in more detail here: https://bellacocoblog.frogspark.agency/how-many-chains-for-a-blanket/
Anne
April 27, 2021 at 3:04 pmWhat is the design for this blanket please? Love the pattern and love your colour scheme!
BellaCocoTeam
April 29, 2021 at 8:42 amDo you mean the bobble stripe blanket? here is the link if this is the one you mean – https://bellacocoblog.frogspark.agency/?s=bobble+stripe+blanket
Liz
August 7, 2021 at 2:25 pmHow many chains do I need for pram blanket in waffle stitch using DK yarn and for Aran yarn please?
Paula Johnston
October 17, 2021 at 9:17 pmHELP I am using Hometown yarn super bulky 6 and I assume N hook and single crochet. Someone wants me to make them a queen size blanket so how many chains should use . never have made one this big with this kind of yarn
BellaCocoTeam
October 19, 2021 at 6:58 pmHi Paula, The best way to figure this out would be to crochet a small sample square using this yarn and hook. If you use a starting chain of around thirty, and work several rows in the stitch you are to be using, you will be able to measure it and then work out from this how many to chain for the size you want