Crochet Blanket Beginnings
Handy starting chain counts
Typically, I like to crochet blankets using granny squares or some variation of motifs. Starting chains are not that big of a deal with squares. Being easily bored, motifs let me “finish” something quickly. The goal setting course I had to take during my corporate days taught me that one should have an end goal, but the steps to reach it are broken down into smaller, easily achieved goals. That is how I typically approach blanket making.
Yet sometimes, I make a blanket that is crocheted in one piece. With motifs, I can lay them out to create the length and width I want for the blanket. Crocheting a blanket in one piece means I need to figure out how many starting chains I need. For example, I want to make a blanket using the Larksfoot stitch. The pattern calls for me to have a starting chain that is multiples of 4. So how many starting chains do I require to create a blanket that is twin bed size?
I could do the math. This requires you to make swatch. Crochet a starting chain of maybe 18. Crochet pattern until you reach the first repeat. Measure that swatch. For example the pattern is in multiples of 4. Crochet the swatch, then measure it. Divide the desired length of the blanket by the length of the swatch. 30 inches wide blanket divided by .85 (swatch) is 35.30. Stitching a third of a stitch is impossible so round up. So 36 multiples of 4 or 144 chains. My pattern wants me to add 1, so 145 chains.
An easier way is to use this starting chain chart I found on the web. Very handy and much quicker. It was created by The Crochet Crowd, published on May 10, 2020 ,researched by Mikey. I highly recommend you go to the website, but if you don’t want to right this minute, I have included the chain counts to start Afghans for different hook sizes graphic.
https://thecrochetcrowd.com/crochet-beginning-chain-counts-worksheet/
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