Corner to Corner Crochet (C2C): How to Make Tiles, Increase and Decrease
C2C builds a blanket diagonally out of little tiles, which makes it perfect for pixel pictures and stripes. Learn the increase, the decrease and how to read a C2C graph.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Easy
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4) yarn
- Hook
- 5 mm (H-8)
- Time
- 30 minutes to learn
In this post
Corner to corner (C2C) crochet starts at one corner and grows diagonally, one row of little square tiles at a time. Each tile is three double crochets on a short chain. Because every tile is like a pixel, C2C is the go-to technique for picture blankets ("graphgans"), names and diagonal stripes.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
How to crochet C2C
Increase (growing the triangle)
- Row 1: Ch 6. Dc in the 4th ch from the hook and in the next 2 ch. (1 tile)
- Row 2: Ch 6, turn. Dc in the 4th ch from the hook and the next 2 ch (a new tile). Sl st into the ch-3 space of the tile from Row 1. Ch 3, 3 dc in the same space. (2 tiles)
- Row 3: Ch 6, turn. Dc in the 4th ch from the hook and the next 2 ch. *Sl st into the ch-3 space of the next tile, ch 3, 3 dc in the same space*; repeat across. (3 tiles)
- Continue: Repeat Row 3, adding one tile per row, until the diagonal edges reach your blanket's width (count tiles along one side).
Decrease (closing the square)
- Decrease row: Turn. Sl st across the 3 dc of the last tile and into its ch-3 space (no new tile at the start). Ch 3, 3 dc in the same space. *Sl st into the next ch-3 space, ch 3, 3 dc in the same space*; repeat until 1 tile remains, then sl st into the last ch-3 space and stop (no tile at the end). (1 tile fewer)
- Continue: Repeat until one tile is left. Fasten off.
Making a rectangle
When one side reaches the width you want, keep increasing on the other edge and decreasing on this edge. The tile count stays the same, and the blanket grows longer. When it reaches the length you want, decrease on both edges.
Reading a C2C graph
- Each square on the graph is one tile.
- Start at the bottom-right corner and read diagonally, row by row.
- Change colour on the last yarn over of the previous tile. Use bobbins for each colour block — see changing colours.
- Cross-stitch charts and pixel art make great C2C graphs.
How many tiles for a blanket?
In worsted yarn with a 5 mm hook, each tile is roughly 1 in. A baby blanket (30 × 36 in) is about 30 × 36 tiles; a throw (50 × 60 in) about 50 × 60. More sizes in our blanket size chart.
Common questions
Is C2C crochet hard for beginners?
No — if you can chain and double crochet, you can C2C. Most people get the rhythm after three or four rows.
Why are my C2C edges wavy?
Tension on the ch 6 or ch 3 differs from your dc. Keep chains the same height as the dc, or use a ch 5 / ch 2 if your chains are loose.
Can I do C2C with half double crochet?
Yes — "mini C2C" uses ch 5 and 2 hdc per tile, giving smaller pixels and a denser fabric.
What picture would you put on a C2C blanket? 🖼️
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