Join-As-You-Go Blanket Patterns: Crochet, Knit, And Tunisian
You’ll love what you’re about to hear if you haven’t heard of join-as-you-go blanket patterns (also known as JAYGO). Do you have a love/hate relationship with making blankets using motifs? You love to make knit or crochet motifs because they’re small, quick, and easy. Yes? But you hate sewing them together because it’s boring and repetitive, and you want to be done already.
That’s why join-as-you-go patterns are such a fabulous option! They drastically reduce your finishing time so you can move on more quickly to your next project.
We all know that’s what you want to do, right?
You may not have fewer ends to weave in, but you will have less time spent with a blunt-end tapestry needle in your hand trying to decide which stitches to join together.
Crochet Join-As-You-Go Blanket Patterns
Here’s a great selection of JAYGO crochet blanket patterns we think you’ll love. From baby blankets to throws and blankets, there has to be something here you’ll want to try. We’ve found granny squares, C2C (corner to corner), hexagons, diamonds, regular squares, and even leaves for you to check out.
Yes, leaves! No, they’re not knit. Click on the Leafy Knit-look Blanket link below and see for yourself!
Once you find a pattern you like, gather your crochet tools: crochet hooks, scissors, tapestry needle (just for weaving in ends because you’re joining as you go, remember), and just the right amount of cozy yarn. Let’s get crocheting!
Building Blocks Crochet Baby Blanket
Confetti Dots Blanket by Marly Bird
Knit JAYGO Blanket Patterns
Knitting join-as-you-go doesn’t seem nearly as popular as crochet, but we managed to dig up a few options for you here. Your knit options include squares, strips, hexagons, chevrons, and balloons! Balloons – how cool! A great choice for a baby or kid’s knit blanket.
Check out the links below, then gather your knitting needles, yarn, and your favorite knitting tools, and let’s get creative.
Jaygo Checkerboard Knit Blanket
Fading Blocks Mitered Knit Blanket
Tunisian Join-As-You-Go Blanket Patterns
I know some of you out there can’t get enough of Tunisian crochet, so we managed to find these awesome patterns for you! You’ll find squares, strips, and even a spiral. This one’s a bit of a cheat, but you could make it bigger and use it as a blanket – it’s just such a cool design it had to be included.
If you know of any more fabulous Tunisian crochet join-as-you-go blanket patterns, please be sure to share them with us in the Facebook Group.
Tunisian Entrelac Crochet Baby Blanket
Auntie Bees Entrelac Tunisian Blanket
Video Tutorials
There’s nothing better than watching how to do something when you’re just not sure. That’s why I make these videos – so you can look over my shoulder and see exactly what I’m talking about. I explain every little thing step-by-step, working join-as-you-go, where to put your hook, and how to keep your work even.
Though here I’m working on specific patterns, these instructions can be applied to any JAYGO piece you’re working on.
Confetti Dots Join-As-You-Go-Video tutorial
Byars Baby Blanket Join-As-You-Go-Video Tutorial
Frequently Asked Questions
What is join-as-you-go (JAYG) construction?
Join-as-you-go means you attach each new motif to existing motifs AS you finish it… rather than making all your squares first and then seaming them together in a separate step at the end. On the final round of each motif, you join to neighboring motifs by crocheting into their edge instead of working a free-standing stitch. The blanket assembles itself as you go… by the time you’ve made all your motifs, they’re already joined. No marathon seaming session at the end!
Is JAYG easier than making all squares then seaming?
Many crafters find it easier, yes! There are no separate seaming sessions, no risk of losing a square, and you see the blanket taking shape incrementally as you work. The learning curve is understanding the join on that last round (where to insert your hook, how to work into neighboring motifs), but once you’ve done it a few times it becomes second nature. The main thing to manage is keeping track of which edge connects to which motif as your blanket grows.
What types of motifs work with JAYG construction?
Any motif that’s worked in rounds and has a definable edge! Granny squares are the classic JAYG motif. Solid squares, hexagons, pentagons, triangles, circles within squares… all can be joined as you go. The edge of the motif provides the stitches you work into for the join. Even more unusual shapes like octagons and mixed-motif arrangements can use JAYG principles. The collection covers crochet, knit, and Tunisian versions, showing how the concept works across different craft techniques.
What do I need to know before starting a JAYG blanket?
Plan your layout before you start! Sketch out which motifs connect to which neighbors so you know the joining order. The order matters because you can only join to motifs that are already completed and positioned correctly. Most patterns specify a joining sequence. Also: make sure all your motifs are the same finished size before joining… uneven motifs create a lumpy, distorted blanket. Blocking individual motifs before joining helps ensure consistency. Start with a corner or edge motif and work in a logical direction.
Can JAYG construction work for Tunisian crochet blankets?
Yes! The collection specifically includes Tunisian JAYG options, which is wonderful because Tunisian blankets worked in panels can be joined as you go using similar principles to standard crochet JAYG. Tunisian JAYG allows you to create Tunisian-fabric blankets without having to work the full width in one unwieldy piece… you work narrower panels and join them as you progress. If you love Tunisian crochet but find the large blanket scale daunting, a Tunisian JAYG approach makes large projects much more manageable.
Categories: Crochet, Free Patterns, Knitting, Round Ups
