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How to Crochet a Baby Blanket

Use This Simple Pattern to Make a Blanket for a Baby Boy or Girl

Linda Riggs
There is something special about making a homemade baby blanket. It is very easy to go out and purchase one but when you give a homemade blanket at a baby shower, the smiles you see will confirm just how special it is. Many expecting parents know in advance what sex baby they will be having but, many choose not to know or tell. This blanket uses colors that will work for a boy or girl.

Most homemade baby blankets are yellow and green when the sex of the baby is uncertain. I have found that it is absolutely fine to use pink and blue as long as you use yellow for the primary color. The baby blanket pictured in this article is one that I am currently working on. As you can see, it is nearly finished. I started working on it about two weeks ago and will have it finished in a few more days.

The crochet baby blanket I am working on uses only two types of crochet stitches and three shades of yarn. To crochet a similar baby blanket, use these simple instructions.

Items Needed To Crochet Baby Blanket
1. Three shades of yarn. My baby blanket has yellow, blue, and pink. You will also want to be sure to use extra soft yarn for this blanket. I found wonderful soft baby yarn by looking here.

2. Finishing Ribbon

3. Crochet Needle

4. Scissors

5. Permanent Marker

Crochet Instructions For Baby Blanket
To get started on this blanket you will want to use one of your accent shades of yarn. I chose to start off with a shade of light blue. Simply single stitch a row of one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty stitches across. Choose the number of single stitches according to how wide you want your blanket to be. The blanket pictured in this article started with one hundred and twenty single stitches.

After you complete you single stitch row, begin double stitching the length using the accent color until you have finished two full crochet rows. You will then want to cut the yarn and tie on the next accent color. The blanket I'm working on went from a double row of light blue to a double row of light pink. Keep your rows and accent colors uniform.

Continue your crochet stitches with your main color of yarn. As you can see, my crochet baby blanket has yellow for a main color. Stitch double the number of rows that you stitched for your accent colors.

Continuing Homemade Baby Blanket Pattern
To continue on with the homemade baby blanket, crochet double the stitches of both your accent colors and your main color two more times. This will leave you with a big block of your main color as your center.

Add accent colors uniformly as you did with the top of the baby blanket. Your rows will reduce in numbers as you get near to the end of the length just as they added till you reached the center.

Finishing Touches
Once you have finished your crochet of the striped baby blanket pattern, you will want to add an edging. I recommend adding the shades from lightest to darkest to give the best look.

You will need to double stitch two rows of each of your three yarn colors fully around the baby blanket. This will give the blanket a beautiful finished look.

Adding Ribbon
Cut a length of ribbon approximately five inches long . Use your scissors to cut the edges of the ribbon on a slant to make it look a bit more fancy. With your permanent marker, carefully write out the last name of the baby on half of the ribbon .

Use your crochet needle to feed the ribbon through one corner of the baby blanket. Tie it in a knot that will allow room for the first name of the baby to be added after he or she is born.

This baby blanket is one of the most simple crochet patterns I know of. It will take you very little time to make and it is the perfect gift for any expecting parents. Be sure to use colorful tissue paper to line the box that you use to wrap it. You might also want to add a little poem or note reminding the baby and parents that you thought of them with every crochet stitch.

If you like this craft project, please consider clicking here to see more of my articles on crafts and hobbies.

Source :

http://www.joann.com/joann/home/home.jsp

Published by Linda Riggs

Freelance writer. My hobbies include fishing, swimming, playing piano, crystal flute, and guitar.  View profile

7 Comments

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  • Jeanne Baney9/21/2010

    Love the blanket! Good article!

  • Patti Walden6/20/2010

    Great article!!!

  • Sue Gibson6/19/2010

    Wonderful article.

  • Delicia Powers6/18/2010

    Great article and tips, thanks!

  • Jack Wellman6/18/2010

    How precious and wonderful this is Linda. With several bouncing baby grandchildren, I can see this would make a precious momento. My teen still has her "bankie".

  • Michele Starkey6/17/2010

    I never learned to crochet - one day I will! These crocheted blankets make the best gifts! cheers :)

  • Faye Fairley6/17/2010

    very good

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