"Baby Blanket" - Free Blanket Crochet Pattern in Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK

Paintbox Baby Blanket: Free Crochet Pattern Overview

The Paintbox Baby Blanket is a free, beginner-friendly crochet pattern designed to create a soft, colourful cot blanket measuring 54 cm wide by 78 cm long (approximately 21¼ in × 30¾ in), including the edging. Published by Paintbox Yarns and available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is an ideal project for those new to crochet who want to create a beautiful, practical gift for a baby or young child.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a flat, rectangular baby blanket sized to fit a standard cot. The finished piece is generously proportioned to wrap and swaddle comfortably, and its cheerful multicolour stripe design makes it visually striking while remaining straightforward to construct. The blanket is finished with a neat edging that frames the design and adds a polished, professional look to the completed item.

Design Options

The pattern offers two approaches to colour:

• Striped version — the main design as shown on the cover, worked in a rainbow of fifteen shades using Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK
• Solid colour version — the same construction worked entirely in one shade, with all colour-change instructions simply ignored

Both versions use identical construction methods and produce the same finished dimensions, giving makers flexibility to suit their own style or yarn stash.

Yarn and Materials

The recommended yarn is Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK, a 100% cotton DK-weight yarn sold in 50g balls. The striped version as shown on the cover requires the following shades:

• 2 × 50g balls of Paper White (Main Shade / MS)
• 1 × 50g ball each of: Ballet Pink (A), Melon Sorbet (B), Banana Cream (C), Pistachio Green (D), Washed Teal (E), Duck Egg Blue (F), Pale Lilac (G), Pansy Purple (H), Sailor Blue (I), Marine Blue (J), Spearmint Green (K), Daffodil Yellow (L), Mandarin Orange (M), Tomato Red (N), and Bright Peach (O)

Yarn quantities are stated to be approximate and based on average requirements. Paintbox Yarns notes that they cannot accept responsibility for the finished measurements if any yarn other than the recommended yarn is used, making it important to match the yarn specification as closely as possible.

The only tool required is a 4mm crochet hook (UK size 8, US size G6), or the size needed to achieve the correct tension.

Tension and Gauge

The pattern specifies a tension of 17 stitches and 12 rows to 10 cm (4 in), measured over pattern using a 4mm hook. Checking tension before beginning is strongly encouraged, as working to the wrong gauge will affect the finished size and may result in either leftover yarn or insufficient yarn to complete the project. Makers are advised to crochet a swatch of at least 12 cm square before casting on.

Techniques Used

This blanket draws on several accessible crochet techniques that make it an excellent learning project as well as a satisfying make for more experienced crafters:

• Worked flat — the main body of the blanket is constructed back and forth in rows, keeping the fabric flat and easy to manage
• Bottom-up construction — the blanket is begun at one short edge and built upward row by row
• Stripes — colour changes are introduced at regular intervals to create the characteristic rainbow stripe effect, a technique that also makes it easy to manage multiple yarn balls
• Lace — lace elements are incorporated into the stitch pattern, adding decorative openwork texture to the fabric without significantly increasing complexity
• Worked in