Joy To The World Graphgan

Joy To The World Graphgan by Meghan Ballmer

What Is Being Made

The Joy To The World Graphgan is a crochet blanket and throw designed by Meghan Ballmer. This is a graphgan project, meaning it uses a pixel-based graph pattern to create a visual design through color changes in crochet. The finished blanket is worked in worsted weight yarn using two coordinating colors from Lion Brand Pound of Love yarn.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project is created using the corner to corner crochet method, also known as C2C crochet. The corner to corner technique is a popular graphgan construction method that builds the blanket diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner. This approach allows crafters to follow a graph pattern while working in tiles or blocks, making it easier to track color changes and create intricate pixel-art style designs. The blanket is constructed by working rows that increase and decrease at the beginning of each row, gradually building the blanket from corner to corner.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental crochet stitches appropriate for graphgan construction:

• Chain stitch (ch) – used for foundation and structural elements
• Single crochet (sc) – primary stitch for building the fabric
• Double crochet (dc) – used in the pattern construction

The pattern includes special stitches with detailed instructions provided separately, and crafters are instructed to refer to these special stitch explanations for proper execution.

Pattern Reading and Construction Notes

The pattern provides both a graph and written instructions for flexibility in how crafters prefer to work. The graph is read from the bottom right corner to the top left corner, with all even rows worked right to left and all odd rows worked left to right. Increase and decrease shaping occurs at the beginning of each row, with specific instructions for how to handle these shaping rows to maintain proper stitch placement into the chain-3 foundation.

Materials and Tools Required

This intermediate-level blanket requires the following materials:

• Yarn: 3,162 to 3,000 yards total of Lion Brand Pound of Love worsted weight yarn – approximately 3 to 4 skeins in color A (primary color) and 600 to 800 yards (1 skein) in color B (accent color)
• Crochet hook: Size H (5.00mm)
• Tapestry needle: for weaving in yarn ends
• Large clamps for yarn bobbins: optional, but helpful for managing multiple yarn colors during graphgan construction

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty. While the corner to corner method is accessible to many crocheters, the graphgan format requires attention to following a graph pattern and managing color changes throughout the project. Crafters should be comfortable with basic stitches and have experience reading crochet patterns before attempting this blanket.

Designer Information

This pattern was designed by Meghan Ballmer and is available through her website meghanmakesdo.com. The pattern is copyrighted © 2018 by Meghanmakesdo and is offered as a downloadable PDF format for convenient access and printing.