Not Just for Grannies
Hello all! I know it’s been a while since you’ve heard from me – I can only beg your forgiveness. I am only able to blog when time allows, and time has been a bit short lately. I’ve had my hands quite full over here designing for clients, creating art and also lecturing Photography. All good though, I would rather be busy than bored!
One of my resolutions this year, was to get “things” finished. On my official Bucket List, has always been making a crochet blanket. I generally make a pile of squares until the novelty wears off, then when I finally go back to it I’ve gone right off the colours. So last September when I had the flu, I went out, bought some new wool and started again (again). This time I was DETERMINED to end up with a finished crochet blanket.
Crochet blankets are for grannies.
Is what you might be thinking. I’m here to prove you wrong. If you think of a traditional granny square blanket, what you’re working with of course – is squares. Just like pixel art. You could create a blanket using graphics from a favourite childhood computer game, or a sprite for example. Just because you’re taking on a traditional craft, doesn’t mean you can’t put your own modern spin to it. Because I LOVE horror and skulls in particular, I decided to make a Sugar Skull Crochet Blanket.

OK – Let’s Make a Crochet Blanket!
Follows the steps below and download my free pattern to create your very own Sugar Skull Crochet Blanket! Feel free to make your version as colourful or as simple as you like. You could even make the whole design in just basic Granny Squares if you prefer, though I do recommend at least giving the Puff Flower and African Flower Squares a go – they really are lovely!
1. Download my FREE Sugar Skull Blanket Crochet Pattern
You’ll find the pattern on my Free Resources page here.
2. Choose Your Wool
3. Make all of your Squares
If you’re new to crochet, start by learning the basic Granny Square first. Most of your Granny Squares will need to be five rounds in size. When you start to get the hang of things, your squares will begin to gradually stack up (store them nice and flat). Once you’re feeling confident, you can move onto completing all of the Puff Flower Squares and African Flower Squares. Follow the links to tutorials below and refer to my free design pattern while working for information on quantity and placement.
? Granny Square Tutorial
? Star Burst / Puff Flower Square Tutorial
? African Flower Square Tutorial

4. Block Your Squares
If your squares aren’t perfect – don’t panic! Simply block them to square them up a bit. You can do this square-by-square but who has that much spare time? I made a simple DIY blocking board from thick foam and skewers, so multiple damp squares could be stacked up together. Check out the link below to create something along the same lines.
5. Join Your Squares
Once you have all of your beautiful squares completed and blocked, lay them out following my free sugar skull design pattern. DOUBLE CHECK none of them are upside-down. I have a couple of squares that managed to slip past me! Now you are ready to start joining your squares. There are plenty of ways to do this, so visit the link below and choose your favourite style. Consider the colour of your join carefully (I used white).

6. Finishing Touches
Once all of your squares are joined – you will have an awesome blanket! Some finishing touches are nice though and will help square up the final shape. Go all the way around the outside in the same style as a traditional Granny Square to add a border. I added three rounds, but you can make yours as thick or thin as you like. I loved this rosey-copper colour so much, I just had to add tassels. For tassels this length and thickness, wrap your wool around the horizontal width of a DVD case and cut through. Make each one in groups of five strands and attach as shown below.

You Can Do It!
It might take a while, but the results are worth the effort. Then you can enjoy your snuggly, lovable, very cool Sugar Skull Crochet Blanket. I made mine to be a throw blanket for our lounge room and can finally tick “crochet a blanket” off my bucket list! Be sure to let us know if you’re going to make one, or share if you have finished yours in the comments below. Happy crocheting all! x
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If you have downloaded my free Sugar Skull Blanket Crochet Pattern, created your very own beautiful blanket and would like your finished work featured here, please do contact me.


She resides in her hometown of Geraldton, Western Australia with her partner, two dogs, two cats and billion plants.
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I can’t get the pattern to download??!!
Sorry about that Sharon, I’ll look into it 🙂 Please try downloading from my free resources page for now; https://www.studio8t4.com/free-resources/
Hi,
I can’t download the pattern, I tried going to
The resources page but the pattern doesn’t unlock.
Hi Jeanny! Can you try again now please? If it still won’t unlock, email me at rachel@studio8T4.com and I will send you the download link 🙂
Hello! Beautiful blanket I’m trying to make 2!!!! One for me and my sister. My dilemma is I’m using same size hook for all 3 types of squares (starburst/African flower/granny) at 5 rounds but following the pattern at the links above I have a size difference and I had trouble with round 5 of the starburst so I did a “granny” 5th round to have equal stitches to join to the other granny squares. Any advice?? Can you tell what I’m doing wrong in my pic?
Hi Laura! It looks like you’re making great progress! Honestly it was a couple of years ago that I made this, so I can’t remember too many details lol. I did use the same hook for the whole blanket though, and my squares did vary in size a little bit. Once they were blocked they pretty much evened out, and I just made sure I stretched out any shorter edges when stitching them together. Adding a row of “granny” is fine if that gets you to a similar square size 🙂