Preemie Baby Blanket Crochet Pattern – Happy Cuddles

This is my first preemie baby blanket crochet pattern for The 2024 Preemie Challenge hosted by Helen from Sunflower Cottage Crochet. 

The idea behind this challenge is a pledge to make at least one of those item to donate to a NICU or similar in November for Preemie Awareness Month.

I am excited to share this new Preemie Baby Blanket pattern with you. The Happy Cuddles baby blanket is free here on the blog.

It is simple yet textured enough to ensure those tiny fingers are not caught.

Are you with me?

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There are 2  ways to get this pattern:

Option 1: You can purchase the individual pattern as an easy-to-read, print-friendly PDF  from Ravelry

Option 2: Scroll down to get the written instructions for this pattern for free

What skill level will I need for this crochet preemie blanket pattern?

This preemie baby blanket crochet pattern is easy to make. It uses simple and basic crochet stitches such as the Linen st and Back loop only Double Crochet.

You will find instructions for both in the free pattern below ⬇️

Before you get started, check out my Favorite Crochet Tools (affiliate)

Yarn Winder – a perfect crochet accessories

Neck Stretcher – to keep you without neck and back pain

Gauge Ruler – so you always get the right size

About the Happy Cuddles Preemie Baby Blanket

For this sample, I used two strands of this yarn:

Nako Baby Tweed New, 100g, 230m, 100% Acrylic, weight #3 ( I used 2 strands) color baby blue. (1050 yards for 2 strands) it may be discontinued yarn, but you can choose any weight #4 baby yarn. Make sure it is for Babies, super soft, and not itchy

Pattern Designed By: Sandra Stitches This pattern is copyright protected; it is unlawful to distribute this pattern in any form (free, sale or trade).

▶️ Add this pattern to your Ravelry favorites here

Let’s get to the pattern, shall we? Making a Preemie Blanket

Materials

Nako Baby Tweed New, 100g, 230m, 100% Acrylic, weight #3 ( I used 2 strands) color baby blue. (1050 yards for 2 strands)

Or use any baby worsted-weight yarn of your choice.

Hook: US Size J-10 (6mm) 

Yarn Needle, Scissors, Measuring Tape

Gauge

• 11 st X 6 rows 4” X 4” ( Hdc X st)
• 11 st x  12 rows  4” X 4” ( Linen st)

Sizes

• This sample is  29” X 27” 

Stitch Key

• Ch = Chain
• Sc = Single Crochet
• St = Stitch
• Hdc = Half Double crochet
• Dc = Double Crochet
• Yo = Yarn over
• Slst = Slip stitch

Specialty Stitch

Linen Stitch

Row 1: Sc 1, skip 1, ch 1, sc 1 in next st, finish sc 1 in last

Row 2: Sc 1, ch 1, sc 1 in ch1 space, ch 1, skip 1 sc 1 in ch 1 space, finish sc 1 in last 2 st

BloDc = Back loop only Double Crochet (Yo, Insert crochet hook into the back loop only, Pull up a loop, Yo, Pull through 2 loops on the crochet hook, Yo, Pull through the last 2 loops on the crochet hook

Notes

• This pattern is written in US terminology
• This pattern is worked in rows
• Ch2 does count as st at the beginning of each row
• Ch1 at the beginning of the row does not count as a stitch
• This pattern uses pattern repeats.
• To modify size add chains in odd numbers

Instructions

Chain 83

First section

Row 1: Dc 1 in 4th ch from hook, dc 1 in next st and across to end of row, turn (80)

Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as st here and further), skip next st, hdc in next, hdc in skipped st, *[skip 1 st, hdc 1 in next, hdc 1 in skipped st]* repeat from *to* to end of the row, finish with hdc 1 in last st, turn (80)

Row 3: Ch 2, blodc in next st, blodc in every st to end of the row, turn (80)

Repeat rows

Row 4-9: repeat rows 2+3 (80)

Row 10: Ch 1, Sc1 in 1st st from hook, skip 1, ch1, sc 1 in next st (linen st), repeat to end of the row, finish with sc 1 in last 2 st, turn (80)

Row 11: Ch 1, sc1 in 1st st from hook, skip 1 st, sc1 in ch 1 space, ch 1,*[skip 1, sc 1 in ch 1 space]*, repeat *to end of row, finish with sc 1 in last ch 1 space, ch1 and sc 1 in last st, turn (80)

Row 12: Ch 1, sc1 in 1st from hook, sc1 in ch 1 space, skip 1, ch1, sc 1 in next ch 1 space, ch 1, skip 1 sc 1 in next ch 1 space repeat to end of row, finish with sc 1 in last st, turn (80)

Row 13:  Ch1, sc1 in 1st st from hook, sc1 in ch 1 space, *ch 1, skip 1, sc1 in next ch 1 space, repeat from * to last st, finish wit sc in last st (80)

Again repeat rows

Row 14 – 22: repeat rows 12+13 (80)

Let’s continue

Second Section

Row 23:  Ch2, dc 1 in next st, dc 1 in next and across to end of row, turn (80)

Row 24: Ch 2, skip next st, hdc in next, hdc in skipped st, *[skip 1 st, hdc 1 in next, hdc 1 in skipped st]* repeat from *to* to end of the row, finish with hdc 1 in last st, turn (80)

Row 25: Ch 2, blodc in next st, blodc in every st to end of the row, turn (80)

Row 26-31: repeat rows 24+25 (80)

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Repeat Sections

Row 32: Ch 1, Sc1 in 1st st from hook, skip 1, ch 1, sc 1 in next st (linen st), repeat to end of the row, finish with sc 1 in last 2 st, turn (80)

Row 33: Ch 1, sc1 in 1st st from hook, skip 1 st, sc1 in ch 1 space, ch 1,*[skip 1, sc 1 in ch 1 space]*, repeat *to end of row, finish with sc 1 in last ch 1 space, ch1 and sc 1 in last st, turn (80)

Row 34: Ch 1, sc1 in 1st from hook, sc1 in ch 1 space, skip 1, ch1, sc 1 in next ch 1 space, ch 1, skip 1 sc 1 in next ch 1 space repeat to end of row, finish with sc 1 in last st, turn (80)

Row 35: Ch1, sc1 in 1st st from hook, sc1 in ch 1 space, *ch 1, skip 1, sc1 in next ch 1 space, repeat from * to last st, finish wit sc in last st (80)

One before the last repeat

Row 36 – 44: repeat rows 34+35 (80)

Row 45:  Ch2, dc 1 in next st, dc 1 in next and across to end of row, turn (80)

Row 46: Ch 2, skip next st, hdc in next, hdc in skipped st, *[skip 1 st, hdc 1 in next, hdc 1 in skipped st]* repeat from *to* to end of the row, finish with hdc 1 in last st, turn (80)

Row 47: Ch 2, blodc in next st, blodc in every st to end of the row, turn (80)

Last repeat rows

Row 48-54: repeat rows 46+47 (80)

Row 55: Ch2, dc 1 in next st, dc 1 in next and across to end of row (80)

Finishing

This is a preemie-size blanket. you can continue repeating the sections for a longer blanket.

This blanket does not have a special border, you can learn about borders and choose one HERE

2024 Preemie Crochet Challenge

Want more crochet baby blanket patterns?

Harvest Baby Blanket