Bobble Blocks Baby Blanket in Caron Simply Soft Collection - Downloadable PDF

Bobble Blocks Baby Blanket in Caron Simply Soft – Crochet Pattern Summary

About This Pattern

The Bobble Blocks Baby Blanket is a free, downloadable crochet pattern designed by Lisa Gentry and published by Caron. Described playfully as a "Baby and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamblanket," this cheerful project produces a vibrant, multicolored blanket made up of individual granny-style squares joined together. It is rated as a beginner level pattern, making it an excellent choice for newer crocheters who want to practice working in the round and assembling motifs into a finished fabric.

Finished Dimensions

The completed blanket measures approximately 33 inches (84 cm) wide by 41 inches (104 cm) long, including the edging. This makes it a generous baby blanket size, suitable for use in a crib, stroller, or as a play mat.

Construction and Design

The blanket is constructed from 20 individual squares, each measuring 8 x 8 inches (20.5 x 20.5 cm). The squares are worked in multiple colors, with the pattern calling for seven contrast colors labeled Contrast A through Contrast G. Named colorways include:

• Contrast B – Strawberry (0015)
• Contrast C – Melon (0016)
• Contrast E – Pistachio (0003)
• Contrast G – Blackberry (0005)

Two squares are made in Contrast A, and three squares each are made in Contrasts B, C, D, E, F, and G, creating a lively patchwork of color across the finished blanket. Once all squares are complete, they are joined and finished with an edging to give the blanket a neat, polished border.

Key Stitches and Techniques

This pattern introduces and relies on a handful of fundamental and slightly decorative crochet stitches and techniques. Understanding these will help crocheters of all levels appreciate what goes into each square:

• Chain (Ch): The foundational stitch used to start each square and to close certain stitch clusters.
• Double Crochet (Dc): A tall, versatile stitch that forms the body of each square and is also the building block of the signature popcorn stitch.
• Slip Stitch (Sl st): Used to join rounds and move yarn to new positions without adding height.
• Popcorn Stitch: The standout decorative element of this pattern. A popcorn is formed by working 4 double crochets into the same stitch, dropping the loop from the hook, inserting the hook from front to back into the first of those 4 double crochets, drawing the dropped loop through, and then chaining 1 to close. This technique creates a bold, raised bobble that pops forward from the fabric surface, giving the blanket its textured, dimensional look.

Working with spaces (sp/sps) is also a key part of the construction, as the squares likely incorporate chain spaces typical of granny-square and motif-based crochet design. These open spaces contribute to the airy, lightweight feel appropriate for a baby blanket.

Materials Required

The pattern is worked in Caron Simply Soft yarn, an aran weight yarn. Each skein of Simply Soft contains 170 g / 6 oz and approximately 288 m / 315 yards. One skein of each contrast color is required, for a total of seven skeins across the project. The gauge is noted as not critical for this project, which is a welcome detail for beginners who may not yet be comfortable with gauge swatching — as long as the squares are worked consistently, the blanket will come together beautifully.

Who This Pattern Is For

This is an ideal project for beginner crocheters who are comfortable with basic stitches and are ready to try a slightly more decorative technique like the popcorn stitch. Because gauge is not critical and the blanket is built square by square, it is also a great portable, pick-up-and-put-down project