10 Crochet Blankets to Make with Aran/Worsted Yarn: Quick and Cozy Patterns for Every Skill Level

Aran or worsted weight yarns are perfect for crochet blankets because they work up quickly and create a cozy, substantial fabric. These medium-weight yarns strike a great balance between warmth and flexibility, making them beginner-friendly while still offering endless creative possibilities for experienced crocheters.

This collection features 10 beautiful blanket patterns specifically designed for aran or worsted weight yarns, ranging from simple stitches to intricate colorwork designs. You’ll find options for every skill level and style preference, whether you’re looking for a quick baby blanket or an heirloom afghan.

Before you start your next project, you’ll want to understand what makes aran yarn such a great choice and which fibers work best for blankets. We’ll walk you through yarn selection tips and then dive into each pattern with details about difficulty level, design features, and what makes each blanket special.

Why Aran/Worsted Yarn Is Good for Blankets

Aran or worsted yarns belong to the medium weight yarn category. This makes them incredibly popular for blanket projects.

Key Benefits of Aran/Worsted Yarns:

• Speed: Medium weight yarns work up faster than thinner yarns – you’ll need fewer stitches to create a particular size blanket
• Warmth: The thickness creates soft, cozy blankets without being too heavy
• Availability: You’ll find aran/worsted yarns in nearly every craft store, in a wide range of colors and fibers, and at varying price points
• Texture: The thickness of these yarns allows them to show off stitch patterns beautifully

When you use worsted or aran yarns, your blanket projects finish much quicker than with thinner options. You won’t spend months on a single project.

Medium yarns strike the perfect balance for blankets. They’re thick enough to keep you warm but not so bulky that the finished blanket becomes stiff or uncomfortable.

The softness you can achieve with quality aran/worsted yarn makes your blankets pleasant to snuggle under. Many brands offer medium weight yarn in soft acrylics, cotton blends, and luxurious wool options.

Practical Advantages:

• Easy to find in stores and online
• Works with standard hook sizes (typically 5.0mm to 6.5mm)
• Great stitch definition for textured patterns
• Suitable for beginners and experienced crocheters

Your yarn choices in the medium weight category are practically endless. Colors, textures, and fiber contents vary widely, giving you creative freedom for any blanket design.

Aran or worsted yarns also tend to handle washing well. Most options maintain their shape and softness through regular laundering, which matters for blankets that get frequent use. However, always check the yarn label for the specific washing instructions for your chosen yarn.

What Aran/Worsted Yarn to Use

In the UK, yarns of this thickness tend to be labeled as aran weight, whereas in the US they are usually said to be worsted weight. However, they are essentially the same thickness, making them interchangeable for blanket projects. You’ll find these yarns labeled as either aran or worsted, depending on the brand.

Acrylic is a popular choice for crochet blankets. It’s soft against the skin, budget-friendly, and holds up well in the washing machine. This makes it ideal if you’re making a blanket that needs frequent cleaning. Acrylic yarns also tend to be available in a huge range of colors.

Natural fiber options include:

• Wool for excellent warmth and insulation
• Alpaca for luxurious softness and heat retention
• Cotton for smooth texture and breathability

Cotton aran yarn works beautifully for lightweight summer blankets or outdoor picnic blankets. It won’t trap heat like wool does, which makes it comfortable in warmer weather. However, it can be a bit heavier.

Yarn blends combine the best properties of different fibers. A wool-acrylic blend gives you natural warmth with easier care instructions. Cotton-acrylic blends offer softness with improved stitch definition – a great option for colorwork designs.

Consider your blanket’s intended use when selecting your yarn. A baby blanket needs gentle, washable fibers like acrylic or cotton. A cozy couch throw might work better in wool or a wool blend for maximum warmth.

Introducing the 10 Blankets

This collection brings together ten distinct crochet blanket patterns that all use aran or worsted weight yarn. You’ll find designs suitable for every skill level, from beginner-friendly projects to more challenging creations.

The patterns vary in their construction methods. Some blankets work up in rows while others are crocheted in the round. You’ll encounter different motifs and stitch patterns throughout the collection, giving you plenty of options to match your mood, skill set, and intended use.

What You’ll Discover:

• Baby blankets perfect for gifts or nursery décor
• Adult-sized throws for your couch or bed
• Simple designs that work up quickly
• Intricate patterns that showcase advanced techniques
• Projects using traditional stitches and modern approaches

Each blanket offers something different. You might choose a straightforward rectangular design worked in basic stitches, or you could try a colorwork pattern with pretty motifs. The variety ensures you won’t get bored working through multiple projects.

Whether you’re making a gift for a new baby or creating a cozy throw for yourself, these patterns all provide clear instructions and many have accompanying video tutorials for specific techniques (or even the whole blanket).

So, without further ado, let’s dive into the ten patterns…

1. Easy Moss Stitch Blanket

The Easy Moss Stitch Blanket creates a lovely textured throw, with a wonderful drape, that’s perfect for beginners. This blanket works up quickly with aran weight yarn and uses simple stitches throughout.

You’ll only need to know chain and single crochet stitches (double crochet in UK terms) to complete this project. No complicated stitch patterns or counting required.

Plus, the Easy Moss Stitch Blanket comes with a free video tutorial that walks you through every step. You can watch along as you crochet to ensure you’re working the stitches correctly.

This design works well in any color scheme. Try a single solid color for a classic look, or switch colors every few rows for stripes. The textured surface adds visual interest even with simple color choices.

You can adjust the size easily by adding or removing stitches from the first row. Make it smaller for a baby blanket or larger for a king sized throw. The pattern repeats seamlessly regardless of dimensions.

The finished blanket has excellent drape and warmth, and the moss stitch creates a cozy fabric that’s perfect for snuggling.

Find the free pattern here.

2. Rainbow Ripple Baby Blanket

This cheerful blanket designed by Celeste Young features a distinctive 12-point star design that creates eye-catching ripples across the fabric. The pattern works up surprisingly fast and keeps you engaged throughout the project.

You can customize this blanket with any color combination you like. Many crocheters choose bright rainbow hues for a playful nursery accent, while others prefer soft pastels or bold jewel tones.

The Rainbow Ripple Baby Blanket gives you plenty of creative freedom. You’ll start from the center and work outward in rounds, watching the star shape emerge as you go.

The ripple effect comes from strategic increases and decreases that form peaks and valleys. These create visual interest and a playful shape, without requiring complex stitches.

This design makes an excellent gift for new parents. The blanket is soft, practical, and adds a splash of color to any nursery. You can also adjust the final size by simply adding more rounds until you reach your desired dimensions.

Find the free pattern here.

3. Cera Blanket

The Cera Blanket features a fun geometric pattern that works beautifully with bright, cheerful colors or softer, understated tones. You can customize this design to match any room or personal style preference.

This blanket uses tapestry crochet techniques to create its distinctive visual appeal. The construction method involves working in rows, which makes it straightforward to follow along as you build the pattern. A crab stitch border finishes the edges for a polished look.

Key Features:

• Geometric pattern design
• Works with various color schemes
• Row-by-row construction
• Finished with neat crab stitch edging

Find the pattern here.

4. Big Fish Little Fish

The Big Fish Little Fish Blanket features a playful design that kids will love. Swimming fish in different sizes create a whimsical underwater scene. The pattern uses tapestry crochet to create the colorful fish pattern.

You can choose bright, bold colors to make the fish pop against the background, or blues and greens will create an ocean feel.

Key Features:

• Tapestry crochet technique
• Kid-friendly design
• Multiple fish motifs
• Tutorials for techniques included
• Suitable for intermediate crocheters

The pattern includes links to helpful video tutorials for the key techniques you’ll need. You don’t have to worry about figuring out tapestry crochet on your own.

This blanket makes a great gift for children’s rooms or nurseries and the fish theme appeals to kids of various ages.

Find the pattern here.

5. Cara

The Cara Blanket has a charming square design that’s perfect for babies. You’ll love the ring of hearts pattern around the edge and the pretty border.

This design uses tapestry crochet to create its distinctive heart pattern. The method allows you to work with multiple colors while carrying yarn through stitches. You can create crisp, clean color changes that make the heart motif pop against the background.

Key Features:

• Square baby blanket size
• Ring of hearts
• Decorative edging
• Tapestry crochet technique with accompanying video tutorials
• Quick to complete

The Cara Blanket pattern works up faster than you might expect for such a detailed look. The worsted weight yarn helps you make steady progress.

You don’t need advanced skills to tackle this project. The tapestry crochet might seem intimidating at first, but it’s easier than it looks once you get the hang of changing color and carrying your yarn. The pattern guides you through each step clearly.

The finished blanket includes a pretty edging that frames the entire piece. You can choose colors that match your nursery theme or go with classic combinations.

Find the pattern here.

6. Call the Midwife Afghan

Inspired by the BBC TV series of the same name, the Call the Midwife Afghan stands out as a beloved choice among crocheters. The pattern creates an elegant, timeless baby blanket that will work in any nursery. The design’s popularity stems from its combination of sophisticated appearance and straightforward construction. In fact, it has become the go-to choice for crocheters of baby blankets all over the world!

Pattern Features:

• Classic filet pattern with lacy border
• Rectangular shape made in rows
• Works beautifully with aran weight yarn in a single color
• Customizable to any size

The blanket contains a repeated rectangular patter and you can easily adjust the dimensions of your creation by adding or removing pattern repeats.

Find the free pattern here.

7. Copernicus Blanket

The Copernicus Blanket stands out with its unique hexagonal shape. This eye-catching design features three concentric stars layered , creating a striking geometric pattern. It’s finished off with a chunky tassel at each corner.

You’ll use tapestry crochet to make this blanket. This technique lets you work with multiple colors at once, carrying unused yarn inside your stitches. It creates a thick, reversible fabric that’s perfect for a cozy throw.

Key Features:

• Hexagonal shape
• Three nested stars
• Tapestry crochet technique throughout – clearly explained in accompanying video tutorials
• Chunky tassels at each corner
• Cozy and snuggly with aran weight yarn

Find the pattern here.

8. Winter Star Blanket

The Winter Star Blanket features eye-catching solid granny squares that showcase star motifs in the center of each block. You’ll create this design using tapestry crochet techniques to form the starry patterns.

Once made, the squares are joined together with a crochet join, and then a neat border is added including an accent color to set it all off.

Key Features:

• Solid granny square construction
• Tapestry crochet technique – clearly explained in accompanying video tutorials
• Star motifs
• Customizable color combinations
• Square-by-square assembly
• Perfect for any time of year

You can choose contrasting colors to make the stars pop against the background. Dark backgrounds with light stars create a nighttime sky effect. Light backgrounds with colored stars give a cheerful daytime feel.

Find the pattern here.

9. Island Time Blanket

The Island Time Blanket brings a cheerful twist to traditional granny square designs. Created by Mallory Krall, this pattern offers crocheters a fresh take on a beloved classic that’s perfect for using up yarn from your stash.

You can mix and match colors to create your own unique color palette. The granny square construction means you’re working with small, manageable pieces that come together to form the finished blanket. This could be a perfect long-term project to add to over the year.

Key Features:

• Granny square construction
• Excellent for stash-busting projects
• Customizable color combinations
• Portable squares for on-the-go crocheting

Find the free pattern here.

10. Winter Love Blanket

Our final pattern is the Winter Love Blanket, which brings together cozy seasonal motifs in a striking square design. You’ll work this pattern in the round, starting from the center and building outward to create a large finished piece.

The Winter Love Blanket features charming decorative elements that capture the season’s spirit. Hearts and trees appear throughout the design, worked in tapestry crochet technique. Bobbles add texture and dimension to the surface.

Key Features:

• Worked in continuous rounds from center outward
• Tapestry crochet colorwork – clearly explained in accompanying video tutorials
• Textured bobble stitches
• Heart and tree motifs
• Large square finished shape

Aran or worsted weight yarn works perfectly for this substantial blanket. The medium thickness provides warmth without excessive bulk. You can choose colors that reflect winter themes or personalize the palette to match your décor.

The square format makes this blanket versatile for beds, couches, or armchairs and working in the round eliminates seaming.

Find the pattern here.

Final Thoughts

You now have 10 fantastic blanket patterns to choose from for your next crochet project. And each one works beautifully with aran or worsted weight yarn.

These patterns offer something for every skill level. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, there’s a project here for you.

Your yarn stash may well already be calling out to you. Pick the pattern that excites you most and gather your supplies. Don’t forget to check each pattern’s specific requirements before you start.

Remember to choose colors that fit your space or the person receiving the blanket. Aran or worsted weight yarn comes in endless color options, so you can truly make each blanket your own.

Start crocheting today and you could have a finished blanket in just a few weeks. Your lounge, bedroom, or gift recipient will thank you for the handmade warmth. Happy crocheting!

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