Granny Square Baby Blanket Pattern

This simple and sweet granny square baby blanket pattern is perfect for any newborn. Made with soft, neutral tones, it’s ideal for gifting or donating—and can easily be customized to match any baby theme or gender.

Lately, I’ve been on the hunt for more gender-neutral baby blanket patterns to donate to local hospitals and charities. So many of the patterns I come across are beautiful but tend to be more on the frilly side. I wanted to create something that felt cozy, soft, and timeless—without leaning too heavily toward traditional boy or girl styles.

This blanket features the sunburst granny square—one of my absolute favorite motifs. I’ve used it before in my crochet backpack pattern, which has become one of my most-loved designs. I also adapted smaller versions of the square for my crochet coin purse, designed to resemble a daisy, and my crochet granny square fingerless gloves, which were inspired by the look of a sunflower.

This certainly isn’t the first baby blanket I’ve made, and it definitely won’t be the last. But there’s something extra special about crafting for little ones—especially when you know your creation might bring warmth and comfort to a newborn and their family.

So grab your hook, choose your favorite yarn colors, and let’s get started on a granny square baby blanket that’s soft, sweet, and perfect for any baby!

🪡 Materials Needed

• Red Heart - aran x2
• Big Twist - medium gray
• Red Heart - light thyme (I believe this color is discontinued - try to find a light frosty green)
• Red Heart - sage
• 5.5 mm Hook 
• Tapestry needle

💭Abbreviations to Remember (US terms)

• Chains (ch)
• Magic ring (mr)
• Single crochet (sc)
• Double crochet (dc)
• Half double crochet (hdc)
• Double crochet cluster (dc cluster)
• Triple crochet (tr)
• Slip stitch (sl st)

🧋Variations

• Color Block Style: Use different colors for each sunburst granny square to create a fun patchwork effect or choose two to three coordinating tones for a more modern, color-blocked look. This works great for achieving cottagecore or boho vibes depending on your palette.

🍵Instructions for Granny Square Baby Blanket Pattern

For this Granny Square Baby Blanket Pattern, we will be working in rounds. 

Sunburst Granny Square:

Make: 

• 9x light thyme
• 16x medium gray
• 24x sage

Round 1: With any of the 3 colors listed,make a magic ring, then ch x3 (this counts as a dc) and dc x15 into the ring. Then sl st to the top of the chains that you made at the beginning to close the round (16).

Round 2: Ch x2 and in the same stitch make a modified puff stitch. To make a puff stitch you will yarn over, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over again and pull up a loop (you have 3 loops on your hook).

Now yarn over, insert the hook into the same stitch, yarn over again and pull up a loop (you have 5 loops on your hook). You can now yarn over and pull through all 5 loops. Then make a chain.

*In the next stitch make a puff stitch like before but repeat the yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, step 1 more time so you have 7 loops on the hook. Then yarn over and pull through all 7 loops on the hook. Ch x1.*

Repeat from *. Sl st to the first puff stitch to close the round. (16 puffs + 16 ch)

Round 3: Make a sl st into the ch space. Ch x2 and then make a 3-dc cluster in the same stitch.

To make a 3-dc cluster: *yarn over, insert hook into the stitch or space, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Then yarn over, pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain on hook). Repeat from * two more times, always inserting into the same stitch or space. You'll have 4 loops on the hook. Yarn over, pull through all 4 loops.

Then ch x2 and *make a 4-dc cluster (5 loops on the hook) in the next available stitch. Ch x2. Repeat from * for the rest of the round. Then when you get to the end of the round make a sl st to the top of the first dc cluster stitch. (16 dc clusters + 16 ch x2 spaces). Fasten off the colored yarn and weave in the ends.

Round 4: Now we will square off the sunburst granny square. 

Join the aran yarn to any ch x2 space. Then ch x3 and tr x2 into the ch space. In the next ch x2 space dc x3. In the following ch x2 spaces complete the following: hdc x3, dc x3, 

*tr x3 + ch x3 + tr x3 (this is a corner), dc x3, hdc x3, dc x3* 

Repeat from * 2 more times. When you get to the half corner that was done in the beginning of the round, go ahead and tr x3 and ch x3 into that corner then sl st to the top of the first ch x3 (which acts as a triple crochet). (60 + 4 ch x3 spaces). Fasten off and weave in any ends.

Building the Blanket:

Once you have the squares made, lay them out like I have in the photo.

Alternate rows of:

gray + sage + gray +sage +gray + sage +gray

sage + thyme + sage + thyme +sage +thyme + sage

Sew the squares together. There are many ways to do this - you can whip stitch or ladder stitch them together, or you can simply crochet them together by using a single crochet or slip stitch. 

Once sewn together, attach the aran yarn to anywhere on the outer edge of the blanket. 

Round 1-2: Single crochet around the blanket, when you get to the corners make 3 sc into the corner space.

After round 2 fasten off the yarn and join the light thyme color.

Round 3: Sl st, dc. Repeat for the rest of the round. Then sl st to the beginning, fasten off the yarn and weave in any tails.

I hope you loved making this crochet granny square baby blanket pattern as much as I enjoyed designing it! Whether you styled it for a girl, boy, or kept it gender neutral, this pattern is sure to become a favorite keepsake. 

If you’re feeling inspired and want to keep the creative momentum going, be sure to check out a few of my other wonderful and unique crochet blanket patterns! My crochet daisy blanket uses less squares if sewing is intimidating for you, or my crochet sunflower granny square blanket which is just one giant granny square with crochet sunflower appliques.

If you have any leftover yarn from this blanket you can also make my crochet frog pattern. Its super simple and doesn’t require much yarn at all!

Want to pair the blanket with a cute crochet baby toy? Check out my no stuff crochet giraffe pattern. It is filled with crinkle paper so it is stimulating for a baby and not a safety hazard.

Thanks for crafting with me, and I can’t wait to see your finished blankets! Be sure to tag me or share your version online—I love seeing all the creative spins you put on my patterns.

Happy hooking!

🧵Pattern FAQs

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If you tried this Granny Square Baby Blanket Pattern (or any other pattern on my website), please let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I'd love to hear from you!

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Granny Square Baby Blanket Pattern

This simple and sweet granny square baby blanket pattern is perfect for any newborn. Made with soft, neutral tones, it’s ideal for gifting or donating—and can easily be customized to match any baby theme or gender.

Author: Kimberly Arenas

Materials

• ▢ Red Heart - aran
• ▢ Big Twist - medium gray
• ▢ Red Heart - light thyme
• ▢ Red Heart - sage
• ▢ 5.5 mm Hook
• ▢ Tapestry needle

Abbreviations (US terms)

• Chains - ch
• Magic ring - mr
• Single crochet - sc
• Double crochet - dc
• Half double crochet - hdc
• Double crochet cluster (dc cluster)
• Triple crochet - tr
• Slip stitch - sl st

Notes

1. Skill Level: This crochet granny square baby blanket pattern is beginner-friendly but assumes basic knowledge of granny squares and joining techniques. If you're new to crochet, you might want to practice making a few sunburst granny squares before jumping into the full crochet baby blanket pattern.
2. Gauge isn't critical, but try to keep your squares consistent in size for the cleanest finish when joining.
3. Blanket Size: The finished size of the blanket is roughly 38” by 38” making it perfect for babies, if you want to enlarge the pattern and make it into a throw or twin sized blanket, just use more granny squares. Each granny square is roughly 5 inches.

Instructions

• For this Granny Square Baby Blanket Pattern, we will be working in rounds.

Sunburst Granny Square:

Make:

• 9x light thyme
• 16x medium gray
• 24x sage
• Round 1: With any of the 3 colors listed,make a magic ring, then ch x3 (this counts as a dc) and dc x15 into the ring. Then sl st to the top of the chains that you made at the beginning to close the round (16).
• Round 2: Ch x2 and in the same stitch make a modified puff stitch. To make a puff stitch you will yarn over, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over again and pull up a loop (you have 3 loops on your hook).
• Now yarn over, insert the hook into the same stitch, yarn over again and pull up a loop (you have 5 loops on your hook). You can now yarn over and pull through all 5 loops. Then make a chain.
• *In the next stitch make a puff stitch like before but repeat the yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, step 1 more time so you have 7 loops on the hook. Then yarn over and pull through all 7 loops on the hook. Ch x1.*
• Repeat from *. Sl st to the first puff stitch to close the round. (16 puffs + 16 ch)
• Round 3: Make a sl st into the ch space. Ch x2 and then make a 3-dc cluster in the same stitch.
• To make a 3-dc cluster: *yarn over, insert hook into the stitch or space, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Then yarn over, pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain on hook). Repeat from * two more times, always inserting into the same stitch or space. You'll have 4 loops on the hook. Yarn over, pull through all 4 loops.
• Then ch x2 and *make a 4-dc cluster (5 loops on the hook) in the next available stitch. Ch x2. Repeat from * for the rest of the round. Then when you get to the end of the round make a sl st to the top of the first dc cluster stitch. (16 dc clusters + 16 ch x2 spaces). Fasten off the colored yarn and weave in the ends.
• Round 4: Now we will square off the sunburst granny square.
• Join the aran yarn to any ch x2 space. Then ch x3 and tr x2 into the ch space. In the next ch x2 space dc x3. In the following ch x2 spaces complete the following: hdc x3, dc x3,
• *tr x3 + ch x3 + tr x3 (this is a corner), dc x3, hdc x3, dc x3*
• Repeat from * 2 more times. When you get to the half corner that was done in the beginning of the round, go ahead and tr x3 and ch x3 into that corner then sl st to the top of the first ch x3 (which acts as a triple crochet). (60 + 4 ch x3 spaces). Fasten off and weave in any ends.

Building the Blanket:

• Once you have the squares made, lay them out like I have in the photo.

Alternate rows of:

• gray + sage + gray +sage +gray + sage +gray
• sage + thyme + sage + thyme +sage +thyme + sage
• Sew the squares together. There are many ways to do this - you can whip stitch or ladder stitch them together, or you can simply crochet them together by using a single crochet or slip stitch.
• Once sewn together, attach the aran yarn to anywhere on the outer edge of the blanket.
• Round 1-2: Single crochet around the blanket, when you get to the corners make 3 sc into the corner space.
• After round 2 fasten off the yarn and join the light thyme color.
• Round 3: Sl st, dc. Repeat for the rest of the round. Then sl st to the beginning, fasten off the yarn and weave in any tails.
• I hope you loved making this crochet granny square baby blanket pattern as much as I enjoyed designing it! Whether you styled it for a girl, boy, or kept it gender neutral, this pattern is sure to become a favorite keepsake.

Tried this pattern?Mention @thecaffeinatedsnail or tag #thecaffeinatedsnail!