Alpha Kappa Alpha Centered Blanket - Tapestry Crochet (40\" x 52\")

Worked flat in single crochet (tapestry crochet or surface crochet for letters). Background color is the main body; letters are added using tapestry color changes while crocheting or added afterward with surface slip stitch/duplicate stitch. This pattern uses a 2x2 pixel scale for the letter chart: 1 chart pixel = 2 stitches wide by 2 rows high. The letter block is 30 chart-columns x 48 chart-rows, which equals 60 stitches x 96 rows for the letters and fits centered on a 120-st (approx) x 169-row blanket.

Finished Size

Approx 40" (102 cm) wide x 52" (132 cm) high after blocking. If your gauge differs, work until the finished measurement is reached.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted/Aran weight (US #4). Imperial and metric yardage estimates (allow extra for swatching, borders, and small gauge differences):
  • Background (Apple Green/AKA green): 2200–2500 yards (2012–2286 m)
  • Accent (Salmon/Pink for letters): 300–450 yards (274–411 m)
  • Optional contrasting color for border: 100–200 yards (91–183 m)
• Hook / Needle sizes (choose based on desired drape):
  • Recommended crochet hook: US H/8 (5.0 mm) — UK 6 (old) — 5.0 mm
  • Alternative: US I/9 (5.5 mm) — UK 5 (old) — 5.5 mm (for looser drape)
  • If you prefer knitting this blanket (intarsia or stranded), suggested needles: US 8 (5.0 mm) — UK 6 (old) — 5.0 mm
• Tapestry needle for weaving ends and duplicate stitch.
• Stitch markers, measuring tape, scissors.

Gauge (tapestry single crochet)

Approximately 12 sc x 13 rows = 4\" (10 cm) using H/8 (5.0 mm) hook. This is sample gauge for worsted weight yarn in single crochet. If your gauge differs, adjust starting chain and/or hook to reach finished size.

Abbreviations

• ch = chain
• sc = single crochet
• st = stitch
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• sl st = slip stitch
• MC = main color (background/green)
• CC = contrasting color (letters/pink)

Notes

• This pattern is written for tapestry crochet using color changes carried along the top of stitches (carry floats behind). If you prefer, work the entire blanket in MC and add letters after with duplicate stitch or surface slip stitch in CC.
• All color changes are worked on RS rows. Carry unused color loosely across the back or use bobbins to avoid long floats.
• Because the letter chart uses a 2x2 stitch scale, each single chart square = 2 stitches (width) x 2 rows (height). That keeps letters bold and legible at blanket scale.

Blanket Body

Note: The stitch counts below assume a target width of 40\" = approx 120 sc across (3 sc/inch). If your gauge gives a slightly different count, calculate: width in inches x (sc/inch) = stitches. For the pattern below we use 120 sc for clarity.

1. With MC, foundation ch 121 (or ch 121 and sc in 2nd ch from hook to create 120 sc) to make 120 base sts. (If you use a foundation single crochet row, you will already have 120 sc.)
2. Row 1 (RS): sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (120 sc)
3. Rows 2–until piece measures 52\" from starting edge (approx 169 rows at gauge): sc in each st across, turn. When you reach the area where the letters will occupy (center of blanket), either switch to tapestry technique and follow the chart while working row by row, or continue in MC and add letters later.

Placing the Letter Block (centering)

Center of blanket stitch-wise: with 120 sts across, center column is between stitch 60 and 61. The letter block uses 60 stitches wide (30 chart columns x 2 st = 60 sts). That means the letter block begins at stitch 31 and ends at stitch 90 (inclusive). Vertically, letters occupy 96 rows (48 chart rows x 2 rows). With ~169 rows total, place the top of the letter block so it is centered: top row of letter block = round((169 - 96)/2) + 1 = row 37 (approx). In short: begin letters around row 37 and continue for 96 rows ending around row 132. You may shift a few rows to taste.

Letter Chart & Instructions (2x2 scaling)

Chart grid: 30 columns (chart X from 1..30 left to right), 48 chart-rows (chart Y from 1..48 top to bottom). Each chart cell = 2 sc (columns) x 2 rows. When working tapestry, change color inside the double-stitch unit so the chart maps cleanly.

Basic chart placement summary (each set below uses chart-column numbering 1–30; convert to blanket stitches by formula: blanket stitch = (chart column -1) * 2 + 31). The three letters are laid out as 8-chart-columns each with 3-chart-column spacing: letter 1 = chart columns 1–8, gap = 9–11, letter 2 = 12–19, gap = 20–22, letter 3 = 23–30.

Letter construction notes (Alpha, Kappa, Alpha)

Alpha (Greek “A” style, left and right strokes and crossbar):

• Top apex: chart rows 1–4: narrow head (chart cols 4–5 filled).
• Upper slant: chart rows 5–8: fill cols 3 and 6.
• Mid slant: chart rows 9–12: fill cols 2 and 7.
• Main verticals: chart rows 13–23 and 25–48: fill cols 1 and 8.
• Crossbar: chart row 24: fill chart cols 3,4,5,6 (full 4-chart-column crossbar across center).

Letter K (center letter, Greek “Kappa”):

• Main vertical stroke: fill chart-col 1 for all chart-rows 1–48.
• Upper diagonal arm: run a diagonal from chart-col 8 at chart-row 1 toward chart-col 2 at chart-row 24. To approximate the diagonal, fill these mapping blocks by chart-row groups (each group = 4 chart-rows):
  • chart-rows 1–4: fill col 8
  • 5–8: fill col 7
  • 9–12: fill col 6
  • 13–16: fill col 5
  • 17–20: fill col 4
  • 21–24: fill col 3 and 2 (approach center)
• Lower diagonal arm: mirror the upper arm downward from chart-row 25 to 48 so the diagonal opens back out: fill these groups:
  • 25–28: col 3
  • 29–32: col 4
  • 33–36: col 5
  • 37–40: col 6
  • 41–44: col 7
  • 45–48: col 8

Right-hand Alpha: same chart mapping as the left-hand Alpha but shifted to chart columns 23–30.

Implementation tips for tapestry crochet while working rows:

1. Work rows as sc across in MC; when a chart cell requires CC for its 2x2 block, change to CC on the first of the two stitches and carry the MC behind. For the two-row-high part, keep CC for the two rows, then return to MC when chart cells indicate.
2. Because chart units are 2 stitches wide and 2 rows high, change color every 2 stitches in a group; plan floats and secure carried yarn every so often (or use small bobbins).

Alternative: Add Letters After (Duplicate Stitch / Surface Crochet)

Work entire blanket in MC. After finishing and blocking, mark center and use the same chart mapping (30x48 chart) to add letters with duplicate stitch in CC, or surface slip stitch/puff stitch to outline letters. Duplicate stitch is tidy and avoids floats; surface crochet gives a slightly raised letter.

Border

After letters are complete and ends are woven:

1. Round 1 (RS): With MC, sc evenly around blanket edges, placing 3 sc in each corner. Join with sl st to first sc. (Work loosely to avoid puckering.)
2. Round 2: With CC (optional), reverse single crochet (crab stitch) or sc in back loops for a neat finish.
3. Optional: Add 1–2 more rounds of contrasting color for stripes or framing the letters.

Finishing

• Weave in all ends on RS and WS; when tapestry crocheting, secure carried floats every 3–5 inches with small sl st or by crocheting over them.
• Block lightly to shape if desired.

Yarn Estimates Recap

• Background (MC): 2200–2500 yards (2012–2286 m)
• Letters (CC): 300–450 yards (274–411 m)
• Border (optional): 100–200 yards (91–183 m)

Notes & Tips

• Make a small sample swatch in tapestry technique to confirm your 2-stitch x 2-row chart mapping looks correct before committing to the blanket’s whole center block.
• If you want a crisper letter, use duplicate stitch after completing the blanket in MC; if you prefer letters integrated into the fabric, work tapestry color changes row-by-row.
• For cleaner edges where the letters meet the background, carry CC loosely and catch the float at least every 3–5 inches; do not pull tight to avoid puckering.

Support

Project page and resources: https://purljam.verde.uk. For questions or pattern support email team@verde.uk. Share finished projects with the tag #purljam.

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