Free crochet baby blanket pattern in V-stitch

V-stitch is one of the best stitches for a baby blanket. It's light and soft, it drapes nicely, and it grows quickly. Every row is the same, and you always work into the obvious gap in the middle of each V, so it's easy to keep your place.

#Materials

• Worsted weight (#4) baby yarn, machine washable: about 650 yd (stroller) or 1,000 yd (crib)
• 5.5 mm (I-9) hook
• Yarn needle

#Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• dc: double crochet (how to)
• sk: skip
• V-st: (dc, ch 1, dc) worked in the same stitch or space
• sp: space

#Sizes

For any width, chain a multiple of 3, plus 4.

#The pattern

Foundation: Ch 88 (109).

Row 1: V-st in the 5th ch from the hook. (Sk 2 ch, V-st in the next ch) across to the last 2 ch. Sk 1 ch, dc in the last ch. Turn. (28, 35 V-sts, plus 1 dc at each edge)

The 4 skipped chains at the start count as the first dc and a skipped chain.

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc). V-st in the ch-1 sp at the centre of each V-st across. Dc in the top of the turning chain. Turn.

Repeat Row 2 until the blanket measures 29 (35) in, or about 1 in less than the length you want.

#Border

Rnd 1: Ch 1. Sc evenly around all four sides, working 3 sc in each corner. Along the side edges, work 2 sc into each dc row end. Sl st to the first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1. Sc in each st around, working 3 sc in the centre stitch of each corner. Sl st to join.

Rnd 3 (optional shell edge): Ch 1, sc in the first st. (Sk 1 st, 5 dc in the next st, sk 1 st, sc in the next st) around. Sl st to join. Don't worry if the repeat doesn't end exactly at a corner; fudge a stitch either side.

#Finishing

Weave in all the ends securely, and wash the blanket once before gifting. It softens the yarn and evens out the stitches. For a textured alternative, try our moss stitch blanket.