How to Crochet a Cozy Baby Blanket with the Shell Stitch

Crocheting a baby blanket is such a heartwarming and wonderful project. The soft, colorful yarn sliding through your fingers as you create each stitch brings so much joy and anticipation for the little one who will eventually cuddle up in it. With every loop and pattern, you're weaving love and coziness into each inch of the blanket.

Basic Crochet Stitches

There are just a few different stitches you will need to know in order to make this easy crochet baby blanket. The main stitch used in this baby blanket is called the shell stitch. To make the shell stitch, you will need a chain, a single crochet stitch, and a double crochet stitch. These three stitches together are what will make up the shell pattern on this easy crochet baby blanket pattern.

Chain Crochet Stitches

To make a chain crochet stitch, you will need to first make a slipknot, then put it onto your crochet hook. Wrap your yarn in what is called yarn over (YO), wrapping it from the back to the front around your crochet hook, and pull the new loop through the old loop on the hook. This is called a chain stitch.

Single Crochet Stitch

A single crochet stitch is made by inserting your hook into the stitch indicated, wrapping the yarn over from the back to the front in what is called yarn over, then pull this new yarn through the loop where your hook is inserted. There are now two loops on your crochet hook. Yarn over once more and pull through both of the loops on your hook. This makes a single crochet stitch.

Double Crochet Stitches

A double crochet stitch is very similar to a single crochet, only you manage double the loops. To make it double crochet stitch, first yarn over, then insert your hook into the stitch indicated, yarn over again, and pull the new loop through the stitch. There are now three loops on your hook. Yarn over once more and pull through the first two loops on your hook. Yarn over one more time and pull through the remaining two loops on your hook. This creates a double crochet stitch.

Skill Level

Beginner

Abbreviations

• ch – chain

• sc – single crochet

• dc – double crochet

• sl st – slip stitch

• st /sts – stitch/stitches

*Please note that this crochet pattern is written in US terms.

Materials

• 6 baby-weight skeins of yarn (approximately) 4.25 oz skeins of 333 yards each

• Size G or 4.25 MM crochet hook

• Scissors

How to Crochet A Shell Blanket

Row 1

Begin by making your starting chain. Chain approximately 98 stitches, or until your chain measures your desired length. For the best results, you should chain a multiple of 6 stitches, then add 2 to that number. You can create as many chains as desired, but the pattern works best when the number of chains can be evenly divided by 6, this is why I recommend using 96 plus 2 to equal 98 chain stitches.

Row 2

In the 3rd ch from your hook, make 5 dc sts in the same ch space (this is the first shell). *Skip the next 2 sts, sc in the next st, skip the next 2 sts, then make 5 dc in the next st*. Repeat from * to * to the end of the row until you reach the last stitch. The last st at the end of each row should be a half shell; to make this, you will want to make 3 dc sts in the same st, rather than the full 5 dc sts. Ch 1 and turn.

Row 3

The first stitch in this row will be a sc on top of the last stitch made from the previous row. Skip the next 2 sts, and make 5 dc st in the sc from the previous row. Skip the next 2 sts, sc in the 3rd dc st from the previous row's shell. Repeat across. Repeat the row until the blanket is your desired size. Then finish off and weave in the ends.

Repeat Instructions

Repeat row three until the blanket reaches your desired size. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust your stitches, depending on how many chain stitches you created at the beginning. Please feel free to make the blanket to your desired size.

Edging (Optional)

If you want to make an edging, you can also do this shell stitch around the edge. First, you will want to do a row of single crochet stitches around the entire edge. Make sure to evenly space your stitches so that they lay flat. In the corners, make 3 sc sts.

Once you have an entire border of single crochet stitches, you can work the shell stitch, making 5 dc stitches, skip 2, then make a sc, skip 2, then 5 dc sts in the next space. If your shell stitch falls at the corner, which it hopefully will, you will want to make 7 dc sts in the corner, rather than 5 dc. Otherwise, make your normal shell stitch all the way around. When you reach the starting point, join then finish off and weave in the ends.