Like many people in online crochet communities, I’ve hopped on the trend of using plastic pony beads to make a weighted bead blanket.
However, the thought of making a blanket in rows did not appeal to me at all. So I took a hook, my yarn, and some beads and spent an evening figuring out how to make a bead blanket in the round.
And now I’m here to show you how I did it! The following instructions are taken from my TikTok profile, where I originally posted them.
Adding the Beads
It’s easiest to show you how I attach the beads, so here is a link to my TikTok video where I show how I attach them.
Don’t wanna watch the video? Here are the steps to attaching the bead to a double crochet:
- Slip a pony bead onto your hook.
- Yarn over, as you would to start a double crochet, resting the yarn between the bead and the tip of the hook.
- Pull up a loop.
- Yarn over and pull through two loops.
- Finally, yarn over and pull through a loop, the bead, and the final loop.
Making a Bead Blanket in the Round
For this project, you just need worsted weight yarn, 9x6mm pony beads, and a 3.75mm (F) hook. To see the exact materials I used for my blanket, check out the supplies list here.
Chain 5 stitches.
Slip stitch into the first chain, creating a circle.
Alternatively, you can create a magic ring if that is the method you prefer.
Round 1: Ch 3. [BDC*, dc, BDC, ch 3] x 4 times. Sl st into the first BDC.
*BDC is a beaded double crochet. You can learn how to do this stitch here.
Round 2: Ch 3. Start each round in the chain space before the ch 3 for that round. dc, BDC in the chain space.
[dc, BDC, dc] in the dc/BDC stitches from the previous round.
[BDC, dc, ch 3, dc, BDC] in the chain 3 space from the previous round (except the last space, where you will ch 3 and then sl st into the first dc of the round).
Round 3 (and all ODD rounds): Using the method described for working the previous round, alternate between dc and BDC stitches. Start ODD rounds with a BDC.
Round 4 (and all EVEN rounds): Start with a dc.
Continue working odd and even rounds until the blanket is your desired size.
Thank you
Thank you for sharing your idea for free. I completely agree about the cost and not selling your work. I only give things I make to people that I know will appreciate the time and love that goes into a project.
Is there a small video actually showing the stitching and you doing the beginning steps mentioned in instructions. I’m new to crocheting think a small vid would be great just to ensure people can confirm they’re doing it well with visual instruction example.
There will be soon! I’ve had this requested by several people and I’m working on filming and editing a video – hope to get it online sometime within a week!
Thank you:-)
Thank you free patters are so nice of you.
Hi – this looks gorgeous, and perhaps I’m being really stupid! Should we be turning our work between rounds? I’m really struggling to work out how to start round 2 after the chain 3 – do we go back on ourselves and then work in the usual direction, or should we be turning?
You are definitely NOT being stupid! This was a huge oversight on my part (one I’ll be clarifying, for sure)! I work backwards for those first few stitches in that first corner. I tried turning every round, but the beads look different on the front than they do on the back, so I do not turn my work between rounds.
Hello, so I’ve been trying to get started on this. I’m getting a feeling it’s like a granny square pattern and that’s the one pattern I keep getting confused with (yet I can make a Pikachu, Stitch and Angel from Lilo and Stitch, and Oogie Boogie lol) I’m mainly getting stuck on the corners. Do you have any tips to help me with the pattern? Thank you so much!
It is like a solid granny square, just with beads! I am working on editing a video tutorial – it’s possible that could help once it’s done. Do you want me to email you the link once I have it posted?
I would also LOVE a link to the video once you finish it! I have the ‘basic’ concept down, but the corners and alternating ways to start the even/odd rows keeps throwing me off.
Hi there. I am thinking of making one of these for my 8 yr old son. Do you know what the approx weight is of the blanket once completed?
I did 42 rounds of beads and the blanket came out to be around 7-8 pounds. That would be a good weight for your son (based on the recommendation of one pound per year of age for children).
I actually wish you had a purchasable PDF file pattern for those of us who are older and are dealing with cognitive issues coupled with the issues of “the change” which makes things like ADHD MUCH worse… 10 years ago I would be able to wrap my head around these instructions “to start” and make a full project… But today, I just can’t… and it breaks me because I impulsively spent more than $60 on beads and now find I’m confused and feel like I wasted money…lol 😅 It would be nice to either have a more thorough tutorial, or a paid pattern with more details for those of us that need it, of course while maintaining the free status of this tutorial for those who don’t have to battle with things like peri-menopause brain fart partnered with neurodivergence…lol! 😅
Besides, I’m going to be real, your pattern is SO much more attractive than every other beaded weight blanket I’ve seen, it being in the round makes it PERFECT for edging, and even though I’ve tried, myself, to come up with a slightly different “in the round” pattern to make my own blanket, I’m getting stressed out from the “trail and error” and realize I need a bit more help these days than I used to… Even though I’ve been hookin’ for 35 years.
I’m still needing time when the house is quiet to finish the voiceover for the video tutorial, but I did take some time to write a more in-depth explanation of how I’m placing the colors! I’ve written down the color placement for every single row and added that to a separate post here:
https://owlsrpals.com/free-patterns/bead-placement-for-the-rainbow-bead-blanket/
Hello! First I just want to thank you for sharing how you’re making this, this blanket is GORGEOUS and making it in the round is such an incredible idea! I already have the supplies to make it and I’m really excited to try but something I was wondering about was the bead color order? Do you happen to have that written down and/or wouldn’t mind letting me know? Whenever you have the time, of course!
I just finished writing it all down and I’ve added a post! You can check it out here:
https://owlsrpals.com/free-patterns/bead-placement-for-the-rainbow-bead-blanket/
Hello! First I just wanted to thank you for sharing this pattern, this blanket is GORGEOUS! I plan on making one for my friend but I’m having a hard time figuring out the bead order (I bought the same ones)? Would you happen to have a chart or list of which ones you used on each row? (If not I completely understand, I’m sure that would take a LOT of work but I thought it wouldn’t at least hurt to ask!)
I spent a chunk of time this evening and wrote it all out!
Here is the link:
https://owlsrpals.com/free-patterns/bead-placement-for-the-rainbow-bead-blanket/
Thank you for this