Tributary Free Beginner Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern

Learn how to make a beginner crochet baby blanket with this easy free pattern and tutorial. You’ll be left with very few ends to weave in and a blanket that’s as soft as a baby’s…well, you know. Get the full free pattern below or purchase the ad-free, printable PDF here.

This beginner crochet baby blanket pattern is part of a collaboration with my friends at Lion Brand Yarn. This post contains affiliate links.

One of the best perks of this crochet blogger job is that I get a sneak peek at new yarns before they’re released to the public. And sometimes they’re even sent to my house for FREE! Can you even believe it? (If you think you’d like to start a crochet blog too, you can view my step-by-step tutorial here. It’ll likely take some time and lots of hard work before the free yarn starts raining down on you, which is why NOW is a great time to start!)

The Perfect Yarn For Babies

A few months ago when I was visiting Lion Brand in NYC, I got my yarn-lovin’ paws on some skeins of a new yarn called Baby Soft Boucle and guys, this stuff is some serious kind of soft. It’s so fluffy and pillowy that it’s really what I imagine babies would crochet with if their little hands could manage.

The one tricky thing about yarn that’s as magical and fluffy as Baby Soft Boucle though is that it can make it harder to spot your crochet stitches. (Knitting is no problem!) When working several swatches in this yarn, my conclusion was that it was best used for a pattern that was worked into spaces rather than the stitches themselves. Enter the good ol’ granny stripes!

Mandala Yarn Makes Everything Better

I felt like the texture of Baby Soft Boucle is best appreciated with a little lower-loft contrast and luckily, Lion Brand just released a new line of Mandala yarn called Mandala Baby. It’s still a 100% acrylic, category 3 (DK weight) yarn with a whopping 590 yards per skein, making it a perfect affordable compliment to the Baby Soft Boucle. Even better, two strands of Mandala Baby (or the original Mandala) held together match the gauge of Baby Soft Boucle quite well.

This gradient cloud-fest was meant to be!

Related: 33+ Crochet Edgings for Blankets

Get All the Yarn You’ll Need In One Kit

This is a pattern that really benefits from having the brands of yarn used in the sample, so I’m thrilled that Lion Brand has put together a kit for us. This kit includes all the yarn you’ll need, plus a printed copy of the pattern. You can even order a different color of Mandala Baby if blues aren’t your thing. See all the color options here!

Why This Beginner Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern Is Perfect For You

Three reasons:

• The stitch is super easy and the thicker yarn makes it work up very quickly.

• The fluffy Baby Soft Boucle disguises mistakes beautifully.

• And because you don’t have to cut your yarn at the end of each row, there are very few ends to weave in when you’re finished!

Since this beginner crochet baby blanket pattern and tutorial is so easy, it makes a fantastic last-minute homemade baby shower gift or a great charity project. (See my list of wonderful yarn charities here.) Lion Brand Baby Soft Boucle and Mandala Baby both come in so many amazing colors, you can really make any version of a girl, boy or gender-neutral baby blanket your heart can dream up.

Let’s crochet this puppy!

Related: 40+ Best Crochet Crochet Stitches for Blankets

Tributary Free Beginner Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern + Tutorial

Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF here.

Save this to your Ravelry queue or favorites here.

Pin for later here.

Explanation:
By combining luxuriously-textured Lion Brand Baby Soft Boucle yarn with your favorite shade of Mandala or Mandala Baby, you’ll create an extremely soft, machine washable and visually-stunning baby blanket in no time. Because the self-striping Mandala does most of the color work and you don’t need to cut your yarn at the end of each row, you’ll be left with very few ends to weave in and a blanket that’s as soft as a baby’s…well, you know. This pattern is quite easy and works up very quickly, making it great for last-minute baby shower gift or charity donation.

Supplies:
Buy a kit with all the yarn you’ll need, plus a printed copy of the pattern here.
• COLOR A: Lion Brand Mandala Baby (Weight: 3/light –  590 yds, 5.3 oz)
–Echo Lakes (#526-205) – 2 full skeins (approx. 300 g)
• COLOR B: Lion Brand Baby Soft Boucle (Weight: 5/bulky – 120 yds, 3.5 oz)
–White (#918-100) – 4 skeins (approx. 370 g)
• Tapestry needle
• Size K (6.5 mm) crochet hook

Measurements:
35 x 35”

Gauge:
4 dc clusters + 3 sps = just over 4”

5.75 rows = 4”

While gauge is not critical to the execution of this pattern, getting it correct is what will ensure that 2 skeins of Mandala Baby create a square blanket.

Abbreviations and Glossary (US Terms):
ch – chain
cluster – grouping of 2 or 3 double crochet stitches
dc – double crochet
rep – repeat
sl st – slip stitch
sp – space
st(s) – stitch(es)
tch – turning chain

MAIN BLANKET

Notes:
• Original Lion Brand Mandala or Lion Brand Cupcake yarn can be substituted for Mandala Baby in Color A.

• Two strands of Mandala Baby are held together throughout. Only one strand of Baby Soft Boucle is used at a time.

• Do not cut yarn at color changes. Instead carry it loosely up the side of the blanket. The final border will cover any carried yarn. Similarly, crochet over yarn tails whenever possible to avoid weaving them in.

• Ch 3 at beginning of a row always counts as a dc.

• To change colors between rows, complete the final yo of the last dc of the row with the new color. Pattern is written with the assumption that the last dc before a color change will be worked this way.If you’d like a different size blanket, chain a multiple of 3 and add 2 extra chains.

Foundation Row: With two strands held together of Color A, ch 89.

Row 1 (Color A): Sc in second ch from the hook and each sc to end. (88)

Row 2 (Color A): Ch 3, 2 dc in first sc, *sk 2 sc, 3 dc in next sc; rep from * until 3 sc remain, sk 2 sc, dc in last sc; turn.

Switch to one strand of Color B.

Row 3 (Color B): Ch 3, 2 dc in first sp, 3 dc in each sp between clusters to end of row, dc in top of tch; turn.

Work in pattern of 2 rows of Color A alternating with 2 rows of Color B to rep Row 3 (54) times until there are a total of 57 rows including Row 1 of single crochet. Row 57 should be worked in Color A.

Row 58 (Color A): Ch 1, sc in each dc to end of row.

Fasten off.

BORDER

Attach Color B anywhere around edge of blanket.

Border: Ch 1, sc in each sc st along top and bottom of blanket and sc evenly along sides, sl st to first sc of round to join. If sides ripple, decrease total number of sc along each side.

Fasten off and weave in ends. Give this super soft blanket to the softest baby you know (if you don’t decide to keep it for yourself!)

I love to see your finished projects! Use #MakeAndDoCrew and tag me Instagram (@MakeAndDoCrew) to show off your stitches and have a chance to be featured.

Now that you’ve finished your Tributary Blanket, here are a few more modern crochet patterns for babies you might enjoy:

1. Good Morning Sunshine – free crochet granny stripe blanket with tassels

2. Be a Deer Afghan – free corner to corner crochet blanket pattern for kids or adults

3. XO Cardigan – free crochet hexagon sweater for kids (sizes newborn – 14)

4. Panda Hooded Blanket – easy crochet pattern for babies or kids