About This Pattern
This blanket lives in one evening, maybe two. One skein of worsted acrylic makes the whole body. The stitch pattern is just sc and dc pairs, repeated. A shell border finishes the edges without extra fuss. It needs a size I-9 hook, a little patience for the border round, and a lap big enough for 28 inches of fabric. Good for the sofa, good for waiting rooms, good for small stretches of quiet.
In the basket
Yarn
Amount
Hook
Notions
Abbreviations
- ch
- chain
- st
- stitch
- sts
- stitches
- sl st
- slip stitch
- sc
- single crochet
- hdc
- half double crochet
- dc
- double crochet
- sk
- skip
- shell
- shell stitch
One skein baby blanket with a shell border
chain
- Round 1Sk first ch, (sc, dc) in 2nd ch from hook. [Sk 1 ch, (sc, dc) in next ch] ; repeat across until last 2 ch remain.Sk next ch, sc in last ch .(TIP: You will have a mixture of (sc, dc) pairs and 1 sc at the end.)
- Round 2And all rows for Blanket Body Ch 1, turn. (Sc, dc) in first st. [Sk 1 dc, (sc, dc) in next sc] ; repeat across to last two sts.Sk 1 dc, sc in final sc .(You’ll always work only in sc from previous row.)Repeat Row 2 until you have 81 rows total (or to desired length).
TIP: Place a stitch marker every 5 or 10 rows to count easily.
Border
Setup Fasten off.
With right side facing, join yarn with a sl st to any corner.
- Round 1HDC Base Ch 1 (does not count as stitch). Work 1 hdc in each st across the top.
Top/Bottom
Sides: 81 hdc each
- Round 2Shell Border Move to a new starting point: Sl st in next 2 sts to reach border starting st.Shell Stitch in Next St: (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in same st (shell made)[Skip 2, shell in next]: Skip next 2 sts (do not count any part of shell as a “skipped” st if it covers it).(2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in next st .Repeat across edge to 2 sts before corner.
Down sides
- Round 1Work 1 hdc in the end of each row (row-end stitches can be tight—look for the “row gaps” and insert into the end stitch/bar).(1)
- Round 2Across bottom (foundation edge), 1 hdc in every foundation ch.(1)
- Round 3Close round: Sl st to top of 1st hdc. Stitch Count after Round 1:
More pictures
Before the first stitch
- Check your skein yardage matches 875 yards before starting a larger size.
- Read the Border round once before you fasten off the body.
- Count your starting chain for an even number, since the pattern needs multiples of two.
Minutes per piece
- Blanket body (chain and rows) about 2-3 hours, because the sc-dc pattern repeats across many stitches
- Border (Round 1 and 2, shell stitch) about 1-2 hours, because the shell spacing needs careful counting at corners
Other yarns that work
- Cotton, worsted weight Firmer drape, cooler feel, same I-9 hook works well.
- Acrylic-wool blend, worsted weight Softer hand, warmer finish, may need one extra skein for larger sizes.
Where it ends up
- A stroller blanket, paired with a matching hat.
- A car-seat throw, kept folded by the door.
- A lap blanket for reading time, paired with a small pillow.
Joining up
- Step 1 Fasten off, leaving a long tail.
- Step 2 With a yarn needle, securely weave in all ends, passing back and forth through several stitches for strength.
Small notes
- Use a size I-9 hook throughout; a smaller hook will tighten the drape.
- Keep tension even across the sc-dc pairs, since loose spots show in a one-color piece.
- Mark each corner before Round 2, so the shell stitch lands correctly at turns.
Little questions
Can I use two colors instead of one?
Yes, the pattern works fine with contrast. Just add a second skein for the border, since color changes use a little more yarn.
Will one skein really finish the whole blanket?
the 28.5 by 30.5 inch size, yes. Larger sizes need an extra skein, as the intro notes.
What if I want an adult throw instead?
Add stitches to your starting chain in multiples of two. Add extra skeins to match the larger area.
Is the shell border hard for beginners?
It takes some counting, but no new stitches. Read Round 2 once before starting, and it goes smoothly.
Original pattern: https://redagapeblog.com/easy-one-skein-baby-blanket/
About the Author
Tamsin Okoro Who writes the patterns at Yarn Gallery, how a pattern gets from the hook to the page, and what this site will never do.
