25 Best Free Crochet Baby Blanket Patterns (Tips & Tricks for Beginners)
A handmade crochet baby blanket makes the perfect gift for a new bundle of joy! If you’re looking for an awesome selection of free crochet baby blanket patterns to choose from, you’re in the right place.
Anyone who loves to crochet knows that nothing says ‘welcome to the world’ quite like a handmade, soft blanket to snuggle a precious new baby boy or girl. It’s a timeless, classic new baby gift for good reason, and a perfect baby shower gift that’s both practical and meaningful all in one. And if you want something extra, you can also crochet an amigurumi with these patterns.
I absolutely love to crochet, and handmade gifts, so when a dear friend got the news that she and her husband were cleared to bring their new little adopted baby home from overseas, I got right to work. I chose to make a special crocheted blanket just for him using one of my favorite free crochet patterns – the Six Day Baby Blanket.
I chose to use a variety of shades of blue and turquoise to represent the ocean that he crossed to come home, and his new family all love snuggling him with it!
Finding the perfect crochet baby blanket pattern to use is an important first step for a special and meaningful project, so let’s dive right in!
How Easy are Crochet Baby Blankets to Make?
There are free patterns for a variety of skill levels – from beginner crocheters to advanced. Truly – there’s a free crochet pattern for everyone to create a beautiful, soft baby blanket that will be cherished by an adorable little one.
If you’re following a pattern for the first time, an easy crochet baby blanket pattern is actually a fantastic project since they are small, often use basic crochet stitches, and you can even make them all one solid color if you prefer.
Check out this video tutorial for a beautiful free baby blanket crochet pattern with just one repeat row throughout:
Of course, more advanced crocheters can also choose baby blanket crochet patterns with color changes and more advanced stitches such as the shell stitch, the moss stitch, the cluster stitch, and more.
(I’ll list my favorites below – both simple and more advanced!)
How Long Does it Take to Crochet a Baby Blanket?
Every time I’ve crocheted a baby blanket I find that it works up quite quickly. If you’ve ever crocheted a large blanket or afghan pattern, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how fast a baby blanket comes together, comparatively.
Depending on your skill level and speed, some people can crochet an easy baby blanket in as little as 4-6 hours, but be sure to give yourself plenty of time – especially if it’s a gift – just in case things go slower than you hoped.
If you’re a beginner, you can easily find Youtube video tutorials like this one for basic crochet stitches to brush up on your skills before you begin your blanket.
How do I Choose the Best Baby Blanket Pattern?
There are a few different factors you should consider when choosing your crochet baby blanket pattern.
Climate
If the baby lives in a year-round hot climate, you might choose a pattern with stitch that has more holes and space in the stitches, a light-weight yarn, or a natural, breathable fiber like cotton or bamboo.
Conversely, for babies in climates with both hot and cold seasons, consider whether you want to create a light-weight blanket for summer, or a heavier and warmer blanket for chilly, winter days using thicker or warmer yarns, like wool blends.
(A note about wool yarn: be sure to avoid any wool yarns that can’t be washed and dried easily. High-maintenance washing routines are not what any new parent needs! Wool yarn that can be washed and dried as usual is called Superwash, and that is likely a better choice if you want wool.)
Purpose
Some baby blankets are meant for warmth in a crib (once the baby is old enough to have loose blankets safely), while others are meant more as a small snuggle blanket that baby uses as a comfort object. Consider what the baby needs while choosing the type and size of blanket to create.
Colors
If you’re making a baby blanket as a gift, it’s a good idea to ask the parents if they have preferred colors to make it even more special and personalized. Most patterns will specify colors for you if you’d like it to turn out just like the photos, but changing the colors is at your own discretion.
Supplies Needed
In order to crochet a baby blanket, you’ll need the basic crochet supplies:
- Yarn of choice, or as specified in your baby blanket pattern
- Crochet hook (the pattern will specify the best size to use)
- Scissors
A note about yarn choice: there are many different types of yarn out there, but some are more suited for baby blankets than others. You want to be sure to choose a nice, soft yarn in this case, since it’s for a baby.
Some free crochet baby blanket patterns will call for a soft, chunky yarn, such as Bernat Blanket Yarn, while others will call for a lightweight yarn that is also very soft. I’ve even made a baby blanket with a soft, worsted weight yarn before.
Additional supplies like stitch counters, stitch markers, and a yarn needle are usually optional according to your preferences, but your pattern of choice will likely include a recommendation either way.
The Best Free Crochet Baby Blanket Patterns
This beautiful and colorful crochet baby blanket is made out of granny squares – a popular, multi-purpose crochet technique. The rainbow colors in this pattern are perfect for any baby, but especially a “rainbow baby”, aka a baby born after a previous baby or pregnancy loss.
Speaking of rainbows (and granny squares!), this pattern also embraces the rainbow theme but in a totally different way than the above pattern. Granny squares with actual rainbows in them are incorporated into the blanket, with a more muted color scheme.
With adorable bumble bees in granny squares, it’s hard to go wrong! This pattern uses the classic granny square technique but with a twist, and is sure to brighten up any baby’s day.
A beautifully classic-looking blanket with vintage vibes, this blanket has a really cool textured pattern that is highlighted by its single, neutral color of yarn.
With adorable hearts crocheted into the pattern, this blanket perfectly captures the love and joy of having a new baby. Even with an impressive heart design, this blanket is actually quite easy to make.
Adorable and easy pattern with a ripple effect that is created with basic crochet stitches grouped together in a clever way. You can use different colors to highlight the unique pattern.
With variegated yarn, this simple pattern ends up looking like it was a lot more difficult than it actually was! The ‘sprinkles’ look is adorable, and has endless color options depending on your yarn.
This blanket was designed to have that classic knit-look, and it uses alternating wide stripes to show off those stitches. Beautiful in either a single or two colors.
If you’re looking for quick and easy, this is the perfect pattern for you. It uses just two basic stitches and comes together super fast – especially when using one single color. Despite its simplicity it still has a lovely texture in the finished product.
This multi-purpose pattern gives instructions for different wide-striped blanket sizes, and is easily made with whatever combination of colors you have, including a colorful variety from your yarn stash.
The shell stitch is a popular vintage look that’s back in style. Crochet this lightweight baby blanket with a lace-inspired look.
If you liked the lacy shells pattern above for its lace look, you’ll really adore this pattern with an even more lightweight lacy look and a simple gender-neutral color suggestion.
This gorgeous blanket uses a variety of stitches and then alternates several rows for a visually interesting look. This type of pattern is the perfect opportunity for beginners to learn lots of new stitches and try them out.
A baby blanket pattern works up even faster when using chunky yarns, and this pattern is perfect for that. Perfect for keeping baby warm and cozy on a cold day.
This pattern uses Bernat Baby yarn to create a chunky, soft blanket that you might even be tempted to snuggle yourself. It has wide striping in neutral colors and works up quickly.
