Welcome to the ultimate guide to free crochet baby blanket patterns! Whether you’re celebrating a new addition to your household or making a gift for a friend’s growing family, this guide will help you crochet the perfect blanket for a newborn or toddler.
Read on for an organized collection of free baby blanket patterns to suit any baby girl or baby boy’s nursery. You’ll also find beginner tips, yarn advice, and answers to all your questions about crocheting baby blankets.
Crocheting Baby Blankets is Worth It
Handmade knit and crochet afghans are an ideal gift. They’re quick, easy to make, and perfect for practicing your crochet skills on a smaller scale.
You can donate baby blankets to charities or give them to your friends and loved ones. Either way, many baby blankets are handed down as beloved family heirlooms for generations.
Although these blankets are designed to keep infants comfortable and warm, parents appreciate them just as much as babies. For a stressed-out new parent, the effort you put into a beautiful blanket is a gift on its own.
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There’s Lots to Love About Making Baby Blankets!
How to Crochet a Baby’s Blanket
An easy baby blanket is an excellent project for beginner crocheters – it’s small, has a simple shape, and provides an opportunity to practice basic stitches.
Crocheting a baby blanket can be simple. While every afghan pattern differs, the general steps are the same.
Here’s how to crochet a blanket for a baby:
- Source the supplies you’ll need, including yarn, a crochet hook, scissors, and a yarn needle
- Make a slip knot and crochet your starting row of chain stitches
- Crochet the first row, following the instructions on your pattern
- Keep working in rows until the blanket is the right size
- Cut the yarn, pull it through the last loop, and weave in the ends
- Add a blanket border to finish your project if you’d like
- Optionally, steam, wet, or spray block your blanket to straighten the edges
Inspiration for Designing Your Own Pattern
If you have a specific vision in mind, it’s not very difficult to design your own simple crochet baby blanket pattern. Here are some resources that will help:
Free Crochet Baby Blanket Patterns
We’ve sorted our favorite patterns into convenient categories to help you find the perfect crochet baby blanket to make. Read on to find a free pattern that suits your crochet skills and time available.
Need to make a quick baby blanket, like today? Check out our fastest crochet blankets for inspiration.
Easy Baby Blankets For Beginners
These easy crochet baby blanket patterns suit crocheters at any skill level. They combine simple stitches and beginner techniques to bring a classic, stylish flair to any crib, stroller, or nursery armchair.
See more beginner blankets →
Join As You Go Hexagon Blanket
Related: How to Crochet a Hexagon
Easy Ripple Blanket
Single Crocheted Baby Blanket
Modern Crochet Granny Stitch Blanket
Striped Baby Blanket Pattern
Fast Baby Afghans
If you need a baby shower gift in a hurry, these quick and easy crochet baby blankets are an ideal solution. Some take less than a day to make and still look beautiful when finished.
See more fast blankets →
Chunky Baby Blanket Tutorial
Color Block Modern Blanket
Ripple Stitch Blanket
Bear Baby Blanket
Easy Striped Baby Blanket
Unique Baby Blankets
Every baby is one-of-a-kind, so why shouldn’t they have a unique baby blanket? These free crochet patterns feature cute designs, unexpected flourishes, and eye-catching stitch patterns.
See more unique blankets →
Corner-to-Corner Bunny Blanket
Ruffle-Edged Blanket
Alpaca C2C Crochet Blanket
Frilly Crochet Baby Blanket
Heirloom Baby Blanket Crochet Pattern
Furry Bear Blanket Rug
C2C Deer Afghan
Modern Lace Baby Blanket
Boxed Block Stitch Blanket
Ripple Crochet Star Blanket
Bear Motif Afghan
Bobbly Seashell Blanket
Our Latest Crochet Inspiration:
Here are a few more free crochet patterns and tutorials that are hot off the presses.
Blanket Patterns Using Lightweight Yarn
A blanket made with fingering or DK-weight yarn can be an ideal choice if you live in a warmer climate. These lighter, more breathable blankets will keep a newborn comfortable, whatever the weather.
Vintage-Inspired Baby Blanket
Floral Hexagon Blanket
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Gender Neutral Pastel Blanket
Neutral Baby Blankets
These beautiful crochet baby blanket patterns look timeless when worked in neutral colors. Because they never go out of style, they make fantastic family heirlooms that will be enjoyed for years.
Customizable Blanket Made From Hexagons
Modern Granny Motif Baby Afghan
C2C Monstera Blanket
Modern Two-Tone Striped Blanket
Classic Neutral Baby Blanket
Chunky Stripe Blanket Pattern
Granny Square Patchwork Blanket
Related: 36 Unique Granny Squares to Crochet
Toddler Blanket Patterns
Newborn babies are worth celebrating, but it’s easy for older siblings to feel left out when a new brother or sister comes along. Show the bigger kids in your life that you love them with these toddler blanket crochet patterns.
Hooded Baby Blanket
Panda Hooded Baby Afghan
Hooded Moose Blanket
Obsessed with finding the best free crochet patterns?
Check out these collections of handpicked patterns to find your next project.
You must use the category name, not a URL, in the category field.Choosing the Best Yarn for Crochet Baby Blankets
Many blanket patterns come with yarn suggestions, but some will leave you to choose your own yarn. Use this guide to select the best yarn for your particular baby blanket pattern.
Acrylic Yarns
Acrylic yarns are a popular choice for crochet baby blankets because they tend to be affordable, hypoallergenic, and machine-washable. Here are some of my favorite acrylic yarns for baby items.
- Ice Cream – DK weight
- Baby Soft – DK weight
- Mandala – DK weight
- Basic Stitch Anti Pilling – worsted weight
- Feels Like Butta – worsted weight
- Color Theory – worsted weight
- I Wanna Make a Blankie – super bulky weight
Cotton Yarns
Cotton is my favorite natural fiber for making baby toys, afghans, and garments. It’s breathable and can be very soft. I also like that it doesn’t shed a lot of fuzz or fibers that can get in babies’ eyes or mouths.
Here are some of my top cotton choices for baby knits.
- Oh Baby! Organic Cotton – sport weight
- Pima Cotton – worsted weight
Wool Yarns
Wool is a natural insulator that will keep a baby comfortably warm. Did you know wool’s water-resistant qualities also make it excellent for crocheted diaper covers?
I recommend using washable wool yarns for baby blankets, like LB Collection Superwash Merino.
Velvet and Chenille Yarns
These man-made fibers are soft and fluffy but surprisingly easy to care for. While the friction in these types of yarn can take some practice to get used to, the softness makes it worth it.
My favorite Lion Brand velvet and chenille yarns are:
- Chenille Appeal – worsted weight
- Vel-Luxe – worsted weight
Baby Blanket Size Guide
Most patterns will specify the blanket size you’ll be crocheting. If you’re making up your own design or adjusting the pattern size, you can use these dimensions to guide you.
Remember, these baby blanket dimensions are simply a starting place. No one will measure your crochet blanket, especially not the baby you make it for!
| Type of Baby Blanket | Dimensions inches | Dimensions centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| Lovey | 10 x 10 | 25 x 25 |
| Security blanket | 14 x 17 | 36 x 43 |
| Standard baby blanket | 30 x 35 | 76 x 89 |
| Receiving blanket | 40 x 40 | 102 x 102 |
| Toddler blanket | 42 x 52 | 107 x 132 |
| Crib blanket | 45 x 60 | 114 x 152 |
Popular Stitches for Crochet Blankets
Whether you’re designing your own pattern or using one from our roundup, these are the stitches you need to know before you start.
Basic Stitches
Many gorgeous crochet baby blanket patterns can be made with the easiest stitches. Here are the most common stitches featured in patterns for baby blankets.
- Single crochet (sc) – create a dense, cozy fabric
- Half double crochet (hdc) – try working through the back loop to create the look of knit ribbing
- Double crochet (dc) – drapier and faster than single crochet
Easy, Decorative Stitches
Combining some of the basic stitches listed above allows you to create more textured stitch patterns ideal for baby blanket projects.
Consider using these stitches if you want to design your own blanket pattern.
- Moss stitch – single crochet and chains create a fabric with a beautiful texture and drape
- V-stitch – double crochet and chain stitches combine for a lighter, more open fabric, great for warm weather
- Shell stitch – single crochet, double crochet, and chain stitches work up into a classic, delicate blanket texture
More crochet stitches for baby blankets:
See more crochet stitch tutorials →
Baby Blanket Safety Advice
Having soft or loose items in a baby’s crib is not recommended. Babies shouldn’t sleep with blankets until they are at least 12 months old.
But a handmade baby blanket is still the perfect way to decorate a nursery – and babies can lie on them safely during playtime on the floor.
Avoid adding embellishments to a blanket that might come off easily, such as tassels and pom poms. Preschoolers adore these creative additions, though, so save them for your older toddler blankets.
FAQs
Still have questions about how to crochet baby blankets? We’ve got answers.
A standard baby blanket should be about 30 inches wide. Adjust the width depending on the purpose of the blanket.
Most baby blankets are roughly 35 inches long. A covering for a toddler or a crib may need to be longer, while a lovey or security blanket should be shorter.
The number of chains you’ll need to start a baby blanket depends on your gauge (essentially the combination of yarn, hook, and stitch you’re using). If you’re unsure, begin chaining until you have the blanket width you desire.
Keep in mind that the foundation row tends to shrink a bit after a few rows of crocheting, so it’s a good idea to add a few inches to your foundation chain.
If you’re following a blanket pattern, it will tell you how many chains to use for your starting row.
Your blanket pattern will typically specify the number of skeins needed. The total yardage depends on the blanket’s size and the yarn weight. A good estimate is 6-8 skeins of worsted weight yarn for a crochet baby blanket.
Find Your Next Project
Ready to find more free patterns to add to your project queue? We’ve got you covered!
- 59 Free Crochet Sweater and Cardigan Patterns [Surprisingly Easy]
- Easiest Crochet Baby Hat – Free 1 Hour Pattern
- 27 Free Easy Crochet Scarf Patterns – Beginner-Friendly
- 20 Easiest Crochet Amigurumi Patterns [Beginners Start Here!]
- 30+ Loveable, Easy Crochet Animal Patterns
- Raglan Crochet Baby Sweater – Free Pattern
Learn a New Skill
When you’re ready to master a new skill, check out our detailed guides that include everything you need to know to level up your crochet game.
- How to Corner to Corner (C2C) Crochet for Beginners – with video tutorials to get you started
- How to Crochet a Beginner Hat – make an entire beanie in 1.5 hours!
- How to Crochet Amigurumi for Beginners – the ultimate guide to making your own toys and plushies
- How to Tunisian Crochet – learn with this video and a standard hook
That was so fun! Now what?
Invitation to our Facebook group
Come discuss crochet baby blanket patterns and lots of other crochet projects and techniques in our Make & Do Crew Facebook group. Here thousands of helpful crocheters answer each others questions and share their stitches. Join us!
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