How to Crochet an Easy Crochet Baby Blanket

People who like to crochet (or who want to learn) often have in mind that they want to learn how to crochet a baby blanket. There are a lot of great reasons to do so. There are also a lot of little tips for making an easy crochet baby blanket. Read on!

Why Crochet a Baby Blanket?

There are numerous great reasons to crochet a baby blanket. Some of the top reasons include:

o   Baby blankets are one of the simplest “large” projects that crocheters can make. They are more complex, challenging and fun to make than crochet scarves, crochet baby hats and other crochet accessories but they aren’t as difficult as crocheting a large blanket or a fashion item. This makes crochet baby blankets a great middle-of-the-road project that challenges crocheters without taxing them!

o   Crochet baby blankets are great gifts. Every baby needs a blankie. Your crochet baby blanket will be useful, comfortable, cozy and appreciated by both Mom and baby.

o   Crochet baby blankets can be terrific heirloom items. They can be passed down from generation to generation as more babies are born into the family. Handmade gifts like this are nice for all families to have.

o   They are needed by charities. If you don’t have any babies in your life that need a blanket, that’s okay because there are lots of other babies in the world who do. Foster care and adoption agencies, churches, hospitals homeless shelters and organizations assisting women with domestic abuse issues all accept donations of items for babies including your crocheted baby blankets!

Tips for an Easy Crochet Baby Blanket

Now that you know why it is so great to crochet a baby blanket, you’ll want to know how to take on this project without getting overwhelmed. The following tips will help you make an easy crochet baby blanket that you’ll love to make at least as much as the baby will love to use it!

o   Use a chunky yarn. Thicker yarns work up faster than thinner yarns. This means that you’ll need less yarn for the project and less time to make the project. If this is your first “big” project then you’ll find that chunky yarn makes an easy crochet baby blanket even easier!

o   Use a big hook. Use a J size hook or larger. This will also allow you to more quickly work up the baby blanket. One of the hardest things about crocheting a blanket is that it takes time and not all crocheters are used to time-consuming projects. Bigger yarn and a bigger hook will speed up the process a lot.

o   Choose a pattern that uses double or triple crochet stitches. These longer stitches work up faster. You might alternatively choose a blanket with an open lacy pattern. Of course, single crochet stitch baby blankets are nice, too, but they’ll take a little bit longer.

o   Stick to one or two colors. It is lovely to make a colorful blanket for a baby but the more colors you include the more time it’s going to take and the harder the pattern is going to be to complete. You should stick to just one or two colors so that you don’t have to keep changing colors while you work. If you want a more colorful project then selected a variegated yarn that changes colors while you work!

o   Use light colored yarn. As you may already know from doing other crochet work it’s a lot easier to see your stitches if you use light colors rather than dark colors. Many people want to choose darker colors for baby blankets because they have to be washed less frequently but if you want to make an easy crochet baby blanket then it might make more sense to go ahead and use a light color.

o   Choose an easy crochet baby blanket pattern. When you look at crochet patterns they almost always tell you the skill level for the project. Usually the choices are easy, intermediate and advanced (although some crochet books will use a star system or number rating system). Look for patterns labeled “easy”.

o   Select a pattern that you understand. Before you make a final decision about whether or not a crochet baby blanket pattern is right for you, read through the entire pattern. Make sure that it all makes sense. This will make it go a lot more smoothly when you get down to the nitty gritty of working the pattern.

o   Get yourself some online support through Ravelry. This social networking site for crocheters and knitters is a terrific support system and resource. If you get stuck on your easy crochet baby blanket you can easily use the forums and connections you have on the site to get help. You’d be surprised how generous other crocheters can be in assisting you!

o   And get support locally. Ravelry is a terrific resource but there’s nothing that can replace the support of in-person crochet help. Surround yourself with other people who crochet so that you can help each other out when you get stuck on projects. A good place to look for a crochet support group is at your local yarn store – especially if you have one of those great stores with a table in the front where people can sit down and crochet or knit in the store! If you get stuck on your easy crochet baby blanket then one of the people in your group can surely take a look at it, tell you where you’re going wrong and get you back on the path to making the product.