What to crochet in front of the TV: Netflix & Crochet project ideas
This post is designed to give you a range of ideas for crochet projects that you can make whilst watching the TV. (Or in front of YouTube or listening to a podcast or audiobook).
It includes a range of project types and crochet pattern suggestions, both free crochet patterns and paid designs.
Are you a TV crocheter?
There’s a saying I often see in memes on social media to the effect of “Only a crocheter can understand what it’s like to watch a whole TV series and no know what the main characters look like”
This always makes me smile – because it resonates so much. (And crochet can also be substituted with knitting, embroidery, cross stitch, drawing, and a whole host of other creative hobbies – yarn based or otherwise)
I love to crochet in front of the telly. Or stitchflix as I’ve seen it called (stitching and netflix). It feels like it is a great use of time. Sometimes I call these ‘couch crochet projects’ or ‘sofa crochet.’
I’ve got so used to ‘listening to the TV’ as much as I watch it. In fact, I now feel a bit odd if I don’t have something to do with my hands whilst watching the TV, if feels incomplete somehow.
I also enjoy listening to podcasts and audio books whilst crocheting. And when you pair the right type of audio input (TV, film, YouTube, podcast, radio show etc.) with the right type of crochet project the two make such a satisfying combination.
The brain is such a clever thing, that many of my crochet projects now trigger memories of the show I was watching when I made them. My most recent design, the Lotus Pool Shawl makes me think of Fallout which I watched on Amazon during the make. Whereas my current wip is being made in front of the European Cup football tournament (soccer for my US friends!).
The shawl was a dream to make in front of the TV, The current wip is a bit more complex and requires periodic muting of the commentary so I can check my stitch count!
I recently saw a thread on facebook asking for suggestions of what to watch whilst crocheting. Whilst this was useful (always love a show recommendation), it got me thinking about the reverse question; what makes a good crochet pattern to hook up whilst watching TV?
So I put my head down and came up with my suggestions for what to crochet in front of the TV; whether that’s Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Apple TV, podcast, youtube or any other audio source that brings you joy.
I’ve started with my take on what makes a good sofa crochet project, then given some pattern suggestions for different types of crochet makes.
What makes a good stitchflix crochet project?
When you’re crocheting in front of the TV, you would generally want a crochet project that uses an easy, simple stitch pattern that doesn’t require too much counting or stopping and starting.
It doesn’t have to just be a single stitch, rows after rows (though it can be if that’s what you like). The key is to make sure that your crochet project uses a stitch pattern or row repeat which you can easily remember. This will really depend on your experience level.
Once you have automated the stitch pattern your project uses, it frees up that manual part of your brain which you can use to understand what’s going on on the TV show. It’s like being able to hold a conversation whilst driving a car. (Note – I’m a crochet designer, not a neuroscientist, so this, and any reference to how the brain works, is my way of describing my experience!)
If you want to make something a little more complex, you could try crocheting it in front of shorter shows. These shorter episodes make it easier to pause and check – so you don’t have to frog hours of work because you got distracted….
Just make sure you do actually stop and check… too many times I’ve got involved in watching and crocheting, only to realise I made a mistake 2 seasons ago… I’m gonna guess I’m not alone in that!
So with that general overview complete, let’s look at some pattern ideas for crocheting in front of the TV.
Crochet blankets to make in front of the TV
Crochet blankets are a classic choice for making in front of the television. They can be worked centre out, in rows or in motifs to be joined.
Centre-out crochet blanket patterns
I love centre out blankets as you can just stop when they reach the size you want. The generally use repeated rounds so are fairly straightforward to make. Here are some of my favourites;
The Random Rounds Stashbusting Free Blanket Pattern
This is the ultimate tv blanket for me as you can just start with a box of your leftover yarn and keep going until it’s used up. No need to pay much attention to colour order and the simple stitches make it a super relaxing crochet project.
This one is also great to watch TV snuggled under once it’s finished!
Random Rounds Crochet Blanket Pattern Here
The Granny Weave Free Blanket Pattern
Granny weave is a centre out pattern which uses a similar principle to a classic granny square but mashes it up with post stitches of basket weave to create this wonderful effect.
It’s a little more complex so perhaps not for absolute beginners but a very enjoyable make for those with some experience (who like post stitches!). It’s a two row / round pattern repeat and once you’ve crocheted the first few rounds, you’ll get the hang of it and be able to work it with minimal cognitive involvement!
This crochet pattern is so much simpler than it looks and is super snuggly and squishy when it’s finished. Perhaps more of a winter warmer pattern!
The big love blanket pattern
This is a centre out blanket which uses linked crochet stitches. It’s the same stitch throughout but is a little different from the norm.
Once you get to grips with the linked crochet stitches and the joining method I created to join each round for this pattern, it’s relatively simple with a quick adjustment to the increases every few rounds.
This crochet pattern is an example of something that’s a little more complex but intuitive once you get into it!
Big love crochet blanket pattern here
Or check out the ‘little love’ crochet square pattern if you prefer a motif style blanket!
Crochet blanket patterns worked in rows
Stormy Rainbow by Fay DH Designs
I love this beautiful striped blanket. It’s worked with colour blocks so had a ton of interest, but isn’t too involved to distract you from your TV
This pattern is a great way to use minis or leftover yarn too!
Check out the Stormy Rainbow Crochet Blanket Pattern here
Crochet blanket patterns using motifs
Crochet motifs are great to make in front of the telly, especially if it’s a repeatable motif where perhaps you just use a different combination of colours.
Granny Square Motifs
The ultimate motif to crochet is the granny square. You can crochet them in any size to join together to make a blanket or just do one big granny square blanket.
Either way, they are simple and relaxing to crochet and easy to make with divided attention and can be used to make not just blankets, but scarves, cowls, bucket hats, or even garments.
Check out my guide to the perfect granny square here.
The bobble pop free crochet blanket pattern
If you want a different motif that’s relatively simple to memorise with some more engaging techniques (but still repetitive enough to focus on the other content), then the bobble pop blanket might be the one for you.
The bobble pop blanket uses circular crochet motifs which are then squared and joined on the last round (or you can sew them together if join as you go is too distracting!). It’s great for stash busting and a bonanza of bobbles for texture lovers!
Check out the free bobble pop blanket pattern here
Crochet accessories & wearables suitable for television crocheting
Accessories large and small can also be great tv projects. Remember to keep it simple and choose a project you can work without too much thought.
Shawl, wraps and scarf patterns to crochet in front of the TV
Shawls and wraps are great crochet projects to make from the comfort of your couch. They are smaller than blankets so better suited to warmer weather as they have less fabric to move around on your lap.
With this kind of crochet project, you want to look out for a pattern where there’s one thing going on at the time. So for example, in the first suggestion I give you below, the Crochet Del Mar free shawl pattern, the stitch and yarn colour stay the same (I use an ombre yarn), so all you have to remember is the simple increase / decrease at the ends of the rows.
Likewise, the Lotus Pool is a simple shawl pattern and you just need to look out for the colour change in the yarn to know when to change your stitch type.
Having one thing to focus on like this leaves enough brain space to keep up with who’s gossiping about who in Bridgerton!
The Crochet del mar free shawl pattern
This is a simple and relaxing shawl to crochet with the television on. It’s a large asymmetrical triangle shawl which uses a yarn cake so no colour changes and, as long as you don’t collapse the cake, no yanking balls of yarn all over the floor or sofa for the cat to chase.
The lotus pool crochet triangle shawl pattern
This unique triangle crochet shawl pattern uses assigned pooling yarn. I call this a self seeding pattern as, once you get to grips with the simple shawl shape (basic increases on either end of the row) then the yarn tells you what to do.
So you can crochet a few rows to get used to the puff stitch motif with the pattern in front of you (video and written patterns are available for this one), then you can switch on the big screen and settle in.
Learn about the free crochet assigned pooling shawl pattern here
The bumps crochet pocket shawl
I love this crochet pattern for working on the couch. It uses a version of the alpine stitch, which is a little more involved but once you get the muscle memory working it’s super simple and intuitive to crochet.
There’s no shaping involved so you’re just making a big rectangle really, and you can start with the pockets to practice the stitch pattern whilst the coffee is brewing…
In this version of the pattern I have thrown in some stripes in contrasting colours at regular intervals ,but this is optional. Perhaps you could add a stripe every time you start a new episode?
Under the tree, free crochet shawl pattern
You might look at this crochet shawl and think that it’s way too complex a pattern to make whilst watching the tv.
But in reality, it’s a simple 4 row repeat once you get going, so if you’re a crocheter with a bit of experience with this kind of project then it will be a breeze (see also The Perceptions shawl which is a similar principle)
Sure, I would spend some time getting started with it without any distractions, but once the basic pattern is set up, and you get the hang of the repeat, it all becomes habitual and the increases and decreases are intuitive.
Furrow and Flourish Shawl is another crochet shawl pattern that follows this style of intuitive repeat.
Crochet scarves, cowls and snoods to make in front of the TV
Scarves, cowls and snoods or infinity scarves are also all great accessories for couch crochet making. Unlike shawls, many of these have no shaping, so you are usually either making a long thin rectangle or a big loop.
(You can learn about cowl construction here if you want to dig into that further)
The Granny Dot Crochet Scarf Pattern
This free crochet scarf pattern combines the classic granny stripe with rows of puff stitches.
It gives you a nice run of long rows of granny stripe before you throw in a row of puffs in a contrasting colour.
A stash buster and a simple project that’s crocheted lengthways in long rows. An ideal telly project.
This crochet pattern does have a hat to match, which you might want to try in front of a low commitment TV show… but the shaping at the crown would definitely have you pressing pause more often.
Beginners bestie crochet cowl
If you’re newer to crochet and want something super simple, then the beginner’s bestie cowl pattern is right up your street.
It uses simple stitches and alternates them each round, keeping a bit of interest, but freeing up attention for movie time!
Off the rails crochet infinity scarf
I love this infinity scarf pattern. It uses basic crochet stitches with a little bit of back loop only magic to create this classic ribbed effect. And because it’ uses’s crocheted with super chunky yarn, you can make it and get all the ends sewn in before the end credits roll!
The only challenge you’ll have with this one is wanting to make more!!
The Shifting Sands Snood
This is an example of a snood that’s worked in a tall loop. It’s another demonstration of how using variegated yarn can make something look more complex than it is!
This one uses the delightful crochet Jasmine stitch, which is a worthy yarn eater.
It takes a few rows to get the hang of the stitch so I’d start this without any electrical accompaniment, but once you’ve mastered this stunning crochet stitch you’ll be away 🙂
Crochet houndstooth scarf of infinity scarf pattern
The houndstooth stitch (sometimes called dogtooth pattern) is a lovely simple two-stitch crochet stitch pattern where you alternate colours each row.
It’s a super simple design where the most challenging part of crocheting either the scarf or infinity scarf pattern is the colour change at the end of each row / round.
Below you see the Houndstooth forever infinity scarf crochet pattern which allows you to carry the colours up the join, so you’ll be working with 2 balls attached.
Alternatively you could try a houndstooth fringed scarf where you fasten off at the end of each row. This one is worked lengthways so you’ve got some pretty long rows to work with this sport weight yarn.
You can even turn the ends into tassels to avoid sewing them in like I did; threading tassels on is another tv-friendly activity!
Simple crochet garments you can crochet in front of the telly
You might think that clothes are too complex to crochet whilst watching the TV or listening to an audiobook. However, if you reframe a piece of crochet clothing as a simple series of shapes then you might realise that it’s entirely feasible.
Granted, you’ll want a crochet design that’s relatively simple without much shaping, but there are tons of options. You could even make a top down seamless garment, so long as you take some time out to focus on the yoke increases.
I’m gonna add a big caveat here though: Make a gauge swatch and continue to check you’re on gauge as you work. It’s really easy for your tension to fluctuate when you’re watching TV – especially if it’s a tense show or you’re a bit sleepy – so do keep an eye on that.
I believe that variation in gauge is the biggest reason that crochet clothes don’t fit (when the swatch matched gauge) so watcher beware!!
Let’s start with a gateway garment – the crochet poncho – a great transition into crocheting garments (and often loose fitting so that eases the gauge issue!)
The block-rocking poncho (free crochet pattern)
This is a simple crochet poncho that’s worked using the crochet corner to corner stitch pattern. It’s simple to make in any yarn and size; just keep going until it’s big enough, make the head hole, then decrease down the other side.
You may need to pay closer attention when crocheting the hole for the head, but the rest is easy – especially if you’re familiar with the double crochet c2c stitch pattern.
The Cloud Cover Oversized Sweater
This crochet pattern is a super simple oversized crochet sweater which is made with no shaping, simple shapes and simple crochet stitches.
If you want to start crocheting garments whilst you consume other media, you might want to start here.
Because it’s oversized, and uses a larger hook than the yarn weight suggests, it’s very forgiving of an extra stitch here or there.
The only possible pitfall is that I’ve used brushed alpaca silk yarn which is very difficult to frog – so you may prefer to experiment with a different fibre… or make it as written because it’s a bit more fun when there is at least some peril involved right?
The cosy up crochet sweater pattern
This is a simple crochet sweater that’s worked bottom up in turned rounds, split at the underarm for the front and back, seamed at the shoulders. The sleeves are crocheted directly into the armholes and a roll neck, hem and cuffs are added to finish.
This crochet sweater uses basic crochet stitches (US half double crochet) all the way through as well as a simple rib stitch for the cuffs, hem and neckline. So the basic pattern is simple to make without needing too much counting and with minimal shaping at the shoulders.
On top of this, because it uses super bulky yarn, if you do go awry then it’s pretty simple to frog it back to where you made the mistake.
The clarity crochet sweater pattern
This easy crochet sweater pattern is made in two pieces, a front and back, and seamed along the arms and sides.
You’ll need a little attention to begin with as you crochet the neckline shaping but once you’re past that section, it’s plain sailing.
I’ve used a colour block design in the sample you see pictured, but you could also work it in one colour or lots of stripes, whatever floats your boat 🙂
Joining and sewing in ends
Okay so no pattern examples here, but I want to finish with an alternative suggestion.
I find that watching a great TV show or listening to a really engrossing podcast whilst sewing in ends or joining motifs makes the whole process a lot less tiresome.
So many crocheters hate sewing in their ends, but when paired with the latest episode of a favourite show that you’ve been dying to watch, it suddenly seems like the perfect excuse to chill out and watch a little TV with a yarn needle instead of a crochet hook.
So there we have it. I hope I’ve given you some fun ideas for your TV crochet schedule, but I would love to hear your favourites too… if you have a project that you love to work from the couch, let me know in the comments and share your inspiration!
Happy Hooking
Dx
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Ioved the crochet idea…and humer
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