Rag Quilt Style Baby Blanket
Does anyone remember rag quilts? Does anyone still make them?
I remember some of the quilts that my grandmother used to have and I sincerely wish that I could’ve gotten my hands on a couple. I have no idea if she still has them or if they’re long gone.
So this week’s crochet pattern was inspired by the beloved rag quilt!
This post may contain affiliate links for products I use and recommend. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my small business! For more information, please see my disclosure policy.
This is an easy pattern since it’s mostly comprised of a basic solid granny square. The trim on all of the squares is only a single crochet and two chains repeated. And when you crochet the trim in the front loops only, that leaves the back loop open to stitch the squares together, so no getting off track with stitch counts!
There are two options for making the Rag Quilt Style Baby Blanket.
First, you can crochet the trim around all four sides of each granny square and then stitch them together. Easy peasy, wish I would’ve done this…
Second, you can crochet around a specific amount of sides of each square and then piece it together like a puzzle, leaving the entire perimeter empty of a border. And then in the end, crochet a solid border around the the whole blanket. This is what I did in the example. It’s a bit more tedious, but definitely helpful if you decide to put on a different border than what I have suggested.
If you choose the second option, I have added a chart explaining which squares would need a specific number of sides done in trim. If you choose option one, just ignore the chart.
This Rag Quilt Style Baby Blanket is so warm and working with the I Love This Yarn brand of yarn is heavenly because of it’s softness…even though it isn’t technically a “baby yarn”.
Now I know that not everyone has a Hobby Lobby around them, which is where I buy the I Love This Yarn brand. Any medium weight yarn will work.
My mom is taking this one for her neighbor’s expected little one. They aren’t sure what they are having yet. So that’s why I chose these colors because I wanted to make a more gender neutral blanket, but I encourage you to get creative and make it your own!
I’m almost sad to see it go, but I’m thinking about making one for my own bed!
How warm would that be!
If you want to make a larger sized blanket simply add more squares. Each square measures about 4″. Measure out how big you want your blanket to be. However many inches you need for width, just divide by four to figure out how many squares you will need across. Do this again for length. Then take those two numbers and multiply them together. Bingo! There’s your number of squares!
The pattern for the hat and booties that matches this blanket is also available at this link here. The hat and booties can be made in three sizes!
What colors would you make this blanket? Would you make it for a baby or a larger version? Comment below! I’d love to hear your thoughts!
If you’d like to see more crocheted baby blankets that I’ve designed, be sure to check out the Let’s Cuddle Baby Blanket, Baby Monet Blanket, Cullen’s Baby Blanket and (my most popular pattern) the Sleepy Bear Baby Blanket!
Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue here…
Rag Quilt Style Baby Blanket
Materials Used:
- 12 oz of I Love This Yarn – Ivory – 7 oz/199 g – 355 yds/325 m
- 1 skein of I Love This Yarn – Buttercup – 7 oz/199 g – 355 yds/325 m
- 4 oz of I Love This Yarn – Greybeard – 7 oz/199 g – 355 yds/325 m
- 4 oz of I Love This Yarn – Cranberry – 7 oz/199 g – 355 yds/325 m
Or any medium weight yarn. - H/8 (5.00 mm) hook – My favorite hooks! I use them daily!
- Tapestry needle
Finished Size Approximately:
33 in. x 33 in. (83.82 cm x 83.82 cm)
Gauge:
12 hdc + 2 ch and 4 rows (1 whole granny square) in a 4” (10cm) square.
Special Stitches:
Back Loops Only (BLO)
Front Loops Only (FLO)
Abbreviations:
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
sl st – slip stitch
sp – space
st(s) – stitch(es)
BLO – Back Loops Only
FLO – Front Loops Only
Notes:
- You have 2 options for making this baby blanket.
1. You can put the ruffle border around all four sides of every granny square, stitch together and finished. This is the easiest option.
2. If you prefer a solid border that you crochet on after stitching the squares together (which is what I did in the example), a chart will be included to show which squares get a ruffle and on how many sides. You then will piece them all together like a puzzle, but your border will be empty. You can then stitch the border around the entire blanket separately. This is the more challenging option, but still not that bad.
- The instructions for the solid granny square vs. the striped granny square are basically the same except that for the striped, you will be cutting and changing colors. I will include instructions for both just in case someone finds it confusing.
*** American crochet terms used throughout.
Instructions:
Solid Granny Square
Make 16 Greybeard and 16 Cranberry
Round 1: Ch 4, join with a sl st in 1st ch to form a loop. (A magic circle will work too.)
Round 2: Ch 4. All in loop, *dc, hdc, dc, ch 2* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Dc, hdc, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 2.
Round 3: Sl st into ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in ch-1 sp. *Hdc in next 4 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Hdc in next 4 sts, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 3.
Round 4: Sl st into ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in ch-1 sp. *Hdc in next 7 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Hdc in next 7 sts, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 4.
Round 5: Sl st into ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in ch-1 sp. *Hdc in next 10 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Hdc in next 10 sts, sl st in 2nd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 5.
Finish off.
Striped Granny Square
Make 32
With Ivory
Round 1: Ch 4, join with a sl st in 1st ch to form a loop. (A magic circle will work too.)
Round 2: Ch 4. All in loop, *dc, hdc, dc, ch 2* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Dc, hdc, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 2.
Finish off.
With Buttercup
Round 3: Attach Buttercup in ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in ch-1 sp. *Hdc in next 4 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Hdc in next 4 sts, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 3.
Finish off.
With Ivory
Round 4: Attach Ivory in ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in ch-1 sp. *Hdc in next 7 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Hdc in next 7 sts, sl st in 3rd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 4.
Finish off.
With Buttercup
Round 5: Attach Buttercup in ch-1 sp, ch 4, dc in ch-1 sp. *Hdc in next 10 sts, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp* Repeat from * to * 2 more times. Hdc in next 10 sts, sl st in 2nd ch of initial ch 4 of Round 5.
Finish off.
***Block all of your granny squares, if desired.
Ruffle Trim for Individual Squares
With Ivory
Note: If you are doing option #1 (see Notes), then crochet the trim around every side of all 64 granny squares. No final border is required because it’s built in.
If you are doing option #2, follow the chart for how many sides get a border. Ignore the chart if using option #1.
# of Sides with Ruffles — # of Squares
Buttercup/Ivory
2 sides — 2
3 sides — 12
4 sides — 18
Greybeard
2 sides — 1
3 sides — 6
4 sides — 9
Cranberry
2 sides — 1
3 sides — 6
4 sides — 9
You will be working the border in the front loops only of the granny squares. This is because the ruffle will face upward instead of out to the side. It also gives you back loops to use when stitching the squares together. Do not work the trim through both loops.
Round 1: Working in FLO, (sc, ch 2) in every stitch around. Sl st in 1st sc made of round.
Finish off.
Entire Blanket Border for Option #2
With Ivory
Round 1: Working in FLO, (sc, ch 2) in every stitch around perimeter of blanket. Sl st in 1st sc made of round.
Finish off.
Finishing
With Buttercup
Using either the whip stitch or slip stitching, stitch all of the squares together through the BLO. Use the following color chart as a guide.
I hope you enjoyed the Rag Quilt Style Baby Blanket!
***Click here to buy the ad-free, large print PDF from Etsy***
***Click here to buy the ad-free, large print PDF from Ravelry***
Don’t forget to follow along with me on social media, Pinterest and by signing up for my Newsletter where every week you get the latest pattern sent straight to your inbox!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, I just came across this and absolutely love it. I love the idea of using hdc instead of dc for the side stitches of the granny squares. One thought I had was to add a couple of extra rounds to the squares to make them larger before adding the ruffle. Thereby reducing the number of squares needed when making the blanket larger. For example, for sofa/couch add 2 extra rounds, child’s bed, add 3 extra rounds, queen bed, 4 extra rounds or king/super king size bed, 5 extra rounds. My colours would be cream or ivory, purple or maroon and petrol blue or dark teal. I will definitely be making one in the near future. Thank you for sharing
You’re so welcome! I hope it is the kind of challenge you are looking for. Thank you for commenting!
Hi, I’m always looking for a challenge. Thankyou because I’ve made a blanket replicating colors in a print my friend had. It’s turning out better than I expected.
You know, I was considering making a larger one myself for my couch! This pattern makes such a great blanket without the large holes for toes to poke out of…that always drove me nuts! LOL! I’m so glad to hear that you are making the Sleepy Bear Blanket too! Such fun projects! Thanks for commenting!
I love your designs. I am currently making the Sleepy Bear Blanket. Cannot wait to make this one for my Grandbaby in October (and maybe a large version for Grandma lol).
You’re so welcome, Gale! I’m so curious now…who is your favorite team?
thanks for sharing this pattern! I see my favorite NFL colors in this afghan. lol
You’re so welcome, Amy! I’m so excited that you like the pattern! Yeah, I feel the same way about stitching squares together, but every once in a while, I’ll give it a go. This is one of my favorite baby blankets I’ve ever made and I’m sure your cousin is going to love it! Have fun yarn shopping and thanks for commenting! 😀
I tend to avoid blankets that require stitching squares, but this is just too darn adorable! I just found out my cousin is having a baby in January. Perfect excuse to give this blanket a try. Now gotta figure out some colors!, thank you for this pattern!
You’re welcome! And I’m so glad to hear that what I worry might be “overkill” is appreciated. When blogging, you never know at what level each person can crochet, so I thought it would be best to just explain everything in heavy detail. Thank you for your kind words!
love your tutorials that have plenty of photos and stitch explanation. thanks so much for that. enjoy your blog and IG!
You’re welcome, Morgen! And you’re absolutely right. This project would be a great stash buster!
This looks like a great way to use leftover yarn from other baby projects! Thank you.
Those colors sound really awesome! I’m trying to picture them together in my head. And I tell you what…that blanket was so warm and has some definite weight to it. It would most certainly keep anyone warm in the winter! LOL! I want one for my bed, but I’m worried it won’t fit in my washer. I might have to settle for a throw. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Gigi! With this blanket, since you are adding the ruffle into the front loops of the edges of the squares, that leaves the back loops still open. I actually found it easier to keep on track when I was sewing them together because the back loops really stood out. When I stitched around the corners, I kept stitching the loops rather than the space. The ruffle blocks the space, so the only thing that jumps out at you are the back loops of the corner stitches. I hope this makes sense! Thanks!
For me it would be silver, grey cream black and a colour to make it POP. Jade or teal perhaps. A orange/rust would work maybe. I need things like this to keep me warm in winter.
So pretty.. I am definitely going to try this when I finish my current project! My only problem is I absolutely hate to sew squares together – I always seem to miss a stitch. When you are sewing the squares together do you work through the corner spaces or into the actual stitches? Thank you.
You’re welcome, Tina! Have fun!
Great! Thank you again! Im out buying the yarn for this project right now….so excited!
Hi Tina!
I’m so glad you like the pattern! Yes, you are exactly right! You do continue to attach the trim in the front loops the entire way around the square, including the corners. That way, you will have the back loops to attach the squares together. Thank you!
Erica
LOVE THIS! Thank you for sharing this pattern! I was wondering how the trim is stitched in the corners. Is it stitched in the front loops of each chain of the corners?
Thanks again
Tina
Thank you, VICKIB! And you’re welcome! I’m so glad you like it. Have fun!
Beautiful afghan – thanks for sharing the pattern. I need to make an afghan for my cousins grandson and this will fit the bill. Love the color combo!
You are so welcome, slvrsnoozi! Once you get going with the pattern, you’ll see that it isn’t as hard as it looks. The pattern will still be here after Christmas too, so no rush! LOL!
Thank you, Darlene! And you are welcome too! I’m so glad that you like it. It’s fun to make as well!
Oh wow! I love to make rag quilts and I just started crocheting in February, 2017. I know this will be a challenge but I’m saving this one to attempt after I get the small Christmas gifts done! This is an awesome pattern!! Thanks so much for sharing!
So pretty and such a creative idea!!!! I love your color choices, too!! Thank you for this lovely pattern, picture tutorials and color placement graph!!!!