Fern Forest Throw – Easy Crochet Blanket

This easy and cozy crochet throw blanket features cool forest-inspired colors and simple stitches for great texture, and is perfect for curling up on the couch with a good book and a glass of wine on a chilly evening. 

Click HERE to pin this cozy crochet throw blanket to make later!

Scroll down for the free crochet pattern, or purchase the printable PDF version HERE!

The autumn season is many things for me, and one of those things involves my couch, a dark and twisty page-turner and the newest seasons of my favorite streaming series.  What better way to work on crochet projects or just relax after a long day than by bingeing the first season of The Witcher in anticipation of the long-awaited Season 2.  And if its chilly, I just pull the nearest cozy throw blanket over my legs so that nothing distracts me from Henry Cavill. This is time well spent, in my opinion.    

I have never been to the Pacific Northwest, but the muted green and monochrome greys of this yarn bring to mind a dark and quiet fern-covered forest, and I can just picture the beauty and serenity of that part of the country.  This was my inspiration for creating the alternating stripes of this cozy crochet throw blanket, and I am thrilled to have this finished pattern available here on the blog for you to make!  

YARN TALK

This project was inspired by those cool forest colors, and uses Lion Brand Heartland, which is one of my all-time favorite yarns to use.  This worsted weight #4 yarn is 100% acrylic and is so incredibly soft and squishy with a heathered look.  It comes in a great variety of colors named for the American landscape that all pair well together, and here I have used Mt. Rainier, Great Smoky Mountains, Black Canyon and Rocky Mountains. 

This easy crochet blanket throw uses the double crochet herringbone stitch, which gives it great texture and the rows will work up fast; this is a versatile repeating stitch and a simple relaxing pattern that you can easily crochet while catching up on your shows. I was going to make a border, but the ends of the turned rows unintentionally created a scalloped look that works for this blanket.  It is finished with fun tassels on the corners, which are my favorite accent detail to add to a blanket – who doesn’t love a tassel!? 

The Fern Forest throw is a quick and easy crochet project for any skill level, but is a perfect blanket for beginners and this simple relaxing pattern and repeating stitch will work up quickly. Its a great way to spend an evening – there’s not much else to do on these pre-winter evenings when its dark by 5:00. Wine is optional. 

Scroll down for the free pattern for this cozy crochet throw blanket, and make sure to PIN this for later! 

Scroll down for the free crochet pattern or purchase the printable PDF version HERE!

BONUS – BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS!

This cozy crochet throw blanket is not only great for keeping warm while watching shows, but it’s also great for curling up on the couch or in bed with that can’t-put-down-must-finish book, and here are a few of my recent favorites:

• Ariadne by Jennifer Saint – I love Greek mythology, and I enjoyed this tremendously; it goes beyond the story of the Minotaur told from a different perspective.
• Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney – This dark and twisty psychological thriller had me simultaneously wanting to visit and being terrified of the Scottish Highlands in the dead of winter.
• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab – This amazing story spans centuries and involves a curse, a beautiful love story and a tarnished heroine that I really started to identify with.
• One By One by Ruth Ware – Another book in a snowy setting (the French Alps this time, and I must be really wanting to see some snow!), this thriller had me thinking about who you can really trust.

The Fern Forest Throw – Easy Crochet Blanket Pattern

This comfy, cozy blanket is perfect for those cool weather nights, and this easy crochet blanket pattern works up quickly using a simple stitch and features fun tassel details.

Scroll down for the free crochet pattern or purchase the printable PDF version HERE!

SKILL LEVEL:  Easy

MATERIALS:

US Size K/10 6.5 mm crochet hook

US Size J/11 8 mm crochet hook

Lion Brand Heartland (Weight:  4/Worsted 100% Acrylic – 251 yards/230m, 5oz/142g)

• Color A:  Black Canyon – 3 skeins (approximately 753 yards)
• Color B:  Rocky Mountains – 2 skeins (approximately 502 yards)
• Color C:  Mount Rainier – 2 skeins (approximately 502 yards)
• Color D:  Great Smoky Mountains – 2 skeins (approximately 502 yards)

Scissors

Yarn needle

GAUGE:

10 stiches x 8 rows = 4 inches

SIZING: Finished blanket will be approximately 48 x 51 inches

ABBREVIATIONS: 

ch – chain

st – stitch

hbdc – herringbone double crochet

YO – yarn over

GENERAL PATTERN NOTES

• This blanket is crocheted using the herringbone double crochet stitch: 
  • YO, insert your hook, YO, pull up a loop and pull directly through first loop on hook, YO and pull through one loop, YO and pull through remaining two loops. 
• There is no wrong side or right side. 
• The ch 2 turning chain does not count as a stitch. 
• Placing a stitch marker in the first stitch of every row worked will help to determine where you need to place your last stich on any given row. 
• The larger hook size is used to make your foundation chains so the initial row is straight and does not curl.  The remainder of the pattern uses the smaller size hook. 
• The pattern is worked by repeating one row and switching colors at the end of the indicated row before turning. 

THE PATTERN – Easy Crochet Throw 

Using Color A and the 8mm crochet hook, ch 124.  Switch to the 6.5 mm crochet hook.

Row 1:  hbdc in 3^rd ch from hook and in each chain across, turn.  (122)

Row 2:  ch 2, hbdc in 1^st st from hook and in each chain across, turn.  (122)

Repeat Row 2, changing to the indicated color at the end of the row for that section and before turning your work, as follows: 

After row 102 is worked, fasten off.  Weave in all your yarn ends. 

Make 4 tassels and attach them to your blanket:

• Using Color A and a book or something similar (here I have used my crochet hook case), you will begin by wrapping the yarn around the book approximately 30 times.  You can wrap less or more yarn as desired so you can achieve the size tassel you want. (PHOTO A)
• Slide the yarn off the book; you will have a nice circle of yarn. (PHOTO B) 
• Cut your yarn at one end so that you have several long strands of yarn in a bunch.  (PHOTO C)

• Cut a long piece yarn (this will be used to tie your tassels to your blanket corners), and tie in a knot in the middle of your yarn bunch.  (PHOTO D)
• Cut another long piece of yarn and tie around the upper third of your yarn bunch to make the round top part of the tassel; leave a yarn tail a bit longer than your tassel when you tie your knot, so that you have a short yarn tail and a long yarn tail.  (PHOTO E)
• Being careful to hold the short yarn tail away from the tassel so that it will not become caught up with the longer tail, wrap the longer yarn tail around the yarn bunch until you have the desired thickness.  (PHOTO F)

• Then, use your short yarn tail to tie a knot with the longer yarn tail to secure this band.  If desired, use your yarn needle to work those yarn ends into the middle of the tassel. 

Trim your tassels to the desired length, then make three more.  These tassels are SO CUTE! 

Lastly, attach a tassel to each corner with the yarn needle and weave in all your ends.  Enjoy being snug and warm all winter long!