This adorable little preemie baby blanket is very easy to make and works up quickly. It is perfect for gifting a family with a premature baby or donating to your local hospital Neonatal unit.
The great thing about it, is the gorgeous texture the stitch gives, without the holes that many crochet stitches have. I chose the two dc cluster stitch for this reason. It is a very easy stitch to learn, if you can make a double crochet (UK treble), you can do this stitch! Don’t worry instructions are given on the pattern and there’s also a separate tutorial post.
This stitch idea first came from making a bonding square for the Preemie Crochet Challenge 2024 run by Sunflower Cottage Crochet. Every year, for the last few years throughout the month of June, she brings together some amazing crochet designers, to offer a selection of exclusive, free PDF patterns all designed for premature babies. These patterns are designed with care to ensure they are perfect for delicate little ones in NICUs.
I’m a Mum of twin boys who were preemies and spent 11 days in our local Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). They had gorgeous handknitted and crocheted blankets at the hospital that were perfectly sized for the little cots. When they came home they looked so tiny and everything we had was massive on them. I remember standard baby blankets being so big we couldn’t use them and was grateful for having some little ones that had been passed on to us from other families. It was December so they needed wrapped up nice and cosy!
The Cuddly Clusters preemie baby blanket is a gorgeously textured pattern designed as a 20” x 20” preemie size, that can also be used as a comforter blanket. The pattern is easily adapted for other sizes. There are many different sizes of baby blankets, if you do a search you’ll find charts with a variety of sizing. While there doesn’t appear to be ‘official’ standard sizing for the different baby blanket sizes, most charts are similar. If you would like to make blankets to donate to hospitals or charities, please check what size and shape they want, before making.
This pattern is written here using US crochet terms.
You will learn how to do Two Double Crochet Clusters in making this pattern. The PDF includes photos to help you with this easy stitch pattern and don’t forget there is also a free Tutorial.
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This pattern has been tested for errors by a team of crocheters with varying skill ability, this helps to ensure the pattern is free of errors, but should you find any errors or run into difficulties please reach out to me so I can help.
NOTE ON SELLING ITEMS AND COPYRIGHT: The pattern and all images are Copyright Janferie MacKintosh, all rights reserved. You may not copy any part of this pattern or use photos without permission. You may not make tutorial videos from this pattern. You may sell finished items (handmade in small quantities by you). Design credit is appreciated (tag on social media or link to this post). Thank you.
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Skill Level
Easy. Uses simple, common stitches and techniques.
Recommended Yarn
Any soft baby DK #3 weight yarn approx. 410-492yds/375-450m
Yarn used: King Cole Cherished (100% anti-pilling acrylic) in shade Laurel, 273yds (250m) per 3.5oz (100g). Amount used: 150g (410yds/375m)
This is a lovely soft anti-pilling baby yarn. Being acrylic it is very lightweight and non-allergenic. I used it because I already had it in my stash and knew it was a great yarn for baby makes. A more environmentally friendly yarn substitute would be an organic cotton or bamboo. Check with the hospital or charity if they have specific yarn or size requirements.
Hooks & Other Materials
- US Size 7 (4.5mm)
- US Size H (5.0mm)
- Yarn needle
- Stitch marker
- Scissors
Sizes/Finished Measurements
Size is approximate, after lightly pulling/blocking to shape. Preemie: 20” x 20” (50.8cm x 50.8cm)
Abbreviations
St(s) – Stitch(es)
Slst – Slip stitch
Ch – Chain
Yo – Yarn over
Dc – Double crochet
2dc-cl – Two double crochet Cluster
Notes
- Starting chain is worked using a larger hook to ensure it isn’t too tight.
- Beginning Ch-3 counts as 1st st in 2dc-cl throughout.
- Use stitch marker to mark 1st 2dc-cl (in 1st dc, not ch-3) in row, if helpful.
- For row 2 onward, make last 2dc-cl in dc (not ch-3) of 1st 2dc-cl of previous row.
- Stitch count is shown at the end of each row in bold.
- Check stitch count at the end of each row.
- To increase size of finished blanket, increase starting number of chains and number of rows to suit.
Gauge
With US size 7 (4.5mm) hook: 3 x 2dc-cl and 2 rows = approx.1”/ 2.5cm. Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain gauge. Number of sts to 1” is more important than row height, Adjust number of rows to match finished measurements.
Adjusting for Other Sizes
Calculate number of sts needed in multiples of 3 per inch (2.5cm) plus the beginning ch-3, and number of rows in multiples of approximately 2 per inch (2.5cm).
Special Stitches/Techniques
Two Double Crochet Cluster (2dc-cl) = A simple cluster stitch made from two double crochet stitches worked together as one stitch: *Yo, insert hook into indicated st, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook, in same stitch repeat from * once more, yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook (2dc-cl stitch complete). See tutorial.
INSTRUCTIONS
With size H (5.0mm) hook, chain 63.
Row 1: Switch to size 7 (4.5mm) hook. Dc in 4th ch from hook (ch-3 and dc count as 1st 2dc-cl), 2dc-cl in next ch and in each ch to end. Turn. – 60 2dc-cl
Row 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2dc-cl in next st and in each st to end. Turn. – 60 2dc-cl
Rows 3-40: Repeat row 2. – 60 2dc-cl
Fasten off yarn and weave in ends.
Why not check out my other crochet patterns too. I’d love you to have a look around while you’re here.
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Happy crocheting, thanks so much, love Janferie xx
This pattern took part in the Preemie Crochet Challenge 2024. This event has now finished, but you can see all the beautiful patterns that took part below:
