Beginner Crochet Patterns Baby Blankets

If you have never crocheted before and have no idea how to begin we will start off with the chain stitch as all of crocheting is done with a chain stitch to start. It is very easy to do and I will show you step by step.

The abbreviation for chain stitch is ch.

How to hold your yarn and crochet needle

       

1. The first and recommended grip for the crochet needle is like a knife.

2. The second hold of the crochet needle is like a pencil.

   

Watch the video It is a how to beginner video on how to hold your crochet needle. 

Step 1

Form a slip knot and hold the hook inside the slip knot.

Step 2

Slide the hook between yarn and your finger, pulling the yarn through the slip knot. You now have made one chain stitch.

Step 3

Repeat to form more chain stitches

This chain of stitches is called the starting chain and every crochet pattern has one. It is the foundation of every crochet pattern.

 There are a number of different  crochet stitches and techniques but the two basic stitches are the single crochet (sc), I have put in the abbreviation so that you can start learning them, and double crochet (dc).

It would be best if we do not start off with a large blanket as you are just a beginner, so I have selected a receiving baby blanket as the first pattern.

The Receiving blanket  is 36" x 36" or about 92cm. 

A baby blanket is an object that is cherished forever therefor do not be in a hurry to make one, take your time to do it right and you will reap the reward. 

Once you have decided the color of the yarn you would like to make the baby blanket with you must decide what yarn to choose. As you are a beginner it would be best to start off with the normal smooth yarn, a  Light Worsted or DK (Double Knit): good for warmer, but light articles such as baby blankets.

The Crochet Hook

As with knitting needles, crochet needles come in different sizes, for the Light Worsted or DK it is best to use the H hook.

Now that you have everything let us get started:

1.  Make a starting chain, this is what you have practiced on the first set of pictures.

Make a slip knot and loop it over the crochet hook. Leave at least a 6"  or 15cm tail on the end of the knot. Make sure the front of the chain is facing up. The front of the chain looks like a row of nesting "V"s. The back of the chain looks like a row of bumps
2. Make a chain of 150 stitches.  Try to keep your stitches as even as possible as you work.

3. After making the 150 stitches you need to make a turning chain.  A turning chain connector between the rows. Each pattern will give you the amount of stitches needed to make the turn stitches. For this pattern we will only use one stitch so crochet one stitch the skip one stitch on the chain and crochet back into the second stitch.

Flip your work over so that the back side of the fabric is facing you, and your crochet hook is at the right. The last stitch of row 1 now becomes the first stitch of row 2. Insert your hook into the first stitch of row 2, and work a single crochet stitch.

Continue all the way to the end of the row. Keep on doing this until you have crocheted the desired length of the baby blanket.

Count to make sure you are making the same number of stitches in each row. 

If you notice a mistake Slip your hook out of the yarn loop and pull gently on the end of the yarn. Your work should start to unravel.

Keep gently unraveling the yarn until you get to the point of your mistake. Unravel back to one stitch prior to your mistake.

Insert your hook into the loop for that stitch, and begin crocheting from that point.

This baby blanket is crocheted using Lion Brand Baby’s First bulky yarn with a large crochet hook so is thick and warm, and works up in a jiffy. You can use other yarn, but I made it specifically for the bulkier Baby’s First yarn because I hadn’t used that yarn before and wanted to try it. I was very pleased with the results, as the combination of acrylic and cotton in this yarn also makes it a bit stretchy.

This is a good go-to pattern if you need a baby gift quickly, perhaps for the shower you forgot you were invited to. The pattern calls for the same stitch throughout and I’m not sure what it’s called, but it’s simple and very versatile. (I use it for scarves, hats, blankets, and even a variation for dishcloths -- see some of my other patterns linked below). The color used in the accompanying photo is called Beanstalk, which is a very pretty pea-green.

The pattern completed as written measures approximately 32 x 30” but is very easy to adjust to a smaller or larger size by adjusting the number in your starting chain (the stitch requires a multiple of two plus one, so your chain should be any odd number). Using six skeins of Baby’s First yarn, I was able to complete this blanket and have enough left to make a matching hat (which I failed to write down the instructions for as I made it. Oops).

Materials used

Lion Brand Baby's First Yarn, 6 skeins to complete pattern as written. Color used in photo is Beanstalk, which is a pretty pea-green color.

Size M (9.0 mm) crochet hook

NOTE: There was a disparity in the hook size that has been corrected. The pattern calls for an M hook with the bulky yarn.

Abbreviations

Ch = chain

Sk = skip

St = stitch

SC = single crochet

DC = double crochet

Done in a Jiffy Baby Blanket Pattern

With size M crochet hook and Baby’s First yarn, ch 79.

Row 1: DC in third ch from hook, *sk 1 st, SC and DC in next stitch (both in same stitch), repeat from * across, ending with sk 1 st, SC in last stitch. Ch 2, turn.

Row 2: DC in first st (turning ch counts as the SC), *sk 1 st, SC and DC in next stitch (both in same stitch), repeat from * across, ending with sk 1 st, SC in last stitch/turning ch. Ch 2, turn.

Repeat row 2 for entire pattern until you reach the desired length. Cut yarn, weave in ends.

An edge is worked directly on a piece of crochet, unlike a trim, which is worked separately then attached into position on the fabric (crocheted or not).