Categories: Crafts & Hobbies

Crochet Patterns for Baby Blankets

Hospitals always appreciate the women who donate crocheted baby blankets to their nursery. These soft, pretty blankets help the babies feel warm and secure. There are a number of different patterns to choose from and they’re really very simple and uncomplicated.

Always use baby yarn for baby blankets because even though yarn is quite soft, two-ply yarn can be a little too rough for babies, especially a newborn. Baby yarn is one-ply so some may find it a bit difficult at first, simply because they’re accustomed to using the two-ply, but you get used to it.

One of my personal favorites is the triple crochet knot-stitch. Once you establish your first row, you simply work even until it’s finished. I made a set of these for my niece, years ago. Her mother saved it and my niece intends to use it for her child, which she is expected to deliver this fall.

The set included two receiving blankets and one crib blanket. Her nursery colors were yellow, mauve and blue so I chose a variegated baby yarn with those colors.

Triple Double Crochet:

Receiving Blanket:

Chain 73 and turn. In the third chain, make one triple crochet. Push the needle through the knot in the triple crochet and do a double crochet. Skip two and repeat. Work even to the end, chain three and turn. Using the same method, crochet into each knot to the end of each row, chain three and turn. Work the blanket to an even square and tie off.

The crib blanket is the same pattern on a larger scale. Chain 232 and follow the above pattern.

Shells are a very popular pattern and are very simple to do. Simply make your chain and in the third stitch, do three double crochets, chain one and do three more in the same hole, and that’s your shell. Skip one stitch and do one double crochet. Continue with one shell followed by one double crochet to the end, chain three and turn. Make sure you end with a double crochet and not a shell. Continue until you reach the desired size, which should be a perfect square.

Another popular pattern is the zigzag, which involves a lot of counting and a lot of women don’t like that. If you miss a stitch, it may not show until after you’ve completed several rows. Then you have to unravel it and begin again where you missed the stitch.

Make your chain and turn. In the second stitch, single crochet in the first four stitches. In the fifth, do three single crochets in the same hole. Single crochet in the next four stitches then skip two and single crochet in four more stitches.

Follow this exact pattern to the end, chain three and turn. Once you’ve finished the first row, it’s easy to see the pattern, but again, if you miss even one stitch, you’ll have to go back and repair it. Therefore, check it carefully after completing each row.

Of course, the most simple pattern for a baby blanket is the basic single crochet and almost impossible to go wrong.

Basic Single Crochet Receiving Blanket:

Chain 73 and turn. Make a single crochet in the second stitch and continue in each stitch to the end, chain one and turn. Work even until you’ve reached the perfect square. What could be easier?