The Watercolor Baby Blanket crochet pattern features an easy crochet stitch and uses self-striping yarn to create a painterly striped look, without all the ends to weave in.
Baby blankets are my favorite crochet baby shower gift to give. They are easy to customize and don’t take that long to make.
Not all baby blankets I make are for gifts though, no one I know is having a baby right now but I NEEDED to try out this idea I had. I’m so glad I went ahead with it anyway because it turned out so well and I enjoyed seeing it come together.
Self Striping Yarn
This blanket uses 3 different colors of Lion Brand Ice Cream Yarn. This is an acrylic, category #3/Dk self-striping yarn. It reminds me of the feel of Mandala, but it is striped not color blocks. I picked 3 colors that I could blend together.
Blue Moon had the blues from Moon Mist. Raspberry Ripple had a blue that coordinated with Blue Moon and the purple from Moon Mist. Each color flows into the other. I originally picked 4 as you can see from the photo below but decided to not use the one with the white/light pink/light blue.
You could also make this blanket with just one color of this yarn and it would look just as lovely.
Crochet Brick Stitch
The brick stitch or block stitch looks like little boxes. It is easy to do and quick to make because you are always working your stitches in spaces rather than in the tops of the stitches of the previous row.
The biggest tip for working this easy crochet stitch I have is to make sure the chain stitches on your even rows aren’t worked too tight. Making these chains tight could cause the bottom of your blanket to be wider than the top of your blanket. Full disclosure, this happened to me! I ended up pinning it out and steam-blocking it to a more even shape.
Not only does this stitch work well for self-striping yarn but you could also use a solid yarn and make your own stripes. To do this, you’ll have to change color after each row. By using one color for the single crochet rows and another for the double crochet rows, your blanket will be filled with little dots.
Materials and Pattern Information
- 3 skeins (1182 yds) Lion Brand Ice Cream Yarn (yds/oz) or similar #3/Dk weight yarn
- Colors Used: Moon Mist (CA), Blue Moon (CB), Raspberry Ripple (CC)
- I had a little bit of each color left over
- 4.5mm Hook
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
Gauge and Sizing
- Gauge: 5 dc groups x 11 rows = 4 in in pattern stitch
- Finished Size: 31in x 35in
Abbreviations
- US Terminology
- Ch(s): chain(s)
- Dc: double crochet
- Sc: sing crochet
- Sl st: Slip Stitch
Notes
- Ch 3 counts as stitch
- Ch 1 does not count as stitch
- To modify size chain multiple 3+1
- Odd rows are right side, even rows are wrong side
- Keep chain stitches on even rows loose, making them too tight will cause your blanket to shrink in width as you progress.
I have written out 2 patterns for you. The first pattern follows the exact blanket I made with the colors I chose. The second is written without color changes.
When I picked out colors for this blanket, I chose shades that I could blend together. Blue Moon (CB) had the blues from Moon Mist (CA). Raspberry Ripple had a blue that coordinated with Blue Moon (CB) and the purple from Moon Mist (CA). Each color flows into the other. Keep that in mind while you are choosing your colors.
This stitch pattern also looks really awesome when you change color after every row if you are using solid yarn.
Purchase the printable ad-free pattern here:
Watercolor Crochet Blanket Pattern Instructions
Pattern 1 – with color changes as shown in sample photo
Using CA, Ch 115 to start
Row 1 (RS): Dc in 4th ch from hook and each ch across. Turn (113 dc)
Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, sc in same st as ch 1, *ch 3, skip 3, sc between in space between last skipped st and next dc. Repeat across until 4 sts remain. Ch 3, skip 3, sc in last st. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 3, 3 dc in each ch-3 space across. Dc in last st. Turn. (37 3-dc groups)
Row 4-26: Repeat rows 2-3. Last row will be row 2. Change to CB.
Row 27-52. Using CB, repeat rows 2-3. Last row will be row 2. Change to CC.
Row 53-84: Using CC, repeat rows 2-3. Last row will be row 2. Change to CA.
Row 85-95: Using CA, repeat rows 2-3. Finish off. Do not turn.
Border: Using CC, join yarn in any corner. Ch 1, sc evenly around placing (sc, c1, sc) in each corner. Join to top of 1st sc with sl st. Finish off, weave in ends.
- TIP: To get even stitches on raw edges, place 2 sc in each dc row end and 1 sc in each sc row end.
Pattern 2 – without color changes.
Ch 115 to start
Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook and each ch across. Turn (113 dc)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in same st as ch 1, *ch 3, skip 3, sc between in space between last skipped st and next dc. Repeat across until 4 sts remain. Ch 3, skip 3, sc in last st. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 3, 3 dc in each ch-3 space across. Dc in last st. Turn. (37 3-dc groups)
Row 4-95 Repeat rows 2-3. Do not turn after last row. Continue to border.
Border: Ch 1, sc evenly around placing (sc, c1, sc) in each corner. Join to top of 1st sc with sl st. Finish off, weave in ends.
- TIP: To get even stitches on raw edges, place 2 sc in each dc row end and 1 sc in each sc row end.
Your tutorial is amazing, and I’m absolutely loving how this blanket turned out! I wanted to drop a quick message to let you know that I featured your tutorial on Crafts on Display, a growing community of crafting enthusiasts. You can check it out here – https://craftsondisplay.com/crochet/watercolor-baby-blanket-crochet-pattern-33353/