Beginner-friendly crochet baby blanket pattern

If you wish to purchase the PDF version, please follow this link Cellular Baby Blanket.

This blanket is using a very simple stitch. It is an easy way to create an interesting texture.

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If you wish to purchase the PDF version, please follow this link Cellular Baby Blanket

Pattern Details

The blanket is worked in rows on the long side, alternating half double crochet row with single crochet in the back loop only.

Materials

Yarn: I crochet the mittens and the hat with Big Merino from Drops Design but you could use any soft yarn of your preference.

Crochet Hook Size: 6mm (please check the requirements of the yarn you are using)

Yarn needle

Abbreviation used

yo = yarn over

ch = chain

sl st = slip stitch

sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet

hdc = half double crochet

FPdc = front post double crochet

BPdc = back post double crochet

Pattern

This is a short description of the pattern. The detailed one starts lower on the page. The pattern is written in this way in case you prefer just the short description without all pictures etc.

The blanket is worked in rows on the long side, alternating half double crochet row with single crochet in the back loop only. The border is worked in rounds after the body of the blanket is finished.

Chain 114 or any even number of stitches you like depending on the size you would like to knit.

Row 1: Hdc in the second chain from the hook, *skip one ch, hdc in the next ch, hdc around the previous hdc*. Repeat from * to * until there is just one stitch left on the row. Finish by hdc in the last stitch. Ch 1 and turn.

Row 2: Sc in the first stitch, then work sc in the back loop of each stitch until you have just one stitch left. Finish by sc in the last stitch (both loops) then turn.

Row 3: Chain 1 (does not count as a stitch), then work HDC in the same stitch. I work it this way to prevent the gaps at the corners. To continue *skip one ch, hdc in the next ch, hdc around the previous hdc*. Repeat from * to * until there is just one stitch left on the row. Finish by hdc in the last stitch. Ch 1 and turn.

Repeat 29 times row 2 and 29 times row 3 (58 rows) or as many times as needed to reach the desired width.

The border

The border is worked in rounds Round 1: Start at any corner of the blanket and chain 3. DC in every stitch all the way around. When you reach the corners crochet 3 DCs into the corner stitch. At the end join with sl st.

Round 2: When you reach the corner you started with, work 3 DCs into the corner, then go around the blanket again, this time alternating front and back post double crochet.

When you reach the corners of this row, you still alternate the front and back post DC but work 3 stitches around the corner post.

Round 3: Repeat Round 2 as many times as you like. Ensure that all FPdc are crocheted onto FPdc from the previous round and all BPdc are around BPdc from the round below.

Finish by using the seamless join instead of slip stitch. This will give the nice look of the final stitch.

Here starts the description with pictures. 

The special stitches like FPdc, BPdc, HDC around HDC and SC in the back loop only are described separately on later on this page.

The blanket is worked in rows on the long side, alternating half double crochet row with single crochet in the back loop only. The border is worked in rounds after the body of the blanket is finished.

Chain 114 or any even number of stitches you like depending on the size you would like to knit.

Row 1: Hdc in the second chain from the hook, *skip one ch, hdc in the next ch, hdc around the previous hdc*. Repeat from * to * until there is just one stitch left on the row. Finish by hdc in the last stitch. Ch 1 and turn.

Row 2: Sc in the first stitch, then work sc in the back loop only until you have just one stitch left. Finish by sc in the last stitch then turn.

Row 3: Chain 1 (does not count as a stitch) and work HDC in the same stitch. I work it this way to prevent the gaps at the corners. To continue *skip one ch, hdc in the next ch, hdc around the previous hdc*. Repeat from * to * until there is just one stitch left on the row. Finish by hdc in the last stitch. Ch 1 and turn.

Repeat 29 times row 2 and 29 times row 3 (58 rows) or as many times as needed to reach the desired width.

The border is worked in rounds

Round 1: Start at any corner of the blanket and chain 3. DC in every stitch all the way around. When you reach the corners crochet 3 DCs into the corner stitch. At the end join with sl st.

Round 2: When you reach the corner you started with, work 3 DCs into the corner, then go around the blanket again, this time alternating front and back post double crochet.

When you reach the corners of this row, you still alternate the front and back post DC but work 3 stitches around the corner post.

Round 3: Repeat Round 2 as many times as you like. Ensure that all FPdc are crocheted onto FPdc from the previous round and all BPdc are around BPdc from the round below.

Special stitches 

Sc in the back loop only

Hdc around hdc

Make one hdc, then yo and insert hook in the space behind the hdc just worked. Yo and pull it through, yarn over and pull it through all three loops you have on the hook. Remember to skip one st before working the next hdc around hdc.

Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc)/ Back Post Double Crochet (BPdc)

In the case of post stitches, we are using the spaces between stitches to work our hook around the post of a crochet stitch.

To crochet the borders alternate FPdc with BPdc for the ribbed effect which both are stitches worked around the post of a stich. For the Front Post stitches the hook goes behind the stitch around which the crochet happens (the first picture below), while for the Back Post stitches the hook is positioned in such a way, that the stitch around which the crochet happens is behind it (second picture).

Here starts the description of the FPdc first with pictures, followed by the BPdc. For the ribbed border effect, alternate these stitches.

Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc)

Insert the hook under the post of the double crochet from the round below. Then yarn over the hook, pull through and finish as you normally do for the double crochet. The only difference here is that instead of working into the stitch, you work around the post.

Back Post Double Crochet

Yarn over, insert hook from back to front and then to the back again around the post of the stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, (yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook) 2 times.

Alternating Front Post with Back Post Double Crochet will look like this: