UK crochet guide. Written in British English, with UK stitch names and metric measurements.
“Double-bed blanket” is not a complete measurement. It might describe a decorative strip across the foot of the bed, a cover that just reaches the sides or a throw with a generous drop. Decide which result you want before calculating a starting chain.
Measure the place where the blanket will be used. A useful finished size comes from that space and the intended coverage, with the border included.
UK mattress dimensions are a reference, not the blanket size
| UK mattress type | Typical width × length |
|---|---|
| Single | 90 × 190 cm |
| Small double | 120 × 190 cm |
| Double | 135 × 190 cm |
| King | 150 × 200 cm |
| Super king | 180 × 200 cm |
These common mattress dimensions are listed by Silentnight. Measure your own mattress and bed arrangement before using them. The thickness of the mattress, bed frame and amount of overhang affect the cover you want.
Add the drop deliberately
For an example double mattress measuring 135 × 190 cm, adding 30 cm on each side gives a blanket width of 195 cm. Adding 30 cm at the foot, with no extra length at the head, gives 220 cm in length.
That produces a planning example of 195 × 220 cm. It is not a standard every double-bed blanket must follow. A decorative throw may be much smaller, while a different arrangement may need a different drop.
Plan a sofa throw around the person and the seat
Use a towel, existing blanket or sheet to test the coverage. Fold it to the proposed dimensions, sit with it and check whether it reaches where you need it. This is more informative than choosing a size from a generic chart alone.
Record the finished width and length in centimetres. If the throw will be folded over an arm or backrest, check how much bulk that creates before choosing a very thick stitch and yarn.
Subtract the border before sizing the body
If you want a 120 × 150 cm finished throw with a 5 cm border on every side, the body target is 110 × 140 cm. The border adds twice its width to each overall dimension.
Leaving this until the end can turn a correctly sized body into a larger finished item. A decorative edging with points or scallops also needs a clear measuring convention: decide whether the target includes the furthest tips.
Convert the body measurement into the right units
Measure a cared-for sample in the actual stitch. If an illustrative sample has eighteen stitches across 10 cm, a 110 cm body suggests 198 stitches before adjusting for the pattern repeat and edges.
The foundation may require extra turning chains or a multiple that does not divide neatly into 198. Resolve those instructions together, then check the likely width after adjusting the count. Our existing foundation guide explains the next stage.
Check the yarn consequences of a bigger size
A 120 × 150 cm rectangle has 50% more area than a 100 × 120 cm rectangle. In the same fabric, that is a substantial change in the body-yarn estimate, even though neither dimension sounds dramatically larger on its own.
Borders and joins do not scale exactly like the body area. Estimate them separately and round purchases up by colour. A sample can help you compare both weight and metreage before you commit to a bed-sized project.
Save a dimension plan
Draw a rectangle and label body width, body length, border width and final size. Keep those four numbers beside the pattern. They make it much easier to judge progress without repeatedly changing the target while the blanket grows.
Where to go next
Calculate a foundation from tension · Estimate the finished weight · Plan the yarn budget