Free Lightweight Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern

By Jan Bay

This free lightweight crochet baby blanket pattern makes a delicate 27-inch square blanket using fingering-weight yarn and an airy open stitch repeat. The finished blanket has a soft drape, a decorative scalloped border and enough texture to make a lovely handmade baby gift without the heavy feel of a densely crocheted blanket.

Yarn, Hook, Finished Size and Gauge

• Skill level: Intermediate
• Yarn: Five ounces of lightweight 2-ply fingering yarn
• Crochet hook: One No. 1 American gauge steel crochet hook, or the hook size needed to obtain the stated gauge
• Finished blanket size: Approximately 27 by 27 inches
• Gauge: One pattern repeat and four rows measure approximately 3/4 inch

Free Lightweight Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern Instructions

Crochet Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• dc: double crochet
• sc: single crochet
• sl st: slip stitch
• sp: space
• st: stitch
• sts: stitches

Center

Starting chain: Ch 256.

Row 1: Sc in the eighth ch from the hook. *Ch 3, skip 3 sts, sc in the next st. Repeat from * to the end of the row. You should have 63 sc and 63 loop spaces. Ch 3 and turn.

Row 2: Work 4 dc in the first loop to make 1 block. *Ch 2, sc in the next loop, ch 2, work 4 dc in the next loop. Repeat from * to the end of the row. You should have 32 four-dc blocks and 31 sc. Ch 4 and turn.

Row 3: Sc in the fourth dc of the first block. *Ch 3, sc in the first dc of the next block, ch 3, sc in the fourth dc of the same block. Repeat from * to the end of the row. You should have 63 sc and 62 ch-3 spaces. Ch 5 and turn.

Row 4: Sc in the first loop. *Ch 2, work 4 dc in the next loop, ch 2, sc in the next loop. Repeat from * to the end of the row, ending with sc in the last loop. Ch 2, dc in the second st of the turning ch from the previous row. You should have 31 four-dc blocks, 32 sc and 1 edge dc. Ch 4 and turn.

Row 5: *Sc in the first dc of the next block, ch 3, sc in the fourth dc of the same block, ch 3. Repeat from * to the end of the row, ending with sc in the third st of the turning ch from the previous row. You should have 63 sc and 62 ch-3 spaces. Ch 3 and turn.

Rows 2 through 5 complete the four-row pattern repeat. Continue working evenly in the established pattern until the piece measures approximately 24 inches from the beginning. At the stated gauge, the center should contain 128 rows total. End after completing written Row 4, which is the third row of the four-row pattern repeat. Do not turn.

First side: Work a row of loops along the side of the center, following the same loop style used in Row 1.

*Ch 3, skip 1 block row, sc in the end of the next Row 3 or Row 5 loop row. Repeat from * along the side, stopping before the foundation Row 1 edge. You should have 63 ch-3 loops along the side. Fasten off.

Second side: Join the yarn at the opposite side and work 63 ch-3 loops along that side in the same manner, stopping before the foundation Row 1 edge. Do not fasten off.

Edge-loop checkpoint: Before beginning the border, confirm that there are 63 loops along each of the four sides. Mark the four corner positions so the 5-dc corner groups can be placed consistently in Round 1.

Scalloped Crochet Border

Border turning-chain note: At the beginning of Rounds 2, 3 and 4, the starting ch 4 counts as 1 dc plus ch 1. This creates the first chain space of the round.

Round 1: Ch 3 and work 4 dc in the corner of the center. The beginning ch 3 counts as 1 dc, making a 5-dc corner group. *[Ch 3, sc in the next loop] twice. Ch 3, work 3 dc in the next loop. Repeat from * around the center, working 5 dc in each corner. Join with a sl st.

Round 1 checkpoint: Confirm that there are four 5-dc corner groups. Between neighboring dc groups, there should be two sc anchors separated by three ch-3 spaces. The edging should lie evenly around the center without pulling or noticeably rippling.

Round 2: Ch 4, dc in the next dc to make 1 space. Ch 1, work 2 dc, ch 2 and 2 dc in the next dc, which is the center dc of the 5-dc corner group. [Ch 1, dc in the next dc] twice. *Ch 3, skip 1 loop, sc in the next loop, ch 3, dc in the next dc, ch 1, work 2 dc, ch 2 and 2 dc in the next dc, which is the center dc of the 3-dc group. Ch 1, dc in the next dc. Repeat from * around the center, working each succeeding corner to match the first corner. Join with a sl st.

Round 3: Sl st into the first sp. Ch 4, dc in the next sp to make 1 space. Ch 1, work 3 dc, ch 2 and 3 dc in the next sp, which is the center sp of the scallop. [Ch 1, dc in the next sp] twice. *Ch 1, sc in the next loop, ch 3, sc in the next loop, ch 1, dc in the next sp, ch 1, work 2 dc, ch 2 and 2 dc in the next sp, which is the center sp of the scallop. Ch 1, dc in the next sp. Repeat from * around the center, working each succeeding corner to match the first corner. Join with a sl st.

Round 4: Sl st into the first sp. Ch 4, dc in the next sp to make 1 space. Ch 1, skip 1 dc, dc in the next dc, ch 1, work 3 dc, ch 2 and 3 dc in the next sp, which is the center sp of the scallop. Ch 1, skip 1 dc, dc in the next dc. [Ch 1, dc in the next sp] twice. *Ch 3, skip 1 sp, sc in the next loop, ch 3, skip 1 sp, dc in the next sp, ch 1, work 2 dc, ch 2 and 2 dc in the next sp, which is the center sp of the scallop. Ch 1, dc in the next sp. Repeat from * around the center, working each succeeding corner to match the first corner. Join with a sl st.

Round 5: Sl st into the first sp. Ch 8, sc in the fifth ch from the hook. Dc in the next sp.

Picot: Ch 5, then sc in the top of the last dc worked.

Make 1 picot, then dc in the next sp. Make 1 picot, then dc in the center dc of the next 3-dc group. [Make 1 picot, then dc in the center sp of the scallop] 4 times. Make 1 picot, then dc in the center dc of the next 3-dc group. [Make 1 picot, then dc in the next sp] 3 times.

*Ch 1, sc in each of the next 2 loops, ch 1, dc in the next sp, make 1 picot, then dc again in the same sp. [Make 1 picot, then dc in the center sp of the scallop] 4 times. [Make 1 picot, then dc in the next sp] twice.

Repeat from * around the center, working each succeeding corner to match the first corner. Join with a sl st. Fasten off.

Finishing: Weave in all loose yarn ends securely.

If you make this blanket, please return to Unique Baby Gear Ideas to share a photo, yarn recommendation or correction that may help other crocheters use the pattern.