Crocheting a baby blanket is one of the most rewarding projects for crafters of all skill levels. Whether you’re making a heartfelt gift for a baby shower or creating a keepsake for your own little one, a crochet baby blanket is both practical and meaningful. The best part? It doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few simple stitches and soft yarn, you can create a cozy, beautiful blanket perfect for a baby.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make an easy crochet baby blanket, from choosing materials to following a basic pattern.
Why Make a Baby Blanket?
Crochet baby blankets are loved for their:
- Softness and warmth: Perfect for a newborn’s sensitive skin.
- Customization: You can choose colors, textures, and sizes to suit any baby or nursery.
- Heirloom quality: Handmade items often become treasured keepsakes.
- Beginner-friendliness: They offer a manageable, satisfying project for new crocheters.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a simple list of materials for a beginner-friendly baby blanket:
🧶 Yarn
- Type: Soft, washable yarn is best. Acrylic and cotton blends are popular choices.
- Weight: Choose a medium weight yarn (Category 4) or bulky (Category 5) for faster results.
- Amount: Approximately 800–1,200 yards, depending on the blanket’s size.
🪡 Hook
- Check your yarn label for the recommended hook size.
- Generally, a 5.5 mm (I-9) or 6.0 mm (J-10) hook works well with medium-weight yarn.
✂️ Other Tools
- Scissors
- Yarn needle (for weaving in ends)
- Stitch markers (optional)
Simple Crochet Stitches to Use
If you’re a beginner, start with these easy stitches:
- Single Crochet (sc) – Dense and warm, great for tight weaves.
- Half Double Crochet (hdc) – A little taller and faster than single crochet.
- Double Crochet (dc) – Looser and softer, gives a lacy texture.
- Granny Square – Classic, decorative motif that can be joined to make blankets.
Many simple baby blanket patterns combine just one or two of these stitches.
Easy Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern (Double Crochet)
Here’s a super simple pattern using just the double crochet (dc) stitch.
📏 Finished Size
- Approximately 30″ x 36″ (standard baby blanket size)
🧵 Materials
- 1,000 yards of medium weight (Category 4) yarn
- 6.0 mm crochet hook
- Yarn needle
🧶 Instructions
- Foundation Row:
Chain 91 (or any odd number to get your desired width). - Row 1:
Double crochet in the 4th chain from the hook and in each chain across.
(You’ll have 89 double crochets.) - Row 2:
Chain 3 (counts as first dc), turn.
Double crochet in each stitch across. - Repeat Row 2 until the blanket reaches your desired length (typically 36 inches).
- Finish:
Fasten off and weave in ends with a yarn needle.
Optional Border
Add a simple single crochet border all around to neaten edges:
- Attach yarn to any corner.
- Single crochet evenly around all four sides, placing 3 sc in each corner.
- Slip stitch to the first sc and fasten off.
Tips for Success
- Choose soft, hypoallergenic yarns for baby’s sensitive skin.
- Use stitch markers at the beginning of rows to keep your edges straight.
- Block your blanket after finishing to even out the stitches and shape.
Variations to Try
Once you’re comfortable, try these easy variations:
- Striped blanket: Alternate colors every few rows.
- Textured stitches: Add interest with waffle stitch, moss stitch, or shell stitch.
- Granny square blanket: Join squares together for a patchwork look.
- Corner-to-corner (C2C): Start at one corner and work diagonally—easy and fun!
🧶 STEP-BY-STEP: How to Make an Easy Crochet Baby Blanket (Double Crochet Pattern)
🪄 Overview
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Stitch Used: Double crochet (dc)
- Estimated Time: 5–8 hours (depending on speed and size)
- Size: 30″ x 36″ (can be adjusted)
🔹 Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
🧵 Yarn:
- Use medium-weight (worsted) yarn, labeled as Category 4 on the label.
- Choose baby-friendly yarn: soft, washable, and hypoallergenic.
- Examples:
- Red Heart Soft Baby Steps
- Bernat Softee Baby
- Lion Brand Baby Soft
🧵 Amount:
- You’ll need around 1,000 yards for a 30″x36″ blanket.
🪝 Crochet Hook:
- Use a 6.0 mm (J-10) hook. (You can go up or down in size if you want a looser or tighter weave.)
🧰 Other Tools:
- Scissors
- Yarn needle (to weave in ends)
- Stitch marker (optional, helps keep track of row starts)
🔹 Step 2: Learn the Basic Stitches
You only need to know two stitches to complete this blanket:
1. Chain (ch)
A foundation stitch that creates the base row.
How to do it:
- Make a slip knot on your hook.
- Yarn over (wrap the yarn over the hook), then pull it through the loop.
- Repeat until you have the desired number of chains.
2. Double Crochet (dc)
A taller stitch that works up quickly and gives a soft texture.
How to do it:
- Yarn over.
- Insert your hook into the stitch (or chain).
- Yarn over again and pull through (3 loops on hook).
- Yarn over, pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain).
- Yarn over again, pull through the last 2 loops.
🔹 Step 3: Crochet the Foundation Chain
Decide on the width of your blanket.
- For a 30″ wide baby blanket, you’ll start with 91 chains.
(Why 91? Because the pattern uses an odd number of stitches for symmetry.)
Instructions:
- Make a slip knot.
- Chain 91 loosely.
✅ Tip: Keep your chains loose so it’s easier to work into them in the next row.
🔹 Step 4: Work the First Row
Start creating your stitches using the double crochet (dc) stitch.
Instructions:
- Yarn over.
- Insert your hook into the 4th chain from the hook (the first 3 chains count as your first dc).
- Double crochet across the entire row — 1 dc into each chain.
- At the end, you should have 89 dc (including the first ch-3).
🔹 Step 5: Work Additional Rows
Now you’ll build the rest of the blanket by repeating the same row over and over.
Instructions:
- Chain 3, turn your work. (This counts as your first dc.)
- Double crochet into the second stitch and in each stitch across.
- Repeat this row until your blanket is 36 inches long or the length you want.
📝 Tip: Use a measuring tape to check the length as you go.
🔹 Step 6: Fasten Off
Once you’ve reached your desired length:
- Cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail.
- Yarn over and pull the tail through the loop on your hook.
- Tug gently to tighten.
🔹 Step 7: Weave In Ends
Use a yarn needle to tuck in all the loose yarn tails. This makes your blanket neater and helps it last longer.
How to Weave In:
- Thread the tail through the yarn needle.
- Run the needle through a few stitches in the edge (in different directions).
- Trim off the excess yarn.
🔹 Step 8: Add an Optional Border
A border gives your blanket a polished look.
Simple Single Crochet Border:
- Attach your yarn to any corner of the blanket.
- Single crochet (sc) evenly around all four sides.
- In each corner, work 3 single crochets to help turn smoothly.
- When you finish, slip stitch to the first stitch.
- Fasten off and weave in the tail.
Final Thoughts
Crocheting a baby blanket doesn’t have to be complex. With just a basic stitch and cozy yarn, you can create a heartfelt gift that will be loved and used for years. Whether you’re brand new to crochet or just looking for a relaxing project, this easy crochet baby blanket is a perfect place to start.
So grab your hook, pick your favorite yarn, and get stitching!
Video tutorial:
