Sweet Fantasy Granny Square Baby Blanket – Free Crochet Pattern

This blanket has been a work in progress for a month or so. The progress was halted when I realized my blanket was smaller than expected. I had to go back and add squares on either side of the blanket to add to the size, which was no big deal, but then I ran out of the Fantasy colorway with one and a half squares left! To make matters worse, my local Hobby Lobby was out of the color and back ordered. Yikes! Finally got my hand on some though at a different Hobby Lobby a little further from me, and finished the blanket! And I LOVE IT!

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 EyeLoveKnots Etsy shop too, but for now, I only have the baby size.

Materials:
     – 969 yards of a light weight worsted weight (4) yarn – I used Hobby Lobby‘s I Love This Cotton Yarn – about 2.25 skeins of Fantasy, about 2 skeins of Bright Teal, and about 1.33 skeins of Hot Orchid.
     – I9/5.5mm Crochet Hook
     – Tapestry Needle for Weaving in Ends – I like to use a #18, or #20.

Material Notes:
     You will get 8 squares out of the variegated yarn (Fantasy), and 9.5 squares out of the solid colored yarn (Teal).

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. 

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 12.75 hours – each square taking about 13 minutes each, the joining at just over ten minutes each way, and the border at about 30 minutes per round. 
I’ve included my suggestion for construction down in the Pattern Notes section!

Measurement:
     This baby blanket measures 30.5″ x 30.5″. 
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 36 squares in total – I made 18 in Fantasy, and 18 in Bright Teal. 

     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 6 Granny Squares and Weave in Ends (76.5 mins)
Day 2 – Crochet 5 Granny Squares and Weave in Ends (63.75 mins)
Day 3 – Crochet 5 Granny Squares and Weave in Ends
Day 4 – Crochet 5 Granny Squares and Weave in Ends
Day 5 – Crochet 5 Granny Squares and Weave in Ends
Day 6 – Crochet 5 Granny Squares and Weave in Ends
Day 7 – Crochet 5 Granny Squares and Weave in Ends

Day 8 – Join Squares in one direction (75 mins)
Day 9 – Join Squares in other direction

Day 10 – Crochet the Border (90 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 10 days if following the same plan. Sounds crazy long, but blankets take lots of time, especially granny’s.

Layout:

Joining at the end of each round will be done in the 2nd chain of the beginning chain 5.

I joined at the end with an invisible join. Not sure how? Visit my Solid Granny Square tutorial to view a photo tutorial.

Solid Granny Square Pattern:

This is the same pattern as my Solid Granny Square except it has one less row. For your convenience, I am including a text version below. Visit the post if you would like to see a photo tutorial for it.

 

R1: Chain 5. Join to form a ring. Chain 5, 2 DC into the ring, chain 3, (3 DC into the ring, chain 3) three times. Join. (12 DC)

R2: Slip stitch over one, into the chain space. Chain 5, 2 DC into the same chain space, DC into each of the next 3 DC’s, (2 DC into the next chain space, chain 3, 2 DC into the same chain space, DC into each of the next 3 DC’s) three times. DC into the next chain space. Join. (28 DC)

 

R3: Slip stitch over one, into the chain space. Chain 5, 2 DC into the same chain space, DC into each of the next 7 DC’s, (2 DC into the next chain space, chain 3, 2 DC into the same chain space, DC into each of the next 7 DC’s) three times. DC into the next chain space. Join. (44 DC)

R4: Slip stitch over one, into the chain space. Chain 2, DC into the same chain space, chain 3, 2 DC into the same chain space, DC into each of the next 11 DC’s, (2 DC into the next chain space, chain 3, 2 DC into the same chain space, DC into each of the next 11 DC’s) three times. Invisible Join to 1st DC. (60 DC)

Fasten Off. Work an Invisible Join.

Join Your Squares Together using the Single Crochet Method – I joined mine with the Hot Orchid colorway.

1: Hold two squares together, wrong sides facing each other. 

2: Attach yarn. Make sure to work in both layers together.

3: Chain 1, SC in the same chain space.

4: SC across to next chain space. Work a SC in this chain space, and then work the first half of a single crochet decrease…

1: Grab your next set of squares – 

make sure to hold them together wrong sides facing…

2: Finish the decrease in the next chain space, 

followed by a SC in the same chain space.

3: Continue SC across. Continue in same manner across.

4: At the end of the row, 2 SC in the same chain space and fasten off.

No need to weave in ends as the border will work over them.

You will find by working the join in this manner, it will create a ridge.

If you don’t want a ridge on your finished blanket, perhaps sewing your squares together or working in the join as you go method would be better suited for you.

After you have your squares joined in one direction, you will find you have a gap in between. We we now work in the same joining manner to close up this gap.

1: Turn your piece, and line up your squares so you can start over going in the other direction.

2: SC across to the chain space. Work 1 SC in each chain space – this should sandwich the first ridge.

3: Continue SC across.

4: Shows the intersection of squares.

Border – also worked in Hot Orchid:

At the end of joining your final row, don’t fasten off. You will just turn your piece and begin working around the blanket to complete your blanket. 

 

To do so, after the final single crochet into the chain space, work a single crochet into the same chain space but only into the top layer and around the outer part of the square.

Left to Right, Top to Bottom. Shows Row 1 in images. 1. After Final single crochet, flatten piece; 2. Work 2 SC into the immediate chain and across; 3. SC in the chain space, work first half of single crochet decrease…; 4. Work 2nd half of decrease into next chain space, SC in same space and in each stitch across; 5. Crochet up to final chain space…; 6. Work 5 single crochet into final chain space to form corner.

R1: Work 2 SC into the immediate chain space and in each of the next 15 stitches, [5 SC into the next chain space – to form a corner – (SC in the next 15 stitches, 2 SC in the next chain space, 2 SC in the next chain space – over the tail ends – ) 7 times, SC in the next 15 stitches] 3 times. 5 SC into the next chain space – the corner – (SC in the next 15 stitches, 2 SC in the next chain space, 2 SC into the next chain space) 4 times. SC in the next 15 stitches, 2 SC in the next chain space. Join go the first SC.

 

R2: Chain 1, HDC into the same stitch and in each of the next 18 stitches, (HDC into the center of the previous SC 5 – the corner – HDC in the next 114 stitches) 3 times. 5 HDC into the center of the previous SC 5 – the corner – HDC in the next 96 stitches. Join to the first HDC. 

 

R3 – Shell Edge: Slip stitch over 2, chain 2, DC 2 in the same stitch (forming the first half of the first shell), skip 2 stitches, SC in the next stitch, skip 2 stitches, (5 DC in the next stitch, skip 2 stitches, SC in the next stitch, skip 2 stitches, 5 DC in the next stitch, skip 1 stitch, SC in the next stitch, skip 2 stitches, 5 DC in the next stitch – forming a corner – [skip 2 stitches, SC in the next stitch, skip 2 stitches, (5 DC in the next stitch, skip 1 stitch, SC in the next stitch, skip 2 stitches, 5 DC in the next stitch – forming a corner – ] 3 times. Skip 2 stitches, SC in the next stitch, skip 2 stitches, (5 DC in the next stitch, skip 2 stitches, SC in the next stitch, skip 2 stitches) 16 times. 2 DC in the next stitch (completing the beginning shell). Join to the 1st DC. 

 

Fasten Off. Weave in Ends. 


Please feel free to make and sell your own Granny Square Baby Blanket, but please DO NOT claim this pattern as your own nor should you sell my pattern, and DO NOT re-publish my photos as your own. DO NOT copy and paste my pattern anywhere, link to it instead.

What a beautiful blanket that you’ve just been made!

With so many size, yarn type and color options, I would love to see them! Please share your photos on my EyeLoveKnots Facebook page!