Rag Quilt Style Baby Blanket
Does anyone remember rag quilts? Does anyone still make them?
I remember some of the quilts that my grandmother used to have and I sincerely wish that I could’ve gotten my hands on a couple. I have no idea if she still has them or if they’re long gone.
So this week’s crochet pattern was inspired by the beloved rag quilt!
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This is an easy pattern since it’s mostly comprised of a basic solid granny square. The trim on all of the squares is only a single crochet and two chains repeated. And when you crochet the trim in the front loops only, that leaves the back loop open to stitch the squares together, so no getting off track with stitch counts!
There are two options for making the Rag Quilt Style Baby Blanket.
First, you can crochet the trim around all four sides of each granny square and then stitch them together. Easy peasy, wish I would’ve done this…
Second, you can crochet around a specific amount of sides of each square and then piece it together like a puzzle, leaving the entire perimeter empty of a border. And then in the end, crochet a solid border around the the whole blanket. This is what I did in the example. It’s a bit more tedious, but definitely helpful if you decide to put on a different border than what I have suggested.
If you choose the second option, I have added a chart explaining which squares would need a specific number of sides done in trim. If you choose option one, just ignore the chart.
This Rag Quilt Style Baby Blanket is so warm and working with the I Love This Yarn brand of yarn is heavenly because of it’s softness…even though it isn’t technically a “baby yarn”.
Now I know that not everyone has a Hobby Lobby around them, which is where I buy the I Love This Yarn brand. Any medium weight yarn will work.
My mom is taking this one for her neighbor’s expected little one. They aren’t sure what they are having yet. So that’s why I chose these colors because I wanted to make a more gender neutral blanket, but I encourage you to get creative and make it your own!
I’m almost sad to see it go, but I’m thinking about making one for my own bed!
How warm would that be!
If you want to make a larger sized blanket simply add more squares. Each square measures about 4″. Measure out how big you want your blanket to be. However many inches you need for width, just divide by four to figure out how many squares you will need across. Do this again for length. Then take those two numbers and multiply them together. Bingo! There’s your number of squares!
The pattern for the hat and booties that matches this blanket is also available at this link here. The hat and booties can be made in three sizes!
What colors would you make this blanket? Would you make it for a baby or a larger version? Comment below! I’d love to hear your thoughts!
If you’d like to see more crocheted baby blankets that I’ve designed, be sure to check out the Let’s Cuddle Baby Blanket, Baby Monet Blanket, Cullen’s Baby Blanket and (my most popular pattern) the Sleepy Bear Baby Blanket!
Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue here…
Rag Quilt Style Baby Blanket
Materials Used:
- 12 oz of I Love This Yarn – Ivory – 7 oz/199 g – 355 yds/325 m
- 1 skein of I Love This Yarn – Buttercup – 7 oz/199 g – 355 yds/325 m
- 4 oz of I Love This Yarn – Greybeard – 7 oz/199 g – 355 yds/325 m
- 4 oz of I Love This Yarn – Cranberry – 7 oz/199 g – 355 yds/325 m
Or any medium weight yarn. - H/8 (5.00 mm) hook – My favorite hooks! I use them daily!
- Tapestry needle
Finished Size Approximately:
33 in. x 33 in. (83.82 cm x 83.82 cm)
Gauge:
12 hdc + 2 ch and 4 rows (1 whole granny square) in a 4” (10cm) square.
Special Stitches:
Back Loops Only (BLO)
Front Loops Only (FLO)
Abbreviations:
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
sl st – slip stitch
sp – space
st(s) – stitch(es)
BLO – Back Loops Only
FLO – Front Loops Only
Notes:
- You have 2 options for making this baby blanket.
1. You can put the ruffle border around all four sides of every granny square, stitch together and finished. This is the easiest option.
2. If you prefer a solid border that you crochet on after stitching the squares together (which is what I did in the example), a chart will be included to show which squares get a ruffle and on how many sides. You then will piece them all together like a puzzle, but your border will be empty. You can then stitch the border around the entire blanket separately. This is the more challenging option, but still not that bad.
- The instructions for the solid granny square vs. the striped granny square are basically the same except that for the striped, you will be cutting and changing colors. I will include instructions for both just in case someone finds it confusing.
*** American crochet terms used throughout.
Instructions:
Solid Granny Square
Make 16 Greybeard and 16 Cranberry
Round 1: Ch 4, join with a sl st in 1st ch to form a loop. (A magic circle will work too.)
Round 2: Ch 4. All in loop, *dc, hdc, dc, ch 2* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Dc, hdc, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 2.
Round 3: Sl st into ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in ch-1 sp. *Hdc in next 4 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Hdc in next 4 sts, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 3.
Round 4: Sl st into ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in ch-1 sp. *Hdc in next 7 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Hdc in next 7 sts, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 4.
Round 5: Sl st into ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in ch-1 sp. *Hdc in next 10 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Hdc in next 10 sts, sl st in 2nd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 5.
Finish off.
Striped Granny Square
Make 32
With Ivory
Round 1: Ch 4, join with a sl st in 1st ch to form a loop. (A magic circle will work too.)
Round 2: Ch 4. All in loop, *dc, hdc, dc, ch 2* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Dc, hdc, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 2.
Finish off.
With Buttercup
Round 3: Attach Buttercup in ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in ch-1 sp. *Hdc in next 4 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Hdc in next 4 sts, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 3.
Finish off.
With Ivory
Round 4: Attach Ivory in ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in ch-1 sp. *Hdc in next 7 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Hdc in next 7 sts, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 4.
Finish off.
With Buttercup
Round 5: Attach Buttercup in ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in ch-1 sp. *Hdc in next 10 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Hdc in next 10 sts, sl st in 2nd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 5.
Finish off.
***Block all of your granny squares, if desired.
Ruffle Trim for Individual Squares
With Ivory
Note: If you are doing option #1 (see Notes), then crochet the trim around every side of all 64 granny squares. No final border is required because it’s built in.
If you are doing option #2, follow the chart for how many sides get a border. Ignore the chart if using option #1.
# of Sides with Ruffles — # of Squares
Buttercup/Ivory
2 sides — 2
3 sides — 12
4 sides — 18
Greybeard
2 sides — 1
3 sides — 6
4 sides — 9
Cranberry
2 sides — 1
3 sides — 6
4 sides — 9
You will be working the border in the front loops only of the granny squares. This is because the ruffle will face upward instead of out to the side. It also gives you back loops to use when stitching the squares together. Do not work the trim through both loops.
Round 1: Working in FLO, (sc, ch 2) in every stitch around. Sl st in 1st sc made of round.
Finish off.
Entire Blanket Border for Option #2
With Ivory
Round 1: Working in FLO, (sc, ch 2) in every stitch around perimeter of blanket. Sl st in 1st sc made of round.
Finish off.
Finishing
With Buttercup
Using either the whip stitch or slip stitching, stitch all of the squares together through the BLO. Use the following color chart as a guide.
I hope you enjoyed the Rag Quilt Style Baby Blanket!
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