I have a rule of three when I am thinking of designing a new blanket. I need the stitch, the pattern and the yarn to all work well together.
I’ll play around with the yarn, making swatches and using different hook sizes, until I decide what I really like. For the color and pattern, I usually sketch on graph paper an initial design so I have an idea of the way I want it to look.
Yarnspirations.com had sent me this yarn a few weeks ago and asked me to design whatever I’d like with this Paton’s Alpaca Blend. The colors were perfect for fall and still had that mid-century modern feel that is so popular right now. I just wanted to make a blanket that would go in that direction.
And I love how this Crochet Spider Stitch Blanket turned out!
So first, you’ll need to know the Spider Stitch. I found this in an older stitch book and did a quick google and crocheters seem to agree that this is the name for this stitch. You can read about it here. I will be explaining more below.
Materials
Patons Alpaca Blend (100 g/3.5 oz, 142 m/155 yds)
3 skeins each Birch, Onyx, Aquamarine
Size M/9.00mm hook, scissors, tapestry needle
Size
Finished size 34 in x 36 in
Stitches
Single Crochet (SC): Insert your hook, yarn over (YO) and pull up a loop, YO, pull through two loops on hook.
Pattern
Chain 75, (if you are customizing any odd number will do.)
Row 1: In the third chain from the hook, work one SC, one CH, one SC, (this is the spider) then skip one CH, (CH stands for chain.) and work the spider again. (SC-CH-SC). Continue across the whole row. You should have one extra chain at the end. Work a SC into that stitch. CH 2 and turn. (chain 2 will count as your first SC.)
Row 2: SK (skip) over the first two stitches and find that CH one space. You’ll want to work your spider into that stitch. (SC-CH-SC = Spider.) Continue across this row, working the spider into each chain one space. After you work your last spider into the final chain space, work one SC into the top of the turning chain. (Or just under those chains if you don’t want to mess around.) CH 2 and turn.
Row 3: Repeat Row 2 until the end.
Here are the color changes that I did:
8 rows of birch, 8 rows of onyx, 2 rows aquamarine, 8 rows onyx, 8 rows birch, 8 rows aquamarine. 2 rows onyx, 8 rows aquamarine, 8 rows birch, 8 rows onyx, 2 rows aquamarine, 8 rows onyx, 8 rows birch.
Border
First, weave in all the ends with a tapestry needle. Pull up a loop in aquamarine, in any stitch, avoid the corners. SC in each stitch around being careful to keep it even. On the ends, I worked one SC in every other stitch. If you want your blanket to turn out straight take the time to do this first round as evenly as possible. You will be so glad you did. I sometimes have to do and undo several times. I like my blankets to not ripple or gather around the edges. Work 3 SC into each corner.
When you get back to the first SC you started, work a slip stitch, chain one and turn. Now work a SC into each one going all the way around. Make sure you work 3 SC into the center stitch of each corner.
Repeat around as many times as you’d like. I did 4 times.
Now weave in all the ends and enjoy! This Crochet Spider Stitch Blanket is machine washable. But I’d lay it out to dry.
Come and show me your finished Crochet Spider Stitch Blanket if you’d like! I’m on Instagram the most, then Facebook. There are some cute icons on the left side of my blog that take you straight to those pages and places. Thank you for becoming my Pinterest friend too!
Tiffany
Click here or on image below for printable pattern
