DIY Chunky Crochet Blanket

My first tutorial in a few months and it's a cozy chunky blanket! I love it. 

So I was cleaning out my yarn stash (and I mean CLEANING OUT, as in filling up a few trash bags of old gross yarn that I will never ever use and tossing it), and I came across an unfinished blanket made from a few skeins of chunky yarn. I had started making this weird back-and-forth blanket and it didn't look very nice. Then I came across a few more odds and ends of chunky yarn, and decided to make a thick 'n quick little lap blanket (mostly to use up these skeins and get them out of my way). 

If you, too, are looking to get rid of some old yarn, try this super easy pattern! No, really, it couldn't be easier. You can make this with any size yarn or hook, but I used super thick yarn and a P hook for this project.

First begin a granny square by working JUST the first round. (Chain 4, join to the first chain to make a round, chain 3, work 2 double crochets in the ring, *chain 3, work 3 double crochets in the ring, repeat from the * twice, end with a chain 3 and join with a slip stitch in the top of the first chain 3). If you don't already know how to make a granny square, check out this easy tutorial. They use chain-2 spaces between the 3 double crochet clusters, but you can do whatever you want. :)

Next, work the join round. Obviously the first square doesn't need to be joined to anything (you will just work the following directions without joining the square to anything and replacing all slip stitches with chains), but all of the subsequent squares do. Slip stitch into the next double crochet, chain 1 and single crochet in the same stitch, chain 3, single crochet into the next chain-3 space, chain 1 (as shown in photo above).

Insert hook into corresponding chain-3 corner on another square, like so.

Yarn over and draw through like you would for a normal slip stitch.

Chain 1.

Single crochet in same chain-3 space of current square. This finishes your join!

Continue in this manner across the edge of the squares, joining chain-3 spaces together.

When you reach the next corner, chain 1 (these next photos will show you how to join to three other squares, which is the most complicated step - and it's really not that difficult)

Insert hook into first chain-3 corner of corresponding square and draw through slip stitch.

Insert hook into chain-3 corner of the white square and draw through slip stitch.

Chain 1 and single crochet in chain-3 corner of current square. You just joined three squares together!

Continue in this way, joining 2 and 3 sides as needed, until you run out of scrap yarn. That's it! Weave in all your ends using a big yarn needle and feel free to work a little border around the edge if you have some extra yarn. Love. It. 

If you do try this tutorial, show me pictures! This is my easy Christmas season project between other deadlines, so I'll be working on it over the next week or so. Crochet with me and gift a cozy blanket this season!