Have you ever had a family or friend ask you to make a baby blanket that they do not know the gender of yet? OR have you heard this before.... "Does anyone have a pattern for a gender neutral baby blanket?!" OR "Does anyone have an idea for a gender neutral baby blanket?!" I see this question asked a lot in the crochet community!
I decided to tackle this common dilemma when I found this beautiful mint color yarn at Walmart one day! I saw it and fell instantly in love with it and immediately knew what I would make with it! To compliment it I grabbed a skein of Heather Grey and a skein of White and bam a gorgeous blanket was birthed ha ha!
This crochet pattern is gorgeous and is perfect whether its a boy or a girl! The color combo just does something amazing in your heart and soul lol! The fun thing about this pattern is you can easily change out the colors to get a different look if you need to!
Shhh! Don't tell anyone but when I made this pattern I fell so in love with it that I stashed it away just in case we decide to add an addition to our family! I just couldn't part with it! Its gorgeous! My hubby is extremely outnumbered in this house with myself and our two girls so maybe one day a baby boy will sneak his way into our family and rescue my hubby lol!
The fun thing about this blanket is that I have multiple patterns in the Orchid and Bee's Shop that you can combine it with for those families who will be announcing in the Spring that they will be having a new addition to the family in the Winter!
Just check out the photo collage below of all the ways you can make a set for a family for next year and at the end of this post I will give you some tips on how to add a baby name to make it extra personal for the family!
The cute little door/wall sign is made with a wooden sign I found at Walmart for $2! Check out the post on how to make the sign!
Isn't this a great way to get a head start on Christmas presents ha ha! Just don't forget where you stash it away when you have to hide it until Christmas lol! In the photo below you see the Orchid and Bee's Rustic Charm Stocking (in White and Mint) and the Sleepy Koala Applique combined with the Gender Neutral Baby Blanket.
OMGeeee guys this set is just adorable! If you decide you would like to make this set here is a Promo Code for Ravelry! "BabyPROMO" You will need to add both the Sleepy Koala and the Rustic Charm Stocking to your cart and then enter the code above! With this code the Sleepy Koala will be free with the purchase of the Rustic Charm Stocking Pattern! Expires December 25th, 2020.
So lets dive into how to make this beautiful blanket!
“Gender Neutral Baby Blanket Instructions”
Materials:
Yarn - worsted weight 4 (Red Heart Super Saver Minty, Heather Grey, White) (confession, I got so excited about making this blanket I forgot to keep track of how much yarn I used but if I try to recall I believe I used two regular skeins of the minty, and I used part of a Jumbo roll of the heather grey and for the white I used less than a skein but I promise I will do better in the future! I just got so excited sorry! The Minty is so gorgeous just go ahead and buy all that you can for your stash lol! I promise you will use it! Its a great beach house color too!)
Hook - I 5.25mm
Needle
Scissors
Stitches & Definitions:
Sc - single crochet
Sl st - slip stitch
Sk - skip
Dc - double crochet
Hdc - half double crochet
* * - repeat *to* around
Corners - the ch 2 spaces
Set(s) - set of 3dc or sets of 3dc
Skill Level / Language - Beginner/Intermediate. If you are unsure of any stitches YouTube will be your best friend! There are great tutorials on the different stitches and on crocheting in rounds. American Standard Terms
Pattern Info -
There are several different ways a granny square blanket can be achieved. Some like more space between their sets while others like theirs tighter and more compact. I like my granny squares tight and compact and it is written in a manner to achieve this. If you would like more space between your sets you can add a ch 1 between the sets on the sides and use a J hook to make it slightly looser and larger. This blanket comes to about 28.5 inches x 28.5 inches before blocking. So if you would like it larger you can change hook sizes, add a ch 1 between sets on the sides and/or add additional rounds as you desire.
Blanket Pattern Instructions
Note: Beginning chains count as st
Note: You can either ch 3 or ch 2 for your beginning ch depending on how loose or tight you make your chs and the look that you want, I do ch 2 personally
Note: Continuous Granny Square blankets are made with sets of 3dc with the beginning 3dc being a (ch 3, 2dc). Each round increases by sets of 3 (so 4 sets of 3, 8 sets, 16 sets, 20 set, and so on)
Note: You will always work your sets of three dc in between sets of 3 from the prior row.
Begin: Heather Grey, ch 4, sl st to first ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 3, 2 dc into ring, *ch 2, 3dc into ring*, repeat *to* 2 more times, ch 2, sl st to top of ch 3 that began the round. You will have 4 sets at the end of this round.
Note: Remember, your ch 2 spaces from round one will be the corners of the square that you will work in for round 2, and will be the corners for all subsequent rounds
Round 2: Ch 3, turn, 2dc (in the ch 2 space), ch 2, 3dc (in the same ch 2 space), (sk set and work only in the corners, the ch 2 spaces) *3dc in next ch 2 space, ch 2, 3dc*, repeat *to* 2 more times, sl st to join to first ch 3. You will have 8 sets at the end of this round.
Round 3: Ch 3, turn, 2dc between sets, sk set, *3 dc in, ch 2, 3dc, all in corner, sk set, 3dc between sets, sk set*, repeat *to* two more times, (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) in corner, sk set, sl st to join. You will have 12 sets at the end of this round.
Round 4: Ch 3, turn, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set on the sides, sl st to join, fasten off, weave in your tail. You will have 16 sets at the end of this round.
Note: From this point forward you will always be working 3dc between sets from the prior round and you will work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) in the corners.
Note: If you are new to weaving in ends you will use a needle and run it through the fibers of your yarn 3 different times in opposite directions and then cut any leftover tail. See next set of pictures for reference.
Round 5: Join Minty color yarn between any two sets on a side (not the corners) from round four, ch 3, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set on the sides, sl st to join. You will have 20 sets at the end of this round.
Round 6 - 8: Ch 3, turn, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set on the sides, sl st to join. Each round of sets will increase to 24, 28, and 32.
*After Round 8, fasten off and weave in ends.
Round 9: Join White color yarn between any two sets on a side (not the corners), ch 3, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set on the sides, sl st to join, fasten off, weave in ends. You will have 36 sets at the end of this round.
Round 10: Join Heather Grey color yarn between any two sets on a side (not the corners), ch 3, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set on the sides, sl st to join, fasten off, weave in ends. You will have 40 sets at the end of this round.
Round 11 - 13: Ch 3, turn, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set of sets on the sides, sl st to join. Your set counts will be 44, 48, and 52.
*After Round 13, fasten off and weave in ends.
Round 14: Join Minty color yarn between any two sets on a side (not the corners), ch 3, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set on the sides, sl st to join. You will have 56 sets at the end of this round.
Round 15 - 17: Ch 3, turn, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set of sets on the sides, sl st to join. You set counts will be 60, 64, and 68.
*After Round 17, fasten off and weave in ends.
Round 18: Join White color yarn between any two sets on a side (not the corners), ch 3, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set on the sides, sl st to join, fasten off, weave in ends. Your set count will be 72.
*After round 18, fasten off and weave in ends.
Round 19: Join Heather Grey color yarn between any two sets on a side (not the corners), ch 3, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set on the sides, sl st to join. Your set count will be 76.
Round 20 - 22: Ch 3, turn, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set of sets on the sides, sl st to join. Your set counts will be 80, 84, and 88.
*After round 22, fasten off and weave in ends.
Round 23: Join Minty color yarn between any two sets on a side (not the corners), ch 3, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set on the sides, sl st to join. You will have 92 sets at the end of this round.
Round 24 - 26 : Ch 3, turn, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set of sets on the sides, sl st to join. Your set counts will be 96, 100, 104.
*After round 26, fasten off and weave in ends.
Round 27: Join White color yarn between any two sets on a side (not the corners), ch 3, 2dc between sets, sk set, work (3dc, ch 2, 3dc) into corners and 3dc between each set on the sides, sl st to join.. You will have 108 sets at the end of this round.
Round 28: Ch 1, sc in each st around (into each dc of each set), 3sc in the corners, sl st to join, fasten off, weave in ends. (336st)
Round 29: Join heather grey color at any st, ch 1, hdc in each st around, sl st to join, fasten off, weave in ends. (336st) And thats it! You are finished!
Congratulations on the completion of your blanket! Remember if you want to give it an extra special touch with an applique, check out the "Sleepy Koala" Pattern in Ravelry! It is a perfect compliment to this blanket and don't forget to get it free with the purchase of the stocking pattern with the code: "BabyPROMO"! Extra special touches definitely take your blankets to a whole new level!
Speaking of extra special touches, I have one more recommendation for you! If you would like to personalize this baby blanket I recommend using a small hook such as a 3.75mm or 3.5mm and using white yarn make a long chain without fastening off (approximately 100 chains to start) and then in cursive shape the chain into the baby's name (add chains if you need more to make a few more letters and subtract if you had more than enough to shape the name).
Now that you have enough chains to make the name and you have a rough idea of how the name will look you can either sew the name down onto the top fibers of the blanket or you can do what I do and use hot glue! Yes Hot Glue!
I use the rows on the blanket as my guide and I will write one letter a time out in hot glue and attach the chain! (Note: I use non-toxic hot glue that is machine washable on cold and lay flat to dry) Here is an example of a blanket I did for a friend who's little one turned 3 this past summer. See how I used the 4 rows of green as a guide for my lowercase letters! (Note: I recommend practicing on some paper first to get the hang of it.)
I am so giddy with excitement about the idea of these baby blankets blessing families around the world! The idea of a little one wrapped up all cozy in this blanket just melts my heart! I adore hearing your stories and seeing your photos from around the world so if you make this blanket (and or set) please share your story and photos!
And hey! Why not do a giveaway! If your photo/story is selected you will be given a free pattern code! Throughout the year I will select participants and give you a surprise code to get a free crochet pattern from the Ravelry Shop! Be sure to share on your Facebook page, and share in the comments here or in the Orchid and Bee's VIP Facebook group and include the hashtag #OrchidandBees.
Well that is all I have for you guys today! Thank you for letting me share this pattern with you! If you decide you love this pattern so much that you have to have the PDF ad free version you can find it in both the Ravelry and Etsy shop! This is definitely one of my favorites and I hope it becomes one of your favorites too! I pray you all have a wonderful year and I look forward to sharing more fun patterns with you soon!
Blessings!
Karen E.
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