Newborn Afghan

Several months ago, my sister and I decided to teach ourselves to crochet.  One cool thing about living in the digital age is that there are tutorials for everything online!  You really have no excuse not to learn a new skill if you really want to.  We searched YouTube for some crochet tutorials and I was surprised at how not-complicated crocheting can be. Once you learn how to read a crochet pattern, you can crochet anything!  After I realized that, I got insanely addicted.  I now love making excuses for going to Hobby Lobby and/or Michael's and buying lots of soft balls of yarn and new crochet hooks.  There's just so many possibilities! 

Here's a simple blanket I adapted from a few different patterns I've found over the last couple of months. Enjoy!

For this newborn afghan, you will need: 2 skeins of yarn of the same weight (I used a soft gray and teal, but the possibilities are endless!), a 4mm crochet hook, a large threading needle, & scissors.

To make each square:

Make 4ch, join with a slip stitch (ss).

Round 1: 5ch (counts as 1 dc and 2 ch), *3dc into ring, 2 ch, rep from * twice more, 2 dc, ss into 3^rd of 5ch.

Round 2: Ss into next ch sp, 5ch (counts as 1dc and 2ch), 3dc into same space, *1ch, [3dc, 2ch, 3dc] into next chain sp; rep from * twice more, 1ch, skip 3 sts, 2dc into same space as 5ch from previous round, ss into 3^rd of 5ch.

Round 3: Ss into next ch space, 5ch (counts as 1dc and 2ch), 3dc into same sp, *1ch, skip 3dc, 3dc into next ch sp, 1ch, skip 3dc**  [3dc, 2ch, 3dc] into next sp; repeat from * twice more and then from * to ** once more, 2dc into same space as 5ch, ss into 3rd of 5ch.

Round 4: Ss into next ch sp, 5ch (counts as 1dc and 2ch), 3dc into same sp, * [1ch, skip 3dc; 3dc into next ch sp] twice, 1ch, skip 3dc ** [3dc, 2ch, 3dc] into next ch sp; rep from * twice more and from * to ** once more, 2dc into same space as 5ch, ss into 3^rd of 5ch.

Round 5: 1ch, 1sc into top of next st, 2sc into next ch sp, 1sc into top of next 3 sts, 1sc into top of next 3 sts, 1sc into next ch sp, 1sc into next ch sp, 1sc into top of next 3 sts, *2sc into next ch sp, 1 sc into top of next 3 sts, 1ch, 1 sc nto top of next 3 sts, 1ch, 1sc into top of next 3 sts, 1ch, 1sc into top of next 3 sts; rep from * once more. 2sc into next ch sp, 1sc into top of next 3sts, 1ch, 1sc into top of next 3 sts, 1 ch, 1 sc into top of next 3 sts, 1ch, 1sc into top of next 2 sts, ss into top of first 3ch.

Fasten off.

For this blanket, I made a total of 30 squares. Lay out six rows of five squares each, alternating turquoise and grey squares so you can get a visual of roughly how big the blanket will end up being. Since this is a newborn sized blanket, it’s pretty small. Remember you will be adding the edging once the blanket has been stitched together.  

To make up the blanket, there are two ways you can work it. You can either crochet the squares or stitch with a needle and yarn. To crochet squares together, lay them all out alternating colors and join with a sc seam.

For this blanket, I chose to stitch the squares together. Stitching created a seamless (and smoother) blanket. To stitch, thread your large needle with either gray or teal yarn. Put your squares side by side and weave through just the outer stitches. When you get to the end of the squares, make a loop and a small, tight knot and weave the ends of the yarn into your square that is the same color as the yarn you are using. Make sure you first stitch five squares together to make a row. Then stitch each row together.

To make edging, start at the top, right corner of your afghan. Insert your hook, ch1 and make 1sc into the first st, skip 1 st, then make 5sc into the next st, sk 1 stitch and make 5sc into next st. Repeat this pattern around the entire edge of the blanket.

Alternatively, you can make a simpler edging by making 1sc into each st along each edge, making 5sc into each of the corner stitches. Fasten off and sew in the ends.

Easy peasey!