Ribbed Velvet Crochet Christmas Throw

Portrait of Amanda, founder of Baby Crochet Ideas, crocheting at home

By: Amanda January 16, 2025

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Ribbed Velvet Crochet Christmas Throw is a crochet throw project for makers who enjoy creating a useful handmade piece. Its Christmas theme makes it a thoughtful choice for seasonal crafting and a welcoming addition to a home.

This project can suit crocheters who want a calm, hands-on activity, whether they are making something for themselves or preparing a present for someone close. The finished throw can be used at home or given as a personal holiday gift.

Making it offers practice in patience and careful work, along with the satisfaction of completing a handmade item. It can also build confidence as you develop a steady crochet routine and see your effort take shape.

What Is a Crochet Throw?

A crochet throw is a soft textile made by working yarn into a fabric large enough to use for comfort or decoration. Throws are generally smaller than bed coverings, so they can be easy to keep nearby and move from one room to another.

A throw can add warmth while relaxing, reading, or spending time at home. It can also bring a handmade touch to a living space, whether it is folded over furniture or kept within reach for everyday use.

Crocheters like throws because they combine a practical purpose with room for personal style. They can be made for a particular person, season, or home, and the process offers a satisfying way to turn yarn into a useful gift or household item.

Why This Is a Great Choice for a Crochet Throw

Useful at home: A throw can serve as a cozy layer during quiet time or as a welcoming accent in a living space. Its everyday purpose makes the finished handmade item especially satisfying to use.
Personal gifting: Handmade throws can feel thoughtful because they carry the maker’s time and attention. They suit a range of recipients, from family members to friends who appreciate useful gifts.
Relaxing project: Crochet can offer a steady, hands-on activity that gives your attention a pleasant focus. Working at a comfortable pace can make crafting feel restorative after a busy day.
Room for personal style: Yarn choices can help a throw suit a person’s taste or home. The project type also makes a useful starting point for exploring texture and color combinations in future work.
Confidence through completion: A substantial handmade item gives you a clear sense of progress as it grows. Reaching the end can encourage you to take on other practical crochet projects.

Before You Start

Make a gauge swatch with your chosen yarn and hook, then measure it without stretching. This helps you see whether your crochet fabric matches the intended scale before you invest time in a larger project.
Read through every part of the project before beginning. Knowing what comes next can help you prepare supplies, understand how the work is organized, and avoid pausing to solve an unexpected question.
Keep a notebook or tally sheet close by. Jotting down your place and any useful observations makes it easier to resume after a break without relying on memory.
Organize your yarn and wind it into manageable balls before starting. Keeping the supply tidy and easy to reach helps prevent tangles and lets you focus on crocheting.

Yarn and Hook Recommendations

Consider fiber first: Polyester yarn can feel soft and plush, while cotton often has a cooler hand. Choose a fiber whose feel and care needs suit the person who will use the finished item.
Match yarn weight to the project’s intended fabric. A medium or bulky yarn can create a substantial textile, while a lighter option may produce a more delicate result.
Look for a yarn that is smooth enough for comfortable handling. If the surface is hard to see or feel clearly, take extra time to identify where the hook should enter.
Choose a color with enough contrast against your surroundings to make your work easy to inspect. A clearly visible fabric can make it simpler to notice uneven tension or missed spaces.
Begin with the hook size suggested for the yarn, then use your swatch to judge the fabric. A suitable hook helps the yarn move comfortably and supports a consistent result.
When substituting yarn, check that its weight and texture are comparable. Even a similar yarn can behave differently, so compare swatches before settling on a choice.

Materials

Yarn: Bernat Velvet (100% polyester, 300 g/10.5 oz, 288 m/315 yds)
Smokey Green (soft silvery gray-green, a muted sage-gray velvet): 5 skeins
Crochet hook: size I/5.5 mm
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Gauge: 4 inches = 12 stitches and 12 rows of pattern
Finished size: 36 inches by 46 inches
Baby Velvet option: Bernat Baby Velvet also works; use a size H (5.00 mm) hook and chain the width you want.

Ribbed Velvet Crochet Christmas Throw Instructions

Color key

Smokey Green = soft silvery gray-green, a muted sage-gray velvet.

Abbreviations

BPDC = back post double crochet; ch = chain; dc = double crochet; FPDC = front post double crochet; HDC = half double crochet; WHDC = wide half double crochet; yo = yarn over.

DC

Yo, insert the hook, yo and pull up a loop. Yo and pull through 2 loops, then yo and pull through the remaining 2 loops.

FPDC and BPDC

For an FPDC, insert the hook from front to back around the post of the next dc and work a dc. For a BPDC, insert the hook from back to front around the post of the next dc and work a dc.

HDC

Yo, insert the hook, yo and pull up a loop, then yo and pull through 3 loops.

WHDC

Yo, insert the hook between stitch posts, yo and pull up a loop, then yo and pull through 3 loops.

Notes

To make your own base chain, multiply an odd number by 2, then add 4 for the turning chain. For example, 49 x 2 = 98, plus 4 gives a base chain of 102. The design is eight rows of stacked dc, then the direction changes for the next eight rows; the finished sample had 14 sections of 8 rows. Count the horizontal lines in each section to keep track of when to switch direction.

Blanket Body

Ch 102.
Row 1: Starting in the 4th ch from the hook, work 1 dc in each ch. Ch 2, turn.
Row 2: Work an FPDC around the first 2 posts (not around the turning ch). Then work a BPDC around the next 2 posts. Keep alternating 2 FPDC and 2 BPDC to the end of the row. At the end of the row, work a regular dc, inserting your hook under the turning ch. Ch 2, turn.
Row 3: Work a BPDC around the first 2 posts. Then work an FPDC around the next 2 posts. Keep alternating 2 BPDC and 2 FPDC to the end of the row. Then work a regular dc, inserting your hook under the turning ch. Ch 2, turn.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2.
Row 5: Repeat Row 3.
Row 6: Repeat Row 2.
Row 7: Repeat Row 3.
Row 8: Repeat Row 2.
Row 9: Repeat Row 2.
Row 10: Repeat Row 3.
Row 11: Repeat Row 2.
Row 12: Repeat Row 3.
Row 13: Repeat Row 2.
Row 14: Repeat Row 3.
Row 15: Repeat Row 2.
Row 16: Repeat Row 3.
Repeat Rows 2 through 16 until you reach the length you want.

Border

When you finish the blanket, you do not need to fasten off; start the border right away. The sample border has 7 rows of WHDC, which is the same as regular HDC except you insert the hook between the posts of the row below instead of in the tops of stitches.
Round 1: Work 1 round of HDC, inserting the hook between the dc posts and the dc rows on the sides of the blanket. Work 3 HDC in each corner.
Round 2: When you reach the starting corner, work 4 HDC in the corner, 2 on each side of the middle st of the 3 HDC from Round 1. Keep working WHDC (hook between stitch posts), with 4 HDC in each corner in the same way.
Round 3: When you reach the starting corner, work 3 HDC in the middle of the 4 sts from Round 2, so there are 2 sts on each side of the 3 new sts.
Keep alternating Rounds 2 and 3 until the border is as tall as you like (the designer had enough yarn to go around 7 times in total). When the border is done, sl st into the starting corner and fasten off, then weave in the tails with a tapestry needle.

Tips for Crochet Throw Success

Comfortable setup

Settle into a position that lets your shoulders rest and your hands move freely. A supportive chair and relaxed posture can help reduce strain during a longer crafting session.

Good lighting makes it easier to see the yarn and fabric clearly. Position a lamp so your hands do not cast a shadow over your work, and take a short pause if your eyes feel tired.

Steady tension

Let the yarn glide through your fingers without gripping it tightly. A relaxed hold supports more even loops and makes it easier to move the hook smoothly through the work.

Try to keep your hand movements consistent rather than forcing each loop to match by pulling harder. If your fabric begins to feel stiff, stop and loosen your grip before continuing.

Track your place

Use a notebook or tally sheet to record where you paused. A brief note about your current progress can save time and help you return to the same point with confidence.

When you resume, take a moment to orient the work and compare it with your note. A dependable tracking habit can be especially helpful if you set a project aside for several days.

Check as you go

Look over your fabric periodically to see whether its edges and overall appearance remain consistent. Finding a small issue early usually makes it easier to correct than discovering it much later.

Pause at natural stopping points and view the work from a short distance. That broader view can reveal changes in tension or alignment that are difficult to notice while focusing on individual loops.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Skipping the swatch

It is tempting to begin a project right away, but skipping a swatch can leave you unaware that your yarn and hook combination produces a different fabric than you expect. This can affect the overall dimensions and feel.

Make a sample using the materials you plan to use, then measure it and compare the fabric’s drape. If the result feels too dense or too open, adjust your hook choice and test again before continuing.

Pulling too tightly

A tight grip can make loops small and hard to work into, while also leaving the finished fabric stiff. This often happens when a crocheter is concentrating intensely or trying to make every loop look identical.

Let the yarn feed naturally and keep your hand relaxed. If the hook becomes difficult to insert or move, pause, loosen your grip, and check whether your fabric feels comfortable.

Miscounting

Losing track of where a sequence begins can cause a project to drift from its intended structure. Distractions and interruptions make it easy to skip a count or work an extra stitch without noticing.

Count at regular intervals and use a tally sheet to note your progress. If your counts do not agree, inspect the most recent section of work before adding more.

Leaving ends too short

Short yarn tails can be difficult to secure neatly and may work loose with handling. It is easy to cut them too close when tidying as you go or when trying to reduce visible ends.

Leave enough yarn to weave each tail securely through the fabric with a tapestry needle. Handle the work gently while securing ends, and trim only after they are held in place.

Changing materials midway

Replacing yarn or a hook partway through can alter the fabric’s texture and density. Even materials that seem similar may behave differently, which can make the transition visible in the finished work.

Try to keep your materials consistent throughout the project. If a change is unavoidable, make a sample first and compare its appearance and feel with the existing fabric before continuing.

Ways to Make It Your Own

Choose a different palette that suits the recipient’s home or favorite season. A coordinated group of tones can feel calm, while a lively mix may bring a cheerful note.
Pick another yarn of the same weight that has a feel you enjoy. Check its care needs and make a small swatch so you know how it behaves.
Make a matching second project to create a thoughtful set. Coordinating handmade pieces can make a shared room feel more personal without needing identical designs.
Give the finished item with a handwritten note about why you chose it. A few sincere lines can make a practical handmade gift feel especially personal.
Present it in reusable fabric wrapping or a simple gift bag. Tying on a gift tag adds a warm touch without distracting from the handmade work.

Care and Washing Instructions

Washing: Follow the yarn label for washing instructions, since care needs vary by fiber and construction. Use a gentle approach when appropriate, and avoid rough handling that could distort the fabric or create unwanted friction.

Drying: Check the yarn label for suitable drying guidance before choosing a method. Support the fabric while moving it when wet, and arrange it evenly so its weight does not pull it out of shape.

Blocking: Gentle blocking can help a flat crocheted fabric settle into a more even shape. Use a method suitable for the yarn, handle the piece carefully, and let it dry fully before storing or using it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different yarn?

Yes, another yarn can work if its weight and fiber suit the result you want. Compare its care needs and feel before choosing. A small swatch helps you judge whether the fabric has a comfortable drape and appearance.

How can I keep my work even?

Relax your hands and let the yarn move without excessive pulling. Use the same comfortable motion as you continue. Pausing to look over your fabric can help you notice tension changes before they become more pronounced.

How do I keep track of my progress?

Keep a notebook or tally sheet nearby and record your place whenever you pause. Marking each completed section helps you return without relying on memory. If you feel unsure, count carefully before continuing and note the result.

What if the finished fabric looks different than expected?

First consider whether the yarn, hook, and tension produced a different fabric than your sample. Compare the overall feel and dimensions with your goal. If needed, make a fresh sample and adjust your materials for future work.

How long should yarn tails be?

Leave tails long enough to weave securely through the fabric with a tapestry needle. The amount depends on the yarn and how you plan to secure it. Avoid trimming close until each end feels stable and unlikely to loosen.

More Ideas to Try

If you enjoy making useful handmade textiles, consider exploring a crochet pillow cover, a lap blanket, a table runner, or a soft basket. These projects offer different ways to bring crochet into a room or make a thoughtful present. Choose the type that suits your interests and the recipient’s everyday needs.

Conclusion

Give Ribbed Velvet Crochet Christmas Throw a try if you would enjoy making a practical handmade gift or a cozy addition to your home. Take your time, enjoy the calm of working with yarn, and celebrate each bit of progress. Explore more crochet ideas on the blog whenever you are ready to plan another project.