Monday, April 11, 2011

Classic Baby Blanket

Twelve years ago, when I had my first baby, my great-aunt Maureen gave me a beautiful gift. The gift was a crocheted baby blanket.

I loved this blanket for its simplicity and elegance. And I've used this same blanket for each one of my little babes.
This blanket is one of my very favorite gifts to give. Years ago, I asked my aunt Maureen how she made it...what the pattern was. She was never very specific because I think she had just made it up herself. She did tell me what stitch she used, so I just figured it out on my own and came up with something myself.

After some years of making this blanket (and showing a few others how to make it as well), I've come up with a set pattern. One that I follow each time I make this blanket now. Last year, I wrote it down.

 I still love this blanket for its simplicity and elegance, and my hope is that you will too.


Materials:

1 ½ cones (about 920-1035 yards) 100 % cotton 4-ply yarn in ecru

size J (6mm) crochet hook

Gauge:

4” x 4” = 12 dc x 6 rows

CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Finished Measurements:

36” x 36”

Terms used:

ch = chain                                                                       sl st = slip stitch
dc = double crochet                                                        sp = space
sk = skip                                                                        st(s) = stitches


Note: Ch 3 at beginning of dc rows DOES count as a stitch.

Main body:

Ch 110

Row 1: Skip first 3 ch, dc in next 107 ch; Ch 3, turn. (108 stitches)

Row 2-52: Dc in the back loop of each dc across; Ch 3, turn.

Row 53: dc in the back loop of each dc across, DO NOT fasten off; turn work to begin shell border.


Shell border:

*Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same sp, 2 times. Sk next 2 sts, sl st in next st; continue from * around the entire main body. Join with a sl st at the beginning ch 3. Fasten off and weave in ends.




36 comments:

The Andra Family said...

Thanks for sharing. I was eying it at Martha's trying to figure it out myself. Now I don't have to.

Robin said...

Well we love our baby blanket! Love wrapping my little one up at night with love from Rayn!!

shoebee said...

Thank you for sharing this. It is lovely.

Victoria said...

Thanks - I am trying to make this for my baby on the way. I'm a beginner, so I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 'the back loop of each dc'? Could you maybe post a pic?! I think the blanket is beautiful.

rayndrop said...

victoria, i just put a picture for back loops in the sidebar. i am left-handed so i linked to a right-handed page. let me know if i can answer any other questions.

Victoria said...

Thanks - I'm 30 rows into the blanket and it's looking lovely!

Rachel // Maybe Matilda said...

How beautiful! It's on my "to-make" list! I love it!

Rachel @ Maybe Matilda

CAROL said...

CAN I USE THIS IN A SOFTER YARN FOR A CHRISTIANING BLANKET. ALSO I WOULD LIKE USE WHITE

Linda T said...

Thank you for posting this pattern. I just finished a pink one using Pound of Love acrylic yarn as that's what I had on hand. I've purchased some cotton for the next one. I love that it is so simple, yet so pretty! If you want to see my version, check my blog www.seamswell.blogspot.com

Melissa said...

I just finished this using Peaches and Creme yarn on the cone in Billowing Blue. I'm making two more blankets, one in Peaches and Creme Pageantry and the other in Red Heard Super Saver Perfect Pink. Thank you for a beautiful and easy pattern!

rayndrop said...

melissa,
for some reason i cannot leave a comment on your blog. (i couldn't comment on my own blog until i changed the comment settings.) so i hope you find this...

the part where you wrote,"i'm actually very excited that she'd going to school because i never thought she would be able to go to school" touched my mother heart so very deeply.

My Heart in Denver said...

Absolutely love this!! Thank you for posting!! I am very new to crocheting and had a silly question.. When you said to crochet into the back loop (so the part of the stitch farthest from you), I get that, but once you turn the work, is the back loop still considered the part of the stitch farthest from you? Or because this is now the back of the work, it'll now be the stitch closest to you? I hope that's not too silly or complicated to understand.. but I just want to make sure I'm doing it right! Thanks again!! =)

~ Colleen

Anonymous said...

Hi...thanks for sharing this beautiful pattern. I am having trouble with the border though. I am doing fine, until I get to the sides of the blanket. How do we go down the sides? Thanks in advance for any help on this. YarnySongs :)

rayndrop said...

colleen,

when you turn the work, keep working in the farthest loop from you. i'm glad you asked!


yarnysongs,

it's easier to make the border on the top and bottom ends because the chains from the previous rows are visible. the sides are a bit different, however. there are no visible stitches, right?

i hope i can make this clear in writing...

going down the sides i continue by making 3 chains and 2 double crochets. when i get to the slip stitch that anchors to the main body, i sort of lay the shell/scallop down and join it where it falls. it should be about the length of your double crochets.

i hope this helps. let me know if you have more questions.

Mimi said...

Thanks so much for sharing this. It was just what I was looking for. A bit stylish, not a granny square in sight and imminently practical. Love your work!

swt said...

This is Beautiful. Thank You so much for sharing!!

SusieScrapper said...

Thank you so much for sharing, it's just beautiful. Just found out I'm going to be a grandmom and can't wait to make it for the baby!!

Unknown said...

Hi,
I found this on Ravelry and made two for a friend that is having twins, a boy and a girl.
I liked the simplicity and the weight of it, I prefer a less lacy or open crochet pattern.
I used a bright blue and bright pink and they turned out great.
My friend loves them!
Thanks for the pattern!
Shannon

Michelle said...

23 rows in and in love TFS

Simply Sarah said...

Thank you so much for this pattern! I am making it right now and it is working up beautifully.

Sarah said...

I just finished this pattern! I did it with three strands of multi-colored yarn, held together....it looks beautiful, and so cushy! I'm new to crochet (taught myself about 2 weeks ago) and this was perfect! Way faster than knitting - which I've been doing for years!

rayndrop said...

i am so happy that so many of you have enjoyed this pattern! thank you for letting me know.

Annemarie said...

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!!!! I am a beginner (to say the least ;)) and this BEAUTIFUL blanket is very very easy!!! I may even do another one in a different color because I love it so much! THANKS!!

L-A said...

I just finished this blanket yesterday & I love how it turned out! And so did the mom-to-be that I gave it to :) Thank you so much for sharing your pattern with us!

Unknown said...

love your blanket is it okay to make these for charity purposes i would post it on my blog www.byhookandwire.com
thanks Darlene

rayndrop said...

darlene,

yes. i would love you to use it for charity purposes!

Unknown said...

I have a question, do you place a dc in the chain 3 stitch at the end of the row? Thanks!

rayndrop said...

karen,

no, i don't place a dc in the chain 3 at the end of the row.

Amber said...

Once you make the 110 chains and you need to start the first row...do you chain 3 then start dc after you skip 3 or immediately start dc after 110 and no chains?

basicliving@backtobasicliving.com said...

I found the pattern on Ravelry and followed it over here. What a beautiful baby blanket! I just so happen to have 3 cones of ecru Sugar n Cream cotton yarn :) I am going to make this for my nephew and his wife - they are expecting their first baby in April. I think this beautiful blanket will be a wonderful heirloom. Thank you so much for the pattern!

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for this pattern! My oldest friend was expecting her first baby and I couldn't be there so I wanted to make something really special, but I just learned to crochet more than a chain stitch about 2 months ago :-) so I wanted something that wouldn't be too difficult. I especially wanted a blanket that didn't have lots of holes that little toes could get caught in. I just finished your pattern and it was perfect! I can't wait to send it to her. I will definitely be making this for more friends' babies in the future! :-)
Here is what mine looks like http://www.ravelry.com/projects/natlig/classic-baby-blanket

Pamela Ellis said...

Lovely pattern...pretty and finishes up quick...working on my second one for my daughter expecting in June. Thanks for sharing it

Amanda said...

Hi, I'm working on this blanket for my daughter! I decided to make it a little longer, though, and have added more rows. Does it need to be a specific multiple of a number in order for the shell border to fit? Hope this makes sense, I'm rather inexperienced and don't know all the correct terms. Thanks!

FennellFanClub said...

I'm a little confused about the shell border. The first part...(*Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same sp, 2 times. Sk next 2 sts, sl st in next st;) makes sense to me. However, the next part (continue from * around the entire main body. Join with a sl st at the beginning ch 3.) does not. Could you maybe clarify this section a little bit for me? Thanks

Valarie said...

Thank you so much for posting this. I am knitting one for my hope chest, and I will do one for my friends granddaughter once they know the sex (or I'll go with a neutral color).

Love how easy it is, but it looks really nice.

rayndrop said...

FennellFanClub,

do the part that makes sense to you starting with the * over and over again all the way around the double crochet "square" blanket. when you get to where you started, join with a slip stitch and weave in the ends.

i hope that makes sense.

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