Easy-to-Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern (How to Crochet a Blanket Using Moss Stitch)

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Are you looking for a free and easy crochet baby blanket pattern?

Even if you are an absolute beginner and have no idea how to crochet a blanket, you can easily master a simple moss crochet stitch with our step-by-step photo tutorial!

It will help you quickly create this beautiful, neutral, modern, and super easy-to-crochet DIY baby blanket.

We called it ‘Woodland Blanket’ as the color scheme is inspired by soft greens and greys of the natural palette. This is one of the easiest free crochet baby blanket patterns that will go so well with modern farmhouse decor and woodland nursery theme printables.

 

Preparing for Moss Stitch Blanket Project

 

How much yarn to buy for your moss stitch easy crochet baby blanket

The whole blanket is crocheted in moss stitch which is beginner-friendly crochet stitch and is perfect for DIY baby blanket patterns as it looks the same on both sides. Moss Stitch sometimes also called “Crochet Granite Stitch”. If you want to repeat the exact look of our featured blanket, you’d need to get Vanna’s Choice Lion Brand Yarn:  3 skeins in white and 1 skein each in sage, grey marble, and silver heather.

This color scheme is perfect for a modern farmhouse nursery or woodlands theme nursery and won’t clash with any neutral decor. Of course, feel free to modify this pattern and color scheme to create your own version of a modern moss stitch baby blanket masterpiece!

 

Shopping list:

Vanna’s Choice Lion Brand Yarn (buy at Michaels, Jo-Ann – or order online)

• 3 skeins of Vanna’s Choice Lion Brand Yarn, white
• 1 skein of Vanna’s Choice Lion Brand Yarn, sage
• 1 skein of Vanna’s Choice Lion Brand Yarn, grey marble
• 1 skein of Vanna’s Choice Lion Brand Yarn, silver heather
• crochet hook

A helpful note on buying yarn:
you will have some left-over yarn in all colors after you finish this blanket. We used leftovers to create a few fun and playful tassels which help to hide and secure the tails (yarn ends). You can replace tassels with pom poms which require slightly more yarn. So, if you need 2 identical crochet blankets you can just double the white (a predominant color in this DIY baby blanket pattern) and there will be enough other colored yarn for both projects.

The other fun project will be a small lovey you can quickly crochet in an evening using left-over yarn.

We recommend that you start with a chain of 20 to test your tension and determine how many stitches to chain for your crochet blanket. We chained 92 and used crochet hook J (3 mm) to crochet 32″ x 32″ baby blanket. If you are planning to crochet a slightly bigger blanket, so the baby can grow into it, chain any even number of stitches (100, 110, 112).

Please note that if you decide to crochet a bigger blanket, you may not have as much (or any) leftover yarn. That can be a good thing, right?

How to calculate the foundation chain for this easy crochet baby blanket project (and any size blanket)

There is an easy formula to know exactly how many stitches should be in your foundation chain, according to your crochet style and tension in the fabric your crochet. First, you would need to crochet a sample with an even number of stitches (+ 2) for this project, as it requires even number (ex: 20+2).

Measure your sample. Let’s say, it measures 7 inches. Let x be our unknown number of stitches we would have to chain to reach the desired size of the baby blanket.

20 stitches – 7 inches

x (how many stitches to chain) – 32 inches (for 32″ x 32″ blanket in this example)

x = 20×32 / 7 = 91.42 (round it up to the next even number: 92 and  add 2 (for turning) = 94 stitches in the foundation chain).

You can use this simple formula to estimate your foundation chain for any project in crochet or knitting after you do a practice swatch.

 

And now let’s figure out how to crochet this blanket!

Easy crochet blanket pattern using moss stitch

Besides the chain stitch used for the foundation, there is only ONE other stitch to know for this project – single crochet (SC in US terms). The whole baby blanket pattern is created by alternating chain one (CH1) and single crochet (SC) into chain one space. Because you are inserting your hook into a SPACE between the stitches, it makes it super-easy, doesn’t require any calculations to keep up with the pattern, and your project is less prone to mistakes.

Nothing to count or remember! All rows are the same too, isn’t it great!

Both sides of the blanket look the same as well – a very nice bonus for a baby blanket. Moss stitch (also known as linen stitch) is contemporary looking thus creating a stretchy but solid fabric for a cozy and warm baby blanket. After you master it, you’ll see, how quickly it will become your go-to stitch for many quick and easy crochet projects.

The other great thing about crochet moss stitch is that it looks great when you are changing colors, as the numerous Vs from the previous row create a great crochet pattern that gives this baby blanket some extra definition and interest. You can get creative and experiment with the different width of stripes making them wider or smaller.

A step-by-step tutorial of a crochet moss stitch for our baby blanket

Start with a 20-24 chain stitch sample to check your gauge and practice the stitch.

ROW 1 (foundation row) – this is the step-by-step explanation for our photo tutorial:

1. Chain any even number of stitches ( 20 for a sample; 96-100 for this blanket).
2. Insert your crochet hook into 4th chain from the hook.
3. Pull yarn through; 2 loops on the hook.
4. Pull yarn through 2 loops. One loop on the hook You created one single crochet.
5. Chain 1.
6. Skip one chain on the foundation chain.
7. Single crochet into the next chain after the skipped one.
8. Continue with chain 1, single crochet 1 until the end of the row. The last stitch should be single crochet.

You’ve created a foundation row and will be now crocheting into chain one spaces of the foundation row – very easy and hard to miss.

ROW 2 (repeat this row for the rest of the project) – this is the step-by-step explanation for our photo tutorial:

1. Chain 2 (to turn), turn your work.
2. Find the first ‘chain one space’ from the previous row and insert your hook there.
3. Pull yarn through that space – 2 loops on the hook.
4. Pull yarn through 2 loops – you’ve completed 1 SINGLE CROCHET (in US terms) into 1st chain one space.
5. Chain 1.
6. Find the second chain one space’ from the previous row and insert your hook there, pull one loop – 2 loops on the hook.
7. Pull yarn through 2 loops – 1 SINGLE CROCHET.
8. Continue with the same pattern (1 single crochet into chain space, chain one) till the end of the row.

The last stitch is a SINGLE CROCHET in the last chain space. Please note that you are crocheting only in the chain spaces throughout this project and it creates that woven look of the moss stitch. Very easy for beginners and relaxing for an experienced crocheter!

That’s it – now you know how to crochet a blanket for babies using easy beginner-friendly Moss Stitch!

 

Watch our video tutorial for this easy blanket moss stitch:

Here is a written crochet pattern for this moss stitch baby blanket project:

Abbreviations:
CH – chain
SC – single crochet
SK – skip

Chain any even number of stitches – 96, 98, or 100 in white.

Row 1: SC in the 4th chain from hook, *CH 1, SK next CH, SC in next CH, repeat from * to
the end of the first row. (The last stitch should be SC in the last CH.)

Row 2: CH 2, turn, SC in CH 1 space from the previous row, *CH 1, SK 1 SC (skip 1 single crochet stitch below), SC in next CH 1 space, repeat from * to the end of this row, the last SC should be worked into the space between the CH
2 turning chain and SC from the previous row (make sure you find the right spot).

Row 3-10: Repeat row 2 until you have 10 rows in white pull sage color yarn before chaining 2 to turn to leave approximately ~9-10 inches of yarn (change color). Cut white yarn leaving approximately ~9-10 inches of yarn to secure a tassel and weave in the ends later. Here is a tutorial on changing color in crochet. The only change would be to leave approximately 9-10 inches as we’ll be attaching tassels and need a little longer ends.

Rows 11-12: crochet 2 rows in sage, change color.

Rows 13-14: crochet 2 rows in white, change color.

Rows 15-16: crochet 2 rows in silver heather, change color.

Rows 17-18: crochet 2 rows in white, change color.

Rows 19-20: crochet 2 rows in grey marble, change color.

Rows 21-30: crochet 10 rows in white, change color.

Rows 31-34: crochet 4 rows in sage, change color.

Rows 35-38: crochet 4 rows in white, change color.

Rows 39-42: crochet 4 rows in silver heather, change color.

Rows 43-46: crochet 4 rows in white, change color.

Rows 47-50: crochet 4 rows in grey marble, change color.

Rows 51-60: crochet 10 rows in white, change color.

Rows 61-64: crochet 4 rows in sage, change color.

Rows 65-68: crochet 4 rows in white, change color.

Rows 69-72: crochet 4 rows in silver heather, change color.

Rows 73-76: crochet 4 rows in white, change color.

Rows 77-80: crochet 4 rows in grey marble, change color.

Rows 81-90: crochet 10 rows in white, change color.

Rows 91-100: crochet 2 rows in sage, change color.

Rows 101-102: crochet 2 rows in white, change color.

Rows 103-104: crochet 2 rows in silver heather, change color.

Rows 105-106: crochet 2 rows in white, change color.

Rows 107-108: crochet 2 rows in grey marble, change color.

Rows 109-118: crochet 10 rows in white.

How to make tassels for your beautiful blanket

There is a great video tutorial on how to make tassels if you need to learn how to do it or refresh your skills. For the finishing touches, you would need to make:

• 2 white tassels
• 4 sage tassels
• 4 silver heather tassels
• 4 grey marble tassels

Tassels go at the end of each color row and are attached and secured using the long yarn ends from each row where you changed colors, so they are on one side of your baby blanket (you can attach tassels to both if you want and have enough left-over yarn). White tassels are attached at the two corners of the baby blanket. In this project, we wrapped the yarn 20 times for each tassels using a 4-inch square coaster.

How to weave in the ends and put finishing touches on your crochet baby blanket project

Now that you are almost done, it is time to weave in the ends using a tapestry needle. if you don’t know how to do it or need a refresher course, here is a helpful video on how to weave in the ends like a pro. Don’t forget to weave in the ends where you were starting a new skein of yarn. You may want to block your project by light spaying it with water and laying it flat.

Enjoy your handmade crochet masterpiece!