Crochet TETRIS Afghan

Crochet TETRIS Afghan

I don't know about you, but TETRIS was one of the first games I really got into when I was younger. I didn't have access to gaming consoles other than the computer until my parents got me a Game Boy Advance SP. Even then TETRIS was one of the first games I got for that. TETRIS was also the first game I got really competitive about. When I beat my dad's score for the first time I was elated! I felt like I could conquer anything! And then I showed him, and he showed me his most recent score from his PC which clearly indicated that I had in fact not beaten him yet. So, that was a huge bummer. Still, I played on and achieved many scores that I was proud of.

Last year, I set out to make myself an afghan using granny squares, and I immediately thought of TETRIS. What a great way to show off my geeky crochet skills and love for falling bricks!

Crochet Tetris Afghan


I played around with the design by cutting out the shapes (or Tetrominoes, if you will) from graph paper and coloring in the blocks. I knew I wanted the colors to be equally distributed and fill up most of the space. My inspiration for the final pattern came from the feeling of being on the last level you can handle in the game. The blocks are falling so fast that you can hardly control them other than where they fall. Then, a moment of hope comes when you can complete a row just as you're about to fill up the window. I created an aesthetically pleasing design that's almost screen accurate and moved on to the next steps.

Crochet Tetris Afghan
From design to reality



I gathered up my I hook and yarn (Caron Simply Soft is LOVE) and found this pattern for solid granny squares from Angelfire.com that I thought would work perfectly. The one thing I didn't have was an idea of how I would join them once I got to the end. I shrugged that feeling off, figured I'd come up with a solution to that later, and immediately set to work! Piles of colored squares popped up almost overnight! (Mostly because I'm prone to staying up late and get obsessed easily with projects I love. I wish I had crocheting/knitting house elves though, they would come in handy.)

Crochet Tetris Afghan
Look at that progress! Anyone should be proud to make that many squares in such little time! ...Right?




Granny square crochet Tetris afghan


And then do you know what a friend told me? You can join your crochet squares as you go.

WHAT.

That sure was an eye-opening moment for me. In my defense I had used granny squares for a total of one project before this. At that point all of the rainbow squares were practically finished and I had to rip out the last row of each and every one in order to join them. I tell you what, once I found this great way of joining them on YouTube by Oana's Crochet Channel, I became a joining master. I joined all of the black and rainbow squares from top to bottom, and finished it off with a border of grey squares.

Granny square crochet Tetris afghan
Technicolor 8-bit dream barf





The thing about this blanket is... it's SO HEAVY, but that's also what's best about it because it's so warm and nice. If I were to do this again, I would use a bigger hook and not do as many rows in each square. Who am I kidding? I definitely won't be making this again! But you sure can!

Here's what you'll need to build your own blocks:
  • Graph paper, markers, and imagination to create your own TETRIS design
  • Solid Granny Square pattern by Angelfire
  • I hook, or size to make a 4" square
  • 2 skeins of Caron Simply Soft in: red, grape, royal blue, robin's egg, limelight, yellow, and neon orange; 3-4 each in black and grey heather
  • Video: Solid Granny Squares- joining as you go by Oana's Crochet Channel on Youtube
  • Sewing needle because there will be SO MANY ENDS. Alternatively, you can sew fleece or fabric on the back.

If you do end up making a TETRIS blanket of your own using my method, I'd love to see it! Send me a link, or post on Instagram or Twitter using #fangirlcrafter.
If you choose to make one to sell, I ask that you don't use my design. It's easy enough to make your own! 

So tell me, what was your favorite computer game when you were younger? At school I loved Zoombinis! Now I just play a whole lot of Skyrim.

18 comments:

  1. This is so amazing!! I've been trying to get myself to learn how to crochet and it's not coming along. I started working on a Yoda from a Star Wars crochet book and I never finished.

    But your afghan is so beautiful.

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    1. Keep trying! You can totally do it. It takes practice and lots of youtube tutorials, lol, but you can get there. But it's also okay if you don't. :) Thank you so much!

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  2. Ah, Tetris was my jam - actually it still is!

    Love this blanket, Kels! Once I'm done making headwear for Comic Con I have to go on the search for yarn to make my own. And hopefully our little Jabba the Pup won't try to steal it from me.

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    1. Same here! If I had it on my computer I'd play it so much more, lol. You've definitely gotta make one! They're so much fun! I mean, the work isn't fun, but the result is totally worth it!

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  3. Awesome job! I should really learn how to crochet (I'm a knitter) so that I can make more nerdy crafts. Crochet is just so much better suited to blockie pixel shapes.

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    1. Thank you Mariko! You're right, it is! And it's so annoying too because I prefer knitting. Crochet is a really handy skill to have, especially with amigurumis. There might be a way to knit these squares but I feel like it would take so much longer.

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  4. This is amazing! Geeky crafts are my favorite!!!!

    Love, Jenn
    Thediaryofadreamer91.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you Jenn! And thanks for stopping by! They're the best aren't they? :)

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  5. This is so amazing! Great job on it :)

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  6. This is awesome in so many ways! Love the bright colors -it looks so cozy and warm!

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  7. This looks so intense! Wish I had one ^_^

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    1. They do take a lot of work! But so worth it! :)

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  8. That is beautiful and soooo colourful! I love it! I am a crocheter myself so I look forward to seeing your future projects! Great work. xx

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    1. Thank you so much! I've got some awesome things in the works! Hope I can give you some inspiration, and I look forward to seeing what you post too! :)

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