Craft For The Soul Creativity Crochet handmade

Make: The Oblong Story Granny Rectangle Blanket From Craft For The Soul

October 3, 2015

craft for the soul project oneoblong story two

 

The blanket on the cover of Craft For The Soul is the perfect project for a beginner (OR a more experienced crochet-er!) I thought I’d make a photo tutorial AND a video tutorial about The Oblong Story Granny Rectangle Blanket – just in case you are inspired to make one for yourself. It’s a pretty speedy project, as far as crochet goes, and it’s super fun to make too!

I’ve included some basic stitch video tutorials in the playlist below – in case you are a beginner.

Do you want to make this blanket with me? Here is how!

Watch the video (or scroll down to see the photo how-to!!)

how-to-crochet-a-rectangle-granny-blanket

How to make the Craft For The Soul ‘It’s Oblong Story Granny Rectangle Blanket’

You need:

A crochet hook (I used 4.5mm)
Yarn in colours that you like (I use 8ply acrylic!) – I used oddments I had at home, but you could buy 8 balls of acrylic and that would make a blanket this size easily.
Scissors
A bit of time and lots of cups of tea!

oblong story blanket

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1. Chain 23 stitches in your chosen yarn – it’s good to chain loosely if you can (I usually can’t!)

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2. Treble TWO times into the third chain from the hook.

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3. Chain one. Skip TWO stitches in your foundation chain. Treble THREE times into the next stitch. <– continue this pattern until you reach the end of the foundation chain. Each group of three treble is called a CLUSTER. You should have ONE stitch remaining, just hanging about all lonely-like. (See below)

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4. Treble THREE times into that lonely last stitch. Then chain 3. (See above)

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5. Now treble THREE more times back into lonely last stitch. You’ve made the corner of your rectangle. Even though it doesn’t look anything like a rectangle. (See above!)

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6. Chain 3. Now we treble THREE more times into that same last, lonely stitch to finish our ‘rectangle’ corner. Chain one. (See above!)

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7. Now you want to treble THREE times into the exact bottom of each cluster on the first side of the rectangle. You can see from the photo above that you’ll make a matching ‘mirror image’ cluster with a skinny gap where it meets the first cluster. Make it look like the photo, okay? Be sure to chain ONE time after each THREE TREBLE cluster.

8. When you get to the end of the rectangle. It will look like the image above. Then we need to make our rectangle corners again.

9. Treble THREE times into the bottom of the cluster shown in the image below (I’ve circled the stitch for you!) Then chain 3. Then treble THREE times again into the circled stitch. Then chain 3 once more and join your chain to the top of the cluster right next door, thus ‘closing’ the rectangle. Fasten off neatly, leaving a 20cm yarn tail to weave, sew or crochet in later.

where to treble

10. It should look like this! (Below!)
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11.  Tie on a new colour in one of the gaps along the long side of your rectangle and chain three stitches.

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12. Treble TWO times into the gap where you tied on the new colour. Chain one. Treble THREE times into the next gap. Continue with this pattern until you reach the ‘corner’ of the rectangle. –> chain one, treble three into the next gap, chain one

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13. Treble THREE times into the corner gap as shown above. Then chain THREE.

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14. Treble THREE times into the same gap. Chain one.

15. Treble THREE times into the NEXT corner gap. Chain THREE. Treble THREE times again into that same corner gap. You’ve finished ONE end of your rectangle (in this colour, at least!)

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16. Continue back down the other side of the rectangle –> chain one, treble three into the next gap, chain one until you reach the corner.

17. Treble THREE times into the corner gap as shown above. Then chain THREE.

18.  Treble THREE times into the same gap. Chain one. Repeat for the other corner and continue to Treble THREE and Chain ONE into the gaps until you run out of gaps.  Slip stitch your ‘rectangle’ closed and fasten off securely.

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19. Tie on a new colour and continue on in the same manner as shown. Remember that as you complete each ‘rectangle’ you’ll be adding a cluster at each END of the rectangle (between the corners) to help it grow!

Note: you can crochet the ends in by tucking them under your stitches as you go – or you can leave them loose and sew them in later.

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oblong story blanket 2

 

20. Continue on in the same way! Make rectangle after rectangle and watch your blanket grow. It’s done when you think it’s big enough! Note that the bigger it gets the more SQUARE it gets, so don’t go too big if you want to retain the RECTANGLE shape!

21. Want pompoms? I made the ones on the cover with a Clover PomPom Maker in the small size. I left a nice long tail on them and then I used a yarn needle to sew them on at the end.

22. Hang onto that yarn needle and use it to sew/weave in any loose ends.

23. Marvel at your lovely blanket!

I hope you have a lot of fun making this!! It’s a pretty project and I find it to be a bit of a ‘no-brainer’ – which is always nice!!

pip signature

Find the ‘text based’ pattern here

craft for the soul shoot seven craft for the soul shoot eight

Hi Michelle!

 

NB : If you need some extra help with crochet how-tos – YouTube is really helpful!!

Also these (below) might be useful – they’re my (very old, dorky, silent) how to granny square videos. There are some shared techniques between these and The Oblong Story Granny Rectangle blanket, so they might help a beginner along!

Lesson 1 : How To Make A Slip Knot
Lesson 2 : How To Hold Your Yarn Right
Lesson 3 : How To Crochet Chain Stitch
Lesson 4 : How To Start Your Square
Lesson 5 : How To Make The First Round!
Lesson 6 : How To Make The Second Round!
Lesson 7: Change Your Yarn Colour
Lesson 8 : How To Make the Third Round!
Lesson 9 : How To Sew In Your Yarn Ends
Lesson 10 : Joining Granny Squares

 

10 Comments

  • Reply Teresa Gudmann July 2, 2018 at 1:39 PM

    Love that your site is for Australian. I have been so mixed up with the American sites so conversion is difficult.
    Thank you

  • Reply Lauren April 14, 2017 at 3:49 PM

    Hi Pip! What an amazing project. I live rural and was wondering if you have any suggestions for yarn to purchase online in these bright and bold colours? Otherwise I’d love to know where you find these colours?

  • Reply Kelly October 13, 2015 at 8:27 PM

    Hi Pip, in the book it says you used a 3.5mm hook, but here you’ve said 4.5mm – do you mind confirming? I’d love to give this one a go, but I’m a real newbie with crochet. Thank you!

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes October 14, 2015 at 6:41 AM

      You can use either – I had not unpacked my crochet hooks yet – but had a 4.5mm on hand. It gives a slightly bulkier result. You could also go SMALLER – to a 3mm – for a finer result… or up to a 5mm for a chunkier look! x

      • Reply Kelly October 14, 2015 at 8:30 AM

        Thanks for the quick response Pip! I’m aiming to make a baby blanket, so I will try the 3.5mm.

  • Reply Pia October 8, 2015 at 2:46 PM

    Pip
    This is PERFECT for my Crochet Folder on Pinterest.
    Thank you.
    <3
    Pia

  • Reply Emma October 7, 2015 at 5:24 AM

    Love this blanket Pip, totally obsessed with granny squares at the minute and have never thought to do a rectangle….you’ve given me the itch now!! 🙂 xxx

  • Reply Isabel October 6, 2015 at 11:47 PM

    I’d love to make this. I’ve bitten off more than I can chew with a striped blanket (made it too damn wide!) that is taking me the entire year, but once that monster is off my hands, I’ll give this baby a go. Am up for something more speedy!

  • Reply Laura October 4, 2015 at 10:01 AM

    Wow! Thank you so much for making these videos Pip. I really wanted to make this blanket but I’m new to crochet and find it a little hard to follow written instructions. This will definitely be my next project. Thank you again!

  • Reply Lise October 4, 2015 at 6:33 AM

    This is such a cute blanket! I can’t get your book here in the UK, so I appreciate you posting this tutorial. I like the look of every other row being white – I might try this!

    Is that Michelle holding your blanket? I love her socks!!

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