The shell stitch is one of my favorite stitches for a beautiful baby blanket that is very easy to make. The Aurora Baby Blanket is mainly made with the shell stitch using 3 colors of yarn. Each color is 10 rows. For this blanket, I used Big Twists Living Anti Pilling Yarn. The colors used for the first blanket I made are Cream, Steel, and Spa. The second blanket one I made uses Soft Peach, Chinchilla, and Cream. (And as of the writing of this post, I am making a third one in White, Spa, and Turquoise). I hope you enjoy making this blanket as much as I do.
FINISHED SIZE
39 in L x 34 in W
MATERIALS
Worsted weight yarn in 3 colors – 398 yds each color (can also use yarn in any weight but you’ll need to modify the pattern to make the same size)
5mm hook (or the hook that corresponds to the yarn weight)
Yarn Needle
Scissors
ABBREVIATIONS (US TERMS)
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
hdc = half double crochet
st/sts = stitch/stitches
ch = chain
sk = skip or skipped
slp st = slip stitch
SPECIAL STITCHES
Shell Stitch = 5 DC in 1 stitch.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
The starting chain for the shell stitch is a multiple of 6 + 1. I like to start my blankets with a row of sc first. At the end of the sc row, the number of stitches is 1 less than the starting chain. To account for this, I add an additional +1 so it ends up being a multiple of 6 + 1 + 1.
BLANKET PATTERN
Chain 116 or a multiple of 6 +1 +1.
Row 1: Sc in each stitch across, ch 1 and turn.
Row 2: *Sc in the first st, sk 2 sts, shell stitch in the next st, sk 2 sts,* repeat from * to * ending with a sc in the last stitch, ch. 3 and turn. (The chain 3 counts as the first double crochet of the next row.)
Row 3: Place 2 more dc in the first st. *Sk 2 sts, sc in the middle st of shell of the previous row, sk 2 sts, shell st in the next st, sk 2 sts, sc in the middle st of the shell of the previous row.* Repeat from * to * until you have 3 sts left. Place 3 dc in the last st. Ch1, turn.
Rows 4 until the end: Repeat rows 2 and 3, changing color every 10 rows. At the end, you should have 80 rows (30 rows of color A, 30 rows of color B, and 20 rows of color C). When you reach the end, chain 1 and turn to begin the border. The border will start with color B. (Weave in the ends before starting the border.)
BORDER PATTERN
Round 1: To even out the shells, for each shell, place the following stitches: *dc in the first st, hdc in the next st, sc in the next 3 sts, hdc in the next st,* and repeat from * to * until the end of the row. The dc will be in the sc of the previous row and the sc will be at the top of the shell of the previous row. When you reach the end of the row, place 3 hdc in the corner. Continue placing a hdc in each st around with 3 hdc in each corner. Slp st to the first st, and ch 1. Change to color A.
Round 2: With color A, place a hdc in each st around with 3 hdc in the center st of the corner sts of the previous round.
Round 3: With color C, repeat round 2.
Round 4 (Optional): With color B, dc in each st round, placing 3 dc in the center st of the corner sts of the previous round. Slp st in the first st. Ch 1.
Round 5 (Optional): *Slp st in the first st, [hdc, ch 1, hdc] in the next st, skip 1 st,* repeat from * to * ending in a slp st. Place 3 hdc in each corner st. Start each side after the corner sts with a slp st. Slp st to the first st.
Fasten off, weave in your remaining ends, and enjoy :).
For more baby blankets, click here.
