About This Pattern
This blanket starts as a small ring on your lap. It grows square, round by round, like a quiet conversation. Each corner adds a little more weight to hold. The open mesh keeps it light for warm evenings. It wants a calm lap, good light, and no interruptions mid-corner. By the last rounds, it fills your whole lap. That is when you know it is nearly done.
In the basket
Abbreviations
- ch
- chain
- sl st
- slip stitch
- sc
- single crochet
- hdc
- half double crochet
- dc
- double crochet
- sk
- skip
- sp
- space
- st
- stitch
- beg
- beginning
- UK equivalent note
- US double crochet is equivalent to UK treble crochet, and US single crochet is equivalent to UK double crochet.
Pink square baby blanket worked from the center out
Main Pattern
This blanket is worked from the center outward in joined rounds. Turning chains do not count as stitches. Join each round with a slip stitch to the first stitch unless instructed otherwise.
- Round 1Ch 4. Join with sl st to form a ring. Ch 3, work 2 dc into ring, ch 2, (3 dc into ring, ch 2) repeat 3 times. Join with sl st. (12 dc)
- Round 2Sl st across to corner space. Ch 3, 1 dc in same space, ch 2, 2 dc in same space. Work 2 dc in each stitch across to next corner. In each corner work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc). Repeat around. Join. (28 dc)
- Round 3Ch 3, dc in each stitch across. In each corner space work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc). Join. (44 dc)
- Round 4Ch 3, dc across to corner. In corner work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc). Continue around. Join. (60 dc)
- Round 5Ch 3, dc in next 2 sts, ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next 3 sts. Repeat this pattern across each side. Work (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner. Join.
- Round 6Ch 3, work dc in each stitch and ch-1 space around. Corners remain (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc). Join.
- Round 7Ch 3, *dc in next 4 sts, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts; repeat from * across side. Work corner stitches as established. Join.
- Round 8Ch 3, dc in each stitch and chain space around. Work corners as established. Join.
- Rounds 9–22Continue increasing in the same square pattern. On solid rounds, work dc in every stitch. On lace rounds, work alternating dc sections and chain spaces while maintaining the corner increases. End with a solid round.
- Round 23Ch 1, sc in each stitch around. Work 3 sc in each corner space. Join.
- Round 24Ch 1, sc in first stitch, skip 2 stitches, work 5 dc in next stitch, skip 2 stitches, sc in next stitch. Repeat around. Join and fasten off.
Project Details
Project Name Sweet Blossom Baby Blanket Skill Level Confident Beginner Finished Size Approximately 36 x 36 inches (91 x 91 cm)
Yarn Approximately 1,500 yards (1,372 meters) DK weight soft washable yarn Hook 4.0 mm US G/6 crochet hook Gauge 18 dc x 10 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
Terminology US crochet terms
Special Stitch
Cluster: Work 3 dc into the same stitch or space.
Corner space: Each corner is created by working (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) into the same corner space.
Before the first stitch
- Check you have close to 1,500 yards of DK yarn before casting on.
- Read Round 5 once before you start it. The chain-1 spaces change the rhythm.
- Place a marker at each corner space after Round 2. Corners are easy to lose in lace.
Minutes per piece
- Rounds 1-4 about 45 minutes, because the stitch counts are plain and the corners are simple
- Rounds 5-9 about 2-3 hours, because the mesh pattern needs steady counting at each side
Other yarns that work
- cotton blend, DK weight Gives a crisper stitch definition. Drapes slightly stiffer, so block well to open the lace.
- bamboo blend, DK weight Softer against skin with a gentle sheen. Yardage needs may shift slightly, so buy a little extra.
Where it ends up
- A newborn gift for a baby shower.
- Nursery decor for a baby girl's room.
- A special handmade keepsake.
- A stroller blanket, stopped around 30 inches (76 cm).
Joining up
- Step 1 Weave in all loose ends using a tapestry needle. Gently block the blanket by laying it flat, shaping the corners, and allowing the stitches to relax. Blocking helps open the lace sections and creates a smoother finished appearance.
- Step 2 Handmade crochet blankets look their best after careful finishing. Blocking gently shapes the blanket, improves stitch definition, and helps the scalloped border lay neatly.
- Step 3 For long-lasting softness, wash the blanket according to the yarn label instructions. A gentle wash cycle or hand washing with mild detergent is usually recommended for baby blankets. Dry flat to help maintain the shape.
Small notes
- Use a 4.0 mm hook and keep your corners loose. Tight corners pull the square out of shape.
- Mark each corner chain-2 space from Round 2 onward. It saves you from counting back mid-round.
- Check gauge before starting. Eighteen double crochets and ten rows should equal 4 inches.
- Color suggestion: a pastel pink shade is used here, but the design also works beautifully in cream, lavender, mint, pale yellow, or a modern neutral palette. A simple color change between sections can create a striped or gradient effect.
- Important: When making baby items, choose soft washable yarn and avoid adding buttons, beads, ribbons, or loose decorations that could become unsafe for infants and young children.
Little questions
Can I make this blanket bigger?
Yes, keep adding rounds past Round 9. The center-out construction lets you stop at any size you like, continuing to about 45 to 50 inches for a larger toddler blanket.
What if I only need a smaller stroller size?
Stop around 30 inches (76 cm), which is roughly where the earlier rounds land. Block it there and weave in ends.
Do I need stitch markers?
They are optional, but corners are easy to misplace in lace. Marking each corner space starting at Round 2 helps.
Can I use a different yarn weight?
DK gives the stated gauge and finished size. A different weight changes both, so check your gauge first and adjust your hook size if needed.
Original pattern: https://duniarecipe.com/free-crochet-baby-girl-blanket-patterns-pink-baby-blanket-ideas/
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.
