Simple Crochet Baby Blanket

Before I get to today's post, don't forget to check out the giveaway that's coming soon. It includes crochet patterns, a hand stamped necklace, and a gift card, so you'll definitely want to check out the details here. 

I get more questions about how I make this blanket than any other project I've ever done. It's a simple pattern (keep reading... I'm going to share): I could reinvent the wheel and write it out; but really, it's all over the internet. I think what catches people's eye with this blanket is the color scheme. They're not traditional baby blanket colors by any means. 

This blanket is just a traditional granny square. You can find a traditional granny square pattern here at the Purl Bee. I always like to change things up a bit. I start with a chain two or magic ring rather than the chain 4. I also ch 2 rather than ch 3 when I'm starting a cluster (I actually do this anytime a pattern says to ch 3... I think the ch 3 goes higher than most people's double crochets). The last change I make is this (and I think it's the most important one): I only chain between clusters in the corners. This keeps the fabric more dense and makes for a less "hole-y" blanket.

I also get asked what colors I use. This particular blanket is all Lily Sugar 'n' Cream yarn. I used robin's egg blue, red, mustard, and white. Mustard is getting more and more difficult to find, but I actually found it in the huge skeins at Joann's not too long ago. 

For the edging, I do a simple picot border. Before I start my picot, I do a hdc border all the way around in the same color as the previous round (I work 2 hdc into each corner stitch). I make my picot border like this: ch 3, sc in the first ch. Then you'll sc in the next 3 stitches, ch 3, sc in the first ch. You'll do this all the way around and end up with a nice picot border as shown above. You might have to play around with the corners to get them to be just how you want them. 

I also really like this tiny scallop border. It's especially nice for baby girls. For this edging, you'll join your contrasting yarn in any hdc, then you'll ch 2 and hdc in the same stitch. *Skip 2 stitches, ch 2, hdc in the same stitch* all the way around.

If you don't crochet, but you love the blankets, they're available here in my Etsy shop.

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