Give your baby the gift of cozy comfort with this beautiful crochet baby blanket. The pattern is free on the blog.

The Little Sprouts Crochet Baby Blanket

It’s no secret that babies and toddlers love their snugglies. They seem to glom onto one stuffie toy or cozy blanket and make sure it never leaves their sides.

Why do they seem to pick something and love it do death? Because they want it to provide them comfort any time it’s needed. That might be play time, nap time, bed time or ouch time. You’ve seen the commercials where one of the parents frantically travel long distances to retrieve said comfort item because life will be over if they don’t.

The Little Sprouts crochet baby blanket is the perfect companion for just that purpose. Its smaller size, its cozy, comfy cotton yarn, and its fun granny stitch means your little one won’t put it down!

The Little Sprouts crochet baby blanket also makes the must-make baby shower gift of the year. You’ll get loads of oohs and oohs from the party goers when mom-to-be opens this stunning gift.

Design + Construction

Oftentimes, when we think of a baby blanket, we focus on a size for a stroller or a crib. But, the Little Sprouts crochet baby blanket is a security blanket aimed at providing comfort and companionship for babies and toddlers.

The body of this crochet baby blanket features alternating sections of open and closed stitches. My all-time fave, the granny stitch, creates a slightly open fabric, providing some much-needed breathability in case your little one likes to use the blanket for cover. And the herringbone half double crochet, a variation of the original half double crochet, has an extra step that adds an interesting look to the denser portion of the blanket. Don’t worry, though. That extra step in each stitch is easy to get the hang of. 

I love to finish off many of my baby blankets with a shell stitch border. It’s easy to work and gives the overall look of the crochet baby blanket a softer look For this crochet baby blanket I widened the border with an additional round of shells for a really pretty finish.

The Yarn

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My go-to yarn weight for crochet baby blankets is DK because it keeps a crochet baby blanket lightweight while still being warm and providing adequate coverage. I love the way it drapes, plus a crochet baby blanket made with DK weight yarn can now be used all year long instead of stored away with the winter gear.

For Little Sprouts, I chose Premier Yarns “Cotton Sprout Speckles”, an extremely soft cotton yarn. I fell in love with this yarn and plan to use it again because of how luxurious it feels. It’s not only the perfect yarn for a crochet baby blanket but it feels so good to crochet with. 

I haven’t washed the blanket yet. However, the yarn feels very durable and easy to care for.

Yarn Substitution Guide

There may be any number of reasons why you wouldn’t want to use Cotton Sprout Speckles.

• The yarn isn’t available where you live.
• You have some DK weight yarn in your stash that’s just begging to be used.
• Your favorite go-to baby yarn is better for you.

Whatever the reason, you’ll want to be sure that any yarn you substitute will give you the end result for your crochet baby blanket that you desire. Consider that the fiber content is soft against tender, sensitive skin without the possibility of irritation. I recommend acrylics and acrylic/cotton blends for easy care and durability. If you choose cotton, be sure it’s as soft as the Cotton Sprout Speckles!

Here are some great alternatives. Any one of these yarns will create a beautifully soft crochet baby blanket:

• Lion Brand “Mandala Baby”
• Hobbii “Acacia” (51% acrylic, 49% cotton)
• Hayfield “Baby Blossom DK” (70% acrylic, 30% nylon)
• Plymouth Yarn “Dreambaby DK” (100% acrylic)

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The Baby Shower Blog Hop

I am honored to be a featured designer in the Baby Shower Blog Hop hosted by Kristine of Ambassador Crochet. The blog hop runs through May 11th and features a new design each day.

On Friday, April 26, the Little Sprouts Baby Blanket is the featured design. That means that you can purchase the premium PDF for 50% off in my Ravelry shop for 24 hrs.

To get the discount, visit the event post to get the coupon code. Click the button below.

Once you have the coupon code, return here and click on the graphic below. Be sure to use the coupon code at checkout.

The entire collection of designs offered during this fabulous blog hop is available for purchase right now. Just $12 for all 28 patterns, it’s only available through May 12th. Be sure to pick up your copy today!

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The Little Sprouts Baby Blanket Free Pattern Starts Here

Materials and Tools

Yarn

Premier Yarns “Cotton Sprout Speckles” 100% cotton DK weight (3oz/194yd; 85g/178m)

Color – Surfboard (2086-08) – 2 balls

Any DK weight yarn appropriate for babies will work. You’ll need approx. 300-325yds.

Hooks

• US size H-8 (5mm)
• US size I-9 (5.5mm) – optional for foundation ch

Finished Size: 17″ x 20″ including Border

Gauge: 15 Hhdc x Rows 1-9 = 4″ blocked

Skill Level: Advanced beginner/Intermediate

General Information

Abbreviations – US crochet terminology

• beg – beginning
• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• rep – repeat
• rnd(s) – round(s)
• sc – single crochet
• sk – skip
• sp(s) – space(s)
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• RS – right side
• WS – wrong side
• YO – yarn over
• < … > – indicated stitch counts

Repeats

• (…) – Work everything within the parentheses in the same st or sp.
• […] – Repeat everything within the brackets the indicated number of times.

Special Stitches

Granny stitch (GS) – 3 dc in the same st or sp

Herringbone half double crochet (Hhdc) – YO, insert hook in indicated st, YO, pull up loop and continue to pull yarn through 1st loop on hook, YO, pull through both loops on hook.

Written Instructions

Pattern Notes

1. If the foundation chain is a bit tight, switch to the larger hook.
2. Stitch counts are listed only when they change.
3. A ch 1 at the beg of a row or rnd does not count as a st.
4. A ch 2 or ch 3 may be substituted for the STsc without changing the construction of the blanket.

Pattern Instructions

Body

With smaller hook, ch 53. Note: If your foundation ch causes the bottom edge to pull inward, use the larger hook for the foundation ch only.

Row 1 (RS): Hhdc in the 2^nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, turn. < 52 Hhdc >

Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, Hhdc in the same st and in each st across, turn.

Rows 3-6: Rep Row 2 4 times.

Row 7: STsc, dc in the next st, sk 1 st, GS in the next st, [sk 2 sts, GS in the next st] across to last 3 sts, sk 1 st, dc in each of the last 2 sts, turn. < 16 GS, 4 dc >

Row 8: STsc, sk dc, GS in the next sp and in each sp across to the last 2 sts, sk dc, dc in the last st, turn. < 17 GS, 2 dc >

Row 9: Rep Row 7.

Row 10: Ch 1, Hhdc in the same st and in each st across, turn.

Rows 11-15: Rep Row 10 5 times.

Rows 16-42: Rep Rows 7-15 3 times.          

After final row, turn and continue to Border.

Border

Note: Do not turn after any rnd.

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 1, sc in the same st and in each st across to the last st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the last st, turn to work along the side, work 60 sc evenly along the side edge, turn to work along the foundation ch, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the 1^st ch, sc in each ch across to the last ch, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the last ch, turn to work along the side, work 60 sc evenly along the side edge, turn to work (sc, ch 2) in the 1^st st to complete the 1^st corner, join with slip st to beg sc. < 52 sc along the top and bottom edges, 62 sc along each side edge, 4 ch-2 corner sps >

Rnd 2: Slip st in the next 3 sts, ch 1, sc in the same st and in the next 2 sts, [ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in the next 3 sts] 7 times, ch 3, sk 4 sts, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in the corner sp, [ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in the next 3 sts] 10 times, ch 3, sk 2 sts, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in the next corner sp, [ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in the next 3 sts] 8 times, ch 3, sk 4 sts, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in the next corner sp, [ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in the next 3 sts] 10 times, ch 3, sk 2 sts, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in the next corner sp, ch 3, sk 3 sts, join with slip st to beg sc. < 16 sc worked in corner sps, 36 3-sc groups, 40 ch-3 sps, 4 ch-2 corner sps >

Note for Rnd 3: The sc is worked in the middle st of the 3 sc from Rnd 2.

Rnd 3: Slip st in the next st, ch 1, sc in the same st, sk st, [5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk st, sc in the next st, sk st] 7 times, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk 2 sts, (sc, 3 dc, sc) in the ch-2 corner sp, sk 2 sts, [5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk st, sc in the next st, sk st] 10 times, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk 2 sts, (sc, 3 dc, sc) in the next ch-2 corner sp, sk 2 sts, [5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk st, sc in the next st, sk st] 8 times, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk 2 sts, (sc, 3 dc, sc) in the next corner ch-2 sp, sk 2 sts, [5 dc in the ch-3 sp, sk st, sc in the next st, sk st] 10 times, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk 2 sts, (sc, 3 dc, sc) in the next ch-2 corner sp, sk 2 sts, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, join with slip st to beg sc. < 44 sc, 40 groups of 5-dc, 12 dc >

Stop here for a narrower Border.

Note for Rnd 4: The 3 sc are worked over the 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th dc of Rnd 3.

Rnd 4: Slip st in the next 2 sts, ch 1, sc in the same st and in the next 2 sts, [ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in the next 3 sts] 7 times, ch 3, sk 2 sts, sc in each of the 3 dc in the corner sp, ch 3, sk 2 sts, sc in the next 3 sts, [ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in the next 3 sts] 10 times, ch 3, sk 2 sts, sc in each of the 3 dc in the corner sp, ch 3, sk 2 sts, sc in the next 3 sts, [ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in the next 3 sts] 8 times, ch 3, sk 2 sts, sc in each of the 3 dc in the corner sp, ch 3, sk 2 sts, sc in the next 3 sts, [ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in the next 3 sts] 10 times, ch 3, sk 2 sts, sc in each of the 3 dc in the corner sp, ch 3, sk 2 sts, sc in the next 3 sts, ch 3, sk 3 sts, join with slip st to beg sc. < 44 3-sc groups, 44 ch-3 sps >

Note for Rnd 5: The sc is worked in the middle st of the 3 sc from Rnd 4.

Rnd 5: Slip st in the next st, ch 1, sc in same st, sk st, [5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk st, sc in the next st, sk st] 7 times, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk st, (slip st, STsc, 2 dc, slip st) in the next st of the corner sp, sk st, [5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk st, sc in the next st, sk st] 11 times, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk st, (slip st, STsc, 2 dc, slip st) in the next st of the corner sp, sk st, [5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk st, sc in the next st, sk st] 9 times, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk st, (slip st, STsc, 2 dc, slip st) in the next st of the corner sp, sk st, [5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk st, sc in the next st, sk st] 11 times, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk st, (slip st, STsc, 2 dc, slip st) in the next st of the corner sp, sk st, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk st, sc in the next st, sk st, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp, sk st, join with slip st to beg sc. < 40 sc, 44 groups of 5-dc, 8 slip sts, 12 dc in corner sps >

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