The Sleepy Blocks Blankie is a cute and cuddly free crochet pattern on Moogly! Featuring a tight stitch pattern and extra squish, it's perfect for playtime and perfect newborn photos!
Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links; materials provided by Red Heart and Clover USA.
An Old Stitch Pattern Reborn
The Sleepy Blocks Blankie stitch pattern was inspired by the Leaping Stripes and Blocks patterns I've crocheted in the past and does have a similar look.
However, I've switched out the double crochets for half double crochets, and written it up for just one yarn. Which made it perfect for Red Heart Dreamy Stripes - get the look with less effort (and ends)!
Saftey First
I had a couple of reasons for changing out the dc stitches to hdc stitches. Most importantly, it gives the fabric a significantly tighter "weave." Lots of people worry about babies getting their fingers stuck in yarn, and this blanket reduces that risk.
Additionally, it made the Sleepy Blocks Blankie a lot squishier! This makes it perfect for playtime and tummy time. While we all think of baby blankies as blankets, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations on creating a safe sleep environment include:
- Place the baby on his or her back on a firm sleep surface such as a crib or bassinet with a tight-fitting sheet.
- Avoid use of soft bedding, including crib bumpers, blankets, pillows and soft toys. The crib should be bare.
So remember that babies should always be supervised when they're using a blanket - but they still make great floor blankies and photo opportunities!
Plus, for those of us in chilly climates, they are needed to take the little ones outdoors! The tight weave is a boon here too, letting less air slip through the stitches. And the gorgeous halo on this brushed yarn helps even more!
Relax and Crochet the Sleepy Blocks Blankie
As I mentioned above, I adore Dreamy Stripes in this stitch pattern! It's a great self-striping yarn, and it works wonderfully here. It's soft and fuzzy but the colors pop!
And with that, the pattern becomes a super simple 2-row repeat! You'll have it memorized in minutes, and the Sleepy Blocks Blankie will fly right off your hook!
And I love the way the blocks are now a little "sleepy" - they have a bit of a lean, making this pattern just that much more dynamic and fun!
Sleepy Blocks Blankie
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7.0 mm hook - Clover Amour
800 yds Red Heart Dreamy Stripes (5/Bulky/UK: 12-14 ply; 100% Acrylic; 355 yds/325 m; 6.3 oz)
Colorway Shown: Sweetdreams (3 balls)
Gauge: 12 sts x 13 rows = 4"/10cm in pattern
Size: 30" x 31" including edging
Stitch Multiple: mult of 4, +1 tch
To change the size, use the stitch multiple shown above, or the long chain method to begin this pattern.
Helpful Links & Tutorials
Sleepy Blocks Blankie Tutorial
NOTE:
When working the hdc sts into the skipped chs or stitches of the Row below the one you're working into, be sure to enclose the ch-2 in your hdc sts - see the linked tutorial above if needed.
INSTRUCTIONS
Row 1: Ch 89, skip the ch closest to the hook, sc in the next ch, *hdc in the next 2 chs, ch 2, skip 2 chs; rep from * until 3 chs rem, hdc in the next 2 chs, sc in the last ch, turn. (88 sts including chs)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in the first st, *ch 2, skip the next 2 sts, hdc in the next 2 skipped chs of the row below; rep from * until 3 sts rem, ch 2, skip the next 2 sts, sc in the last st, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in the first st, *hdc in the next 2 skipped sts of the row below, ch 2, skip the next 2 sts; rep from * until 1 ch-2 sp rem, hdc in the next 2 skipped sts of the row below, sc in the last st, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in the first st, *ch 2, skip the next 2 sts, hdc in the next 2 skipped sts of the row below; rep from * until 3 sts rem, ch 2, skip the next 2 sts, sc in the last st, turn.
Row 5 - 98: Rep Rows 3 and 4.
Row 99: Ch 1, sc in the first st, *hdc in the next 2 skipped sts of the row below, sc in the next 2 sts; rep from * until 1 ch-2 sp rem, hdc in the next 2 skipped sts of the row below, sc in the last st, do NOT turn.
Edging (use your preferred border if desired):
Turning 90 degrees to work along the side of the blankie, ch 1, sc and ch 1 evenly along the side, skipping every other row; then turn 90 degrees and ch 1, sc in each st of the foundation ch; turn 90 degrees and ch 1, sc and ch 1 evenly along the last side, skipping every other row; finally, turn 90 degrees and ch 1, sc in each st of Row 99; ch 1, break yarn and seamless join to next st along the side.
And that's how to crochet the Sleepy Blocks Blankie! It's such a fun pattern to crochet, and I loved watching how the stripes developed! I hope you enjoy it too!
If this pattern does inspire you to make your own project, and you post a photo on social media, be sure to tag me @mooglyblog or #mooglyblog so I can check it out too! I love seeing what you make!
The Fine Print
Follow Moogly on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr! Thank you to Red Heart Yarns and Clover USA for providing the materials shown in this post. Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2019, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.
To print or download, use the Print Friendly button below, or go to PrintFriendly.com, or right-click to copy and paste it into a word processing document if those options do not work for you (please note that Print Friendly is a free outside website that the button links to, and you can click here for a tutorial on how to use it, but I cannot provide additional technical support for this service). If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details.
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