Crochet baby blanket: patterns, stitches and yarns to make one

Some projects are made with the hands, others with the heart. A crochet baby blanket is both: the first hug that will wrap a child we don't know yet, worked row after row while we imagine them. No wonder it is the first project almost all of us choose when a baby arrives in the family or among friends.

In this guide you'll find everything you need to really get started: how to make a crochet blanket step by step, which stitches and patterns to choose, how much yarn to buy, which yarns suit a newborn's skin, and four models with video tutorials to follow. Even if you have never made a blanket before: you start with one chain.

How to make a crochet baby blanket: the steps

A crochet blanket, in its simplest form, is a big rectangle of identical stitches. That's why it is the perfect project also for beginners or for anyone picking crochet up again. Once you find the rhythm, the rows flow on their own in front of the TV.

The steps, in short:

1. Choose the right yarn and hook (I'll tell you which below) and make a small 10×10 cm swatch to know how many chains you need;
2. Start the base chain: it is the width of the blanket. Add turning chains to move up a row;
3. Work your favourite stitch (single, double or a fancy stitch) row after row, always the same, up to the height you want;
4. Close and finish: a single-crochet border all around gives a "finished" look and hides small flaws;
5. Weave in every end: on baby items no loose tails should be left showing.

Do you want the easy and quick version? Double crochet and a big hook with a chunky yarn: a crib blanket is done in a weekend. Want something more striking? Keep reading, fancy stitches are simpler than they look.

Which stitch and pattern to use for the blanket

The stitch sets the character of the blanket. These are the four favourite patterns for crochet baby blankets, from easiest to most eye-catching:

• Double crochet (or half double): the timeless classic. Dense, soft rows with no big holes: perfect for a warm and "safe" blanket. Ideal for beginners;
• Chevron (zigzag): it creates regular waves through increases and decreases. Lovely with colour changes; it looks hard but it is just a few rows that repeat;
• Granny / squares: squares or hexagons to join, worked anywhere and assembled at the end. Great for using up yarn scraps;
• Tunisian stitch: dense and compact like fabric, very warm, with that "grandma blanket" look made modern.

Each of these stitches is explained in the video tutorials below. My tip: if it's your first blanket, start with double crochet or the chevron; keep the Tunisian for the second one, once you feel more confident.

How much yarn you need and what sizes to make

Before buying the balls you need two numbers: the size of the blanket and the grams of yarn. The size depends on where the blanket will end up:

• Pram / carrycot blanket: about 70 × 90 cm;
• Crib / cot blanket: about 80 × 100 cm;
• Play blanket / mat: square, from 90 × 90 cm.

To get the number of balls right (it changes a lot between cotton and a chunky wool) we have a guide only about this: how much yarn you need for a blanket, with the weights for each size and yarn type. Open it in another tab before the checkout: it saves you from running short or buying too much.

Which yarns to choose for a baby blanket

On a newborn's skin not every yarn works: the key words are softness, breathability and washability. The choice changes mostly with the season of birth. Here are our favourites, all meeting the highest European standards.

Justin Baby — extrafine merino wool
The wool made for the little ones: soft, hypoallergenic and washable. Perfect for autumn-winter blankets that keep warm without itching.
Discover Justin Baby →

Avril — chenille
The cuddle yarn par excellence: velvety and very soft, the one mums keep stroking. Blankets with a plush effect, warm and cosy.
Discover Avril chenille →

Donny — pure cotton
Cool and breathable: the right yarn for light spring-summer blankets and for those who prefer plant fibres. Full colours and a clean stitch.
Discover Donny →

Want to see the full range? Explore the baby wool category for winter versions and the cottons and blends for summer ones. And for a quick, chunky blanket, a chunky wool blend with a big hook is the easiest shortcut.

4 crochet blankets to make: the video tutorials

Enough theory: here are four real models, with different techniques and yarns, explained step by step on Tessiland Studio. See which one is most like you.

You'll find these and many more models, with the yarns already linked, inside Tessiland Studio.

From the blanket to the matching baby set

Once the blanket is done, it is almost impossible to stop. The next step is the matching baby set: same wool, same colours, with a hat and booties added to the blanket for a gift that looks like a boutique piece. We have prepared the full mini guide: 3 crochet ideas for babies: matching blanket, hat and booties, with the three tutorials to make with the same yarn.

Frequently asked questions

A crochet blanket is never just a blanket: it is hours of good thoughts turned into something warm and real, that someone very small will use without knowing. Which stitch will you start with? Calm double crochet, striking chevron or expert Tunisian?

Rosaria Tessiland®