Checkerboard Granny Square blanket

Crochet Checkerboard Granny Square Blanket

This blanket is made by joining lovely checkerboard crochet squares together, each square crocheted individually and joined together at the end. The blanket worked up with two colors. While I design this as a baby blanket, you can adjust the pattern to any size, throw to bedspread.

Checkerboard Granny Square blanket

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Checkerboard Granny Square blanket
This time I selected solid & variegated yarns

You will need yarns in two colors to make this checkerboard granny square blanket.  
The blanket looks lovely with the gradient color effect of the variegated yarns. And each square has its own unique shades of colors.

If you have lots of yarn scraps in solid colors you can use them too. You can add different colors in each square.

Crochet Checkerboard Square
Sizing & Joining

This is a free size pattern. It means you can make any size blanket or afghan joining these granny squares. I made 34″ x 30″ sized blanket with 30 squares and arranged 5 rows by 6 squares. You can arrange your squares before starting joining and don’t forget to arrange the squares by color go evenly all over the blanket. Granny squares are joined using the flat zipper method. You can see below the joining part with the video tutorial support.

How to crochet flat zipper method
The yarn

I selected Ice yarn Favorite for solid and Rainbow for variegated but they are not categorized in the same weight. The main color is solid color which is categorized under 4 medium weight and the variegated yarn categorized under 3 Light weight. I had no issue while working with these 2 different weights. These two yarns go well with each other and it helps to get nice draping to the blanket.
This blanket is cozy and warm with the texture of the square. But if you want an extra warm blanket you can use same weight yarns for the two colors.
Remember, if you select any other weight of yarns, the square and the blanket will get the different size, too.

Crochet Checkerboard Granny Square

Skill Level: Intermediate

Finished sizes:

  • Granny square: 5.25″ x 5.25″
  • Blanket size: 34″ x 30″

Materials:

Gauge:

  • Ice yarn Rainbow 3-Light / DK (15 hdc x 10 rows)
  • Ice yarn Favorite 4-Medium / worsted (14 hdc x 9.5 rows)

Abbreviations / special stitches

  • ch = chain
  • sl st = slip stitch
  • sc = single crochet
  • dc = double crochet
  • fpdc = front post double crochet
  • ch-sp = chain- (number of chains) space
  • st = stitch
  • sk = skip
  • beg = beginning
  • [ ] work instructions within brackets as many times as directed
  • *to ; = repeat * to the instructions.
  • C1 = color 1 (variegated yarn)
  • C2 = color 2 (solid yarn)
Checkerboard Granny Square blanket

Notes:

  • Each square crocheted individually and joined together at the end.
  • You will need yarns in two colors to make this blanket.
  • I select solid and variegated yarns.
  • This is a free size pattern. You can make any size blanket or Afghan joining these granny squares together.
  • For this blanket I used the flat zipper method for joining.
  • And lastly added 5 rounds border

click here for the written pattern with photo tutorial

Crochet Checkerboard Square Blanket Free Pattern

Make 30 squares

With (C1), Make a magic ring,
Round 1: ch 3 (count as dc), 2 dc into the ring, [ch 2, 3 dc into the ring] 3 times, ch 2, sl st to the beg ch 3 top. (12 dc) before starting next round, sl st until the next ch-2 space. 

Round 2: ch 3 (count as dc), dc, ch 2, 2 dc in same ch-sp, [ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-sp] 3 times, ch 3, sl st to the beg ch 3 top. (16 dc)

Round 3: (in this round, every fpdc is working over the chains and in next st two rounds below).
with (C2), join the yarn ch-2 sp, ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in same ch-sp, [sc in each of next 2 dc, fpdc in next 3 dc two rounds below, sc in each of next 2 dc, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next ch-sp] 3 times, sc in each of next 2 dc, fpdc in next 3 dc two rounds below, sc in each of next 2 dc, sl st to the first sc. (12 fpdc / 24 sc)

Round 4: with (C1), join the yarn ch-2 sp, ch 3 (count as dc), dc, ch 2, 2 dc in same ch-sp, [dc in next sc, ch 2, sk next 2 sc, dc in each of next 3 fpdc, ch 2, sk next 2 sc, dc in next sc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 space] 3 times, dc in next sc, ch 2, sk next 2 sc, dc in each of next 3 fpdc, ch 2, sk next 2 sc, dc in next sc, sl st to the beg ch 3 top. (36 dc)

Round 5: (in this round, every fpdc is working over the chains and in next st two rounds below).
with (C2), join the yarn ch-2 sp, ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in same ch-sp, [sc in each of next 3 dc, fpdc in next 2 sc two rounds below, sc in each of next 3 dc, fpdc in next 2 sc in two rounds below, sc in each of next 3 dc, (sc, ch 2, sc) in next ch-2 sp] 3 times, sc in each of next 3 dc, fpdc in next 2 sc two rounds below, sc in each of next 3 dc, fpdc in next 2 sc in two rounds below, sc in each of next 3 dc, sl st to the first sc. (44 sc / 16 fpdc)

Round 6: with (C1), join the yarn ch-2 sp, ch 3 (count as dc), dc, ch 2, 2 dc in same ch-sp, [dc in each of next 2 sc, ch 2, sk next 2 sc, dc in each of next 2 fpdc, ch 3, sk next 3 sc, dc in each of next 2 fpdc, ch 2, sk next 2 sc, dc in each of next 2 sc (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 space] 3 times, dc in each of next 2 sc, ch 2, sk next 2 sc, dc in each of next 2 fpdc, ch 3, sk next 3 sc, dc in each of next 2 fpdc, ch 2, sk next 2 sc, dc in each of next 2 sc, sl st to the beg ch 3 top. (48 dc)

Round 7: (in this round, every fpdc is working over the chains and in next st two rounds below). with (C2), join the yarn ch-2 sp, ch 1, (3 sc) in same ch-sp, [sc in each of next 4 dc, fpdc in next 2 sc two rounds below, sc in each of next 2 dc, fpdc in each of next 3 sc in two rounds below, sc in each of next 2 dc, fpdc in next 2 sc two rounds below, sc in each of next 4 dc, (3 sc) in next ch-2 sp] 3 times, sc in each of next 4 dc, fpdc in next 2 sc two rounds below, sc in each of next 2 dc, fpdc in next 3 sc in two rounds below, sc in each of next 2 dc, fpdc in next 2 sc two rounds below, sc in each of next 4 dc, sl st to the first sc. (60 sc / 28 fpdc)

Joining

There are many ways to join crochet squares. For this blanket I used the flat zipper method which is my favorite joining method I recently learned while making Floral Granny Square Blanket. I love the flat seam look. It’s not a very quick method to try and needs a little practice, but when you grab the rhythm it’s fun to work.

Below you will find a video how to crochet flat zipper method I used for making Floral Garden Granny Square Blanket

If you don’t wish to learn this method you can sew the squares together or use single crochet seam.

how to crochet flat zipper method

Arrange the squares before starting joining, and don’t forget to arrange the squares by color evenly all over the blanket. I arranged my 30 squares 6 rows by 5 squares.

Lay the 2 squares side by side (Facing right side up). Add stitch markers in the middle st of each corner for easy to recognize. 

Notes:

  • Working only in the back loop of each square.
  • And always insert the hook from front to back.
  • Keep the working yarn under the crochet piece for easy grabbing. 
  • Keep in mind to always crochet loosely, not tightly.

Step 1: Insert the hook into the back loop of the middle st in corner st from front to back (first square) Insert the hook into the back loop of of the middle st in corner st from front to back of the next square (second square). (Image 1)

Step 2: now grab the yarn you are going to use for joining, make a slip knot and insert the hook through it (Image 2). Pull back through the both loops on the hook. (Image 3)

How to crochet flat zipper method

Step 3: Insert the hook into the back loop of the next st from front to back (first square) then insert the hook into the back loop of the next st from front to back of the next square (second square) (Image 4).

Step 4: yarn over (Image 5), pull back through the two loops on the hook (Image 6).

Repeat these steps until the last corner stitch of the both squares. Keep in mind to always crochet loosely, not tightly and Keep the working yarn under the crochet piece for easy grabbing.

How to crochet flat zipper method

Lay another two squares and repeat steps 1 to 4 again until the last stitches of the both squares. You can repeat these steps and join any number of squares as you want.

Since I made this blanket with 30 squares, I joined 12 squares first, that means 6 squares in a row. And attached all the squares in the same direction like these.

Repeat these steps on unjoined sides and complete blanket by joining all the squares.

How to crochet flat zipper method
Border

(crochet sc around the blanket evenly. Make sure to crochet 3 sc in each corner)
Round 1: with (C2), start from the middle st of the corner st. *crochet 3 sc in middle st of the corner st and sc in each st across until the next middle st of the corner; repeat * to this around the blanket and sl st to the first st. (I crocheted 113 sc sts in 2 short sides and 136 sc sts in long 2 sides, 3 sc in each corner) 510 sc total around the blanket.

Round 2: start from the middle st of the corner st. [*ch 3, sk next st, sl st to the next st, repeat * until the next middle st of corner st] 4 times around the blanket, (always remind to finish each side by crocheting sl st in the middle st of the next corner st) if there are 1 stitch remain at the end of any side, skip the last 2 stitches including remaining stitch and sl st to the next st. (69 chain spaces in each long side / 58 chain spaces in each short side) 254 total chain spaces.

Round 3: with (C1), join the yarn at first ch-3 sp of one of the corner (first ch-3 sp nearest to the corner), ch 2 (count as hdc), 2 hdc in same sp, [*ch 1, 2 hdc in next ch-sp; repeat until last chain space remain of that side, 3 hdc in last chain space of that side, ch 5, 3 hdc in first chain space of the next side] 3 times, *ch 1, 2 hdc in next ch-sp; repeat until last chain space remain of that side, 3 hdc in last chain space of that side, ch 5, sl st to the ch 3 top. (254 total dc group sets)

Free pattern border

Round 4: with (C2), join the yarn at ch-5 space with ch 1 (does not count as st), 5 sc into the ch-5 sp, sc in next hdc, [*sk next 2 hdc, 2 sc in next ch-1 sp; repeat until last ch-1 sp of the side, sk next 2 hdc, sc in next hdc, 5 sc into the ch-5 sp, sc in next hdc] 3 times, *sk next 2 hdc, 2 sc in next ch-1 sp; repeat until last ch-1 sp of the side, sk next 2 hdc, sc in next hdc, sl st to the first sc. (250 2sc group sets / 4 5sc group sets)

Round 5: crochet sc around the blanket evenly. Make sure to crochet 3 sc in each corner (3rd st of the 5 sc in each corner) sl st to the first st. (520 total sts) Fasten off and weave the ends.

Checkerboard Granny Square blanket

Hope to see you soon with a new FREE pattern 
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Crochet For You by Erangi Udeshika