Simple Double Crochet Baby Blanket for Beginners
A plain double crochet blanket pattern for beginners that explains the stitch, the chain-3 turning chain and exactly where the first and last stitch of every row belong.
Tutorial at a glance
Materials
- Worsted weight (#4 medium) yarn, about 900-1,100 yd (estimate)
- US I-9 (5.5 mm) or US H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook
- Locking stitch marker
- Blunt yarn needle
- Scissors
- Tape measure
Double crochet is the tallest of the three basic stitches, so each row adds close to half an inch of length. That makes a double crochet baby blanket one of the quicker plain projects a beginner can take on. The fabric is more open than single or half double crochet, with visible posts and small gaps between them, and it drapes easily.
The one skill this stitch asks you to learn well is the turning chain. In this pattern, written in US crochet terms, the chain at the start of each row counts as a stitch. Most lost stitches trace back to forgetting that.
Materials
- Worsted weight (#4 medium) yarn, about 900-1,100 yd
- US I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook, or US H-8 (5 mm) if your stitches run loose
- Locking stitch marker
- Blunt yarn needle
- Scissors and a tape measure
The yarn amount is an estimate that depends on your gauge. Buy a little extra from the same dye lot.
Finished Size
About 32 x 36 in (81 x 91 cm) before the border.
Gauge
Target gauge: 12 dc and 7 rows = 4 in (10 cm).
Matching the gauge matters for the finished size and for the amount of yarn you need. Swatch with chain 20, which gives 18 dc per row, and work about 11 rows. Measure 4 in across the center. If you count more than 12 stitches, move up a hook size. If you count fewer, move down.
The starting chain follows from the gauge:
- 12 dc over 4 in = 3 dc per inch
- 3 x 32 in = 96 dc
- 96 dc + 2 = 98 chains
The rule is stitches plus 2 because the last 3 chains of the foundation stand in for the first dc: one of those chains is the base of that stitch and two are extra height. For other widths, see how many chains to start a baby blanket.
Abbreviations
- ch = chain
- dc = double crochet
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- sk = skip
- yo = yarn over (wrap the yarn over the hook)
Pattern Notes
- The ch 3 at the start of each row counts as the first dc.
- Because the ch 3 already stands on the first stitch of the row, you skip that stitch and work your first real dc into the second one.
- The last dc of each row goes into the top chain of the ch 3 from the row below.
- Every row has 96 dc, counting the ch 3 as one.
How to Make a Double Crochet
- Yo once.
- Insert the hook under both top loops of the stitch.
- Yo and pull up a loop. You have 3 loops on the hook.
- Yo and pull through the first 2 loops. You have 2 loops left.
- Yo and pull through the last 2 loops.
Pull the first loop up to the full height of the hook shaft before you finish the stitch. Short loops make squat stitches and a tighter row gauge.
Instructions
Foundation: Ch 98 loosely.
Row 1: Dc in the 4th ch from the hook. The 3 skipped chains count as the first dc. Dc in each remaining ch across. Count: 96 dc, made up of the 3 skipped chains plus 95 worked stitches.
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as the first dc), turn. Sk the first st, the one at the base of the ch 3. Dc in the next st and in each st across until only the turning chain remains. Dc in the top chain of that turning chain. 96 dc.
Repeat Row 2 until the blanket measures 36 in (91 cm) from the foundation chain. At 7 rows to 4 in, that is 1.75 rows per inch, and 1.75 x 36 in = 63 rows. Stop at the length even if your row count differs.
To check Row 2: the ch 3 is 1 stitch, the stitches worked into the dc of the row below are 94, and the stitch in the top of the turning chain is 1. That makes 96.
Where Stitches Go Missing
The end of the row is the classic trouble spot. The turning chain from the row below does not look like a normal stitch. It is thinner, it leans outward, and it has no obvious pair of top loops. Many beginners stop at the last proper dc and turn, which drops the count from 96 to 95.
To find the right place, count up the turning chain from its base: first chain, second chain, third chain. Insert the hook into that third chain, under two of its strands if you can. Clipping a stitch marker into the third chain as soon as you make it gives you a clear target on the way back.
The start of the row causes the opposite error. If you chain 3 and then also work a dc into the first stitch, you have two stitches in one place and the row grows to 97.
Watch out
A blanket that narrows at one side only is usually missing the dc in the top of the turning chain. A blanket that widens is usually gaining a dc in the first stitch. Count to 96 before you turn.
Finishing
After the last row, cut the yarn with a tail of about 6 in (15 cm), pull it through the loop on the hook and tighten. Double crochet fabric is open, so run each tail through the posts and tops of the stitches where it cannot show through the gaps. The guide to weaving in ends covers the route to take.
The row ends of double crochet are made of turning chains and tall posts, so the sides look looser than the top and bottom. A flat round of single crochet evens them out. Plan on about 2 sc for each dc row along the sides and 3 sc in each corner, then adjust as the simple baby blanket border tutorial describes.
Tall stitches respond well to blocking, which straightens the posts and squares the corners. Follow the method that suits your fiber in the guide to blocking a crochet baby blanket, and wash according to the yarn label.
What to Expect From Double Crochet Fabric
This blanket reaches 36 in in 63 rows, far fewer than a shorter stitch needs. The fabric is lighter and more flexible for its size, and the gaps between posts are larger than in single or half double crochet.
To see how double crochet compares with moss, shell and other textures, read the overview of the best crochet stitches for baby blankets.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there a gap at the edge of my double crochet rows?
The chain 3 that stands in for the first stitch is thinner than a real double crochet, so a small space appears beside it. Keeping the turning chain snug reduces the gap. Some crocheters chain 2 instead, but that changes the edge height, so test it on a swatch before using it across a whole blanket.
Which hook size should I choose, H-8 or I-9?
Let the swatch decide. Start with the US I-9 (5.5 mm) hook and measure your stitches over 4 inches. If you get fewer than 12, your fabric is loose and the US H-8 (5 mm) hook will bring it closer to the target. The hook that produces the stated gauge is the right one for you.
How do I count double crochet rows?
Each row is one tier of tall posts. Lay the blanket flat and count the tiers up one side, from the foundation chain to your hook. Because the fabric is turned after every row, the posts alternate between showing their front and their back, which makes the individual tiers easier to tell apart.
