Velvet Crochet Afghan Blanket

Wrap yourself in pure, velvety luxury with this gorgeous striped crochet afghan pattern, featuring a beautifully textured stitch and a delicate picot border.

Have you ever touched a skein of yarn and instantly felt like you were holding a cloud? That is exactly what happened when I first laid eyes on Bernat Velvet. Its incredible softness and elegant sheen make it feel like absolute luxury in your hands.

I just had to make something special with it.

For months, those gorgeous skeins sat in my stash, waiting for the perfect design. At first, I thought about making some cozy women's slippers, but the yarn practically begged to be turned into a giant, huggable blanket.

However, designing with velvet yarn can be surprisingly tricky. Because of its plush texture, standard stitches tend to get lost, completely hiding any pattern you try to create. I spent hours experimenting with different stitch combinations, searching for that perfect balance of texture and drape.

Traditional V-stitches left gaps that were simply too large and drafty.

To solve this, I customized a classic stitch pattern to close up those wide spaces while keeping a lovely, dense texture. The result is a wonderfully warm fabric that showcases the yarn's natural luster beautifully.

To finish it off, I added a delicate picot border that frames the stripes perfectly.

This blanket is the ultimate comfort project, perfect for movie nights or as a cherished handmade gift. Grab your hook, settle into your favorite chair, and let's crochet this velvety dream together!

Why You'll Love This Pattern

• Unbelievable Softness: The plush velvet texture feels incredibly gentle against the skin.
• Stunning Texture: The modified stitch pattern creates a rich, cozy fabric without large, drafty gaps.
• Beautiful Color Blocks: Bold, elegant stripes make this a striking accent piece for any living room or bedroom.

Materials You'll Need

• Yarn: Bernat Velvet (Size 5 Bulky weight yarn; 100% Polyester). You will need 1 skein each of Quiet Pink, Burgundy Plum, and White.
• Hook: Size K (6.5mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
• Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, and measuring tape.
• Yardage: Approximately 270 yards of Quiet Pink, 300 yards of Burgundy Plum, and 200 yards of White.

Gauge & Sizing

• Gauge: 5 double crochet clusters stacked vertically = 10 rows of the stitch pattern.
• Sizes included: One size (easily adjustable).
• Finished measurements: 33 inches wide by 43 inches long.

Abbreviations & Stitch Instructions

• ch: Chain
• sc: Single crochet
• dc: Double crochet
• sl st: Slip stitch
• sk: Skip
• V-st: V-stitch. Work (dc, ch 1, dc) into the designated stitch or chain space.
• Note: If you are new to basic stitches, check out our handy US to UK Crochet Chart to make sure you are on the right track!

Pattern Notes

• Skill Level: Advanced Beginner.
• This pattern is written in US crochet terms.
• The item is worked flat in rows, with a border added in the round at the end.
• Tension Tip: Keep your tension relaxed and even. Velvet yarn can slip if worked too loosely, but working too tightly will hide the beautiful stitch definition.
• Customization Tip: To change the width of your blanket, simply adjust your starting chain. You can use any multiple of 6 + 2. If you need help adjusting, read our guide on how to adjust your foundation chain.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Setting the Foundation

With your Quiet Pink yarn, work a starting chain of 98.

Row 1: Work 1 sc in the second chain from your hook. *[Chain 1, skip the next 2 chains, work a V-st in the next chain, chain 1, skip the next 2 chains, work 1 sc in the next chain]. Repeat from * all the way to the end of your chain. Turn your work. (You should have 16 V-stitches).

Building the Texture

Row 2: Chain 3 (this counts as your first double crochet here and throughout the pattern). Work 1 dc into the very first stitch. Chain 1, then work 1 sc directly into the chain-1 space of the next V-stitch. *[Chain 1, work 3 dc into the next sc stitch, chain 1, work 1 sc into the chain-1 space of the next V-stitch]. Repeat from * across. After working your final sc in the last V-stitch space, chain 1, work 2 dc in the last sc, and turn. (15 double crochet clusters).

Row 3: Chain 1, work 1 sc in the first stitch (at the base of your chain-1). Chain 1, work a V-stitch into the next sc. *[Chain 1, work 1 sc into the middle double crochet of the next 3-dc cluster, chain 1, work a V-stitch into the next sc]. Repeat from * across. After working the V-stitch in the last sc, chain 1, work 1 sc in the top of the beginning chain-3, and turn. (16 V-stitches).

Row 4: Chain 3, work 1 dc in the first stitch. Chain 1, work 1 sc in the chain-1 space of the next V-stitch. *[Chain 1, work 3 dc in the next sc, chain 1, work 1 sc in the chain-1 space of the next V-stitch]. Repeat from * across. After working your sc in the last V-stitch space, chain 1, work 2 dc in the last sc, and turn. (15 double crochet clusters).

Working the Color Stripes

Rows 5–10: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 alternately using your Quiet Pink yarn. At the end of Row 10, join your Burgundy Plum yarn. (Tip: Counting rows in velvet can be tricky! Look for 5 stacked double crochet clusters to confirm you have finished 10 rows).

Rows 11–20: With Burgundy Plum, repeat Rows 3 and 4 alternately. At the end of Row 20, join your White yarn.

Rows 21–30: With White, repeat Rows 3 and 4 alternately. At the end of Row 30, join your Quiet Pink yarn.

Rows 31–40: With Quiet Pink, repeat Rows 3 and 4 alternately. At the end of Row 40, join your Burgundy Plum yarn.

Rows 41–50: With Burgundy Plum, repeat Rows 3 and 4 alternately. At the end of Row 50, join your White yarn.

Rows 51–60: With White, repeat Rows 3 and 4 alternately. At the end of Row 60, join your Quiet Pink yarn.

Rows 61–70: With Quiet Pink, repeat Rows 3 and 4 alternately. At the end of Row 70, join your Burgundy Plum yarn.

Rows 71–80: With Burgundy Plum, repeat Rows 3 and 4 alternately. Do not fasten off at the end of Row 80.

Adding the Elegant Border

Round 1: Chain 1. Work a round of single crochet stitches evenly all the way around the outer edges of your blanket. Make sure to work 3 sc into each of the four corners to help your border turn smoothly. Slip stitch to the first sc of the round to join. (Be sure to work over your loose yarn tails during this round to save time weaving them in later!).

Round 2: Chain 1. *[Work 1 sc in each single crochet stitch across to the next corner, then work 3 sc in the corner stitch]. Repeat from * all the way around the blanket. Slip stitch to the first sc to join.

Round 3 (Picot Round): Chain 1, work 1 sc in each of the next 2 stitches. *[Chain 3, slip stitch into the third chain from your hook to create a picot, then work 1 sc in each of the next 5 stitches]. Repeat from * until you reach the next corner. Work 1 sc in the corner stitch, chain 3, slip stitch in the third chain from your hook, work 2 sc in the next stitch, and then 1 sc in each of the next 3 stitches. Repeat this sequence around the entire blanket. Slip stitch to your first sc to join, fasten off, and weave in any remaining ends.

Easy Variations & Custom Ideas

• Solid Color Elegance: Skip the color changes entirely and work this blanket in a single, solid shade of velvet for a modern, minimalist look.
• Baby Blanket Size: Reduce your starting chain to 74 to create a smaller, incredibly soft baby blanket. You can find more inspiration in our Just Peachy Baby Blanket pattern.
• Playful Tassels: Instead of the picot border, finish your blanket with a simple clean edge and add large, fluffy tassels to the four corners.
• Leftover Yarn Bows: If you have leftover velvet yarn, use it to make adorable velvet bows to embellish gifts or hair accessories.
• Alternative Borders: If you prefer a classic, flat edge, try a simple ribbed border instead of the picot design.
• Colour ideas: Try a coastal theme with soft blues, creams, and sandy beige, or a festive holiday version with deep forest green, crimson, and white.
• Yarn substitutions: If velvet yarn is hard to find, you can substitute any plush chenille yarn or a soft, bulky acrylic yarn of a similar weight.

Common Troubleshooting & Fixes

• Problem: The stitches are too hard to see, especially in the darker or white sections.
  Fix: Always start your blanket with the lightest color stripe (like the Quiet Pink). Once you get past the foundation chain and first row, the stitches become much easier to feel and see.
• Problem: The yarn tails keep slipping out of my stitches.
  Fix: Velvet yarn is notoriously slippery. Before weaving in your tails, tie a secure double knot with the two adjacent tails, then crochet over them or weave them deeply into the border.
• Problem: My blanket edges are curling inward.
  Fix: This usually happens if your foundation chain or border stitches are too tight. Try using a hook one size larger for your starting chain and the first round of the border.
• Problem: I am losing track of my row count within the stripes.
  Fix: Because of the plush texture, counting rows can be tough. Instead of counting individual rows, look for the stacked double crochet clusters. When you can count 5 clusters stacked directly on top of each other, you have completed 10 rows.

Care Instructions

To keep your velvet afghan looking plush and beautiful, hand wash it in cold water with a gentle detergent. Avoid wringing or twisting the fabric. Instead, gently press out excess water with a clean towel and lay the blanket flat to dry. Do not iron or tumble dry, as high heat can damage the delicate polyester fibers.

Final Thoughts

There is nothing quite like the feeling of wrapping yourself in a blanket you made with your own two hands, especially when it is as soft as this one. I hope you enjoy every single stitch of this project. If you love making cozy blankets as much as I do, be sure to check out my Knots of Love Blanket for your next creative adventure. Happy crocheting, my friends!