Please note: There is a version of this blanket floating around that has red stripes with added heart-shaped sections. I’m getting a lot of questions about where that pattern is (I’ve even seen pattern roundups that show that blanket but link directly here). It’s not my blanket, and I do not have the pattern variation for you here. Sorry!
A Little Background
This pattern has quite a story behind it – more so than I realized when I first published it!
Back in 2014 (when I was blogging under the name “Little Monkeys Crochet”) I was watching one of my favorite tv shows, Call the Midwife, and spotted the most beautiful single-colored baby blanket.
After an online search yielded no results, I immediately set out to figure out the pattern on my own. It gave me a run for my money but I finally finished it, published it on my blog, and the crochet world went a little crazy for it!
Quite some time later, I started to get an occasional comment here and there from someone who was so excited to discover my pattern because their mom (or grandma or aunt) had crocheted them this blanket decades ago and now they had a pattern for it! It wasn’t too much longer before the origins of this show prop were discovered: an old, out-of-print Patons & Baldwins Limited (UK) Booklet from years ago!
It was a fun discovery, but also a bit of a sad one, as I realized (perhaps later than I should have) that I had deconstructed someone else’s pattern, rewritten it, and published it on my own blog. I’m not sure why I didn’t realize this sooner – perhaps it was partly because I was a new blogger and hadn’t really thought through the legal or ethical issues of doing so, or perhaps it was because I saw the blanket on a TV show, in a pretend world, and it didn’t even cross my mind that there would be an actual real-life pattern out there for it. It’s probably a little of both.
This story does have a happy ending, though! Once it was clear where the pattern had originated, I sat down to write to the publisher who owned the rights. I explained the entire situation and timeline, apologized profusely, and offered to remove the pattern from my blog. Much to my surprise and delight, they responded with the utmost kindness and gave me permission to leave it be, enabling thousands of people to continue using it!
And so, this pattern remains on my blog with the permission of Yarnspirations, who now owns Patons. That’s a happy ending, I’d say!
THE MIDWIFE BLANKET
Hook: G (4.25mm)
Yarn: Light (DK). I used approximately 1,000 yards of Bernat Softee Baby Yarn in Antique White.
Difficulty: Easy
Crochet Language: American Standard Terms (I would have written it in UK, in honor of the fact that the show is from there, but I don’t know how…) 🙂
Finished Size: Approx. 30″ x 35″ (You can easily increase or decrease the size by adding to your starting Ch; just make sure you start with a multiple of 16, plus 6)
Notes:
(1) Because of the design, which is created by the use of skipped stitches, you’ll be crocheting into those stitches often. It’s up to you whether you crochet into the Ch, or the space created by it. I chose to crochet into the Ch itself because I felt it would give my rows a steadier look. Just note going into it that each of those skipped stitches still counts as a stitch for the row that follows it. So if it tells you to “DC in next 6 sts”, and there are only 4 DCs from the previous row followed by a space that was created by chains, you’ll need to put the last 2 DC into those chains (or the chain space, if you prefer).
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To Begin: Ch 118.
Row 1: DC in 6th Ch from hook. (Ch 1, Sk 1 St, DC in next St) across. Ch 4; turn.
Row 2: Sk first 2 Sts, DC in next 15 Sts, including Ch 1s from previous row. (Ch 1; Sk 1 St. DC in next 15 Sts) 6 more times. Ch 1, Sk 1 St, DC in next St (which is part of the Ch 4 from previous row). Ch 4; turn.
Row 3: Sk first 2 Sts, DC in next 6 Sts, Ch 3, Sk 3 Sts, DC in next 6 Sts. (Ch 1; Sk 1 St. DC in next 6 Sts. Ch 3, Sk 3 Sts. DC in next 6 Sts) 6 more times. Ch 1; DC in next St (which is part of the Ch 4 from previous row). Ch 4; turn.
Row 4: Sk first 2 Sts, DC in next 4 Sts, Ch 3, Sk 3 Sts, SLIP STITCH into next St, Ch 3, Sk 3 Sts, DC in next 4 Sts. (Ch 1; Sk 1 St. DC in next 4 Sts, Ch 3, Sk 3 Sts, SLIP STITCH into next St, Ch 3, Sk 3 Sts, DC in next 4 Sts) 6 more times. Ch 1; DC in next St (which is part of the Ch 4 from previous row). Ch 4; turn.
Row 5: Sk first 2 Sts, DC in next 6 Sts (don’t forget to include the Chs from the previous row in your count!), Ch 3, Sk 3 Sts, DC in next 6 Sts. (Ch 1; Sk 1 St. DC in next 6 Sts. Ch 3, Sk 3 Sts. DC in next 6 Sts) 6 more times. Ch 1; DC in next St (which is part of the Ch 4 from previous row). Ch 4; turn.
Row 6: Sk first 2 Sts, DC in next 15 Sts. (Ch 1; Sk 1 St. DC in next 15 Sts) 6 more times. Ch 1; DC in next St (which is part of the Ch 4 from previous row). Ch 4; turn.
Row 7: Sk first 2 Sts. DC in next. (Ch 1, Sk 1 St, DC in next St) across. Ch 4; turn.
You’ve completed one row of rectangles. To continue your blanket, repeat rows 2-7 10 more times for a stroller blanket, or as many times as you want to achieve desired length. At the end of your final row, do not Ch 4, but continue to “Edging”.
Edging You will be working along the little boxes that line the perimeter of your blanket, using two of them together to create a scalloped edge. Ch 1. SC + DC into first space. DC into the stitch that divides the two spaces. DC + SC into second space. This completes 1 scallop. (Sk next dividing st. SC + DC into next space. DC into the stitch that divides the two spaces. DC + SC into second space.) Repeat () all the way around the blanket (I added an extra DC when working in the corners).
Depending on how many rows of rectangles you chose to do, you may end up with a leftover box at the end, like I did. I simply improvised and made a 3-box scallop at the end. There’s probably a better way to figure that out, but I’m not above a little improvisation to get a job done. 😉 Fasten off; weave in ends.
Thank you for this. I just rewatched the call the midwife episode and fell in love with the blanket. I looked online with no luck and then low and behold I came across a link for your blog. Can’t wait to make this.
Hello! Thank you for the pattern! For this instruction in Row 2:
(Ch 1; Sk 1 St. DC in next 15 Sts) 6 more times.
I don’t have enough room on my chain to repeat the pattern 6 more times. I chained 118 to begin and I’m pretty sure I did the first row correctly. Do you know what I might be doing wrong?
Thank you!
In the Edging directions, does Sk (Sk next dividing stitch) mean skip? Thank you.
This pattern was perfect to make baptismal blankets for our church. I made two to donate. I used white dk weight yarn and changed the edging slightly so it was not ruffled. They turned out beautiful. Thank you for sharing the pattern.
I must have made this blanket 7 times. When I lived in NY I would sometimes line it with a nice flannel. I live in the Caribbean now and a coworker is expecting a little boy in December. I am making a blue grey blanket for her. Thank you for sharing such a lovely pattern.
I have a question. When crocheting row 5, do you crochet into the slip stitch? I mean I think you do but my first try turned out really messed up. Thank you!
Yes you dc into those skipped stitches. I went into the ch sp.
No. The slip stitch is one of the stitches that you skip.
Thank you so much for such a beautiful, easy, relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable blanket 💖 im almost at the end of making it and will definitely be doing another one ir ten in different colours!
Can I ask…..has anyone added any extra scalloped rows to the border? I was wondering whether to add another couple of rows of scallops but don’t know how to work it out.
Many thanks again, Jackie
Just checking, this project requires 1,000 yards?
My great aunt crochet me one when I was born, now I have found the patten I can do it for my niece and daughter in law who are due in June to convert it into English all you do USA DC is English Tr stitch
Very comprehensive and beautiful.
Thanks very much quite comprehensive and beautigul.
I made this blanket when my first nephew was born. He is in his 40s now and has teenage children of his own. My sister still has the blanket! I was amazed to see it on *Call the Midwife and I’m so pleased to have found the pattern again!
Thank you for sharing the story. I also watch the Midwifes and loved the show. Have a blessed 2021. M
This is a beautiful pattern! I was a little concerned at the end of the row (a couple times) that my stitches weren’t lining up properly to create the square border along the edge… but working back towards the middle its really nice to have that grid pattern to ensure I’m right where I should be. Thank you. I will be making this up many times for miscarried babies in my area.
I wish to make this 54″ x 66″. I have 3000 yds of a beautiful worsted antique gold that felt like it cost the earth. Using an H hook. I dont have a brain for adjustments and am hoping you could please tell me if the 3000 yds will be enough.
Thank you so much.
Kim Quinn
I’m not the blog owner, but I would advise you do a test swatch of one rectangle, plus one row of 2 to mimic a border, and see how much that weighs! I’m a big fan of using a kitchen scale to see if I can finish the whole project. If not, you’ve scrapped an hour and have to frog a little, versus not having enough. You can always do the border in another color if you run out too.
I am almost finished a queen blanket of the midfire blanket and I have almost used 4,000 yards of yarn if that helps you with figuring thing out. You can add another color to the end if you do not have enough.Hope this helps you. Sandra
Hi what is the midfire blanket you have mentioned here?
I think she meant midwife but it was a typo.
‘Call the midwife’, was a series on TV about a group of very dedicated midwives in the 1950’s, east end London and the wonderful women they helped bring their babies into the world. There were 95 episodes. It was aired on PBS, BBC
It hasn’t finished yet 🙂
It’s still going on. New episodes are being made even now. I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!
How many chains did you start with? I’m terrible at math, lol
Thank you for this easy to follow pattern.
I made this into a scarf for my daughter a year ago and love it! I’m making the blanket for my expecting niece now. Can I make it bigger?
Yes you can make it larger. I have made a lot of baby blankets with 7 squares across and 14 rows down. Sandra