Crochet the winter shell baby blanket with this free pattern. Two-row repeat, striped colors, an hdc border and a pretty picot edge.
Here’s a baby blanket that looks like it took ages but is really just two rows on repeat. Learn row 2 and row 3 and you’re basically done with the body. Make it in three colors like the sample, or pick a single color you love. The finished size is about 37 in wide by 43 in long, and you can change both the size and the colors.
What you’ll need
- Yarn: Premier Anti-Pilling Everyday Worsted (#4 worsted, 100% acrylic, 3.5 oz / 100 g, 180 yd / 165 m per skein, machine washable and dryable)
- Colors used: Spa (3 skeins), Cream (3 skeins), Chinchilla, a muted brown (2 skeins)
- Hook: US I-9 / 5.5 mm
- Extras: yarn needle and stitch markers
Getting the size right
Chain a multiple of 6, plus 2. The sample uses 116 chains. For a different width, pick how many sets of 6 you want and add 2 at the end. Want to practice first? A little swatch of 6 x 4 + 2 = 26 chains does the job.
Abbreviations (US terms)
ch = chain, sl st = slip stitch, sc = single crochet, hdc = half double crochet, dc = double crochet, st = stitch
Shell: 5 dc worked into the same stitch.
The blanket
Row 1: Ch 116. The loop on your hook doesn’t count, so skip it, count 2 chains from the hook and work a sc into that second chain. Then sc in every chain across.
A tip if you’re new to crochet: put a stitch marker in the first stitch of the row, and another in the last. Move them up each row. It’s an easy way to keep your edges straight.
Row 2: Ch 1 and turn. Sc in the very first stitch. Skip 2 stitches, then work a shell in the next stitch. Skip 2, sc in the next. Keep repeating skip 2, shell, skip 2, sc until you have 3 stitches left. (The transcript shows the ending in the video, so check it when you get there.)
Row 3: Ch 3 and turn. This chain counts as your first dc. Place a stitch marker in the top of it. Work 2 dc into that first stitch, which gives you 3 dc in total. Skip 2 stitches, then work a sc into the middle stitch of the shell below (that’s the 3rd dc of the 5). Skip the last 2 stitches of that shell and work a new shell into the sc from the previous row. Repeat across: sc in the middle of each shell, shell in each sc. This is what makes the shells sit offset from the row below.
When you have 3 stitches left, skip 2 and work 3 dc into the last stitch. That mirrors the beginning of the row.
Rows 4 to 80: Just repeat rows 2 and 3, over and over.
Color changes
Change color every 10 rows, 80 rows in all:
| Rows | Color |
|---|---|
| 1-10 | Spa |
| 11-20 | Cream |
| 21-30 | Chinchilla |
| 31-40 | Spa |
| 41-50 | Cream |
| 51-60 | Chinchilla |
| 61-70 | Spa |
| 71-80 | Cream |
That works out to 30 rows of Spa, 30 of Cream and 20 of Chinchilla, ending on Cream.
To switch, pull the old color out of the last stitch of the last row, leaving a short tail. Cut it, wrap the new color around your hook and pull it through. Give both ends a little tug to tighten. When you weave in ends later, weave each one into its own color so they disappear.
The border
Round 1 is Cream, round 2 is Spa and round 3 is Chinchilla. You don’t turn between rounds (you can if you prefer).
Round 1, top edge: Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 hdc in each of the first 3 stitches. Then repeat across: 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, then 1 sc in each of the next 3 stitches. Stop when 2 stitches are left, and work 1 hdc in each. This evens out the top, so it comes out straight.
Corners: Into the corner stitch, work 3 hdc (you already have one, so add 2 more).
Sides and bottom: Work 1 hdc evenly along each side. Along the bottom, work 1 hdc in each stitch, with 3 hdc in each corner. Join to the first hdc with a sl st.
Rounds 2 and 3: Work 1 hdc in every stitch around, with 3 hdc in each corner. Switch to Spa for round 2 and Chinchilla for round 3.
Picot edging
For the last round, the sample goes back to Cream, but any color works. Ch 1, sc in the first stitch and the next one. Then ch 3, insert your hook in the top of the sc you just made along with one loop from its post, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops. That’s your picot. Sc in the next 2 stitches and make another picot. Keep going around. Corners need nothing special.
Weave in all ends, and you’re done.
FAQ
What yarn works best for this winter shell baby blanket crochet pattern?
The sample uses Premier Anti-Pilling Everyday Worsted. Any #4 worsted yarn will do.
Can I make it bigger or smaller?
Yes. Chain a multiple of 6 plus 2 and work as many rows as you want.
Can I use one color?
Of course. The stripes are optional, and so is the colorful border.
Is it good for beginners?
Yes. It’s only sc, hdc and dc, and the pattern repeats.
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