Blue Denims Granny Square Baby Blanket – Free Crochet Pattern

I have had the photos for this pattern done and waiting for this post for a couple weeks now, as the finished product has already been added to my EyeLoveKnots Etsy shop. I have been slacking in getting the actual post put up though…::sighs::…Sorry! Enjoy.

This gorgeous little blanket is a great gift to give at a baby shower or for a new baby, or made bigger, it would be great for anyone! I plan on working on instructions for making the bigger sizes so I can to my Etsy shop too, but for now, I only have the baby size.

Materials:
     – 820 yards of a light weight worsted weight (4) yarn – I used Hobby Lobby‘s I Love This Cotton Yarn – about 2.5 skeins of Denims, about 3/4 of Pale Denim, about 3/4 of Dark Denim and 1.25 skeins of Dove
     – I9/5.5mm Crochet Hook
     – Tapestry Needle for Weaving in Ends – I like to use a #18, or #20.

Material Notes:
     This pattern will really work with any size yarn, the size will just vary. The I Love This Cotton Yarn is a light weight worsted weight yarn. 


     You will get 13.5 squares out of the variegated yarn (Denim).

Alternate yarns: Caron’s Simply Soft, Lion Brand’s Vanna’s Choice Yarn, Deborah Norville’s Everyday Soft, Lion Brand’s Wool Ease, Lion Brand’s Cotton Ease, Hobby Lobby’s Soft Secret Yarn.

Using a heavier worsted weight yarn, such as Lily Sugar n Cream, Red Heart’s With Love, Red Heart’s Super Saver, Caron’s One Pound, Bernat’s Super Value Yarn or Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn will result in a slightly larger blanket.

Time Spent: 
     This blanket took a lot more time than I thought it did! Because all of the squares are done individually, I didn’t even notice! This blanket was completed in approximately 11.5 hours – each square taking just under ten minutes, the joining at just over ten minutes each way, and the border at about 20 minutes per round. 
I’ve included my suggestion for construction down in the Pattern Notes section!

Measurement:
     This baby blanket measures 30″ x 30″. 
You can always add to this by simply adding in more squares!

Gauge:
With I Love This Cotton Yarn and a I9/5.5mm Hook – 3.75″ x 3.75″
     Chain 16, DC in the 4th chain from the hook and in each stitch across. (14)
     R2 – 7: Chain 2, turn. DC in the 2nd stitch and in each stitch across.
     Fasten Off.

Abbreviations:
R? – Indicates the Row/Round
… ( … ) … Indicates Repeat
DC – Double Crochet
HDC – Half Double Crochet
SC – Single Crochet

Pattern Notes:
     I do have a more detailed, photo tutorial for both pieces of this blanket – How to Crochet a Solid Granny Square ; How to Join Granny Squares using the Single Crochet Method.

     I will refer to my colors as what they are. Feel free to replace them with the colors of your choosing. You will need 64 squares in total – 32 in your main color, 16 each in two coordinating colors, and a border/joining color I made – 32 in Denim, 16 in Pale Denim and 16 in Dark Denim. 

     When working the border, don’t begin in the corner as there is a lot of pressure and weight from the first stitches. The corners aren’t as strong as the rest of the stitches.

Suggested Maximum Daily Crochet Plan for this Blanket:
Day 1 – Crochet 8 Granny Squares Weave in Ends (70 mins)
Day 2 – Crochet 8 Granny Squares Weave in Ends
Day 3 – Crochet 8 Granny Squares Weave in Ends
Day 4 – Crochet 8 Granny Squares Weave in Ends
Day 5 – Crochet 8 Granny Squares Weave in Ends
Day 6 – Crochet 8 Granny Squares Weave in Ends
Day 7 – Crochet 8 Granny Squares Weave in Ends
Day 8 – Crochet 8 Granny Squares Weave in Ends

Day 9 – Join Squares in one direction (75 mins)
Day 10 – Join Squares in other direction

Day 11 – Crochet the Border (60 mins)

Since I like to crochet non-stop, though I did not limit myself on this blanket, I will on my next of the same. Not only to give myself a break but also so I don’t get bored (not that I did, but I may). If you don’t have as much time as I do (4 hours-ish + a day), but do have about an hour and a half-ish a day, then you will have this blanket finished in about 11 days if following the same plan. Sounds crazy long, but blankets take lots of time, especially granny’s.

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