Urban Granny Throw in Caron Simply Soft - Downloadable PDF

Urban Granny Throw in Caron Simply Soft – Pattern Summary

The Urban Granny Throw is a crochet blanket pattern designed by Margret Willson, available as a free downloadable PDF. Described as a modern spin on a classic design, this throw combines timeless granny square construction with a contemporary color sensibility, resulting in a large, cozy, and visually striking piece suitable for home décor or everyday use.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a large rectangular throw measuring approximately 56 inches wide by 61 inches long (142 cm × 155 cm). The finished throw is assembled from 132 individual granny-style blocks, each measuring approximately 4¾ × 4¾ inches (12 × 12 cm). The blocks are arranged into 12 rows of 11 blocks each, creating a bold, graphic grid layout. The modern color palette — using a carefully chosen combination of colors from the Caron Simply Soft yarn line — gives the traditional granny square format a fresh, urban aesthetic.

Construction and Techniques

The throw is built using the classic granny square (block) method, where each square is crocheted individually in the round and then assembled. A key construction note is that all blocks are worked with the right side (RS) facing throughout — the work is never turned at the end of rounds. This technique ensures a consistent texture and appearance on the public-facing side of every block. Each round of the block is worked in a different color, and yarn is fastened off at the end of each round before the next color is joined. This approach, while requiring more ends to weave in, produces clean, crisp color transitions that are central to the throw's modern look.

The granny square structure itself is a foundational crochet technique in which stitches are worked into chain spaces and gaps between stitch clusters rather than into individual stitches, creating an open, lacy fabric with a structured geometric appearance. Once all 132 blocks are completed, they are joined together to form the full throw.

Stitches Used

• Chain stitch (ch) – used to start each block and to create chain spaces within rounds
• Slip stitch (sl st) – used to form the foundation ring and to join rounds
• Double crochet (dc) – the primary stitch used to build up each round of the granny block
• Dc3tog (double crochet 3 together) – a decrease stitch worked by drawing up loops in three consecutive stitches and pulling through all loops, used for shaping
• Dcbp (double crochet back post) – a textural stitch worked by inserting the hook around the post of the stitch from the back, right to left, creating a raised ridge on the front of the fabric
• Dcfp (double crochet front post) – worked by inserting the hook around the post of the stitch from the front, right to left, creating a raised ridge that stands forward on the fabric surface
• V-stitch (V-st) – a decorative stitch combination consisting of (dc, ch 1, dc) worked into the same stitch or space, creating an open, V-shaped motif
• Single crochet (sc) – used in later rounds of the block construction, particularly when joining rounds with chain-3 spaces

Materials

The pattern is written for Caron Simply Soft, an aran weight (size 4) yarn sold in 170 g / 6 oz skeins with approximately 288 m / 315 yards per skein. The pattern calls for multiple colors, including White (9701) and Black (9727), along with at least two additional colors designated in the pattern. The quantities vary by color — for example, Black requires 3 skeins and White requires 2 skeins, with the other colors used in different amounts. Caron Simply Soft is a smooth, lightweight acrylic yarn known for its soft hand feel, easy care properties, and wide color range, making it well suited to a large project like this throw.

No specific crochet hook size is listed in the extracted pattern content, though a hook appropriate for aran weight yarn is recommended. Gauge is noted as not critical for this project, giving crocheters flexibility in hook selection while still aiming for