Crochet Preemie Baby Blanket – Ambler

If you’re looking for something quick and easy, yet pretty enough to gift at your next baby shower, then this preemie baby blanket crochet pattern is what you’re looking for. The stitches are easy and mindless while giving you pretty texture and a simple lace to balance functionality and beauty.

Pair the crochet baby blanket with a handwritten note and some baby care items for a charming, thoughtful baby shower gift.

Choose your favorite color yarn and customize this for both genders.

The size also is super easy to customize for older babies. Use this crochet blanket sizes chart to make this for just about everyone, including your entire home!

Best Size for a Preemie Baby Blanket

The best size for a preemie baby blanket is around 20 to 24 inches square. This size is large enough to provide warmth but small enough to be practical for a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) environment.

The actual size of this preemie blanket is 21 by 21 inches That is still small enough for you to add a pretty crochet edging if you choose to do so while keeping it within specs for a preemie.

With that said, in a multiple of 2+1 for the starting chains you can easily crochet this to any size you need using your favorite yarn and hook size.

If making changes to the size, you will also need to adjust the color sequence for the stripes. The best way is to calculate from your gauge swatch.

Best Yarn for a Preemie Baby Blanket

When choosing yarn for a preemie baby blanket, it is essential to select materials that are soft, hypoallergenic, and machine washable.

Always ensure that the yarn is labeled as baby-friendly as babies tend to have sensitive skin that is easily irritated.

The best yarn options include yarns that are made from the following materials:

• 100% Cotton
• Cotton Blends
• Bamboo Yarn
• Acrylic Yarn – make sure it’s a baby yarn as some acrylics can be quite scratchy.

For this baby blanket pattern I chose to use a soft acrylic, Bernat Handicrafter Sport. The yarn is available in big balls, usually enough for a decent-sized baby blanket. Plus, it is reasonably priced so you can make a few of these without breaking your wallet.

Crochet Preemie Baby Blanket – Pattern Information

Make this preemie baby blanket crochet pattern in either boy or girl colors, or keep it gender-neutral.

Skill Level: Easy

Materials

• Yarn: Bernat Baby Sport (Light, #3; 100% acrylic; 280g/9.8oz; 1004yds/918m) Color: White, 1 ball. Cool Blue, 1 ball
• Crochet Hook: G/4mm
• Tools: Measuring Tape, Scissors, Yarn Needle.

Measurements

• Gauge: 17 sts = 4 inches
• Finished Size: 21″ by 21″

Abbreviations

• CA = Color A – White
• CB = Color B – Blue
• Ch/Chs = Chain/Chains
• Esc = Extended Single Crochet
• Lp/Lps = Loop/Loops
• Rep = Repeat
• RS = Right Side
• Sc = Single Crochet
• Sk = Skip
• Sl St = Slip Stitch
• Sp/Sps = Space/Spaces
• St/Sts = Stitch/Stitches
• Yo = Yarn Over
• This pattern is written in American Crochet Terms
• See the Crochet Abbreviations chart for more details.

Special Stitch Instructions

• Extended Single Crochet (ESC): Insert hook in st indicated, yo and pull up a lp, yo and pull through 1 lp, yo and pull through both lps on hook.

Changing Colors

• Color changes are made in the last stitch of previous row.
• To Change Color: Work the stitch as normal until the last step and you have two loops left on hook; drop the old color, pick up the new color and draw through both loops to complete the stitch.
• Fasten off the old color after each color change.

Helpful Links

• Crochet Blanket Sizes Chart

Crochet Preemie Baby Blanket Pattern Instructions

Ch 91, or any multiple of 2 + 1.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in 2nd ch from hook and into each ch across. Turn. [90 sts]

Row 2: Ch 1, (esc, ch 1) into first st, *sk next st, (esc, ch 1) in next st; rep from * across to last 3 sts; sk next st, esc in the last 2 sts. Turn. [44 ch-1 sps]

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first st and into each st and ch-1 sp across. Turn. [90 sts]

Row 4: Ch 1, esc in first st, *sk next st, esc in next st, backtrack and esc in skipped st; rep from * across to the last st, esc in the last st. Turn. [90 sts]

Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first st and into each st across. Turn. [90 sts]

Rows 6-79: Rep Rows 2-5, ending last repeat with Row 3.

Color Sequence

Rows 1-21: CA

Rows 22-26: CB

Rows 27-33: CA

Rows 34-46: CB

Rows 47-53: CA

Rows 54-58: CB

Rows 59-79: CA

Edging

Choose which side you like best, then work the edging from that side.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around working 3 sc into each corner; join with sl st in first sc. Fasten Off.

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