HAPPY PLACE IS LIVE! TLYC X HOBBII | DETAILS HERE

The Sweet Gingham Baby Blanket, from TL Yarn Crafts

Sweet Gingham

Spring has sprung, and so has my baby fever! I always look forward to this time of year, when I get to visit my friends from college who welcomed brand new babies in the winter months. My go-to baby welcome gift is a handmade blanket (obviously), which means I get to take a trip to my favorite craft store: JOANN!

This post contains affiliate links that support the content on TLYCBlog.com. All opinions are my own.

Pin it now, Read it later!

Find a printer friendly, PDF version of the Sweet Gingham Baby Blanket in my Etsy and Ravelry shops and on TLYarnCrafts.com. PDF version includes full-color, 5 page instructions and full schematic to chart your very own blanket.

sweet gingham baby blanket tl yarn crafts tunisian crochet lion brand wool ease pom pom linen stitch moss stitch plaid pink purple baby girl blanket

My latest baby blanket design was inspired by two close friends, Phil and Maggie, who are raising their darling little girl in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. They have always been outdoorsy people – Phil is a fisherman and avid hunter while Maggie loves to paint the scenic woods around their home. Being a city girl myself, I had to find a way to share my chic aesthetic with their rustic charm. Thus, the Sweet Gingham Baby Blanket was created!

After Maggie announced her pregnancy, my first question was about her color palette. She responded with a Pinterest board full of soft but mature pinks, offset with grey and navy. I hopped a ride to JOANN right away to find the perfect skeins.

Side note: I could (and often do!) spend all day at JOANN. Here in Columbus, we have several stores in the city, but my favorite has a huge yarn selection and new yarns nearly every time I visit. I love strolling the aisles to find brands and colors I haven’t worked with yet.

I landed on an old standby for the Sweet Gingham Baby Blanket – Lion Brand Wool Ease. It’s my go-to for baby projects. It’s a wool blend that is still machine washable and soft to the touch. The gingham motif of my blanket called for two shades of one color, and a complimentary shade. I went for Rose Heather and Dark Rose Heather, accented with Fisherman. I originally planned to add Mushroom but ultimately decided not to. It does make for a pretty picture, though!

Being my indecisive self, I spent another 30 minutes making even more color palettes with Wool Ease while I was in JOANN. Leave a comment and let me know what you think about these:

The Sweet Gingham Baby Blanket is made using Tunisian crochet, a version of crochet that uses an extra long hook. This pattern uses simple stitches and color changes, and switches to traditional crochet for the border. The whole thing is finished off with 4 medium sized pom poms. If you’re new to Tunisian crochet, learn the basics and make your very first project with this video series.

Sweet Gingham Baby Blanket Pattern

MATERIALS:

-2 balls Lion Brand Wool Ease in color Rose Heather (A)

-2 balls Lion Brand Wool Ease in color Fisherman (B)

-2 balls Lion Brand Wool Ease in color Dark Rose Heather (C)

-6.5mm Tunisian crochet hook with 24” cord (these are my favorites)

-5.5mm crochet hook

-Scissors

-Yarn needle

-2.5” Clover pom pom maker (learn to make perfect pom poms with this video!)

-Blocking supplies (read more about blocking here!)

FINISHED SIZE:

32.5 inches x 31.5 inches after blocking, including border but not pom poms

GAUGE:

4 inches square = 14 stitches x 12-13 rows

ABBREVIATIONS:

Standard U.S. crochet terms

  • Ch = chain
  • Rep = repeat
  • Sc = single crochet
  • Sk = skip
  • Sl st = slip stitch
  • St(s) = stitch(es)
  • Tss = Tunisian simple stitch (learn it here!)
  • Yo = Yarn over

NOTE: Check your gauge! Gauge will directly impact the size of this blanket. The goal is to get each block as close to a square as possible. To make a gauge swatch, ch 33 and make a 3×3 block swatch using the pattern directions. Block your swatch and adjust the pattern as necessary to accommodate your tension and yarn choice.

Start by separating yarn into cakes or balls of nearly equal size: 5 cakes of Color A, 4 cakes of color B, and 5 cakes of Color C. Use a separate cake/ball for each color when working rows.

Blanket Body Pattern

With A and 6.5mm Tunisian crochet hook, ch 99.

Foundation Row: Pull up a loop in the back bump of each ch. Ch 1. Complete standard return pass. (99 sts)

Rows 1-10: [With A, Tss 11. With B, Tss 11] 4 times. With A, Tss 11. Ch 1. Complete standard return pass with color changes.

Rows 11-20: [With C, Tss, 11. With A, Tss 11] 4 times. With C, Tss 11. Ch 1. Complete standard return pass with color changes.

Rows 21-80: Repeat Rows 1-20 four times.

Rows 81-90: Repeat Rows 1-10.

Bind Off: With A, sl st loosely in each st across. Cut yarn.

Border Pattern

Round 1: With B and 5.5mm crochet hook, join with a sl st in first st to left of any corner. Ch 1. Sc in same st. [Sc in each st across row. Ch 3 at corner and rotate to work along next side] around blanket body. Sl st in first sc of round. Drop color, do not cut yarn.

Round 2: With C, join in the ch-2 corner sp to the right of the final sl st. Ch 1. Sc in same st. *Ch 1, sk 1 sc, [(sc in next sc, ch 1, sk 1 sc) to ch-3 sp]. (Sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-3 sp. Rep from * around. (Sc, ch 2) in the final corner and sl st in first sc of round to end the round. Cut yarn.

Round 3: Pick up color B in the ch-2 corner sp to the right of the final sl st of previous round. Ch 1. Sc in same ch sp. *Ch 1, sk 1 sc, [(sc in next sp, ch 1, sk 1 sc) to corner ch-2 sp]. (Sc, ch 2, sc) in corner ch-2 sp. Rep from * around. (Sc, ch 2) in the final corner and sl st in first sc of round to end the round. Drop color, do not cut yarn.

Round 4: With A, join in the ch-2 corner sp to the right of the final sl st. Ch 1. Sc in same ch sp. *Ch 1, sk 1 sc, [(sc in next sp, ch 1, sk 1 sc) to corner ch-2 sp]. (Sc, ch 2, sc) in corner ch-2 sp. Rep from * around. (Sc, ch 2) in the final corner and sl st in first sc of round to end the round. Cut yarn.

Round 5: With B, repeat Round 3. Cut yarn.

Finishing: With A, make 4 pom poms using a 2.5” Clover pom pom maker (green). Attach one pom pom to each corner. Weave in all remaining ends. Block lightly to shape.

Purchase the printable PDF pattern here!

Don’t forget to share your blankets with me on Instagram and Facebook using the hashtags #TLYCMakers and #SweetGingham. I can’t wait to see them!!

Click here to Pin This Post!

did you love this post?

share this post:

Seasons: ,
Skill Level:
Craft:
Pattern Type:
Yarn Weight:
Price:
Tags:

Keep Creating

35 Quick and Easy Project Ideas by TL Yarn Crafts

CROCHET INSPO: 35 Quick Project Ideas

SABRINA SHRUG // FREE PATTERN

Happy Place Re-Stock, Spring 2024

Comments

  1. AvatarSarah Larrieu says

    What a beautiful baby blanket! So much detail, talent, and care truly can be seen in this wonderful creation!

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      Thanks so much, Destiny! I can’t wait to get my hands on even more JOANN’s yarn (that I don’t need, lol)!

  2. AvatarMonica Bland Ajer says

    I love everything about this. What an adorable use of the Tunisian stitches aaannnddd you are super fancy with your Joann’s partnership! Congratulations!

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      Hi Monica! Thanks so much for your kind words, lovely! It’s amazing what a little color can do with simple stitches. And thanks on the congrats! I’m still freaking out about collab’ing with JOANN!

  3. AvatarBethany says

    So excited to make this. My BFF is having a boy in October and this will be perfect. Thank you!

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      I’m so excited for your, Bethany! I really hope you enjoy it. I’d love to see your progress pics on IG 🙂

  4. AvatarSunny says

    I’ve been so excited about this one! I’ve loved seeing the little snipit pics you’ve put on IG, and I love the finished product!!

  5. AvatarTerin Sessions says

    Hi!! I absolutely love this blanket! It’s beyond beautiful! And so creative. Exactly what I was looking for…
    After watching the tutorial, I purchased all the appropriate supplies and started making this blanket. I have just one problem. I wove in the color change left overs into the back just like you did in the video. But I noticed the ends are starting to pop out through the front. Did yours do this? Do you have any recommendations of how I can fix this problem?
    But truly, other than that it’s great, and your instructions were perfect! Thanks for sharing the pattern! It’s so nice of you:) it’s no wonder Joann joined forces with you! You’re generously creative and brilliant! ❤

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      Hi Terin! I’m so glad to hear that you loved the Sweet Gingham blanket. It makes my heart so happy. I’m sorry to hear about your ends. I haven’t had any issue with the ends popping through the front. My only suggestion would be to weave them through the back in a few different directions. This will prevent them from moving around too much. I hope that helps!

  6. AvatarTracey says

    wow – loved the way you show us step by step. Loved the whole experience. thank you for sharing – you are an amazing teacher

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      Thank you so very much for your kind words, Tracey! I love to share crochet, and I’m grateful that my projects are easy to understand. Have fun!

  7. AvatarKerry says

    Love the pattern, quick question – I’ll assume the 32.5″ is the length, if I wanted to make this a little wider, how many more chains would I have to make on the foundation chain per extra square?

    Thank you in advance

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      Hi Kerry! Thanks for your kind words. If you’d like to make your baby blanket wider, you’d want to add 11 chains to your foundation for each square of color. Have fun, and happy crocheting!

  8. AvatarLesia says

    I blame you. 😉

    I have been obsessed with this blanket ever since I went down a YouTube rabbit hole of Tunisian patterns. I saw all of the scarves and blankets that did the diamond pattern. I stated two:one that goes row to row and another that goes from the middle out. I searched for a better way of doing this, found your video and that’s where the fight started. With my crochet materials and me.

    I saw the three-square swatch c knew I could do this. Then I started doing it. I decided to make a seven-square pattern. The first attempt of what to do with the color switch was a mess. I hoped to crochet the loose yarn into each stitch. Hey! I did it with regular crocheting, so it should work. Nope. My current attempt is to let the loose yarn hang and when I switch yarns, let the other yarn hang loose. I’m returning on my third row and I want my mama.

    I saw that you had separate balls of yarn in the swatch. That was for only three squares. Do you make separate balls for each color change, which would make me have seven balls aswirling as I did each row, or is there a simpler way without having rows and rows of hanging yarn ends on the back of the blanket?

    I refuse to let this stitch get the best of me! I refuse! Thank you for helping me. I have three that I want to get done by the end of September.

    2018. 🙄😒😕😬😀

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      Hi Lesia! I feel your pain. The short answer is yes. Yes, I did wind little balls of crochet for each block. Yes, they did tangle while I worked. Yes, I did cut them after each set of 11 rows and weave in the hundreds of ends (exaggerating!). But it’s so worth it. This is one of my favorite projects and I felt so accomplished once it was all done. Bear through it – you can do it!

  9. AvatarLu'Wanna McLaurin says

    Hello Toni, I stumbled upon your YouTube tutorial while looking at some crochet projects, and I’m sooooo glad I did! The sweet gingham baby blanket caught my attention right away. Your step by step instructions makes it easy for someone to follow, I’m going to make it as soon as I find out whose having a baby…lol…no… I’ll make one anyway. Congrats on your collab with Joann Fabrics, yes that is my go to store as well. I hope to try more of your tutorials. Thank you!

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      Hello darling! I’m so very happy you stumbled upon the Sweet Gingham tutorial. It’s one of my favorites! Have fun exploring my patterns and let me know how your blanket turns out 🙂

  10. AvatarJessica Rogers says

    How beautiful! I loved the colors and patterns especially, you described the instructions step by step, now I am looking forward to making a blanket for my baby. thank you for this amazing tutorial.

  11. AvatarKATHERINE says

    TL, I just located this beauty. I have been crocheting for more than 65 years, and I have always wanted to make one of these, but was hesitant. Watching your video, I just started mine, and will post when completed. Thank you so much for the pattern. Thanks again for your beautiful well done video. My colors: Red Heart’s soft white, baby pink and Starlett’s pale blue. Can’t wait!

  12. AvatarAmy T says

    Hi! This is beautiful! I am watching your video tutorial, and I noticed in your first row you’re pulling the loops through the front diagonal “3rd loop” of each stitch instead of the usual top loops; is that correct? Is that required for the pattern instruction or is it personal preference?

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      Hi Amy! Good catch there. Yes, I’m pulling up my loops in the back bump of the chain. It’s not required for the pattern, but it does create a clean edge to work the border into later.

  13. AvatarLori says

    Your video and instructions are SPOT ON! This is my first Tunisian project. I’m making it for a pregnant coworker in oxford grey, charcoal, and soft baby pink in the “Pound of Love” brand yarn. So far, my gauge is good and my squares are square. LOL Thank you for providing easily understood instructions and a great video. I’ve paused that video more times than I can count to see how to do something. LOVE this afghan.

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      I’m so glad the pattern and video are helpful! I can’t wait to see you finished blanket and I’m sure your co-worker will love it. Feel free to share it with me on Instagram or in the TLYCMakers Facebook group!

  14. AvatarJayne says

    I love the gingham baby blanket pattern and I’m about a third the way through. I’ve used Caron Simply Soft in lovely shades of pink. I can’t wait to see the finished result! Thanks for a great pattern! Love Jayne from Essex England xxx

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      This is one of my favorite patterns and I’m so glad you’re enjoying it! I’d love to see your finished blanket. Happy hooking 🙂

  15. AvatarJen johnson says

    Hello,this is a beautiful blanket and wonderful video.you are so gifted and patiently explain all in your video,thank you.i have tried and tried different ways of making the block blankets to no svail(boo hoo),your video brought it all home and made it easy,thank you so much.i am so happy to begin this beautiful pattern,thank you.please keep making these wonderful videos.
    Jen j

  16. AvatarVanessa says

    Hi Toni. Love your work. Please check the border instructions. They do not match your video nor the instructions for linen stitch beginning with round 3. Should be sk sc, sc in ch1 space. Thanks.

  17. AvatarNancy says

    Such a cute blanket!! I love it! But I want to make it bigger for a toddler possibly. How many chains across do i do? And how do i adjust so that the squares are right? And I already bought my yarn so I guess I need more?
    Thank you!

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      Hi Nancy! I’m so excited that you’re making this blanket 🙂 I don’t have an exact number for how to adjust this pattern as I’ve only made it in one size. You can add chains in groups of 11 to add more columns. Then change color as mentioned in the pattern and continue crocheting until you reach your desired length. Hope that helps!

  18. AvatarNaDine says

    Dear Toni, I am also mad at you for coming up with such a stunning project that I have to make it as a gift for someone my sister-in-law knows. I agreed to do it before I saw all the loose ends. Uggghh!
    But you are the best at instructing Tunisian and I really appreciate the tutorial.

  19. AvatarKaren Sandene says

    Hi, Toni – I’m enjoying learning Tunisian crochet with you and I am having a fun time with this blanket. A couple of questions – I have finished with the body and have found out that the baby is longer than expected, and I’m wondering if there is any way to widen the body after the fact (like adding a strip or two of squares), or am I stuck with what I have? And also, do you bother to do anything to soften the yarn when you finish the project (like vinegar or fabric softener), or will the steam from blocking it take care of some of that? It seems pretty stiff. Thanks! Karen

    • Toni L.Toni L. says

      Hi Karen! You certainly can add width to your blanket after the fact. Search my YouTube channel for join as you go Tunisian crochet 🙂 For softening, you can wet block anything with some animal fiber. Put a touch of no-rinse soap and a bit of fabric softener in a basin with warm water (or even in your sink). Allow it to soak for about 20 minutes. Press (don’t wring) out the excess water, lay it flat, and lightly pull to the shape you want. Let it air dry and you should be good to go.

  20. AvatarSharon C. says

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your website, tutorials, patterns, and YOU! You are so talented! Thank you for sharing your gifts and inspiring others! I learned to crochet about 5 years ago and recently learned to Tunisian crochet with your videos. For Christmas I received Tunisian supplies including your new book and am excited to explore this new craft. I just finished your Mulberry Tunisian Afghan and it is absolutely stunning! I will start the Tunisian Sweet Gingham Baby Blanket next. Thanks again Toni!

  21. AvatarDaisy says

    I love this one!! I’m obsessed with gingham lately, and I was hoping there was a way to do it in Tunisian. I’m making this now for a family friend’s baby; grandma has approved the colors and pattern 🙂 I did edit ever-so-slightly by doing a long-tail cast on, with each color its own 11 stitches, and I’ll also be binding off in the color pattern, rather than the first and last rows being just pink, which would personally drive me absolutely bonkers, and I’ll absolutely make extra work for myself in order to avoid it lol. Also, my coworker loves this blanket so much that she went out and bought the colors, even before she’s decided what to make with them!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

keep exploring