Crochet a Beautiful Shell Stitch Baby Blanket: A Step-by-Step Guide

Hi everyone! If you're looking for a stunning and relatively easy crochet project, you've come to the right place. In this tutorial, we'll learn how to create a gorgeous shell stitch crochet baby blanket. This design is truly lovely, and you can customize it with your favorite colors. For this example, we'll use white as the main color and pink for a contrasting border.

This blanket is worked in the round, essentially creating one large granny square. The first six rounds are your setup rounds, and then the rest of the blanket is formed by a two-round repeat.

Project Details & Materials

This baby blanket measures 32 by 32 inches (approximately 81 by 81 centimeters) when finished.

To make it, you'll need:

  • Yarn: A light worsted/double knit yarn.
    • For the main color (white in this example): You'll need approximately four balls (e.g., Sirdar Snuggly Soothing Double Knitting).
    • For the contrasting color (pink in this example): You'll need approximately two balls.
  • Crochet Hook: A size 7 (4.5 mm) crochet hook.
  • Tools:
    • A pair of scissors
    • A stitch marker
    • A tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Understanding the Pattern Structure

The blanket is built in two main phases:

  1. Setup Rounds (Rounds 1-6): These rounds establish the foundation and the initial shape of your blanket.
  2. Pattern Repeat (Rounds 7 & 8): Once the setup rounds are complete, you'll repeat rounds 7 and 8 multiple times to grow your blanket to the desired size.

Let's Begin: Step-by-Step Instructions

We'll start by making the center of the blanket and working outwards.

Round 1: Creating the Ring

  1. Start with a chain of 4.
  2. Slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring.
  3. Chain 4 (this counts as your first double crochet and a chain 1).
  4. Work (1 double crochet, chain 1) seven times into the center of the ring. Make sure to work over your yarn tail to weave it in as you go.
  5. To join the round, slip stitch into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 4.
    • At the end of Round 1, you should have your initial chain 4, plus 7 double crochets and 7 chain-1 spaces.

Round 2: Introducing Shell Stitches

  1. Chain 1.
  2. Come to the first chain-1 space and work 1 single crochet (sc). Place a stitch marker into this first single crochet.
  3. Move to the next chain-1 space and work a shell stitch (7 double crochets) into it.
  4. Repeat the sequence (1 single crochet into the next chain-1 space, then 1 shell stitch into the following chain-1 space) for a total of four times around.
  5. To join the round, slip stitch into the first single crochet (where your stitch marker is).

Round 3: Shaping the Corners (V-Stitches)

  1. Chain 4.
  2. Work your first corner: In the same stitch at the base of the chain 4, work (1 double crochet, chain 3, 1 double crochet, chain 1, 1 double crochet).
  3. Chain 5.
  4. Come to the next single crochet and work a corner V-stitch: (1 double crochet, chain 1, 1 double crochet) in the same stitch, then chain 3, then (1 double crochet, chain 1, 1 double crochet) in the same stitch.
  5. Repeat the sequence (chain 5, then work a corner V-stitch into the next single crochet) for a total of three times.
  6. To finish the round: Chain 2, then work 1 double crochet into the 2nd chain of the beginning chain 4.
    • At the end of Round 3, you should have 4 corners (each made with a corner V-stitch) and 3 chain-5 spaces.

Round 4: Expanding with Shells and Singles

  1. Chain 1.
  2. Come to the shell stitch below. Work 1 single crochet (sc) into the 4th (middle) double crochet of that shell. Place a stitch marker in this single crochet. Make sure to catch the chain underneath.
  3. Move to the chain-2 space (where you started Round 3). Work a shell stitch (7 double crochets) into this space.
  4. Come to the chain-3 space in the corner. Work 1 single crochet (sc).
  5. In the next chain-1 space, work a shell stitch.
  6. Now, repeat the following sequence for a total of three times: (Work 1 single crochet into the 4th (middle) double crochet of the next shell, then work a shell stitch into the next chain-1 space, then work a single crochet into the chain-3 space, then work a shell stitch into the next chain-1 space).
  7. To join the round, slip stitch into the first single crochet (where your stitch marker is).
    • At the end of Round 4, you should have 8 shell stitches in total.

Round 5: More V-Stitches and Chains

  1. Chain 4.
  2. Work 1 double crochet (dc) into the same stitch at the base of the chain 4.
  3. Repeat the following sequence for a total of three times:
    • Chain 5.
    • Come to the next single crochet and work a corner V-stitch: (1 double crochet, chain 1, 1 double crochet) in the same stitch, then chain 3, then (1 double crochet, chain 1, 1 double crochet) in the same stitch.
    • Chain 5.
    • Come to the next single crochet and work a regular V-stitch: (1 double crochet, chain 1, 1 double crochet) in the same stitch.
  4. To finish the round: Chain 5, then come to the next single crochet and work a corner V-stitch. Then, chain 2, and work 1 double crochet (dc) into the 2nd chain of the beginning chain 4.
    • At the end of Round 5, you should have 4 corner V-stitches, 7 chain-5 spaces, and 4 regular V-stitches.

Round 6: Final Setup Round with Shells and Singles

  1. Chain 1.
  2. Come to the shell stitch below. Work 1 single crochet (sc) into the 4th (middle) double crochet of that shell. Place a stitch marker in this single crochet.
  3. Move to the next chain-1 space (of the V-stitch). Work a shell stitch (7 double crochets) into it.
  4. Come to the next shell stitch below. Work 1 single crochet (sc) into its 4th (middle) double crochet.
  5. In the corner:
    • Work a shell stitch into the next chain-1 space.
    • Work 1 single crochet (sc) into the chain-3 space.
    • Work a shell stitch into the next chain-1 space.
  6. Repeat this entire sequence (starting from step 2, the single crochet in the middle of the shell) all the way around for Round 6.
  7. To join the round, slip stitch into the first single crochet.
    • At the end of Round 6, your work should show 4 distinct corners with shell stitches, and shell stitches along the sides.

The Pattern Repeat: Rounds 7 & 8

From this point on, you will simply repeat Rounds 7 and 8 to grow your blanket.

Round 7: V-Stitches and Chains (Repeat Round)

  1. Chain 4.
  2. Work 1 double crochet (dc) into the same stitch at the base of the chain 4.
  3. Chain 5.
  4. Come to the next single crochet and work a V-stitch (1 double crochet, chain 1, 1 double crochet in the same stitch).
  5. Chain 5.
  6. You've reached a corner! Into the single crochet in the corner, work a corner V-stitch (1 double crochet, chain 1, 1 double crochet in the same stitch, then chain 3, then 1 double crochet, chain 1, 1 double crochet in the same stitch).
  7. Repeat the following sequence around: (Chain 5, work a V-stitch into the next single crochet, chain 5, work a V-stitch into the next single crochet, chain 5, work a corner V-stitch into the single crochet in the corner). Continue this sequence around your blanket.
  8. To finish the round: Chain 2, then work 1 double crochet (dc) into the 2nd chain of the beginning chain 4.
    • At the end of Round 7, you should have your 4 corners with corner V-stitches, and regular V-stitches separated by chain-5 spaces along each side.

Round 8: Shells and Singles (Repeat Round)

  1. Chain 1.
  2. Come to the shell stitch below. Work 1 single crochet (sc) into the 4th (middle) double crochet of that shell. Place a stitch marker here.
  3. Come to the next V-stitch. Work a shell stitch (7 double crochets) into its chain-1 space.
  4. Come to the next shell stitch below. Work 1 single crochet (sc) into its 4th (middle) double crochet.
  5. Come to the next V-stitch. Work a shell stitch into its chain-1 space.
  6. Come to the next shell stitch below. Work 1 single crochet (sc) into its 4th (middle) double crochet.
  7. You've reached a corner! Work a corner shell stitch: (1 shell stitch into the chain-1 space, then 1 single crochet into the chain-3 space, then 1 shell stitch into the next chain-1 space).
  8. Repeat the following sequence around: (Work 1 single crochet into the 4th (middle) double crochet of the next shell, then work a shell stitch into the chain-1 space of the next V-stitch, then work 1 single crochet into the 4th (middle) double crochet of the next shell, then work a shell stitch into the chain-1 space of the next V-stitch, then work 1 single crochet into the 4th (middle) double crochet of the next shell, then work a corner shell stitch). Continue this sequence around your blanket.
  9. To join the round, slip stitch into the first single crochet.
    • At the end of Round 8, you should have your 4 corner shell stitches, and shell stitches with single crochets separating them along each side.

Finishing Your Blanket

Continue repeating Rounds 7 and 8 until your blanket reaches the desired size. For a blanket that measures 32x32 inches:

  1. Main Color Section: Repeat Rounds 7 and 8 until you have a total of 17 rounds of shell stitches (counting from the very center of your blanket).
  2. Attach Contrasting Color (Border): Once you've completed your 17 rounds in the main color, cut your yarn and fasten off. Reattach your contrasting color yarn (pink in this example) to begin your border.
  3. Contrasting Color Rounds: Repeat Rounds 7 and 8 four more times with your contrasting color. You should be able to count 4 rounds of shell stitches in this color.
  4. Attach Main Color (Final Rounds): At the end of your last contrasting color Round 8 repeat, cut your yarn and reattach your main color yarn.
  5. Final Main Color Rounds: Repeat Rounds 7 and 8 twice more with your main color. You should be able to count 2 rounds of shell stitches in this color.
  6. Finishing: Cut your yarn and weave in all loose ends using your tapestry needle.

Adding a Crochet Bow (Optional)

You can enhance your blanket by adding a little crochet bow to one of the corners. If you'd like to make the bow, there are separate tutorials available for it.

To attach the bow:

  1. Make your crochet bow. You'll have two yarn tails coming from the bow.
  2. Thread one yarn tail onto your tapestry needle.
  3. Choose a corner of your blanket. A good spot is typically centered within the shells.
  4. Push the needle through a stitch on the blanket from the front to the back, pulling the yarn tail through.
  5. Repeat with the other yarn tail, pushing it through a nearby stitch from the front to the back.
  6. Tie a couple of tight knots on the back of the blanket to secure the bow.
  7. Weave in the remaining yarn tails into the blanket to hide them.

I hope you enjoyed this detailed tutorial! Give it a try and create your own beautiful shell stitch baby blanket. Happy crocheting!