A great thing about making pet blankets is that they are fun and quick to make! You’ll be done before you get tired of the stitch or the color! It’s also a great time to try out a new stitch, to see how you like it for other projects. Some of the best, and most unique crochet stitches for blankets are those that create a thick, puffy blanket. Your creation ends up more like a mattress than a blanket, to shield the pets from the cold, hard floor of their enclosure.
Three of these special stitches are detailed below. To try each one, use a “K” size crochet hook, about half a skein of yarn, and a bit of contrasting colored yarn. Try them out and see if you don’t love how thick and luxurious the blankets turn out. And if you don’t like the stitch…well, you’ll be done with the blanket in no time!
Puff Stitch
Chain 45-50, so that it measures 20” from start to hook.
Row 1 – SC in second CH from hook * CH1, skip next CH, SC in next CH, repeat from * across to end.
Row 2 – CH2, turn, create a PUFF stitch in next CH1 space, (PUFF stitch: YO, insert hook in CH1 space and pull up a loop even with the hook. Repeat this 3 times. YO and draw through all 7 loops on the hook. CH1 to close), * CH1, work PUFF stitch in next CH1 space, repeat from * across to end, except work HDC in last SC.
Row 3 – CH1, turn, SC in first HDC, CH1, * SC in next CH1 space (between PUFFS), CH1, repeat from * across, SC in top of beginning CH.
Rows 4+ - Repeat rows 2 and 3 until piece is approximately square. Do one final row of SC across to balance the piece.
Popcorn Stitch
Chain 52
Row 1 – SC in second CH from hook and in each CH across to the end.
Row 2 – CH 4 (which counts as first DC + CH 1), skip next SC, * work “group” in next SC (group=YO, insert hook into SC, pull up a loop, YO, draw through only 2 loops on hook, repeat this three times, YO, draw through all 4 loops on hook), CH 1, skip next SC, repeat from * across to last SC, DC in last SC.
Row 3 – CH 1, SC in first DC, CH 1, SC in each CH 1 space and in each “group” across to last DC, SC in last DC.
Row 4 + all subsequent rows – Repeat rows 2 and 3 to make the pattern until piece is roughly square.
Teardrop Stitch
Chain 52
Row 1 – SC in second CH from hook, * CH 1, skip next CH, SC in next CH, repeat from * across to end.
Row 2 – CH 3, work “group” in next CH 1 space (group= Yarn over, insert hook into CH 1 space and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook. Do this three times, then YO and draw through all 4 loops on hook to create a “group”). * CH 1, work “group” in next CH 1 space, repeat from * across ot the end, DC in last SC.
Row 3 – CH 1, SC in first DC, CH 1, * SC in next CH 1 space (between the “groups”), CH 1, repeat from * across to the top of the final CH.
Row 4 + all subsequent rows – Repeat rows 2 and 3 to make the pattern until piece is roughly square.
Edging - Edge with HDC crochet, putting 3 HDC into each corner.
Border for Any Blanket
Work a SC along the perimeter of the piece using the same color yarn. Put 3 SCs into each corner to give it a nice square shape. Add any second border you’d like, in a contrasting color, such as HDCs all around!
Key
- CH – chain
- SC – single crochet
- SS – slip stitch
- YO – yarn over
- HDC - half double crochet
- PUFF – puff stitch
- DC – double crochet