Hello! Welcome to Couch Surfer Crochet!
My year has started with baby news from quite a few friends and family members! You know as a crafter that made me so excited to get started on new projects.
One of my friends has decided to be surprised instead of finding out the gender beforehand, so I wanted to be sure to make something that could be considered gender neutral. I figured this would be the perfect time to use up some of my yarn stash and make something super colorful.
This also helps me keep one of my resolutions for this year. Like many of you, I’m sure, I found myself with soooo much yarn in my stash. In an effort to save money, and to hopefully think more creatively, I want to use what I have before I buy more.
So here you have the Stash Buster Baby Blanket Pattern!
To begin with you will need to make 30 two-round granny squares. If you would like a tutorial on the granny square, please click here. That link goes to the granny square tutorial that was part of another project, the Hip to be Square Crochet Along. For this blanket you only do two rounds of the granny square pattern.
You will need an I/9 5.5 mm hook.
For the edging, joining, and border you will use one color. I used Red Heart Super Saver in Soft White.
Add one solid round to each of your granny squares:
Starting in corner, [Ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2dc], * dc in each st and ch sp to corner, [2dc, ch2, 2dc] in corner, repeat from * around, fasten off, weave in ends
Once you’ve added a solid row to each square you will need to join them. I just laid my squares out and moved them around until I liked the way the colors looked together.
I wanted an easy joining method that wouldn’t take away from all those pops of color. Here is a complete step by step tutorial to the joining method I used.
I joined all of the squares in one direction, then turned and joined them the other way. Since you have 30 squares in total, make your design 5 squares by 6 squares.
Here’s a close up of the join when you are joining the second part. Be sure to use your hook to pull your yarn through the crossing stitch to make sure your blanket stays together tight and sturdy.
Don’t worry about weaving those ends in now. You can crochet over them when adding the final rows.
The two final rows keep this blanket simple. Of course you can add more rows if you’d like. I liked how the “ladder” row and the final row mimic the stitches around the granny squares.
Adding the border:
R1: (starting in corner), [Ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2dc], * sk 1 st, dc in next st to corner, [2dc, ch 2, 2dc] in corner, repeat from * around
**** make sure to include a dc in the “gap” space from the joining row below
R2: (sl st to corner), [Ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2dc] in corner, * dc in each st to corner, [2dc, ch 2, 2dc] in corner, repeat from * around, fasten off, weave in ends
There you have it! It looks so delicate, but is really easy. I’m working on another one of these right now using different shades of blue for a friend who is expecting a boy. I love how versatile you can make this blanket.
Please, please, please feel free to share your work with me! I would love to see your progress and finished pieces. Half the joy of creating is sharing it! You can post your work here in the comments, on my Facebook page, or you can join the Couch Surfer Crocheters FB Group!
If you’re looking for projects that work up more quickly, check out the Cotton Washcloths, the Crochet Beret, or the Stripey Scarf!
If you are on Instagram and want to share there, please tag me @couchsurfercrochet. I’m on Pinterest and Twitter as @couchsurferarts!
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Looking for other patterns to try?! Check out my ETSY shop or my Ravelry store!