Introduction
The Dotty Baby Blanket is a beautiful and easy Tunisian crochet baby blanket that was inspired by the joyful and exciting feelings when expecting a baby. This blanket is a pleasure to make and would make a wonderful gift for a loved one or a new addition to a family.
The blanket features squares in alternating colours with a smaller square in darker colour at the heart of each square.
The blanket is crocheted from bottom up and left to right in columns using 3 colours and join as you go technique.
This is a fun project for when you would like to work colourwork but not having numerous balls of yarn or bobbins on the go at any one time!
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Skills required:
To create this easy crochet baby blanket you will need to master (or already know) these stitches and techniques:
Chain, Tunisian crochet technique (alternating forward and return passes), Join as you go method (JAYG), Tunisian simple stitch (tss), Tunisian crochet colourwork (stranded colourwork), Tunisian simple stitch bind-off, weaving in ends, blocking.
Skill level:
Finished measurements:
The final easy crochet baby blanket measurements (blocked):
46 cm x 65 cm (approx. 18” x 25.5”)
Materials and tools
Yarn:
To get the exact look as on the pictures of my easy crochet baby blanket, you will need:
Hobbii Portobello (60% Cotton, 28% Acrylic, 12% Wool | Worsted | 50 g (1.8 oz) = 120 m (131 yds)),
- (#02) Off White 2 balls (A),
- (#88) Turkish Blue 1 ball (B), (#113)
- Misty Green 2 balls (C)
Other yarn alternatives:
Please always swatch when substituting yarn:
- Yarnsmiths: Pebble Haze Aran
- Cascade yarns: Cantata
For further alternatives, please see:
Hobbii Portobello | Substitutes
You can get your craft supplies here.
Tools and notions:
- Tunisian crochet hook size 6.0 mm (US size J/10) with cable (at least 7.5 cm (3”)) or size to obtain the gauge
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
Gauge:
Blocked Gauge:
14 sts x 13 rows = 10 x 10 cm (4” x 4”) over tss
The gauge is not essential for this easy crochet baby blanket, but it will impact the amount of yarn used.
Gauge helps you to understand how the project turns out in terms of the final size. If you would like to achieve the exact size of the final project as in the instructions above, you gauge needs to match exactly to the above.
If you get more stitches and/or rows than stated above using the exact hook size as per instructions, your final project will turn out smaller. Conversely, if you get less stitches and/or rows than stated above using the exact hooks size as per instructions, your final project will turn out bigger.
To make adjustments, if you get more stitches and/or rows, you can try using bigger hook size to get closer to the desired size. Conversely, if you get less stitches and/or rows, you can try using smaller hook size to get closer to the desired size.
It may take trial and error to try out a few hook sizes to achieve the exact size.
Alternatively, if you really don’t want to make several samples to achieve the desired size, you can try to alter your tension as you work the project. However, I would advise to try this out once you master the basics of Tunisian crochet as it may be a bit tiresome to try to master the basics of Tunisian crochet and focus on alternating your tension while working the project.
If this easy crochet baby blanket is your first Tunisian crochet project and are not sure if this project matches your skills, I have a Tunisian crochet masterclass tutorial that will jump-start your Tunisian crochet journey!
Stitch guide:
Tunisian crochet stitches are worked in 2 steps; forward and return pass from right to left, with the number of sts (lps) increasing on the hook during the forward pass and decreasing during the return pass.
Standard Return pass is worked in the same way for all stitches (rows of sts) of the first panel as follows: 1 ch, * yrh, draw through 2 lps on hook, rep from * until 1 lp on hook.
Return pass with a decrease is worked in the same way for all stitches (rows of sts) of the second and consecutive panels as follows: * yrh, draw through 2 lps on hook, rep from * until 1 lp on hook.
Edge stitches:
Right edge stitch- This is the first lp on hook and counts as first st unless otherwise stated.
Left edge stitch- This st is referred to in the pattern as the End Stitch (ES) and is crocheted as follows: Rotate the end of the fabric towards yourself, insert the hook under both bars (left and right) of the last st, yrh and pul.
Tunisian crochet stitches:
- First row of Tunisian crochet: Insert the hook in the back bump of second ch from hook, yrh and pul across.
- Tunisian simple stitch: Insert the hook from right to left under front vertical bar of the next st, yrh and pul.
Other Special techniques and Bind off:
Changing colours as you go: When changing the colours within a row in Tunisian crochet, place the new strand of yarn over the old strand. This locks the old colour in place and prevents gaps occurring between the different colour sections. Changing colours on the return pass works similarly with changing to the alternate colour when the second loop from the tip of the crochet hook is in the alternate colour.
Tunisian stitch pattern bind-off: Tks in first st, pull through the loop on hook, * tps in next st, pull through the loop on hook, tks in next st, pull through the loop on hook; rep from * to last st, ES, pull through the loop on hook.
Abbreviations:
| Abbreviations used in easy crochet baby blanket pattern: | |
| ch- chain | yrh- yarn round the hook |
| st(s)- stitch(es) | pul- pull up a loop |
| lp(s)- loop(s) | FP- forward pass |
| tss- Tunisian simple stitch | RP- return pass |
| RS- right side | approx.- approximately |
| ES- End stitch | rep- repeat |
Dotty Baby Blanket colour chart 1 (A and B):
Dotty Baby Blanket colour chart 1 (C and B):
Notes:
- Similar worsted weight yarns may be substituted; please check gauge.
- Number of loops on hook for easy crochet baby blanket equals number of sts for row counting after Return Pass.
- The blanket is worked flat with RS always facing from bottom up and left to right in columns of squares.
Instructions:
Easy Crochet Baby Blanket
First column of easy crochet baby blanket
First Square
With A, ch 21 (place marker in last ch made).
Row 1 FP: Insert the hook in the back bump of second ch from hook, yrh and pul across. 21 lps on hook.
Row 1 RP and all other RPs of First Column: Standard RP.
Row 2: Tss across to last st, ES.21 sts
Rows 3-6: Rep Row 2.
Row 7: Tss in next 7 sts, change to B, tss in B in next 5 sts, change to A, tss in A in next 7 sts, ES.
Rows 8-10: Rep Row 7.
Rows 11-15: Rep Row 2.
Row 16 FP: Rep Row 2.
Row 16 RP: Standard RP to last 2 lps on hook, drop colour A, yrh and pul with colour C.
Second Square
Row 17: In C, Tss across to last st, ES.
Rows 18-22: Rep Row 17.
Row 23: Tss in next 7 sts, change to B, tss in B in next 5 sts, change to C, tss in C in next 7 sts, ES.
Rows 24-26: Rep Row 23.
Rows 27-31: Rep Row 17.
Row 32 FP: Rep Row 17.
Row 32 RP: Standard RP to last 2 lps on hook, drop colour C, yrh and pul with colour A.
Third Square
Rows 33-38: In A, Rep Row 2.
Rows 39-48: Rep Rows 7-16.
Fourth Square
Rows 49-64: Rep Rows 17-32.
Fifth Square
Rows 65-80: Rep Rows 33-48.
Row 81: Tss Bind-off.
Fasten-off.
Second column of easy crochet baby blanket
First Square
With C, insert the hook through bottom and back loop of ch 21 of first Column (starting ch; marked with marker), ch 21 (place marker in last ch made).
Row 1 FP: Pul in the back bump of second ch from hook and in each ch across, insert hook through bottom and back lp of corresponding row of column on left, yrh and pul.
Row 1 RP: and all other RPs of remaining Columns: Return Pass with decrease. 21 lps.
Row 2: Tss across to last st, insert hook through bottom and back lp of corresponding row of column on left, yrh and pul.
Rows 3-6: Rep Row 2.
Row 7: Tss in next 7 sts, change to B, tss in B in next 5 sts, change to C, tss in C in next 7 sts, ES.
Rows 8-10: Rep Row 7.
Rows 11-15: Rep Row 2.
Row 16 FP: Rep Row 2.
Row 16 RP: Standard RP with decrease to last 2 lps on hook, drop colour C, yrh and pul with colour A.
Second Square
Row 17: In A, Tss across to last st, ES.
Rows 18-22: Rep Row 17.
Row 23: Tss in next 7 sts, change to B, tss in B in next 5 sts, change to A, tss in A in next 7 sts, ES.
Rows 24-26: Rep Row 23.
Rows 27-31: Rep Row 17.
Row 32 FP: Rep Row 17.
Row 32 RP: Standard RP with decrease to last 2 lps on hook, drop colour A, yrh and pul with colour C.
Third Square
Rows 33-38: In C, Rep Row 2.
Rows 39-48: Rep Rows 7-16.
Fourth Square
Rows 49-64: Rep Rows 17-32.
Fifth Square
Rows 65-80: Rep Rows 33-48.
Row 81: Tss bind-off across and under top 2 strands of first bind-off st of the column on the left.
Fasten-off.
Third column of easy crochet baby blanket
First Square
With A, insert the hook through bottom and back loop of ch 21 of second Column (starting ch; marked with marker), ch 21 (place marker in last ch made).
Row 1 FP: Pul in the back bump of second ch from hook and in each ch across, insert hook through bottom and back lp of corresponding row of column on left, yrh and pul.
Row 1 RP: Return Pass with decrease.
Row 2: Tss across to last st, insert hook through bottom and back lp of corresponding row of column on left, yrh and pul.
Rows 3-6: Rep Row 2.
Row 7: Tss in next 7 sts, change to B, tss in B in next 5 sts, change to A, tss in A in next 7 sts, ES.
Rows 8-10: Rep Row 7.
Rows 11-15: Rep Row 2.
Row 16 FP: Rep Row 2.
Row 16 RP: Standard RP with decrease to last 2 lps on hook, drop colour A, yrh and pul with colour C.
Second Square
Row 17: In C, tss across to last st, insert hook through bottom and back lp of corresponding row of column on left, yrh and pul.
Rows 18-22: Rep Row 17.
Row 23: Tss in next 7 sts, change to B, tss in B in next 5 sts, change to C, tss in C in next 7 sts, ES.
Rows 24-26: Rep Row 23.
Rows 27-31: Rep Row 17.
Row 32 FP: Rep Row 17.
Row 32 RP: Standard RP with decrease to last 2 lps on hook, drop colour C, yrh and pul with colour A.
Third Square
Rows 33-38: In A, Rep Row 2.
Rows 39-48: Rep Rows 7-16.
Fourth Square
Rows 49-64: Rep Rows 17-32.
Fifth Square
Rows 65-80: Rep Rows 33-48.
Row 81: Tss bind-off across and under top 2 strands of first bind-off st of the column on the left.
Fasten-off.
Finishing:
Weave in all ends and block the easy crochet baby blanket to final measurements as above.
I would love to see and share your work on social media, use #dottybabyblanket or #exquisitecrochetuk.
Pattern support: exquisite.crochet.uk@gmail.com
Further resources:
Pattern video tutorial for this easy crochet baby blanket:
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You can purchase the add free PDF version of the pattern at LoveCrafts here and Ravelry here.
Did you enjoy the Dotty Baby Blanket pattern? Why not try my other baby blanket patterns:
Thank you so much if you got this far in the pattern! I hope you got inspired for your own version using different colours. I can’t wait to see it! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram and let me know in the comment section below how you got on with it! As always, if you have any pattern query, the quickest way to get it answered is by emailing me on the pattern support email address above.
Happy crocheting!
