Crocheting a baby blanket for a new arrival is a rewarding experience and a wonderful project for all experience levels. Make this baby blanket with only two basic crochet stitches: the half double crochet and chain stitch.

Crocheting is rewarding enough all by itself, as there are so many possibilities in just a few stitches. Projects like the Basic Baby Blanket are very suitable for first-time crocheters and, can be finished quickly, and looks incredible. So, if you, as a new crocheter, want to crochet a surprise baby blanket for a newborn, this is a great project to start with.

While crochet baby blankets are an amazing gift for newborns and expecting loved ones, use any baby gift with caution, especially when the gift is intended for use with a baby under one year. All baby blankets, whether handmade or not, should be used and supervised. Crochet items are naturally breathable and may be more suited, but not always. The American Academy of Pediatrics also advises against using anything soft in your baby's crib, and sleep sacks are the current preferred method for crib sleeping.

Like a crib, you'd also need to pay attention to whatever you use crochet in your car seat, stroller, or swing. Make sure any blanket or handmade item coincides with local and state laws as well as car seat guidelines. Nothing should be between the baby and the car seat, specifically puffy winter coats or blankets. A good solution is a car seat blanket that doesn't interfere with any restraints or safety features. 

One thing to keep in mind while making a crochet baby blanket is string entanglements. It's always a good idea to make sure ends are properly tied off, sewn in, and short. We are always concerned about strangulation risk, but small fibers that can get wrapped around tiny fingers and toes should also be considered whether the items are handmade or not.  

Finally, avoid anything that could be a choking hazard. Buttons and beads should be discouraged in anything meant for babies, with the exception of some garments. Babies love chewing and playing with these embellishments. They will inevitably detach, and when they do come loose from the blanket or other baby item, you can bet they'll immediately go into a little mouth or pushed up a tiny little nose. 

As baby grows, it's heartwarming to see them enjoy handmade pieces, so stay within the above guidelines and add a note for the intended recipient with wash instructions for the best results. Over time you'll find that your baby grows to love crocheted blankets, and it becomes an even better fit.

So, are you unsure if you can personally use a crochet blanket for your baby? Well, yes, but always ensure it's under proper supervision.

Learning the basics, playing with a bit of practice yarn, a crochet hook matching the recommendations for your yarn, and having a quality crochet pattern helps to ease the difficulty of crocheting a baby's blanket. However, they aren't the only things you'd need. 

As a matter of fact, you'll also need a tapestry needle and stitch markers. We'll talk more about all the equipment you need later in this article; for now, let's talk about hooks, as you need to understand why it's important to pick the right look and know how to choose it correctly.

Hooks that are 2-3 times bigger than the ball band will render looser stitches and gives the fabric extra drapes. Smaller hooks will make the stitches tighter and are great if you are crocheting an image into the blanket or if you are working on a mosaic pattern. Baby blankets shouldn't be unnecessarily stiff or have stitches too loose that the baby's fingers and toes easily work through the stitches.

For crocheting our Basic Baby Blanket, you'd need the following:

Yarn (Medium Weight Size 4)

    Mary Maxim Baby Value Yarn

    MC Cottonwood  -  3 Skeins

    CC  White           -  1 Skein

Crochet Hook

    Size J-10 (6.00mm)

Tapestry needle

Scissors 

To reduce the number of back-and-forth information relay, we used a couple of abbreviations and stitches that can be uniquely defined, and we'd explain them here:

ch – chain stitch

st – stitch

sl st – slip stitch

hdc – half double crochet

blo – back loop only

" – inches

Finish off means you leave 5 or 6 inches tall before cutting the yarn. Proceed by pulling on the loop on your hook just until the yarn end is through. Tighten by pulling gently. 

Although achieving gauge isn't necessary for this project, it's a great opportunity to get used to checking and getting more familiar with the concept. 

Gauge Information: 14 sts & 10 rows = 4" [10 cm] measured over the pattern using the suggested hook or any size hook which will give the correct gauge

If your gauge is too big, your baby blanket will be much bigger than expected, and you'll run out of yarn. If you do find that your gauge is too big then try a smaller hook until your gauge more closely matches. 

Vice versa, if your gauge is too small, then use a bigger hook until it more closely matches. If your gauge is too small, then your finished piece will be smaller and stiffer, not having the same drape as our sample. 

When finished with the pattern as written it should measure 36" x 48"

Checking your gauge is easier with a gauge swatch, and you can crochet a gauge swatch by crocheting the following:

Chain 21

Row 1: Half-Double Crochet in third ch from hook and in each ch to end, turn.

Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc now and throughout pattern), hdc in blo in each stitch to end, turn.

Repeat row 2 for 10 more rows.

Measure your swatch to record your stitches per inch as you crochet.  As you are working your blanket it's a great idea to check your gauge often.  This will tell you if your stitches become inconsistent or if you accidentally picked up the wrong hook.