Crochet baby blanket patterns are fun projects for crocheters of all abilities, as you get all the joy of creating a crochet blanket... but you don't have to make it to a massive size (not like that epic bed spread you gave up on!)
So whether you're looking for the perfect baby gift to hook up, or want to decorate your own little ones room in gorgeous crochet, you'll find plenty of ideas and inspiration in our list of top crochet baby blanket patterns.
We've included a range of patterns to suit all abilities, so if you're wanting to find out how to crochet a baby blanket for the very first time, or are looking for a show-stopping project, there's something for everyone!
If you find the perfect crochet baby blanket pattern below, but don't know what yarn you want to use, then you might find our guide to the best yarn for baby blankets helpful.
Crochet baby blanket sizes
Baby blanket come in all shapes and sizes, and many of the free crochet patterns for baby blankets we've included below can be easily adjusted to suit your needs. However, there are some general guidelines to bear in mind for determining the best crochet baby blanket sizes.
You want your blanket to be big enough to comfortably cover baby, but not so big that it swamps them or that they can get tangled or wrapped up in – they need to be able to kick it off if they get too warm. As a general rule of thumb, larger crochet baby blanket patterns measure approx. 100cm/40inches, with smaller blankets measuring approx 60cm/23inches.
Of course the shape of the blanket can make a difference to crochet baby blanket sizes too. Square blankets are often smaller and used for swaddling, whereas larger rectangular blankets are more commonly used in cribs.
Free crochet baby blanket patterns
We've rounded up our favourite free crochet patterns for baby blankets for you to try! Below you'll find a range of patterns that use a variety of techniques and can easily be customised.
Free striped baby blanket crochet pattern
Let's start with one of our own free patterns! This gorgeous free striped baby blanket crochet pattern by Emma Potter has a lovely texture thanks to the staggered shell stitch, which combined with some super soft yarn make it perfect for wrapping up newborns in!
Find the Free striped baby blanket crochet pattern here
Squishy baby blanket free crochet pattern
As well as keeping baby wrapped up warm, crochet baby blankets also come in handy for when baby wants to have a wriggle on the floor.
This fabulous squishy blanket from Paintbox yarns uses their chenille yarn to create a plump chunky blanket with a squishy feel that baby will love touching and rolling around on (plus you can always throw it in the washing machine if it does get dirty on the floor).
Download the free squishy baby blanket crochet pattern from Lovecrafts
Free Granny Square Baby Blanket Crochet Pattern
When it comes to crochet baby blankets, you can't beat a classic granny square.
This free granny square baby blanket crochet pattern is a super-simple project that even crochet beginners can try (if you're new to granny squares, you can check out our handy how to crochet a granny square tutorial).
Find the Free Granny Square Baby Blanket Crochet Pattern here
Free cocoon baby blanket crochet pattern
If you want to ensure your baby is super snuggled up, then you'll have peace of mind with this free cocoon baby blanket crochet pattern by Bernat.
Perfect for keeping those cute little toes all comfy and warm!
Find the Free cocoon baby blanket crochet pattern on Yarnspirations
Sleep under the Stars Free baby blanket crochet pattern
The Sleep under the Stars baby blanket from Paintbox Yarns is a 12 point star worked in the round, and features 6 colourful stripes.
As it's made in the Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky yarn which has 64 colours in the range, you can easily customise it with your own favourite colours!
Find the Sleep under the Stars Free baby blanket crochet pattern on Lovecrafts
Free Bunny Comforter baby blanket pattern
We all love a quick crochet project, but full size crochet baby blankets do take a bit of time. So if you're after a quick crochet fix, why not make your little one a comforter, like this free Bunny Comforter baby blanket pattern from Red Heart - guaranteed crochet cuddles!
You can also buy a kit with everything you need to make it from Yarnspirations too!
Find the Free Bunny Comforter baby blanket pattern on Yarnspirations
Snuggly sewing
Love a super-cute sewing project? Then check out our how to make a baby comforter sewing tutorial.
Free bunny baby blanket crochet pattern
Baby due around Easter time? Or maybe you just love adorable bunnies?
Either way, this fabulous free Easter bunny baby blanket crochet pattern is super-sweet and great for practicing your crochet colourwork.
How to crochet a baby blanket with corner to corner crochet
If you've never tried corner-to corner crochet before (also know as C2C), then you've gotta try it!
Once you've mastered the basics it's super-addictive, and is also really easy to customise with your own designs if you feel like getting creative.
Find the How to crochet a baby blanket tutorial here
Watch Me Grow free crochet baby blanket pattern
We all know that babies don't stay babies for long, before you know it they'll be troublesome toddlers! So here's a fun crochet project that will help you preserve those precious memories of baby days.
The Watch Me Grow free crochet baby blanket pattern is a simple stitch blanket at heart, but with crochet numbers so that you can take a picture of your lovely little one each month to commemorate their development in their first year - such a sweet idea!
And if you're completely new to crochet and don't know where to start with how to crochet a baby blanket, there's also a handy video tutorial for this blanket too!
Find the Free Watch Me Grow crochet baby blanket pattern on Yarnspirations
Free star baby blanket crochet pattern
Try something less conventional than your standard rectangular baby blanket with this free star baby blanket crochet pattern from Bernat.
It may look tricky, but once you get started you'll find it's easier than you think, and with it's funky stripes with variegated yarn you'll have plenty of fun crocheting it!
Find the Free star baby blanket crochet pattern on Yarnspirations
Free rainbow baby blanket crochet pattern
Perhaps you just want to keep things simple? Or maybe baby is due imminently and you need to hook a crochet baby blanket super-quick? Well you can't go wrong with this Rainbow aran baby blanket crochet pattern from Paintbox Yarns.
Simple stitches and straightforward stripes – even crochet beginners can handle this fun project!
Little knits
Handy with a pair of needles? Take a look at our guide on what to knit for babies.
Must-make crochet baby blanket patterns
Why stop at just one crochet baby blanket? So that you can keep baby covered in a blanket to suit every style and season, here's more of our favourite crochet baby blanket patterns that are available at reasonable prices.
Heirloom baby blanket pattern collection
Hannah Cross is the super-star designer behind many of the crochet baby blankets that have appeared in Simply Crochet magazine.
With a flair for creating stunning designs featuring soothing stitch combinations, you can now get 5 of her amazing crochet baby blanket patterns for less than £5 in her heirloom baby blanket crochet pattern collection!
Buy the Heirloom baby blanket crochet pattern collection on Etsy
Rainbow of Stars baby blanket crochet pattern
If you're looking for a more colourful crochet pattern, then you'll love this adorable Rainbow of Stars baby blanket crochet pattern by Helen McLean.
With it's fabulous square motifs and rainbow edging, it's the perfect blanket for your little star!
Buy the Rainbow of Stars baby blanket crochet pattern on Etsy
Unicorn baby blanket crochet pattern
Here's a super-popular baby blanket crochet pattern that appeared in issue 73 of Simply Crochet magazine. This hooded Unicorn baby blanket crochet pattern is a super fun make for you and wraps up baby in a bit of unicorn magic.
If you fancy making this Unicorn baby blanket crochet pattern, you can still buy issue 73 of Simply Crochet as a digital issue.
Spiralling into the unknown crochet blanket pattern
We love the crochet spirals in this fabulous blanket by Flo and Dot.
This Spiralling into the unknown crochet blanket pattern is for a full size blanket, but you can easily make it a smaller baby blanket thanks to its square construction.
Buy the Spiralling into the unknown crochet blanket pattern on Etsy
Star in a Star baby blanket crochet pattern
We're big fans of hexagon motifs - there's just something so pleasing about the way they all interlock together.
This gorgeous Star in a star baby blanket crochet pattern by Red Sparrow Crochet combines our love of hexagons with stunning stars - it's a crochet blanket that will be treasured forever!
Buy the Star in a star baby blanket crochet pattern on Etsy
Jay baby blanket crochet pattern
Here's another crochet baby blanket that we think would make a great project for crochet beginners who fancy learning some new techniques.
The Jay baby blanket crochet pattern by KnothingUsual combines simple stitches with some more fun techniques like filet crochet, popcorn/puff stitches and some fancy edging.
Buy the Jay baby blanket crochet pattern on Etsy
Rainbow Lion crochet baby blanket pattern
We totally fell in love with this blanket design from the first moment we saw it!
This Rainbow Lion crochet baby blanket pattern is another classic square motif blanket, but it's all about those super-cute rainbow fringe manes on those happy little lions that really makes it super-cute!
Buy the Rainbow Lion crochet baby blanket pattern on Etsy
Zookeepers Baby Blanket crochet pattern
Don't stop at just lions - why not crochet up a whole menagerie of animal granny squares with this amazing Zookeeper's Blanket crochet pattern by Justine Walley.
With 30 different animals, it'll keep babies and toddlers interested with all those different textures and characters, plus it's also a great stash-busting project too!
Buy the Zookeepers Baby Blanket crochet pattern on Lovecrafts
Filet Elephant baby blanket crochet pattern
Whether you're making a blanket for a baby boy or baby girl, you can't go wrong with a cute gender neutral elephant design!
This crochet elephant baby blanket pattern uses filet crochet to create a lovely elephant detail, perfected with a sweet little heart at the end of its trunk!
Buy the crochet elephant baby blanket pattern on Etsy
Modern crochet baby blanket pattern
Here's another brilliant crochet blanket design by the amazing HanJanCrochet. Her modern crochet baby blanket pattern features loads of different stitch combinations, and the gender neutral colour choice makes it a great gift project even if you don't know who's expected!
Buy the Modern crochet baby blanket pattern on Etsy
Filet heart baby blanket crochet pattern
Here's a simple design that would look fantastic in any babies bedroom. This filet heart baby blanket crochet pattern from Sirdar is a great introduction to filet crochet, and with a subtle elegant design it's bound to be loved by any new parent.
Hooked up in Sirdar Snuggly 4ply yarn, it's super-soft and as it's made in a single colour, you can choose the perfect shade for your little one.
Buy the Filet heart baby blanket crochet pattern on TheKnittingNetwork
Keep calm with crochet baby blanket patterns
Whether you're about to become a new parent or know a friend or family member that is expecting, counting down the days to the arrival of a new baby can be an anxious and stressful time (and that's before all the sleepless nights).
Focussing on making a crochet baby blanket can be a great distraction and give you a simple project to focus on. And if you happen to have your blanket finished before baby arrives, there's plenty more baby makes to keep you busy.
Help little feet look fabulous
Your blanket will keep baby all wrapped up, but what about those little toes poking out? No worries, keep them all snug with the free baby booties crochet pattern from Gathered.
