There are lots of yarn lovers looking for crochet guidelines for standard bed and blanket sizes. If you take a few moments to search, you will find that sizes are all over the place.
Crocheting a cozy and beautiful blanket for your bed is a delightful endeavor that adds a touch of warmth and personality to your living space. However, one of the key challenges that crochet enthusiasts often face is determining the right dimensions and yardage for their projects.
Whether you’re an experienced crocheter or just starting out, understanding the guidelines for standard bed and blanket sizes can be incredibly helpful in ensuring that your handcrafted masterpiece fits perfectly and looks stunning.
Therefore, I have done some research and will present what I have learned. I hope this helps you determine the size you would like to make your next blanket, throw, or afghan.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the world of crochet and explore the standard sizes for various beds and blankets.
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Planning a Handmade Blanket
Often, I find myself loving a yarn color, spending hours trying to find a pattern that is just right for the color or making up my own design.
However, sometimes I struggle with how large I should make the item. It is easier if I know ahead of time who I am making it for, where it will be used, or what occasion I will make this for ahead of time. It is nice to have a selection of handmade blankets for baby showers, bridal showers, and birthdays.
Use general blanket size guidelines to help plan your next handmade blanket.
Home Décor Afghans
Use handmade items to add color, texture, and warmth to your home. Home décor afghans can be called a throw or afghan. What is the difference? Throws vs. Afghans
The terms “blanket,” “throw,” and “afghan” are frequently used interchangeably. Although these terms are often used as synonyms, they actually refer to different things.
You probably instinctively know that a blanket is large enough to be used as bedding whereas a throw is a small blanket designed to be “thrown” over the legs or feet for warmth. But where does an afghan fit in?
An afghan is a throw, but it’s a particular type of throw. The difference between a throw and an afghan lies in construction. The term “afghan” is generally used for a throw that has been hand-stitched, knitted, or crocheted.
In general, a blanket is a large piece of fabric used for keeping warm typically as bedding; a throw is a small blanket often used as a decor element over a couch, and an afghan is a crocheted or knitted blanket.
Now that we know the difference, if you are like me, I often use the two interchangeably. So, please forgive me if I go against the definitions and call crocheted items a blanket.
General Baby Blanket, Throw Blanket, and Lapghan Sizes
You may be wondering what a laphan is. Generally, a lapghan is used to cover the legs and keep the chill off for a person in a wheelchair or sitting position on a chair. While a throw blanket can be used for home décor and snuggling under when relaxing on the sofa.
Of course, baby blankets come in many sizes depending on the use. From a lovey, to a smaller square baby blanket, to a crib blanket, and toddler blanket.
- Lovey blanket 20 x 20 inches. Starting chain will be about 65-75 chain stitches. Plan on about 300 yards of yarn.
- Square Baby Blanket 31 X 31 inches. The beginning chain will be about 90-100 chain stitches. About 700 yards of yarn.
- Toddler Blanket or Lapghan 36 X 48 inches. Starting Chain is about 116-120 chain stitches. Plan on about 1,300 yards of yarn.
- Throw Blanket (small) 48 X 48 – 60 inches. Starting Chain is approximately 175-185 chain stitches. Plan on about 2,600 yards of yarn.
- Throw Blanket (large) 60 X 72 inches. Plan on a starting chain about 190-200 chain stitches. Plan for approximately 4,000 yards of yarn.
How Big is a Crib Blanket?
Determining Afghan Sizes for a Crib or Bed
The first thing that you need to know is the size of the bed you will be making your afghan for. Along with the bed size, think about how much you would like the blanket to drape over the side of the bed. If you determine not to have any drape, go ahead and made your afghan the size of the bed listed below in the standard mattress sizes chart.
If you desire to have a drape, the length of the drape can be a personal choice; however, in general, people like to have their bed coverings tucked nicely under their neck while covering their feet too. Additionally, when making the bed, the afghan can be tucked over the pillows for a beautiful look.
Suggested Afghan Sizes with Drape Over the Sides
- Crib 36 X 54-60 inches
- Twin (Single) 69 X 95 inches
- Twin XL 69 X 100 inches
- Full (Double) 84 X 95 inches
- Queen 90 X 100 inches
- King 106 X 100 inches
- California King 102 X 104 inches
Crochet Guidelines for Standard Bed and Blanket Sizes
“American” Standard Mattress Sizes
This chart gives the sizes in inches and centimeters for the seven main types of mattresses used in the Western world.
| Sizes | Dimensions (in) | Dimensions (cm) |
| Crib | 27 X 52 inches | 68.5 X 132 centimeters |
| Twin (Single) | 39 X 75 inches | 96.5 X 190.5 centimeters |
| Twin XL | 39 X 80 inches | 96.5 X 203.5 centimeters |
| Full (Double) | 54 X 75 inches | 134.5 X 190.5 centimeters |
| Queen | 60 X 80 inches | 152.5 X 203.5 centimeters |
| King | 76 X 80 inches | 193 X 203.5 centimeters |
| Cal King | 72 X 84 inches | 183 X 213.5 centimeters |
Blanket Sizes for Babies and Children
After investigating the various sizes recommended for blankets. These are the general sizes that I have determined that are the most popular. Because there is not a standard, such as the size of a bed for these blankets, it becomes a bit more general in sizing blankets for babies and children.
However, there are two crochet sites that stand out with information on blanket sizes that helped me finalize this list. One is The Crochet Crowd and the other is The Spruce Crafts. Therefore, I have given approximate sizes below based on research and recommendations from other crafters.
Baby and Children Blanket Sizes
The baby and children blanket sizes that I have provided for you below are listed in alphabetical order to assist in finding just the right size for your next handmade project. Also, you will notice that some of the sizes are in ranges. As you can see, many of the blanket sizes are very forgiving. If your measurements are not exact, no worries.
- Baby Blanket Range: 31″ X 31″ square to 34-36 X 46 inches rectangle
- Bassinet Baby Blanket Range 13 – 20 X 20 – 28 inches
- Crib Blanket: 36 X 54-60 inches
- Child Lovey: 12 – 20 inches square
- Play pen: square 40 inches
- Preemie: square 18 inches
- Receiving: square ranging from 24-36 inches
- Security: square 16 inches
- Stroller: 30 X 36 inches
- Swaddle: square 48 inches
- Toddler Range: 42-46 X 52-60 inches
Crochet Gauge
If you are wanting to make a specific size project, it is important to make a small swatch before diving into the larger undertaking. One way to do this is to determine the gauge.
What is gauge? Gauge is the number of stitches per inch and rows per inch that result from a specified yarn worked with a specified-size hook. However, everyone crochets differently; tight, loose, or somewhere in-between. Therefore, the measurements of individual work can vary greatly when using the same-size hook and yarn.
Making a Swatch
In every crochet pattern the hook size given in instructions and yarn are what a person used to crochet the pattern. However, due to the individual crochet variation, you might have a different result. Therefore, it is recommended to make a 4-inch swatch to check the gauge. To do this, use the same yarn and hook size indicated in the crochet pattern.
What To Do If Your Swatch Is A Different Size?
Here are a few suggestions if your swatch is a different size than the pattern maker. If you have more stitches per inch than specified, try again using a larger-size hook.
If you have fewer stitches per inch than specified, try again using a smaller-size hook. Do not hesitate to change to a larger- or smaller-size hook, if necessary, to achieve gauge.
Thicker and thinner yarn sizes will also make a difference. Give the swatch a few tries until you achieve the desired size. When you have found that, go ahead and dig into the larger handmade project.
I hope that you liked this information. Here are some other free crochet patterns. Also, if you are looking for more ideas for crocheted projects, here are a few others you may enjoy.
You can find Victoria crocheting, quilting, and creating recipes. She has cooked in restaurants for over 20 years, including many larger parties. She learned to crochet when she was just 11 years old and has been crocheting ever since; over 50 years now. Over 40 years ago, she loved her first class in sewing and continues to hone her skills in quilting. Many have enjoyed the handmade gifts over the years. In her professional career, she has worked in management in a wide variety of businesses including higher education as a dean of a division. All the while attending college part-time to achieve her doctorate in higher education with an emphasis in e-learning.