Heirloom Baby Blanket Soft Shells

Crochet Pattern At A Glance

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Soft Shells Heirloom Baby Blanket

Designer: Kim Guzman © 2022-2026. All rights reserved.

This Heirloom Baby Blanket is a delicately crocheted afghan, perfect for a cherished gift or christening. The intricate shell stitches make it a timeless beauty.

Est. Crochet Time: 14 hours hours

Est. Cost: $20

Rate the Pattern

5 from 4 votes

Yarn

• Stylecraft “Special DK”, size 3 weight, 100% acrylic, 322 yds/295m per 3.5 oz/100g per skein: 5 skeins, approx. 1610 yards used, color Saffron

Other Materials

• Suggested Crochet Hook Size G-7 (4.5mm) or hook needed to meet gauge
• Yarn Needle for weaving ends

Instructions

• Work the first row to set up a foundation.
• Work rows 2-3 to establish the 2-row repeat.
• Continue working the 2-row repeat until 105 rows have been completed from the beginning.
• Establish the border with a round of single crochet.
• Work 5 more rounds to complete the border.

Full Free Crochet Pattern Below

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This is a free crochet pattern and the written instructions are below. If you prefer a printable download, a PDF is also available for purchase.

My Crochet Pattern Notes

This baby blanket is worked in rows with a 6-round border. The border requires a specific number of stitches so you’ll need to become familiar with placing stitches along the sides evenly to a specified number.

Making Stitches On Sides of Blanket

When a specific number of stitches is required for a stitch pattern, you will need to stitch evenly down each side. Perhaps you’ve made a blanket before and, when you placed the stitches along the sides, the blanket became wavy. This is a result of too many stitches and it can be fixed by adding fewer stitches. Sometimes, though, you need to do a little extra work to get that first round. Not only do you need to crochet down the side, but you need a certain number in order to create a more detailed border.

For this blanket, the number of stitches is clearly specified. The number doesn’t match with the number of stitches completed for the rows, unfortunately. So, it requires a little more work for the first round.

The specific stitches will enable you to make the lace stitch pattern in the rest of the rounds. It’s not always necessary to be so specific when working with a basic stitch pattern. But, I think an heirloom baby blanket requires that little bit extra.

Step By Step

Fold your blanket until you have 6 equal sections along the sides. Mark each section with a stitch marker or piece of contrasting yarn. Divide the number of stitches you need by 6 and then place that number in each section. If there are extra stitches, distribute them evenly in each section.

It’s not easy to simply work 161 stitches along the side. If you split the section into 6 sections, though, it’s easier to get the stitches in there.

If you need more than 6 sections, you can try 8 sections or more, if necessary. The important thing is to establish your sections so you have less of a daunting task.

Repeat for each side. Now, you can easily continue with the subsequent rounds.

Making A Full Size Afghan

You can follow the stitch multiple provided and make a full size afghan from this pattern. But, I’ve found a little trick.

If you find an afghan pattern made in size 3 yarn, I’ve found that simply using a size 4 yarn and a suitable hook will provide a standard afghan size. Your mileage may vary, of course. But, it’s definitely a good starting point.

Finished Size

38″ x 38″.

Yarn

Stylecraft “Special DK”, size 3 weight, 100% acrylic, 322 yds/295m per 3.5 oz/100g per skein: 5 skeins, approx. 1610 yards used, color Saffron.

“Special Double Knit” is classified as a DK weight (size 3) yarn and is currently available in over 120 shades.

Available at LoveCrafts (aff link).

See more projects in Stylecraft Special DK yarn.

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Other Materials

Suggested Crochet Hook Size G-7 (4.5mm) or hook needed to meet gauge.
Yarn Needle for weaving ends.

Abbreviations

This baby blanket pattern is written in US crochet terminology.

ch=chain; dc=double crochet; lp(s)=loop(s); RS=right side; rep=repeat; sc=single crochet; sk=skip; sl=slip; sp(s)=space(s); st(s)=stitch(es); yo=yarn over.

All numbers after the colon at the end of an instruction are stitch counts. Use the stitch count to check your work.

Special Stitches

Shell (sh): [Dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc] in st indicated.

Cluster (cl): Yo, insert hook in st indicated, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook, [yo, insert hook in same st, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yo, pull through 4 lps on hook.

Gauge

Worked in stitch pattern, approximately 20 stitches for 12 rows measures 4×4″.

Stitch Multiple

If you would like to make a wider project, make your initial chain any multiple of 6, then add 2.

Changing the width or length will require changes in the border. The border requires the first round to have 3 sc in each corner and any multiple of 6 plus 5 along each side.