Random Rounds: A free stash-busting crochet blanket pattern

Random rounds is a stashbusting moss stitch crochet blanket pattern designed to work with scraps of yarn in a mixture of weights and quantities. It’s a great way to use up leftover yarn and create a unique crochet afghan to keep or gift.

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About the Random Rounds Scrap Yarn Crochet Blanket Pattern

I love making crochet projects using partial skeins, scraps and all other forms of left over yarn. And with random rounds you can use it all. From small amounts to part balls or odd full balls.

It’s a wonderful way to use up those yarns which maybe you haven’t found another project for. Those ones that are sitting there staring at you from your stash with the puppy dog eyes. (I’m looking at you random variegated ball of yarn I got in a thrift store and didn’t know what to make with!)

Not only is it money saving and environmentally friendly to use your own stash, but it also creates a kind of record of all your previous crochet projects.

For example, I know that the bright yellow stripe in the this afghan blanket comes from the left overs of the Cosy Toes Socks and that the final rounds were made with the remains of the light weight aran yarn that I used in the aran / worsted weight version of the Any Yarn Will Do sweater.

The orange and teal stripe was actually from my first attempt at dying yarn. I loved the colours but could never quite find the right project for it. This afghan pattern accepts all comers 🙂

This is why the name Random Rounds jumped out at me. I would never normally put such a huge fish mash of colours together but I really do love the overall effect it creates. Some of the combinations I think are fabulous… some less so… but I even admire the less aesthetically pleasing parts as a reminder to give it a go… you never know where randomness will take you!

I crocheted this throw over the course of a year, picking it up and putting it down between other projects or where I needed something easy to work on. It’s a great pattern for stitching in front of the tv and maybe the perfect project for long term stashbusting.

If stash busting is your thing, but you haven’t built up quite such a stash for a larger project like this, you can check out some more stash-busting patterns here which will suit all stash sizes, including smaller projects, big sweaters, quick makes and lots of free crochet patterns.

Of course, you can still make this blanket with newer yarn or non-leftovers. It would look amazing in a single colour as a bedspread or throw or you could create thick bold stripes.

The possibilities are endless…

Crochet Pattern Notes

General Notes

• Please read through the pattern and all associated notes before starting your project
• This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology (UK equivalents are given in brackets in the abbreviations list where applicable)
• Numbers at the end of a round indicate the number of stitches in that round 
• Chain 3 turning chains count as 1 single crochet and chain 1
• The first stitch of each round should be worked into chain space used to start the previous round, unless otherwise indicated
• Stitches are made into chain spaces throughout, other than the first and last rounds
• Stitch markers will be placed in the corners of the blanket to help guide you
• Instructions written after *asterisks should be repeated as indicated 
• Instructions written between [square brackets] should be worked the specific number of times instructed
• Instructions in (round brackets) should be worked in the same space
• This is not intended for use as a baby blanket in any form

Crochet blanket construction

• The square blanket is worked from the centre out in turned rounds
• There are no wrong or right sides in this project

Skills Used

This is a relatively simple pattern which uses US single crochet and chains throughout. It can be a bit fiddly to get started but once you’re off, the pattern repeat is mindless and relaxing.

• Knowledge of basic crochet stitches, techniques and terminology is assumed
• A photo guide is included with the pattern below
• The PDF version of the pattern incudes a charged stitch diagram which shows the first 5 rounds of the pattern to help get you started – You can purchase the PDF from Etsy, Ravelry or Love Crafts

Materials

Crochet Hook

5.5mm crochet hook or size suitable for the mix of yarns you’re using. I used my clover amour hook.

You can change the size of your crochet hook to suit the mixture of yarns you are working with. Because I worked with a range of yarn weights from fingering to aran weight, I used a hook on the larger end of the scale. This intentionally leads to a range of tension and fabric density throughout the blanket. You can learn about yarn weight and hook sizes here.

Yarn 

You will need around 1000-1100g yarn to create the size blanket shown. The pattern is designed to work with a mixture of yarns, so this is only an approximation.

I used 1040g of yarn in mixture of yarn weights from 4 ply / fingering weight sock yarn to aran weight yarn in a mixture of fibres. The majority of the yarn I used was acrylic, wool and a blend of the two.

This pattern is designed to use up a mixture of stash yarn and left overs. You can learn more about yarn weights here and how to get your stash organised with this post.

I arranged my leftover yarn by amount and worked the first rounds with the smaller amounts of yarn, working in ascending order as the blanket increased in size. However, you can choose your yarn order by colour or any other preference you may have.

Yarn Substitution Options

This pattern is open to be worked with in any fibre and suitable hook size.

Different fibres and yarns will produce a different finished result.

You may find this post useful when choosing yarn.

Other Materials & Notions

You will also use;

• Yarn needle, scissors and a tape measure
• 4 stitch markers to mark corners
• You may wish to block this project (although I didn’t), in which case I recommend a Blocking board and pins.

Learn more about blocking here.

Stitches & Abbreviations: US terms 

(UK Equivalent in Brackets)

• ch = chain
• ch-sp = chain space
• MR = magic ring (find a tutorial here – modification given)
• PM = place marker / place stitch marker
• rep = repeat
• sc = single crochet (UK double crochet)
• sk = skip (UK miss)
• sp = space
• ss = slip stitch
• st(s) = stitch(es)

Stitch Pattern Repeats

The pattern uses the classic moss stitch (also known as granite, linen or tweed stitch) worked in turned rounds.

You can learn how to crochet moss stitch in rows in this tutorial.

Measurements & Finished Size

The finished blanket pictured measures approximately 140cm / 56in square.

You can change the size by working a different number of rounds. Simply keep crocheting until your blanket reaches your preferred size, then crochet the final round, as detailed in the pattern.

You can find a guide to different blanket sizes for different functions in this post should you like some idea of how big or small to go.

Gauge

The gauge in this pattern will vary because of different yarn weights it uses. The gauge measurement given below is an average over the course of the blanket and a guideline only. You may wish to swatch to decide what hook size is right for the drape that you’re looking for, but matching gauge is not essential.

17 sts and 17 rows in 10cm of moss stitch worked in turned rounds using a 5.5mm crochet hook.

Learn how to make and measure a gauge swatch here.

Make MR (or ch4 and ss to first chain to make a loop);

Round 1: Ch3 (counts as 1sc and ch1-sp corner sp here and throughout), working into the loop, [1sc, ch1] 3 times, ss to ch3-sp, turn. That’s a total of 8 sts – 3 sc, 3 ch1-sp and ch3 (counts as 2 sts)

The images below show Round 1 before the magic ring has been pulled closed and the slip stitch made, and at the end or Round 1 after the slip stitch has joined the round.  

Round 2: Ch3, 1sc into ch3-sp where you just slip stitched, PM in ch3-sp, [ch1, (1sc, ch1, 1sc) in next ch1-sp, PM in ch1-sp just made (this will become the corner space)] 3 times, ch1, ss to ch3-sp, turn 

The image below shows the end of Round 2, where stitch markers have been added. The red marker highlights the corner where the round is joined and a new one is started. 

Round 3: Ch3, 1sc into ch3-sp where you just slip stitched, move up marker to ch3-sp, [ch1, 1sc in next ch1 sp, ch1 (1sc, ch1, 1sc) in next marked ch1-sp, move marker up to ch1-sp just made] 3 times, ch1, 1sc in next ch1-sp, ch1, ss to ch3-sp, turn 

Round 4: Ch3, 1sc into ch3-sp where you just slip stitched, move up marker to ch3-sp [*ch1, 1sc in next ch1sp; rep from * to and including marked ch1-sp, ch1, 1sc in same marked ch1-sp, move marker up to ch1-sp just made] 3 times, **ch1, 1sc in next ch1-sp; rep from ** to and including last ch1-sp of round (before marked ch3-sp), ch1, ss into ch3-sp, turn

The images below show Round 4 half-way round and after it has been completed.  

Round 5: As Round 4

Subsequent rounds: Continue to repeat Round 4, moving stitch markers up as you work, changing colours and yarns as desired. The blanket pictured contained 124 rounds before the final round.

Final round: Ch1, 1ss into ch3 sp, 1ss into each ch-sp and sc around, ss to top of first ss to join

Fasten off, sew in ends

How share your finished makes

I hope you enjoyed this pattern and would love to see all your colourful (or minimalist!) creations. Below is a way to share your makes;

• On Instagram, you can use the hashtag #DoraDoes to share your finished projects or just tag me @doraexplored
• If you have the bug for creating garments, why not join my dedicated facebook group “My Crochet Wardrobe” and share them there?
• Sign up to the WiP Tip for weekly crochet chat, offers and exclusives straight to your inbox – click here to sign up

Happy Hooking 

Dx

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