The perfect crochet baby blanket for your precious little one
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 Sizes
The Little Sprouts crochet baby blanket is now available in 3 sizes:
- Lovey: 12″ x 14″
- Security: 17″ x 20″
- Full Blanket: 31″ x 35″
When I originally designed this blanket, I only released the security size of this crochet baby blanket. But, it’s such a gorgeous addition to a baby’s nursery that I wanted to add 2 more sizes.
The lovey version is perfect for newborns or for babies who just want something to cuddle with. It’s small size means it makes up quickly and is easy to drop right in the wash with the rest of the laundry. Make more than one and your baby will never be without her lovey!
The full size is still on the small end of the baby blanket spectrum. It’s best for strollers and car seats. It can also provide coverage at nap time or bedtime for smaller babies.
Choose the size you think fits the recipient and make one (or more) as a baby shower gift. Now you have 3 sizes to choose from!
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 Print” (51% acrylic, 49% cotton)
- Hayfield “Baby Blossom DK” (70% acrylic, 30% nylon)
- Plymouth Yarn “Dreambaby DK” (100% acrylic)
Purchase the Premium PDF
The security size for the Little Sprouts crochet baby blanket is free here on the blog for blog subscribers. Scroll down to find the free version.
The full pattern for the Little Sprouts crochet baby blanket is available as a downloadable PDF in all my shops and includes the instructions for all 3 sizes.
The premium PDF can be uploaded to your favorite mobile device so you can take your Little Sprouts Baby Blanket project with you to work on whenever you’re out and about.
In the premium PDF, you’ll get:
* A pattern written using US crochet terminology
* A crochet chart that shows stitch placement
* Instructions for all 3 sizes of the blanket
The PDF is easy to read and beautifully formatted without ads for a great experience.
Get your copy in your favorite shop today!
The Little Sprouts Baby Blanket Free Pattern Starts Here
Only the Security Size is free here on the blog
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
General Information
Finished Size: 17″ x 20″ including Border
Gauge: 15 Hhdc x Rows 1-9 = 4″ blocked
Skill Level: Advanced beginner/Intermediate
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
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