This easy crochet baby blanket pattern is made of double crochet stitches worked diagonally starting in one corner and ending the opposite corner. It features color blocks, some filet crochet details, and a sweet shell border.
Corner to Corner Crochet (C2C)
I love making diagonal blankets. I don’t know what it is about them, but they always seem to go quicker than the standard sideways row blanket. They are my go-to crochet baby blanket patterns.
Did you know that the popular “Corner-to-Corner” crochet stitch is actually called the diagonal box stitch? Corner to Corner speaks more to the direction you are crocheting than the actual stitch name! We could call this the Corner-to-Corner Double Crochet Blanket.
There are so many stitches that can be done this way! All it takes is increases on each edge of the row until the center and then decreases on each row edge until you get back to the number you started with.
This blanket was inspired by this square from my 2019 Stash Busting Blanket.
The Yarn
For this blanket, I chose to use Caron Simply Soft Yarn. This is a soft and shiny worsted weight yarn that, in my opinion, makes a great baby blanket. Some people complain that this yarn splits when you crochet with it but I’ve found that if you pull yarn from the outside rather than use the center pull it splits a lot less.
If you want to use a different yarn, here are a couple of alternatives:
- Lion Brand Heartland
- Red Heart Soft
- We Crochet Brava Worsted
Blocking Your Blanket
This blanket really benefitted from blocking. To block your blanket, lay it out on some foam mats or towels and, using rust-proof pins, pin it to the shape you want. Lightly steam it with a garment steamer or the steam setting on your iron. If you use an iron, be sure not to touch the iron to your yarn because it will melt. Then just let it dry.
Materials and Pattern Information
- 1071yds Caron Simply Soft (315 yds/6oz) or similar worsted weight yarn in 3 colors
- CA: 441 yds (Strawberry = color in sample)
- CB: 315 yds (Soft Pink = color in sample)
- CC: 315 yds (White = color in sample)
- 5mm crochet hook
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
Gauge and Sizing
- Gauge: 8 sts x 4 rows = 2 in. in double crochet
- Finished Size: approx. 30in x 30 in before border
Abbreviations
- US Terminology
- Ch(s): chain(s)
- Dc: double crochet
- Dc2tog: double crochet 2 sts together, double crochet decrease
- Instruction: yarnover (yo), insert hook into st indicated, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops ( 2 loops on hook). Yo insert hook into next st, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook) Yo pull through all 3 loops.
- Dc3tog: double crochet 3 sts together, double crochet decrease
- Instruction: yarnover (yo), insert hook into st indicated, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops ( 2 loops on hook). *Yo insert hook into next st, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook). Repeat from * 1 more time (4 loops on hook). Yo pull through all 4 loops.
- Dc4tog: double crochet 4 sts together, double crochet decrease
- Instruction: yarnover (yo), insert hook into st indicated, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops ( 2 loops on hook). *Yo insert hook into next st, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook). Repeat from * 2 more times. Yo pull through all 5 loops.
- Sc: single crochet
Notes
Turning chains count as a stitch
On decreasing rows ch 2 counts as part of the decrease. Do not work stitches into base of turning chain on these rows.
Steam blocking is recommended
This blanket is worked diagonally, starting in one corner, increasing to the widest point, and then decreasing back to the opposite corner.
You will alternate between 2 and 3 stitch increases each row. Even rows you will increase by 4 stitches and odd rows you will increase by 2 stitches.
The opposite is true for decreasing (even decreases by 2, odd decreases by 4)
Color Changes:
| Color A | Color B | Color C | Color A |
| Rows 1-26 | Rows 28-50 | Rows 51-66 | Rows 67-100 |
Easy Crochet Baby Blanket Written Instructions
Increase Rows
Row 1: Ch 4, 4 dc in 4th ch from hook, turn. (5 dc)
Row 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in same st as ch 3, dc across until 1 st remains. 3 dc in last st. Turn (9 dc)
Row 3: Ch 3, Dc in same st as ch 3, dc across until 1 st remains, 2 dc in last. (11 dc)
Row 4: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), dc in same st as ch 4, *ch 1, skip 1, dc in next. Repeat across. Ch 1, dc in same st as last dc. (8 dc, 7 ch-1 spaces)
Row 5: Ch 3, dc in same st as ch 3, dc in each st and ch-1 space across until 1 st remains. 2 dc in last st. Turn (17 dc)
Rows 6-50: Repeat frows 2-5, ending on row 2.
Decrease Rows
Row 51: Ch 2, dc2tog over next 2 sts (Ch 2 + Dc2tog counts as dc3tog), dc across until 3 sts remain. Dc3tog over last 3 sts. Turn
Row 52: Ch 2, dc in next st (Ch 2 + dc counts as dc2tog), *ch 1, skip 1, dc in next. Repeat across until 3 sts remain. Ch 1, skip 1, dc2tog. Turn
Row 53: Ch 2, dc2tog over next 2 sts (Ch 2 + Dc2tog counts as dc3tog), dc in each st and ch-1 space across until, 3 sts remain. Dc3tog. Turn.
Row 54: Ch 2, dc in next (Ch 2 + dc counts as dc2tog), dc across until 2 sts remain. Dc2tog. Turn.
Rows 55-99: repeat rows 51-54, ending on row 53
Row 100: Ch 2, Dc4tog over next 4 sts. (Ch 4 + Dc4tog counts as dc5tog). Continue to border (1 st)
Border
Rnd 1-3: Sc evenly around, placing (sc, ch 1, sc) in each corner space. Finish off after rnd 3
TIP: place 2 sc in each row end to get an even edge
Rnd 4: Attach yarn to any corner, ch 1, sc in same corner. [*Skip 1 st, 5 dc in next, skip 1, sc in next, repeat from * across edge to next corner. Your last sc should end in corner ch 1 space, you may have to skip 2 to end up in the corner. (ch 1, sc) in same corner] 3 more times. On last repeat join to top of 1st sc with sl st. Finish off and weave in ends.
I discovered that on the decreasing side that when you turn, the chain 2 is to not be included in the dc2tog or dc3tog. After doing it this way, the blanket turned out evenly