10 Quick and Easy Crochet Stitches for Blankets

Choosing the right crochet stitches for a blanket can make a big difference to how enjoyable the project feels. Some stitches grow quickly and develop a relaxing rhythm, while others create beautiful texture as the blanket begins to take shape.

Crochet blankets are some of my favourite projects to make. They grow steadily row by row, and there’s something very satisfying about seeing the fabric gradually build into a finished blanket.

When you’re making a large project like a blanket, the stitch you choose can make quite a difference to how quickly the project grows. Some stitches are quite dense and take longer to build, while others are taller, worked into spaces, or simply have a very smooth rhythm that allows you to crochet steadily.

In this article I’m sharing ten crochet stitches that work particularly well for blankets and tend to work up quite quickly. Some are simple foundational stitches, while others add texture or visual interest.

Many of these stitches are ones I’ve used in my own blanket projects and tutorials, and they are all techniques that lend themselves well to relaxed, steady crocheting.

What Makes a Crochet Stitch Quick and Easy for Blankets?

When crocheting a blanket, some stitches naturally grow faster than others. There are a few reasons for this.

First, taller stitches such as double crochet and treble crochet cover more vertical space in each row, so the blanket grows more quickly.

Second, some stitch patterns are worked into spaces rather than into the top loops of stitches. This makes the rhythm easier to follow and often speeds up the crocheting process.

Finally, certain stitches simply have a smooth, repetitive motion that makes them comfortable to crochet for long rows.

When choosing a stitch for a blanket, it’s worth considering both the speed of the stitch and the type of fabric it creates. Some quick stitches produce a light, open blanket, while others create a thicker and warmer texture.

1. Single Crochet (sc)

The single crochet is one of the most basic and versatile stitches in crochet. It creates a neat, sturdy fabric and is often used for simple blanket designs, borders, or joining motifs together.

The single crochet is also a very quick stitch to make. Although each stitch is slightly smaller than many other crochet stitches, the movement itself is very simple. Each stitch only involves a few steps, with just two yarn overs needed to complete it. Once you settle into the rhythm, it becomes a steady and relaxing stitch to work across long rows of a blanket.

Even if you choose a taller stitch for the main body of a blanket, single crochet is often useful for finishing edges neatly.

How to work single crochet

1. Make a slip knot and place it on your hook.
2. Chain the width of your blanket, plus one extra chain.
3. Insert your hook into the second chain from the hook.
4. Yarn over and pull up a loop.
5. Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook.

Continue across the row, working one single crochet (steps 3-5) into each chain.

When you get to the end of a row, turn your work over, chain 1, and then work single crochet stitches back along the row.

Variations to try

Several simple variations can make single crochet blankets more visually interesting:

• Extended single crochet – slightly taller with a bit more drape. After pulling up a loop, yarn over and pull through one loop (two loops on the hook) before completing the single crochet as usual.
• Back loop only single crochet – creates subtle ridges.
• Spike stitches – worked two or more rows below to form decorative vertical lines.

2. Double Crochet (dc)

The double crochet stitch is one of the most commonly used stitches in blanket patterns.

Because it is taller than single crochet, your blanket grows faster and the fabric tends to have a softer drape.

Double crochet works particularly well for:

• striped blankets
• stitch-pattern blankets
• lacy or airy designs

Basic steps

1. Chain the desired width plus two chains.
2. Yarn over and insert your hook into the third chain from the hook.
3. Yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on hook).
4. Yarn over, pull through two loops.
5. Yarn over again, pull through the remaining two loops.

Continue along working one double crochet into each chain.

When you get to the end of a row, turn your work over and chain 3. This counts as the first double crochet stitch of the next row. Then work double crochet stitches back along the row.

Ways to vary double crochet

You can easily create different effects by:

• alternating double crochet with chain spaces (filet crochet)
• working into the front loop or back loop only
• using a larger hook size for a looser fabric.

Double crochet also forms the foundation of many other blanket stitches, including granny stitch and V-stitch.

Watch the full tutorial

Watch a full video tutorial for the double crochet stitch, including how to change colours, here.

3. Half Double Crochet (hdc)

The half double crochet sits between single crochet and double crochet in height.

It creates a slightly denser fabric than double crochet but grows faster than single crochet, which makes it a good middle ground for blankets. Many crocheters find half double crochet particularly comfortable to work because the motion is very smooth and repetitive.

In my experience, half double crochet also produces a very cosy texture, especially when worked with thicker yarns.

How to work half double crochet

1. Chain your foundation chain plus two chains.
2. Yarn over and insert the hook into the third chain from the hook.
3. Yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on hook).
4. Yarn over and pull through all three loops.

Continue along working one half double crochet into each chain.

When you get to the end of a row, turn your work over and chain 2. This chain 2 does not count as a stitch. Then work one half double crochet stitch in each stitch back along the row.

Variation: Back loop only hdc

Working half double crochet in the back loop only creates a subtle ribbed texture that works beautifully in simple blanket designs.

Watch the full tutorial

Watch a full video tutorial for the half double crochet stitched worked into the back loop only here.

4. Treble Crochet (tr)

The treble crochet stitch is the tallest of the basic crochet stitches.

Because the stitch is so tall, blankets made with treble crochet tend to grow very quickly and have a light, airy feel.

This stitch works particularly well in blankets that aim for a soft drape rather than a dense structure.

How to work treble crochet

1. Chain the width of your blanket plus three chains.
2. Yarn over twice.
3. Insert hook into the fourth chain from the hook.
4. Yarn over and pull up a loop.
5. Yarn over, pull through two loops, three times.

Continue along working one treble crochet into each chain.

When you get to the end of a row, turn your work over and chain 4. This counts as the first treble crochet stitch of the next row. Then work treble crochet stitches back along the row.

5. V-Stitch

The V-stitch is a simple combination of double crochet and chain stitches that forms a repeating V shape.

It’s a favourite blanket stitch because:

• it grows quickly
• the pattern is easy to memorise
• colour changes show up beautifully.

Basic structure

A V-stitch is simply:

1 dc, 1 ch, 1 dc all worked into the same stitch

Rows are then worked into the chain spaces from the previous row.

Because the stitches are worked into spaces rather than the tops of stitches, the rhythm becomes very relaxed once you settle into it.

V-stitch blankets grow quickly and look especially effective when different colours are used for each row.

Watch the full tutorial

Watch a full video tutorial for the V-stitch, including how to change colours, here.

6. Granny Stripe

The granny stripe stitch is essentially the granny square stitch worked in rows rather than rounds.

Clusters of three double crochet stitches are worked into spaces between clusters from the previous row.

Because the stitches are worked into spaces, the rhythm becomes very easy to follow once you have completed the first few rows.

Granny stripe is one of the quickest stitches for blankets because:

• clusters build fabric quickly
• the pattern is easy to memorise
• colour changes are very simple to add.

Many striped crochet blankets use this stitch for exactly that reason.

Watch the full tutorial

Watch a full video tutorial showing you how to create a granny stripe blanket, including changing colours, here.

7. Shell Stitch

The shell stitch creates a decorative scalloped texture using groups of five double crochet stitches worked into the same stitch.

Despite the appearance, shell stitch is quite straightforward once you understand the repeating pattern.

Shell stitch blankets work particularly well with:

• solid coloured yarns
• softly variegated yarns
• contrasting colour rows.

The texture adds interest while still allowing the blanket to grow steadily.

Typical shell stitch structure

• 1 shell = 5 double crochet stitches in the same stitch
• shells separated by single crochet stitches.

The resulting texture adds visual interest while still allowing the blanket to grow steadily.

Watch the full tutorial

Watch the full Shell Stitch Video Tutorial here.

8. Corner-to-Corner (C2C)

Corner-to-Corner crochet, usually called C2C, is worked diagonally rather than in rows.

The blanket begins in one corner and grows outward using small blocks, often called tiles. Once the blanket reaches the desired width, the number of tiles decreases until the opposite corner is reached.

Each tile is made using chains and double crochet stitches.

Because the tiles are fairly substantial, the blanket grows steadily and it is easy to see progress as the rows increase.

C2C is especially popular for:

• colourwork blankets
• pixel designs
• scrap yarn projects.

The grid-like structure also makes it easy to create images or lettering within a blanket.

Watch the full tutorial

Watch the full C2C Video Tutorial here.

9. Waffle Stitch

The waffle stitch creates a beautifully textured fabric using a combination of double crochet and front post double crochet stitches.

Front post stitches are worked around the post of the stitch below rather than into the top loops. This pulls the stitch forward slightly and creates the raised squares that form the waffle pattern.

Although the finished texture looks quite intricate, the stitch pattern itself is based on a simple two-row repeat.

Waffle stitch is popular for blankets because it produces a fabric that is:

• thick
• warm
• strongly textured
• very cosy.

Because of the raised stitches, it tends to use slightly more yarn than flatter stitches, but the finished blanket has a lovely substantial feel.

Watch the full tutorial

Watch the full Waffle Stitch Video Tutorial here.

10. Bobble Stitch

The bobble stitch adds small raised clusters that pop out from the surface of the fabric.

These are made by partially completing several double crochet stitches in the same stitch and then finishing them together at the top.

Bobble stitches are often used to create:

• geometric patterns
• lettering
• textured designs.

They can also be worked across entire rows to create a strongly textured blanket.

One particularly effective technique is working bobbles in a contrasting colour so that the texture stands out clearly against the surrounding stitches.

How to get started with Bobble Stitch:

1. Begin by chaining a multiple of the desired number of bobbles plus 1 for turning. For example, if you want 5 bobbles, chain 21 (5×4=20, plus 1).
2. Start the first row by working a single crochet into the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. Turn your work.
3. For the second row, chain 1 and work a single crochet into the first stitch. Now you will begin your first bobble:
   • Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch.
   • Yarn over again and pull up a loop.
   • Yarn over and pull through the first two loops.
   • Repeat the above steps four more times.
   • Yarn over and pull through all six loops on your hook.
4. Continue working single crochets and bobbles across the row as desired (you can play around with the spacing of your bobbles), finishing the row with a single crochet. Turn your work and repeat rows 1 and 2 until the desired length is reached.

Quick Summary of the Stitches

Here is a quick overview of the stitches covered in this article:

Stitch	Why It Works Well for Blankets
Single Crochet	Simple, steady rhythm and very sturdy fabric
Double Crochet	Taller stitch that helps blankets grow faster
Half Double Crochet	Comfortable rhythm and cosy texture
Treble Crochet	Very tall stitch that creates light, airy blankets
V-Stitch	Open stitch pattern that grows quickly
Granny Stripe	Worked into spaces, making it easy and fast
Shell Stitch	Decorative texture with a simple repeat
Corner-to-Corner	Tile structure makes progress easy to see
Waffle Stitch	Thick, cosy texture with a repeating pattern
Bobble Stitch	Adds strong texture and decorative interest

Choosing Yarn for Your Blanket

Once you’ve chosen the stitch or stitch pattern for your blanket, the next step is selecting the yarn.

Several factors can influence how your blanket turns out:

• yarn weight
• fibre content
• colour options
• cost
• ease of care.

Thicker yarns will generally make a blanket grow faster, while finer yarns create lighter fabrics with more drape.

Choosing the yarn is often one of the most enjoyable parts of planning a blanket project.

If you’re still deciding on the size of your blanket, my standard crochet blanket sizes guide covers common dimensions from baby blankets through to king size throws. And once you’ve settled on a size and stitch, my guide to how much yarn is needed to crochet a blanket will help you work out how much to buy.

Checking Your Gauge

Even for blankets, making a gauge swatch can be helpful.

A small swatch allows you to:

• check the drape of the fabric
• confirm the hook size feels comfortable
• estimate how much yarn the full blanket will require.

To check gauge:

1. Crochet a swatch at least 10 cm by 10 cm.
2. Count the stitches and rows within that area.
3. Adjust hook size if needed.

Blankets are forgiving projects, but this step can help avoid surprises later.

Finishing Your Blanket

Once the blanket is complete, a few finishing steps can make the final result look much more polished.

Adding a border

Borders help straighten the edges of the blanket and provide a tidy finish.

Common options include:

• single crochet borders
• crab stitch borders
• shell stitch borders
• picot edging.

Weaving in ends

All loose yarn ends should be woven in securely with a yarn needle so that they do not work loose over time.

Blocking

Blocking can help even out stitches and smooth the edges of the blanket, particularly if the stitch pattern has a lot of texture.

Looking for more crochet blanket help?

If you’re planning a crochet blanket, you might enjoy exploring my Crochet Blanket Resource Hub, where I’ve collected many of my blanket tutorials and guides in one place.

You’ll find resources covering:

• crochet blanket stitches
• yarn selection
• blanket sizing guides
• troubleshooting tips.

Visit the Crochet Blanket Resource Hub

Conclusion: Choosing the Best Quick Crochet Stitch for Your Blanket

Crochet blankets are wonderfully satisfying projects, especially when you choose a stitch that works up steadily and develops an enjoyable rhythm.

Some stitches, like single crochet or half double crochet, create simple and cosy textures. Others, such as waffle stitch or bobble stitch, add more visual interest while still growing at a comfortable pace.

Speed isn’t the only thing worth considering, though. If you’re looking for stitches that feel particularly meditative and easy to settle into over a long project, I’ve put together a separate post on relaxing crochet stitches for blankets which covers some of my favourites. And if you’d like to explore a wider range of stitch options with video tutorials for each one, the Quick Stitches for Crochet Blankets stitch library is a good place to browse.

The best stitch for your blanket will depend on the texture you’d like to create, the yarn you’re using, and the experience you want while crocheting it. With so many options to explore, there’s always something new to try.

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