My First Baby Blanket

Would you believe I’ve never made a baby blanket before?

I mean, I’ve tried. I’ve started them. I’ve tried to stick with it. I’ve given up more than a few times.

It’s not because they’re hard to make; you can find baby blanket patterns for any skill level. They’re just so… big. And I’ve mentioned before that I have an incredibly short attention span. I can’t even finish a dishcloth without starting another project. My workspace is covered in half-finished items. (And by “workspace”, I am referring to the 6′ chest freezer in my dining room. I don’t know what’s weirder, the fact that my workspace is a chest freezer in my dining room, or the fact that I even have a chest freezer in my dining room. But whatever.)

But, I’m also much quicker with crochet than I was before. As with anything, we get better the more we practice, right? And, even more importantly… my friends are having BABIES! Over the next few months, there will be a few new tiny bundles of joy for me to hold and love on and crochet for. So, with winter over (that’s according to the calendar, not the inch of snow I can see from my window right now), it’s time to set aside my crazy love of scarves and start focusing on all things baby. Starting with some blankets!

This first one is simple and soft, but makes a modern statement with its bold colors and ridged lines. If you can do a double crochet, you can make this blanket, and you’ll be the talk of the baby shower!

A note for the experienced crocheter: This pattern is simply rows of DCs worked in back loops only, with an edging of 1 row each of SC and DC (4 to a corner). I have included all of my color changes in the pattern below, but the detailed nature of that pattern might drive you nuts. I’ve included a “shortcut” version below the pattern that you might prefer if you are sticking to my color choices.

I used 2 beautiful colors from Bernat Satin for this project. You can purchase it here! 

MY FIRST BABY BLANKET

Hook: I (5.50mm)
Yarn: Soft worsted weight. I used a few different brands, which you have to be careful doing, because not all worsted weight yarn is the same (especially when you’re dealing with baby yarn). But these worked out fine for me:

• Color A: White (Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn)  Approx. 210 yards
• Color B: Soft Fern (Bernat Satin – affiliate link) Approx. 140 yards
• Color C: Lagoon (Bernat Satin – affiliate link) Approx. 140 yards
• Color D: Strawberry (Caron Simply Soft) Approx. 140 yards
• Color E: Grey Mist (Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn) Approx. 70 yards

Difficulty: Beginner-Easy
Finished Size: Approx. 26″x30″

Notes:

• Ch 2 does NOT count as starting DC.
• I’m writing the pattern according to my color changes, but you can plan out the blanket any way you want. It’s just row after row of DCs in back loops only. Be creative!
• This blanket is worked in BACK LOOPS ONLY after the first row. I don’t put this on each and every row’s instructions.
• I’ve been asked how I get such straight edges. My trick is that when I Ch2 at the beginning of a new row, I make my first DC in the NEXT stitch. Then at the end of the row, when it seems like I’m out of stitches but need to make one more, I make it in the Ch 2 knot from the previous row. This technique provides a nice straight edge. I promise I’ll do a photo tutorial soon. 😉

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

With Color A,

Row 1: FDC 94.
(FDC = Foundationless Double Crochet. I swear by this method and I have an awesome tutorial here. It’s faster and easier than chaining the first row. If you don’t feel like learning it right now, you can also complete this row by chaining 96, then DC in 3rd ch from hook and DC across.)

Switch to Color B.
The rest of this blanket, until you get to the edging, is worked in the BACK LOOPS ONLY.

Rows 2-6: Ch 2. 1 DC in next St and in each St across (94 DC)

Switch to Color A

Row 7: Ch 2. 1 DC in next St and in each St across (94 DC)

Switch to Color E

Row 8: Ch 2. 1 DC in next St and in each St across (94 DC)

Switch to Color A

Row 9: Ch 2. 1 DC in next St and in each St across (94 DC)

Switch to Color C

Rows 10-14: Ch 2. 1 DC in next St and in each St across (94 DC)

Switch to Color A

Row 15: Ch 2. 1 DC in next St and in each St across (94 DC)

Switch to Color E

Row 16: Ch 2. 1 DC in next St and in each St across (94 DC)

Switch to Color A

Row 17: Ch 2. 1 DC in next St and in each St across (94 DC)

Switch to Color D

Rows 18-22: Ch 2. 1 DC in next St and in each St across (94 DC)

Switch to Color A

Row 23: Ch 2. 1 DC in next St and in each St across (94 DC)

Switch to Color E

Row 24: Ch 2. 1 DC in next St and in each St across (94 DC)

Switch to Color A

Row 25: Ch 2. 1 DC in next St and in each St across (94 DC)

Rows 26-47: Repeat rows 2-23

EDGING:
With Color A (which you should have ended on in row 47),

Ch 1. SC evenly around the entire blanket, using 3 SC in each corner. Ch 2. 1 DC in each SC around, using 4 DC in each corner. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.

BABY BLANKET (COLOR CHANGE SHORTCUT PATTERN)

The rows are worked in the following colors:

1. White
2. Soft Fern
3. Soft Fern
4. Soft Fern
5. Soft Fern
6. Soft Fern
7. White
8. Grey Mist
9. White
10. Lagoon
11. Lagoon
12. Lagoon
13. Lagoon
14. Lagoon
15. White
16. Grey Mist
17. White
18. Strawberry
19. Strawberry
20. Strawberry
21. Strawberry
22. Strawberry
23. White
24. Grey Mist
25. White
26. Soft Fern
27. Soft Fern
28. Soft Fern
29. Soft Fern
30. Soft Fern
31. White
32. Grey Mist
33. White
34. Lagoon
35. Lagoon
36. Lagoon
37. Lagoon
38. Lagoon
39. White
40. Grey Mist
41. White
42. Strawberry
43. Strawberry
44. Strawberry
45. Strawberry
46. Strawberry
47. White