Crochet A Baby Blanket: Easy Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners

Crocheting is a unique skill that not everyone possesses, and it can be used to create beautiful handmade gifts for newborns. There are many online tutorials available that can teach even absolute beginners how to crochet a baby blanket. These tutorials cover a range of designs, from traditional to modern, and some even incorporate fun elements like an elephant toy or a unicorn mermaid theme. With the right guidance, anyone can create a heartfelt and beautiful baby blanket to welcome a new arrival into the family.

Characteristics of Crochet Baby Blanket Tutorials

Alpine stitch for beginners

The Alpine stitch is a great stitch for beginners to master. It creates a stunning finished piece with a lot of depth that looks fully professional. The stitch is versatile and customisable, and can be used to create a wide range of projects, from cosy blankets to scarves, stylish garments, and accessories.

Materials

You can use any yarn weight with a hook of a corresponding size. Create a swatch to see how the yarn twists and ensure you like the pattern.

Steps

• Start Alpine stitch with any even number of stitches.
• Begin with a starting chain of chain stitches, then work the first row, or work the first row as foundation single crochet stitches. The sample starts with FSC so it lays flat.
• Row 1: chain 1, single crochet in every stitch, turn.
• Turning chains count as a stitch on every row so you should always skip the first stitch of the row.
• Row 2: chain 2, double crochet in every stitch, turn.
• Row 3: chain 1, single crochet in every stitch, turn.
• You can complete the front post double crochet like a standard double crochet stitch. Yarn over and draw up a loop, bringing the loop up to the same height as the turning chain.
• Yarn over and draw the hook through two loops, then yarn over and pull through the remaining loops.
• That's one front post double crochet completed.
• Now, complete the front post double crochet like a standard double crochet stitch. Yarn over and draw up a loop, bringing the loop up to the same height as the turning chain. This keeps the stitches at the correct height.
• Yarn over and draw the hook through two loops, then yarn over and pull through the remaining loops.
• That's one front post double crochet completed.
• Repeat the pattern.

Tips

• Maintain consistent tension.
• Use the right hook size.
• Practice front post stitches.
• Count your stitches.

Basketweave stitch for depth and dimension

The basketweave stitch is a beginner-friendly crochet pattern that creates a beautiful, textured design that mimics the look of woven fabric. The stitch is perfect for baby blankets as it adds depth and dimension to the blanket, resulting in a soft and plush surface that is gentle on delicate skin. The raised and flattened patches of yarn give the blanket a cosy and comfortable feel, making it ideal for snuggling up with your little one.

To create the basketweave stitch, you will need to use both front and back post stitches. While double crochet post stitches are the most common, you can also create this stitch using half double crochet, treble, or taller post stitches. The key to achieving the basketweave design is by alternating sections of front post stitches with sections of back post stitches. You can choose to make any number of stitches across the row, but a common choice is to make five front post stitches followed by five back post stitches.

After a certain number of rows, you will need to reverse the pattern by working back post stitches into the front post stitches and front post stitches into the back post stitches. It is common to switch after crocheting the same number of rows as the number of stitches used across. For example, if you crocheted five front post and five back post stitches across, you would then crochet five rows before reversing the pattern. This creates an even, checkerboard effect.

The basketweave stitch is a dense stitch without holes between the stitches, making it a safe option for babies' blankets. The timeless design adds a touch of elegance to any nursery, and the soft texture makes it perfect for snuggling up with your little one. With its combination of style and comfort, the basketweave stitch is an excellent choice for creating a beautiful and functional baby blanket.

Patchwork for a vintage look

Creating a patchwork baby blanket is a great way to achieve a vintage look. This technique is also a fantastic opportunity to get creative with colour schemes and experiment with different shapes.

Patchwork Heart: Paintbox Blanket

This tutorial will guide you through the process of making a unique and eye-catching baby blanket. The finished product will have a vintage look and a homey feel. The pattern is made up of small solid granny squares, which can be time-consuming, so be sure to start well in advance!

Vintage Teddy Bear Baby Blanket

This adorable vintage-style patchwork blanket is perfect for a baby shower or a grandchild. Dragana’s pattern includes detailed, step-by-step photo tutorials (120 photos in total!) that will guide you through the process, even if you're a beginner. You can also customise the accent colour to your liking.

Hexie Love Actually Blanket

This beautiful patchwork blanket is made up of hexagons and can be as easy or challenging as you like, depending on the colour scheme you choose. You can opt for muted greens, tonal variations of the same colour, or a combination of three or more shades. Hexagons are almost as easy to crochet as squares, but they look impressive when finished.

Modern Granny Square Afghan

Granny squares are a classic and a basic building block of crochet. This cute baby blanket pattern by Toni and TL Yarn Crafts uses a fun colour scheme and an adorable border to make this timeless motif pop. The pattern includes a super easy-to-follow colour chart and a tutorial video, so you can customise your blanket as much or as little as you like.

Mia Granny Square Blanket

This puff stitch granny square blanket is a small step up from the basic double crochet options. The puff stitches aren't too complicated, and once you get the hang of them, you'll be able to add wonderful pops of colour in the middle. The border colour remains the same, so it's a great way to use up your yarn stash.

Crocheting an elephant snuggle toy

Materials

• Yarn – worsted-weight yarn or semi-cotton yarn (Yarnart Jeans – 55% cotton, 45% acrylic; 160 m / 50 g)
• Crochet hook – 3.5mm or 4mm hook
• Other tools – stitch markers, yarn/tapestry needle, scissors, measuring tape, fiberfill for stuffing
• Optional – safety eyes, flowers or other decorations

Steps to Make an Elephant Snuggle Toy

• Making the Head and Trunk: Start by crocheting the trunk and head of the elephant. You can use online tutorials to guide you through this process, such as the one by Jess Huff for Esther the Elephant. The head and trunk will form the base of your elephant snuggle toy.
• Attaching the Body: Once you have the head and trunk ready, it's time to attach the body. This will be a granny square that surrounds the head and trunk, creating a blanket-like structure. You can follow the Dendennis tutorial for specific instructions on how to create this unique shape.
• Adding the Features: Now, it's time to bring your elephant to life! Sew on safety eyes and add any other features you desire, such as toenails or a tuft of hair at the end of the trunk. You can also decorate your elephant with flowers or other embellishments to make it even more adorable.
• Assembling the Legs and Arms: Crochet the legs and arms of the elephant, stuffing them lightly with fiberfill. Attach them to the body, positioning them securely. You can refer to the Cuddle Me Elephant pattern by Amigurumi Today for detailed instructions on assembling the limbs.
• Finishing Touches: Once your elephant is assembled, it's time for the final touches. Stuff the body and head firmly, ensuring that your toy is huggable and cozy. Sew any remaining pieces, such as ears, securely in place. Now, your elephant snuggle toy is ready to be cuddled!

Tips and Tricks

• Customise: You can personalise your elephant by choosing different colours for the yarn or adding unique decorations.
• Practice: If you're a beginner, it's a good idea to practice your crochet stitches before starting this project. You can find many online tutorials to guide you through the basic stitches.
• Patience: Crocheting an elephant snuggle toy can take some time, so be patient and enjoy the process of creating something special.

Corner-to-corner chevron for a modern nursery

Chevron print is one of the most popular modern designs for nurseries today. This corner-to-corner chevron crochet baby blanket tutorial will guide you through creating a contemporary and custom-made piece for a special newborn in your life.

Materials

You will need a crochet hook, yarn, and scissors. For a chevron baby blanket, you can choose any colours you like to create a custom piece. Bernat Softee Baby Cotton in various colours is a good option, as it is a soft cotton-acrylic blend. You will also need tapestry needles.

Getting Started

To begin, make a pile of squares in your chosen colours. You can assemble them in a chevron pattern, which is a zig-zag pattern created by joining squares in a staggered formation. You can also alternate the chevron pattern to make it a little more unique.

Stitches

The Cookie Snob suggests a corner-to-corner chevron baby blanket that is perfect for beginners. This pattern is very contemporary and a great way to make a custom piece for a nursery. Daisy Farm Crafts also provides a detailed guide on creating a squared-off chevron baby blanket, which includes a video tutorial. This pattern is a little more complex, involving single crochet, single crochet 2 together, and half double crochet stitches.

Tips

You can alternate colours to make the chevron pattern more unique. You can also try a basketweave stitch, which creates raised and flattened patches of yarn, adding dimension and depth to the blanket. Using two different colours of yarn will create an alternating pattern.

Frequently asked questions