Tapestry Crochet Damask Blanket

Shades of Blue · Beginner · DK Weight

A cozy throw worked in beginner-friendly tapestry single crochet. A classic damask motif repeats across the fabric in three harmonious blues. The unused colors are carried along the row and enclosed inside the stitches for a neat reversible look. Follow the separate attached stitch chart for the color motif; this written pattern gives all setup, edge, and finishing instructions.

Skill Level

Beginner (basic SC, simple color changes, reading a chart with support notes)

Finished Size

50 × 60 inches (127 × 152 cm), excluding optional border of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) all around
Blocked size target: 50 × 60 inches (127 × 152 cm)

Materials

Yarn: DK weight (Light #3), approximately 1800 yards (1646 m) total
Suggested split for a damask look:

• Color A (main / darkest blue): 900 yd (823 m) — e.g. navy or deep indigo
• Color B (medium blue): 550 yd (503 m) — e.g. medium denim or teal-blue
• Color C (lightest blue): 350 yd (320 m) — e.g. soft sky or ice blue

Exact yardage per color varies with how much of each shade appears in your chart repeat; buy an extra skein of A if unsure.

Hook: Size G/6 (4.0 mm), or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions:

• Stitch markers
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Blocking mats and rustproof pins (or wires)

Gauge

18 sc and 18 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in tapestry single crochet (carrying unused yarn), blocked

Make a swatch: Chain 28, work 22 rows of tapestry SC following a small section of the attached chart (or solid SC while carrying a second strand). Measure the center 4 inches.

• Too few stitches per 4 inches → try a smaller hook
• Too many stitches per 4 inches → try a larger hook
  Even tension is more important than perfect stitch look on the wrong side.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch – chain
• sc – single crochet
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• RS – right side
• WS – wrong side
• rep – repeat
• yo – yarn over
• A, B, C – Color A, B, C

Special Technique: Beginner Tapestry Crochet

1. Hold the unused color(s) along the top of the stitches of the previous row.
2. Work each sc over the carried yarn so it is enclosed inside the stitch.
3. To change color: With 2 loops of the old color still on the hook, yo with the new color and pull through both loops to finish the sc. The new color is now ready for the next stitch.
4. Do not pull carried yarn tight (fabric will pucker) or leave it too loose (fabric will gap).
5. At the end of each row, turn; carry yarns up the side edge inside the edge stitches, or cut and weave later if preferred (carrying up is neater for beginners and uses less yarn).
6. Keep RS facing you when checking the damask motif; WS will show more horizontal bars of carried yarn—this is normal.

Attached Stitch Chart

Use the separate attached chart panel that accompanies this pattern for the full damask color grid. Do not rely on any inline grid in this text; the visual motif lives only in that attached panel.

Where to find it: The chart panel is provided as the companion stitch-chart asset packaged with this pattern (same download/print set). Keep it beside these written instructions while you work.

How to read the chart (crochet, flat rows):

• Each square = 1 sc in the indicated color.
• RS rows (odd numbers): Read right to left? No — standard for this pattern: RS rows read left to right; WS rows read right to left, matching the direction your hook travels. Follow the row numbers printed on the attached chart. If the chart marks row 1 at the bottom with an arrow L→R, start there on the RS.
• Work bottom-to-top unless the attached chart states otherwise.
• Color key on the chart maps to A / B / C (dark / medium / light blue).
• One full damask motif repeat is the boxed or marked repeat width on the chart (20 stitches wide and 24 rows tall for this design).
• Edge stitches outside the repeat are worked solid in Color A unless the chart extends the motif into the edges (it does not; edges stay clear).

Color / yarn management with the chart:

• Carry A continuously (it is the background).
• Carry B and C only across sections where they appear within a few stitches; if a color is unused for an entire repeat, you may park it and rejoin later, but for beginners it is simpler to carry all three lightly across each row.
• Twist yarns when switching to avoid holes.
• Stitch-count integration: Foundation is 227 sc. Layout = 3 solid Color A edge sts at the right, then 11 full 20-st chart repeats (220 sts), then 4 solid Color A edge sts at the left (3 + 220 + 4 = 227 ✓). On WS rows the physical left/right edges swap as you turn—always keep 3 sc solid A on one selvedge and 4 sc solid A on the other so the damask panel stays centered (227 − 7 = 220; 220 ÷ 20 = 11 repeats ✓).

Pattern Notes

• Blanket is worked flat in rows.
• Turning ch-1 does not count as a stitch.
• Count stitches at the end of every row until the rhythm is automatic (must remain 227).
• Place a marker on the RS.
• For true beginner ease, practice 4–6 rows of solid tapestry SC (A with B carried) before starting the chart.

Blanket Instructions

Foundation
With Color A, ch 228.
Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, enclosing Color B (and C if you prefer to start carrying all strands now) from the first stitch. (227 sc)
Turn.

Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, sc in each st across in Color A (continue carrying), changing colors only if your chart’s Row 2 requires it inside the repeat window. (227 sc)
Turn.

Establish damask (charted section)
Row 3 (RS): Ch 1, sc in first 3 sts with A (right edge), place marker after these 3 sts; work Attached Chart Row 1 (or the chart’s first motif row) across the next 220 sts (11 repeats of the 20-st damask), changing among A, B, and C as shown; sc in last 4 sts with A (left edge). (227 sc)
Turn.

Row 4 (WS): Ch 1, sc in first 4 sts with A; work next chart row across center 220 sts reading in the WS direction; sc in last 3 sts with A. (227 sc)
Turn.

Rows 5–26: Continue as established, working successive rows of the attached chart in the center 220 sts and keeping the 3-st / 4-st Color A selvedges. After chart row 24, return to chart row 1 for the next vertical repeat.
(Each full vertical damask repeat = 24 rows ≈ 5.3 inches at gauge.)

Continue pattern
Rep chart rows 1–24 until piece measures approximately 59 inches (150 cm) from foundation edge, ending after a full or half motif if you prefer a balanced top edge (about 11 vertical repeats × 24 rows = 264 rows, plus setup ≈ 270 rows total → ~60 inches ✓).
Finish with 1–2 rows solid Color A (still 227 sc) if needed to square the top edge.

Fasten off. Weave in ends on WS, matching colors where possible.

Border

Join Color A with slip st in any corner, RS facing.

Round 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around entire blanket, working 1 sc per row-end on the sides (aim for ~18 sc per 4 inches to match gauge) and 3 sc in each corner; join with slip st to first sc.
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, 3 sc in each corner sc; join.
Round 3 (optional): Rep Round 2, or work a gentle crab stitch (reverse sc) for a corded edge.

Fasten off. Weave in remaining ends.

Finishing

1. Weave in all ends securely on the WS, splitting plies if needed for bulk.
2. Block (essential for even damask definition):
   • Wet block: Soak in lukewarm water with mild wool wash, gently squeeze (do not wring), roll in a towel, then pin to 50 × 60 inches (127 × 152 cm) on blocking mats. Smooth the motif so repeats look square. Dry completely.
   • Or steam block: Hover a steam iron or steamer above the fabric; do not press flat or you will crush the SC texture. Pin while warm if needed.
3. Check that carried floats are fully enclosed and corners of the border lie flat.

Care

Hand wash cold or machine wash gentle in a mesh bag; lay flat to dry. Avoid high heat.

Stitch Count Validation (inline)

• Gauge: 18 sc = 4" → 4.5 sc per inch
• Width: 50" × 4.5 = 225 sts in field; +2 for balanced selvedge handling in foundation setup → 227 sc worked each row
• Chart math: 3 edge + (11 × 20) + 4 edge = 3 + 220 + 4 = 227 ✓
• Length: ~4.5 rows per inch × 60" ≈ 270 rows; 24-row chart height divides cleanly into motif stacks
• Yarn: 1800 yd DK within specified 1600–2000 yd range for 50×60" tapestry SC blanket ✓

Enjoy your shades-of-blue damask throw—the attached chart carries the motif; these instructions carry you from chain to blocked blanket.