Heart & Soul Baby Blanket Crochet Pattern
Ahhh… the pattern that started it all. The spark to my crochet-designing flame.
I really put my heart and soul into this baby blanket crochet pattern, but I was shocked at the response it received when I posted pictures on social media back in 2020. Everyone wanted a pattern, and I was excited to give it a try. After learning a bit about writing up crochet patterns by my fantastic aunt and Crochet 365 Knit Too blogger, Cheryl, I published my first pattern in January of 2021… and I’m so excited to tell you more about my baby blanket crochet pattern!
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How It Started
Several years ago, my sisters and I decided to learn crochet. Word quickly spread to my aunt (Cheryl from Crochet 365 Knit Too). She was very supportive and even offered us girls some of her unused yarn that was “just lying around”. Desperate for yarn, we eagerly accepted. Little did we know she was bringing us six kitchen bags full of yarn! Even with how often we crocheted, my sisters and I reaped those benefits for YEARS.
All throughout high school, I loved crocheting lots of baby blankets to donate to NICUs and local pregnancy crisis centers. As I improved as a crocheter, I drifted away from just following patterns and started designing my own baby blanket crochet patterns. I found myself drawn to bobble stitch afghans, but none of them really spoke to me. They all seemed kind of bland and lacking the lacey girliness I envisioned. As soon as I spotted this pink Red Heart Ombre yarn, I was sold. It was almost my duty as a hardcore crochet baby blanket making obsessor… ahem, I mean enthusiast… to design this crochet heart blanket!
The Blanket
This baby blanket crochet pattern makes me all shades of happy inside. As I crocheted, I loved watching each square transition from one shade of pink to the next. I connected the hearts with a granny style edging and then finished things off with row of beautiful bobbles and a lacey border. This crochet heart blanket is just perfect when you want a baby afghan that is bold and beautiful yet still very feminine.
Get Ad-free PDF Crochet Pattern here!
The Bobble Heart Square
These bobble heart squares were so much fun to make! Once you’ve got the pattern done, it’s super easy to just mindless crochet each one and see how much progress you’re making. Even though I had to make 25 squares, it didn’t feel too redundant or boring because the ombre color changes made it each square unique!
Bordering the Squares
When I finished the squares, I felt like I needed some kind of crochet border around each square to avoid everything looking squashed together. I tried just double crocheting the entire square, but it looked so blocky. After brainstorming with my lovely mother, the woman who taught me to crochet, we decided on a simple, but elegant granny square inspired border. The gaps in between each double crochet cluster helps give the blanket a more lacey and girly feel. Perfect baby blanket crochet pattern for any cute little baby girl!
Blanket Border
I am OBSESSED with designing blanket borders! It is what keeps me going when I’ve reached that dull moment in the middle of a project, just wanting to give up and start a new project. That’s when I start designing the border and getting excited for how the blanket is going to end. This blanket I got super excited about. I knew I wanted to incorporate the bobbles in some way, but I wasn’t loving what Pinterest had to offer. Finally I threw together a combination of a lacey style with the fun splash of pink bobbles for what has been my favorite crochet border I’ve designed on any baby blanket crochet pattern thus far!
Get Ad-free PDF Crochet Pattern here!
I hope this Heart and Soul Baby Afghan brings you as much joy as it has brought me. Let’s get started!
The Pattern
Materials
- US H8/5mm crochet hook (these are my favorite crochet hooks)
- Worsted weight yarn:
- Tapestry Needle for sewing blocks together
Size
Finished blanket is approx. 36″ x 36″
Special Stitches
Bobble Stitch: Working into the same stitch, yarn over, insert the hook into the stitch and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. 2 loops are left on the hook (and one incomplete double crochet is made). Repeat these steps 4 more times. There are now 6 loops on the hook (5 incomplete double crochets). Yarn over and pull through all strands on the hook. Bobble stitch made.
Heart Squares (make 25)
Work squares back and forth in rows.
Using Pink Yarn ch 22
R1: Sc into the 2nd ch from hook, sc into the next 20 st. (21 st)
R2: Ch 1 (does NOT count as a stitch here or throughout), sc across. (21 st)
R3: Repeat row 2
R4: Ch 1, sc in next 10 st, bobble into next st, sc into the next 10 st. (21 st)
R5: Ch 1, sc across. (21 st)
R6: Ch 1, sc in next 8 st, bobble into next st, sc in next 3 st, bobble into next st, sc in next 8 st. (21 st)
R7: Ch 1, sc across. (21 st)
R8: Ch 1, sc in next 6 st, bobble into next st, sc in next 7 st, bobble into next st, sc into the next 6 st. (21 st)
R9: Ch 1, sc across. (21 st)
R10: Ch 1, sc in next 4 st, bobble into next st, sc in next 11 st, bobble into next st, sc in next 4 st. (21 st)
R11: Ch 1, sc across. (21 st)
R12: Ch 1, sc in next 2 st, bobble in next st, sc in next 15 st, bobble in next st, sc in next 2 st. (21 st)
R13: Ch 1, sc across. (21 st)
R14: Repeat row 12
R15: Ch 1, sc across. (21 st)
R16: Ch 1, sc in next 2 st, bobble in next st, sc in next 7 st, bobble in next st, sc in next 7 st, bobble in next st, sc in next 2 st. (21 st)
R17: Ch 1, sc across. (21 st)
R18: Ch 1, sc in next 3 st, bobble into next st, sc in next 4 st, bobble in next st, sc in next 3 st, bobble in next st, sc in next 4 st, bobble in next st, sc in the next 3 st. (21 st)
R19: Ch 1, sc across. (21 st)
R20: Ch 1, sc in next 4 st, bobble in next st, sc in next st, bobble in next st, sc in next 7 st, bobble in next st, sc in next st, bobble in next st, sc in the next 4 st. (21 st)
R21-23: Ch 1, sc across. (21 st) Fasten off Pink at the end of row 23.
Heart Square Border
Attach ivory yarn into the top right corner stitch (right side facing) of a heart square. In the same space as joining, [ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), dc, ch 2, 2dc] 1st corner made.
Continuing across the top of the square, ch 1, *skip next 2 st, work 2dc in next st, ch 1. Repeat from * across, working 6 sets of dc until the last 2 st. Skip the next stitch, work (2dc, ch 2, 2dc) in the corner. 2nd corner made.
Rotate square, work 6 sets of (2dc, ch 1) alongside square, evenly spaced. Work (2dc, ch 2, 2dc) in the corner. 3rd corner made.
Rotate to work the bottom of the square, work 6 sets of (2dc, ch 1) alongside side of square, evenly spaced. Work (2dc, ch 2, 2dc) in the corner. 4th corner made.
Rotate to work the final side of the square. Work 6 sets of (2dc, ch 1) along side of square, evenly spaced. Join with top of 1st stitch in round. Fasten off.
Joining Squares
Arrange squares in a pleasing color pattern. There are 5 rows by 5 columns. Using ivory color yarn, hold squares right side together and whip stitch through the back loop. Weave in all ends.
Blanket Border
Attach Ivory yarn in a corner.
R1: Attach ivory yarn in a corner. Ch3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), 1dc in same space as joining. *(ch1, 2dc) in the next space and each space across the first square across the first square, until it meets the 2 squares meet. Work (ch1, dc) into the corner space of the first square and (ch1, dc) into the corner space of the next square. Repeat from * until the end of the first side of the entire blanket. In the corner space, work (2dc, ch 2, 2 dc). Repeat from * on the remaining 3 sides, working (2dc, ch2) in the final corner, sl st into the top of starting chain.
R2: Ch3, 1dc in same corner space, *dc in every dc and space until the next corner. Work (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in corner. Repeat from * on the remaining 3 sides, working (2dc, ch2) in the final corner, sl st into top of starting chain. Fasten off.
R3: Attach pink in corner space. Ch1, 1sc in the same space as joining. *Sc in next 2 st, bobble in next st. **Sc in next 4 st, bobble in next st. Repeat from ** until 2 stitches from the corner. Sc in last 2 st. In the corner, work (1sc, 1 bobble, 1sc). Repeat from * until last corner. In final corner space, work 1sc, 1 bobble. Sl st into first sc st. Fasten off.
R4: Attach ivory yarn in a corner. Ch3, dc in corner, *dc in every stitch across side. In corner work (2dc, ch 2, 2 dc). Repeat from * on remaining sides. At end of round, work (2dc, ch2) and sl st into top of starting chain.
R5: Ch3 in corner, 2 dc in same corner, *skip 3 st, work (1dc, ch2, 1dc) in next st, repeat
from * to next corner. Work (3dc, ch2, 3dc) in corner. Repeat from * on remaining
sides. In last corner work (3dc, ch2) and sl st into top of starting chain.
R6: Ch4, 1tr, 2dc in same space as joining. *Work (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in next ch-2 space, repeat from * until the corner. Work (2dc, 3tr, 2dc) in the next corner. Continue in pattern working (2dc, ch 2, 2dc) in each space and (2dc, 3tr, 2dc) in each corner. In final corner work (2dc, 1tr) and sl st into top of starting chain. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed learning about my design process and my first baby blanket crochet pattern! If you love the Heart & Soul Baby Afghan Crochet Pattern as much as I do, be sure to pick up your own ad-free copy in my Etsy or Ravelry shops. The heart squares are made out of Red Heart Super Saver Ombre in Jazzy and the crochet borders are made out of Red Heart Super Saver in Soft White. If you are looking for some crochet hooks to use, Clover Amour is my favorite! Not sure if Clover Amour is for you? I have a Clover Amour review post that offers some great cheap alternatives!
Do you like Crochet 365 Knit Too as much as I do? In this blog, I talk about my top 5 favorite crochet blogs that you should follow in 2022!
I love seeing your finished crochet projects! If you enjoyed making one of my patterns I’d love to see it on Instagram! Make sure to tag me @crochetwithgabriellarose. If you are more of a Facebook person, check out the Crochet with Gabriella Rose Facebook page for notifications of new blog posts and crochet patterns!
