How to Crochet a Throw

Blankets are a common project for crochet enthusiasts, but let’s be honest: crocheting a blanket can take a long time. For the same snuggly effect without such a time commitment, try crocheting a throw instead. 

Throws are just like mini blankets, and with patterns from simple and beginner-friendly to more complex, the creative possibilities are endless. Read on to learn all about how to crochet a throw.

Quick Links

• Crochet Supplies
• What Stitches to Use to Crochet a Throw
• Wrap Up (in Your Throw) and Next Steps

Crochet Supplies

The supplies you’ll need to crochet a throw are the same as for most other crocheting projects. You’ll just need more yarn than for some smaller projects. 

Crochet Throw Pattern

A crochet pattern is an essential part of any project. In addition to outlining which stitches to do and in what order, it’ll tell you the best crochet hook size and yarn weight to use. Plus, it’ll advise you on the amount of yarn you’ll need. Crochet patterns all look a bit different, but they’ll generally use an abbreviated name for each stitch. For example, the single crochet stitch is abbreviated to “sc”.

Crochet Hook

A crochet hook is an essential tool. There are two main types—inline and tapered—each with its advantages and drawbacks. Unless you’re an experienced crocheter and have a strong personal preference, use the type of hook recommended in your crochet pattern.

Similarly, follow your pattern’s recommendation for crochet hook size. Crochet hooks come in a range of sizes (or diameters). The larger the diameter of the hook, the larger the stitches.

Crochet Yarn

Yarn for crocheting and knitting comes in eight different weights, or thicknesses, numbered from 0 to 7. The finest is lace weight (0), and the chunkiest is jumbo (7). Many traditional crocheting or knitting projects use a yarn somewhere in the middle of the scale, such as worsted weight (4).

Super-bulky yarn (6) or jumbo yarn (7) are good places to start when crocheting a throw because they’re much quicker to work with than fine yarn. You’ll see your piece start to take shape pretty quickly. While you technically could crochet a throw with lace weight yarn, you'd be crocheting for a very long time. 

Whichever yarn you choose, you’ll need a few skeins to crochet a standard-sized throw. Consult your pattern, but expect to need at least five or six skeins, depending on how many yards/meters of yarn there are on one skein.

Other Supplies

You’ll also need on hand:

• A ruler or tape measure
• A pair of scissors
• A tapestry needle

What Stitches to Use to Crochet a Throw

While there are more than 100 different crochet stitches, you don’t need that many to crochet a throw! Most crochet stitches are variations of four basic stitches: the slip stitch, the single, the half double, and the double.

All patterns will include at least one of these stitches, and the combinations of stitches are what produce patterns and variations in crocheted items. Follow the stitches in the pattern you’re using, but know that there are many more options out there too.

Single Crochet

Abbreviated as “sc” in crochet patterns, the single crochet is the most basic crochet stitch. It’s formed by inserting your crochet hook into a stitch, looping the yarn over the hook, then drawing the hook back through the stitch. 

If you don’t yet know how to do this stitch, take a crochet course for beginners so you can see it being done and copy the technique yourself. Once you’ve mastered the single crochet, other stitches will make more sense.

Half-Double Crochet

The half-double crochet is abbreviated as “hdc” in crochet patterns. It builds on the single crochet stitch and is a bit taller.

Double Crochet

The double crochet is abbreviated as “dc.” It’s a bit taller again than the half-double crochet stitch. Follow the same process as the half-double crochet stitch until there are three loops on your hook.

Treble Crochet

The treble crochet is abbreviated as “tr.” It is similar to a double crochet stitch, except it starts by bringing the yarn over the hook twice before putting it into the desired stitch. Skillshare crochet instructor Jen Dwyer teaches a course on how to crochet a throw that only uses this one stitch to complete the whole throw, so it’s a good one to know! 

Granny Squares

Not a stitch per se but a building block for some kinds of crochet projects, a “granny square” is a square of crochet stitches. Usually about the size of a coaster, granny squares are often made by beginners to practice their crocheting, to use up scrap yarn, or to practice with different tools, techniques, or color combos.

Multiple granny squares can be stitched together to create a bigger crochet throw or blanket. A crochet granny square throw is a great alternative to crocheting one big throw out of the same yarn. You can work in sections and potentially collect up granny squares made over the years to form an interesting larger piece.

Wrap Up (in Your Throw) and Next Steps

After you’ve completed your first crochet throw, why not tackle a blanket? Once you’ve had some practice, your crochet techniques might be faster and more efficient, so creating a blanket might not take you so long. Alternatively, if you’ve crocheted a throw using just one or two colors of yarn and a simple stitch, a granny square throw would be fun to try. Challenge yourself to crocheting one granny square per evening and stitching them together into a throw or blanket at the end of a month. Have fun!

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