It seems like every family has one—that favorite cozy afghan, thrown over the back of the sofa. It serves as the backdrop for treasured memories of holidays, movie nights, and lazy Sunday afternoons.
Among these special blankets, we see certain classic crochet stitch patterns again and again, decade after decade, because they’re fun to crochet and work up beautifully. Capture the nostalgia with one of these retro crochet blanket patterns and add a touch of vintage charm to every room of your home!
No matter your preferred retro crochet style—from light 1950s hues to more muted earthy tones reminiscent of the 1970s—there’s lots to love in this collection. Stick with a classic color scheme or add a modern twist. It’s up to you! You may enjoy my Retro Wave crochet baby blanket. Which of these vintage crochet blanket patterns will be your next project?
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Favorite Retro Style Crochet Blanket Patterns
Below, you will find a variety of stunning retro-inspired free afghan patterns, just like your mom or grandma used to make, including:
- Retro Dazzler Chevron Crochet Blanket
- Retro Waves Baby Blanket
- Classic Baby Blanket
- Colorful Chevrons Blanket
- Geometric Mosaic Crochet Blanket
- Rusty Cottage Granny Square Blanket
- Mixtape Medley Blanket
- Colorful Hues Granny Stitch Blanket
- Granny Ripple Baby Blanket
- Bloom Anyway Flower Granny Square Blanket
- Retro Stripes Baby Blanket
- Granny Stitch Sampler Blanket
- Braided Cables Crochet Baby Blanket
- Modified Catherine’s Wheel Stitch Baby Blanket
- Wicker Plaid Crochet Throw
What Makes Crochet Blanket Patterns Retro?
What makes a crochet blanket “retro?” Crocheters have favored certain stitch patterns, like granny squares, chevrons, or the Catherine wheel, for years. In some cases, they’re updated with new techniques or modern color schemes. Other times, sticking with classic color combos gives them retro flair.
For historical color inspiration, check out this review of most popular colors by decade, which covers the 1920s through the 2000s. Or see these popular color palettes from the 1950s through 2010s.
If not the stitch pattern, then the motifs themselves, like geometric designs or plaid, may be inspired by vintage style. You’ll find some of each of those in this collection. And you may like to check out this collection of Crochet Blanket Edgings for border inspiration.
More Pattern Collections
- A Garden of 27+ Flower Granny Square Crochet Patterns
- 18 Colorful and Cozy Crochet Pillow Patterns
- 19 Free Fast and Easy Crochet Baby Blanket Patterns
- Easy Crochet Stitches for Baby Blankets You Will Love
- 26 Unique Ideas for Granny Squares
Free Retro Crochet Blanket Patterns
Retro Dazzler Chevron Crochet Blanket
With bright zigzags in ’70s-inspired shades, this colorful chevron blanket will bring vintage vibes to your home. After the set-up row, it’s just a one-row repeat with no border. Tassels give it a fun and simple edging.
Retro Waves Baby Blanket
If you’re into mid-century modern style, you will love this crochet baby blanket pattern in interlocking single and double crochet. It would be the perfect complement to a retro-inspired nursery. Or use a longer starting chain and work more rows to make any size blanket you prefer!
Classic Baby Blanket
Some crochet blanket patterns are clearly inspired by a certain decade. On the other hand, there’s this timeless crochet baby blanket, which never goes out of style. That makes it the perfect choice for an heirloom blanket that you can pass down to the next generation—or recreate in the same pattern.
Colorful Chevrons Blanket
Chevrons are such a classic, favorite design that I had to include another one! This updated version of the traditional chevron blanket mixes it up, with bold stripes and two different textures of chevron. Choose colors inspired by any decade, or try something completely new!
Geometric Mosaic Crochet Blanket
Although mosaic crochet is more popular in recent years, the geometric designs in this blanket definitely have a vintage feel. Even the name of one section is “Mid-Century Modern.” The intricate looking designs are easier to create than you may think, and use basic crochet stitches.
Note that this blanket was designed as a collaborative crochet along (CAL). So to get the free pattern for each section, you will have to navigate to different designers’ websites (they’re linked from the main page). However, it’s a fun, engaging pattern and is well worth a few clicks!
Rusty Cottage Granny Square Blanket
Of course a collection of retro crochet blanket patterns has to include the iconic granny square! And while you can modernize them with any number of color schemes, sometimes you want to preserve those vintage vibes. This classic granny square blanket gives a nod to the ’70s with beautiful earth tones.
Mixtape Medley Blanket
Do the 1990s qualify as “vintage?” According to Glamour magazine, yes, they do. And that’s fantastic because that means we can include this highly-textured, multicolor crochet blanket in the collection! This pattern will hold your interest, with multiple stitch patterns—bobbles, plaid, and houndstooth, among others.
Colorful Hues Granny Stitch Blanket
This beautiful crochet blanket pattern uses the timeless granny stitch in rows, with unique color changes, to create a pretty diamond design. These muted tones would look right at home in a retro-inspired room.
Granny Ripple Baby Blanket
The granny ripple baby blanket combines two classic stitch patterns—the granny stitch and the ripple—for a cheerful blanket that’s bursting with color! If you fall in love with this beginner-friendly stitch pattern, you can use it in all sorts of other projects, too.
Bloom Anyway Flower Granny Square Blanket
This stunning flower granny square blanket uses the sunburst granny square in muted tones for an updated take on a classic design. You’ll assemble it using a join-as-you-go method, which minimizes sewing and weaving in yarn ends. So once you’re done crocheting, you’re done!
Retro Stripes Baby Blanket
This neon striped crochet blanket captures the electric colors popular during the late ’80s and early ’90s. A beginner can easily complete this blanket, which requires almost entirely single crochet. It works up quickly and little ones will love the bright colors!
Granny Stitch Sampler Blanket
Throughout the decades, samplers have been a fun way to try out different crochet stitch patterns and show off your range of skills. This one takes the traditional granny stitch and plays with it in various ways to create a one-of-a-kind granny square blanket. These delicate colors would go equally well in a modern living room or a 1950s farmhouse.
This blanket is another that was designed as a collaborative CAL. You will need to visit each designer’s website (linked from the main page) to find all of the free granny square patterns.
Braided Cables Crochet Baby Blanket
This pretty braided-look baby blanket uses more modern colors. But this stitch pattern of braided cables, sometimes called Jacob’s ladder, is a long-time favorite. The braided effect comes from chain loops, each one pulled through the loop below it. It’s an easy technique with impressive results!
Modified Catherine’s Wheel Stitch Baby Blanket
The Catherine’s wheel stitch is another classic that you’ll often find in old stitch books. Large increases and decreases are placed in such a way that it creates what look like rows of little circles throughout. A modified version of the stitch, with added rows of double crochets, is the star of this vintage-inspired baby blanket.
Wicker Plaid Crochet Throw
This stylish plaid crochet blanket would look fabulous as part of a 1940s or ’50s inspired decor scheme. It’s worked in moss stitch, an easy stitch pattern which gives it a subtle woven-like texture. You’ll add the vertical stripes afterward, using surface slip stitch.
I hope you have enjoyed these retro crochet blanket patterns and have been inspired to make your own family heirloom afghan!
The photographs and pattern contained on this page are the property of Annie Design Crochet.com.
You are welcome to use this pattern to make items to sell, and I would appreciate that you include a link to the free pattern with credit for the designer, thank you!
No unauthorized reproduction, in whole or in part, or distribution of this pattern or content is permitted.
I have enjoyed reading your article about crocheting patterns and would like to learn about one or two for my grandson
I’m an amateur crochet enthusiast, and I would love to try a full size blanket.
Beautiful ageless blankets.