The Heart Easy Shells Blanket is an easy pattern that works up quickly and makes a beautiful baby blanket. It would make the perfect baby gift or a wonderful addition to a nursery. The pattern is versatile so you can make it any size by adjusting your starting chain. And there are few color changes, so there won’t be a lot of strands to weave in at the end.
For this blanket, I used Baby Bee Sweet Delight yarn in the color Naked from Hobby Lobby and Hayfield Spirit DK in Sundown. A comparable yarn to Hayfield Spirit Sundown is Ice Yarns Magic Light 22034. They are nearly identical except Ice Yarns is 100% acrylic whereas Hayfield Spirit Sundown is 80% Acrylic/20% Wool.
To make this blanket, you can use the same yarn or any DK #3 weight yarn. I used 1.5 skeins Baby Bee and 1/2 skein of Hayfield Spirit for the hearts and the border. This pattern makes 25″ x 25″ blanket. If you use a different size yarn, just adjust your crochet hook to fit the yarn and adjust the pattern to your desired size.
MATERIALS:
Approx 580 yards DK #3 weight yarn in color A
Approx 200 yds DK #3 weight yarn in color B
4.5mm crochet hook
Yarn needle
Scissors
Stitch Markers (optional)
ABBREVIATIONS (US TERMS):
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
slp st(s) = slip stitch(es)
st(s) = stitch(es)
YO = yarnover
SPECIAL STITCHES:
Heart stitch – Cluster stitch, chain 1, cluster stitch
To do the cluster stitch –
Yarnover, insert your hook, grab the yarn, YO, pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain on hook)
Then YO, insert your hook, grab the yarn, YO, pull through 2 loops (3 loops remain on hook)
Then YO, pull through all three loops.
Mini Shell stitch – 3 DC in the same stitch.
BLANKET PATTERN
With color A, chain 100 or any multiple of 4.
Row 1: SC in each stitch across, ch. 1 and turn
Row 2: SC in the same st as the ch. 1, *sk 1 st, 3 DC in the next st, sk 1 st, SC in the next st.* Repeat from * to * until there are 2 sts left. Sk 1 st, then 3 DC in the last st. Ch. 1, turn.
Row 3: SC in same st as ch 1, sk 2 sts, *3 DC in the next st , sk 1 st. SC in the next st, sk 1 st.* Repeat from * to * until the last stitch, then put 3 DC in the last stitch. Ch 1, turn. Note: The 3 DC should be made in the SC from the previous row, and the SC should be in the center stitch of the 3 DC of the previous row.
Row 4: With color B, SC in same st as ch 1, sk 2 st, *Heart Stitch in the next st, sk 1 st, SC in next st, sk 1 st.* Repeat from * to * until the last st, then put 3 DC in the last st. Ch. 1, turn. Note: The Heart Stitch should be made in the SC from the previous row, and the SC should be in the 3 DC of the previous row.
Row 5: With color A, SC in same st as ch 1, sk 2 sts, *Heart Stitch in the next st , sk 1 st, SC in the next st, sk 1 st.* Repeat from * to * until the last stitch, then put 3 DC in the last stitch. Note: The Heart Stitch should be made in the SC from the previous row, and the SC should be in the center chain of the heart stitch of the previous row.
Row 6: With color B, repeat row 4. Note: The Heart Stitch should be made in the SC from the previous row, and the SC should be in the center chain of the Heart Stitch of the previous row.
Row 7: With color A, SC in same st as ch. 1, sk 2 sts, *3 DC in the next st , sk 1 st. SC in the next st, sk 1 st.* Repeat from * to * until the last stitch, then put 3 DC in the last stitch. Note: The 3 DC should be made in the SC from the previous row, and the SC should be in the center chain of the heart stitch of the previous row.
Row 8: SC in same st as ch 1, sk 2 sts, *3 DC in the next st , sk 1 st. SC in the next st, sk 1 st.* Repeat from * to * until the last stitch, then put 3 DC in the last stitch. Note: The 3 DC should be made in the SC from the previous row, and the SC should be in the center stitch of the 3 DC of the previous row.
Repeat row 8 until you have 5 rows left to complete your blanket.
Then, repeat rows 4 thru 6.
Next, repeat rows 7 and 8.
The final row is the start of the first round of the border.
BORDER
Final Row/Round 1 of border: Even out the mini shell stitches with a series of SC, HDC, and DC. To do this, begin with a SC in same st as ch 1, HDC in the next st, HDC, in the next st, DC in the next st, *HDC, SC, HDC, DC* until the end of the row. (You will place a DC in the SC in the previous row and a SC in the center st of the 3 DC of the previous row, and HDCs in the stitches in between.
Place 3 SC in the corner st and 1 SC in each stitch around the rest of the border. Each corner should have 3 SC. Slp st in the first st of the round.
Round 2 – 4: With color B, SC in each stitch round, placing 3 sc in the corners. Slp st in the first st of the round.
Fasten off, weave in your ends, and enjoy!
For more crochet blankets, click here or here for crochet baby blankets.
For a low cost pdf copy of this pattern, click here.
