The Care Package Throw is colorful, fun, and very fast to crochet - which makes it perfect for care packages! Whether it's a homesick kid off at college, or a friend going through a hard time, sending love you can literally wrap yourself up in is always a very good thing.
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links; materials provided by Red Heart Yarns and Clover USA.
The Care Package Throw is made with Red Heart With Love - a very deliberate choice! This yarn is soft but strong - ready for washing machines, kids, and pets. And it comes in 56 colors - so you can tailor it to the recipient, or your own decor.
There are several tricks that make the Care Package Throw so fast to crochet! First and foremost, it's made with 3 strands of yarn all held together. Use all the same color, mix and match, this is another way to customize this throw!
Secondly, the fringe is built right in! So no border or edging to make, and no ends to weave in. Let's say that again: No. Ends. At. All. Love that! All you do is crochet, cut, and turn - and before you know it, you'll have a Care Package Throw to send to someone special!
Care Package Throw
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US - P/Q, 15.0mm - Clover USA
3250 yds Red Heart With Love (100% Acrylic; “4”/Medium/Worsted/Aran/UK: 10-12 ply; 7oz (198 g); 370yds (338m))
Color A: White (2 skeins)
Color B: Pewter (3 skeins)
Color C: True Blue (1 skein)
Color D: Jadeite (1 skein)
Color E: Daffodil (1 skein)
Color F: Holly Berry (1 skein)
Gauge: 5 sts x 3 rows = 4" in main stitch pattern
Finished Size: 48" wide x 58" long
Helpful Links & Tutorials
Dc2tog (double crochet two together decrease)
STHDC (Standing Half Double Crochet)
NOTES:
Hold 3 strands of yarn together as one to crochet this pattern. For instance, when the instructions state "With Color A, A, B" this means to hold two strands of Color A and one strand of Color B together. When two strands of the same color are used, you can pull the yarn from both ends of the skein.
Be sure to leave at least 6" at the beginning and end of each row - this is the fringe and can be trimmed to the desired length when you are done crocheting if needed.
The STHDC (tutorial linked above) and hdc sts are never crocheted into.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Set Up Row: With Color A, A, B, ch 71; break yarn and turn. (71 ch)
Row 1: STHDC in the first ch, dc in the next ch, *ch 1, dc2tog working into the previous ch and the ch after the next ch (skip the ch in between); rep from * until 1 ch remains, ch 1, dc in the previous ch, hdc in the last ch; break yarn and turn. (2 hdc, 2 dc, 34 dc2tog)
Row 2 - 8: STHDC in the first dc, dc in the next ch sp, *ch 1, dc2tog working in previous ch sp and next ch sp; rep from * until 2 sts remain, ch 1, dc in previous ch sp, hdc in the last dc; break yarn and turn. (2 hdc, 2 dc, 34 dc2tog)
Row 9 - 16: With Color B, C, C, rep Row 2.
Row 17 - 24: With Color B, D, D, rep Row 2.
Row 25 - 32: With Color B, E, E, rep Row 2.
Row 33 - 40: With Color B, F, F, rep Row 2.
Row 41 - 48: With Color A, A, B, rep Row 2.
And lickety-split, you've made the Care Package Throw! I whipped this one up in just 2 evenings - it's a great Netflix pattern, easy to memorize, and there will be a video tutorial available soon too!
I chose the colors of Red Heart With Love that inspired me - and I can't wait to see which colors you choose! It's also a great stashbuster - even more so since you cut the yarn every row!
If this pattern inspires you to make your own project, and you post a photo on social media, be sure to tag me @mooglyblog or #mooglyblog so I can check it out too! I love seeing what you make!
The Fine Print
Follow Moogly on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and @mooglyblog on TikTok! Thank you to Red Heart Yarns and Clover USA for providing the materials shown in this post. Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2018, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others. If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details.
Sandy
After the set up row it says to break yarn, which I assume means to cut the yarn and start using different colors. However, no colors are referenced for Row 1 or Rows 2-8. Maybe I'm missing something??
Leiza Rooney
Hi Sandy, I have just finished reading through the pattern and I understand the pattern to say use colors A, A, B from the set up row to the end of row 8. At the end of each row you cut the yarn and start again with these colors as this provides the fringe.
Hope this assists and I am keen to get started.
Tamara Kelly
You've got it Leiza - thank you! 🙂
Tamara Kelly
Hi Sandy! As another commenter mentioned, you just continue with what's "in hand" until directed to change. 🙂 The cutting is to create a fringe - and that's how you don't have to weave in any ends!
Gilda
I love this crochet pattern and I can't wait to start my own crochet project. But I'm wondering why 3 strands?. . . I think I'll make mine with 2 strands only. . . I live in California and our winters are not so cold.
Thanks for sharing this crochet pattern. . .
Tamara Kelly
With 3 strands it just works up that much faster - 2 strands will make a lighter blanket for sure, but it sounds like that will be perfect for your climate (here in Iowa it get real cold!). Only 2 strands will also make it a little smaller, so you may want to add a few more stitches and rows too. (But it's a blanket, so as long as it's big enough for you, then it's all good!) You are very welcome - stay safe out there!
Susan
Gilda, if you make this with only 2 strands, please let me know if you change the number of beginning chains and if so how many you use. I'm in Arizona and we don't need heavy blankets either! Mine will go to Project Linus.
Sharon
Between the 2 dc dec. Do you skip a chain in front middle and after with a chain?
Thank yoh
Sharon
Tamara Kelly
I'm not sure if I understand the question, but for Row 1 you skip one chain between the "legs" of the dc2tog, but then the first leg of the next dc2tog is worked in the same ch as the second leg of the previous dc2tog. There will also be a video tutorial on the 22nd if needed! 🙂
Erica
Great blanket! I love Red Heart With Love!
Tamara Kelly
Thank you! It's such a great yarn for gifts because it's soft, non-allergenic, and easy to care for!
Cathy K
Love this blanket! I'm definitely going to have to try it when I get back to where my main stash is located. The only thing I have trouble envisioning is how the fringe stays put (doesn't unravel). I'm sure when I get to working on it I will better understand. Thanks for another great pattern Tamara!
Tamara Kelly
When you finish off the row, pull the cut ends through the loop on the hook and give them a good tug, and that ties them off. There's a video now too that shows it "in action!" 🙂
Cathy K
Thanks Tamara! I'll go check out the video.
Lill Managhan
looking forward to making this, perfect gift!
Tamara Kelly
😀 I'm so glad you like it, thank you Lill!
Ann Heald
Thank you, Tamara...just in time! Our cold is threatening now, so I can really get busy!!
Tamara Kelly
Thank you so much, Ann! Stay warm! ♥
Martha Mayo
Hmmm, thinking this could be perfect for my oldrest grandson's new dorm room, in school colors, of course.
He'll be going to Massachusetts - cold there I hear! lol
Thank you so much Tamara for the pattern and inspiration,
Martha
Rebbecca
How much of each colour was actually used? If I use the same 2 colours for the whole blanket, do I still need 9 skeins of yarn?
Tamara Kelly
I had just a bit of the white and a bit of the pewter left - I used up pretty much all the colors 100%. 🙂
Therese Chaplin
I was just wondering today what to do with my stash of supersaver yarn! My church makes prayer shawls and lapghans to donate to hospitals. This pattern will be perfect for lapghans. I will try it with 2 strands.
Tamara Kelly
Thank you Therese, I hope you enjoy it!
Rosmery Dempster
I am reading this from Scotland, so have to convert a lot. A line in the pattern (for materials) says - 3250 yds Red Heart With Love (100% Acrylic; “4”/Medium/Worsted/Aran/UK: 10-12 ply; 7oz (198 g); 370yds (338m))
As I have never used Red Heart in Love yarn, I don’t know how much is in a ball, so what is 3250 yds and 370 yards. AND
I have a huge amount of double knitting wool (sorry I don’t know equivalent). How many strands would I use to get the same thickness for three strands of The Red Heart? Thanks so much. My friend has just gone into a care home, as she has dementia. I would like to make her this. She would love it.
Tamara Kelly
Hello Rosmery! 370 yds is 338 meters, and 3250 yds is 2972 meters. You would want to hold 5-6 strands of DK together to get the same thickness as 3 strands of worsted. I hope you enjoy the pattern! 🙂
Rosemary Dempster
Thanks so much for such a quick reply. Great I can use my DK yarn. I take it I need 3250 yds for the total blanket and that the Red Heart ball has 370yds. Waiting for my crochet hook to arrive.😀
Tamara Kelly
Yes! 🙂 I hope you enjoy making it!
Therese Chaplin
Question: will Red Heart Supersaver be a good substitute yarn?
Tamara Kelly
Yes, that should work just as well! 🙂
Kayla
Oh my gosh! I LOVE this! It was so much fun to make. I did a Scrapghan with this pattern. I will try to post a picture, not sure how to do it though. Lol
I definitely will be making more blankets with this pattern. ❤️
Tamara Kelly
Oh yay, I'm so glad to hear it Kayla! I'd love to see a photo - feel free to post it on the Moogly Facebook page, or to email it to tamarakelly@mooglyblog.com!
Eileen
Do you leave a tail (fringe) when re-joining yarn for each row? The technique for cutting yarn as fringe at the end of each row is clear, unsure how to start each row.
Tamara Kelly
Hi Eileen! I demo that in the video tutorial for this pattern linked above! 🙂
Eileen
Thank you very much, I just watched the tutorial and it is very clear!
Lynda
Hi Tamara, lovely lovely blanket,. Will you make a small tiny tiny video please!!!
Have a nice day!
Tamara Kelly
Hi Lynda! There is a video tutorial linked above, and at https://www.mooglyblog.com/care-package-throw-tutorial/ 🙂
Aubrey F
The last couple months, I've been crocheting the Care Package Throw, slightly oversized (101x75 instead of 71x48) for a friend's benefit in January (he had a stroke in October, and I'm making blankets to donate to the silent auction). Just finished #8, and I absolutely love this pattern. It's fast, it's easy, and it travels well. I did a couple stashbuster blankets that cleared out 80% of the yarn I've had sitting around for years, and with zero ends to weave in, it's my new favorite thing to make when I have no other projects.
I'll be taking a pic of all of them together before I send them off, and I'll be sure to send you a copy on Facebook! Thanks again for your lovely patterns!
Tamara Kelly
That's awesome, thank you Aubrey! I can't wait to see!