Baby Blanket Squared in Caron Simply Soft - Downloadable PDF

Baby Blanket Squared in Caron Simply Soft – Free Crochet Pattern Summary

This Baby Blanket Squared is a free, downloadable PDF crochet pattern published by Caron. It produces a soft, colorful square baby blanket worked in the round from the center outward, creating a classic granny-square-inspired design that grows with each round. The finished blanket is an ideal project for welcoming a new baby, and because gauge is not critical, it is perfectly suited for beginner crochet enthusiasts who want to practice working in the round and managing multiple yarn colors.

What Is Being Made

The pattern creates a single square baby blanket worked entirely with the right side facing throughout. Starting from a small chain ring at the center, the blanket expands outward round by round, building up a structured grid of double crochet clusters separated by chain spaces, with defined corner increases that keep the shape perfectly square. A repeating stripe of white single crochet rounds separates each pair of color rounds, giving the finished blanket a clean, graphic look with a soft pastel palette.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Caron Simply Soft, an aran-weight (worsted) yarn sold in 170 g / 6 oz skeins with approximately 288 m / 315 yards per skein. Simply Soft is known for its smooth, drape-friendly feel and wide color range, making it a popular choice for baby projects. The pattern uses seven colors across the blanket:

• Contrast A – White (9701): 2 skeins — used for the recurring single crochet separator rounds throughout the blanket
• Contrast B – Sunshine (9755): 1 skein — the starting color at the center of the blanket
• Contrast C – Light Country Peach (9737): 1 skein
• Contrast D – Soft Pink (9719): 1 skein
• Contrast E – Orchid (9717): 1 skein
• Contrast F – Soft Blue (9712): 1 skein
• Contrast G – Soft Green (9739): 1 skein

A 5.5 mm (U.S. I-9) crochet hook is recommended, or whichever size is needed to achieve the stated gauge. A yarn needle is also required for weaving in ends. Because gauge is noted as not critical for this project, crocheters of varying tension styles can work with confidence.

Gauge

The pattern states that Rounds 1–5 equal 4 inches / 10 cm. While the designer notes that gauge is not critical — meaning the blanket will simply turn out slightly larger or smaller depending on individual tension — working with the recommended hook size and Caron Simply Soft at aran weight will produce a result closest to the intended dimensions.

Techniques and Construction Method

The blanket is constructed using a center-out, worked-in-the-round method, which means there are no seams to sew and no pieces to join at the end. All rounds are worked with the right side always facing the crocheter, which simplifies color changes and keeps the texture consistent throughout. This approach is common in granny-square and medallion-style crochet and is an excellent technique for beginners to learn early.

A key structural feature of this pattern is the color sequence rule: two double crochet rounds are worked in each contrast color, followed by one single crochet round worked in White (Contrast A). This three-round sequence repeats as the blanket grows, cycling through the contrast colors in order. The white rounds act as a visual separator, giving the blanket its distinctive striped, layered appearance.

Corner shaping is achieved by working a (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) cluster into each corner chain space on the double crochet rounds, and a (sc, ch 3, sc) pair into each corner on the white single crochet rounds. This consistent corner formula is what keeps the blanket flat and square as it expands.

Stitches Used

This pattern makes use of a small but versatile set of crochet