This bright and cheerful baby baby design is a unique and gender-neutral
project to crochet for any new bundle of joy in your life.
Ah, babies. Their expected arrival seems to inspire special projects and handmade gifts more than any other special occasion.
That’s the way it should be!
For me at least, an upcoming baby shower has me searching for the perfect item or set to crochet, with a cute, one of a kind crochet baby blanket being a favorite choice.
Oftentimes, a crochet project is picked out even before the gender of the baby is announced. With that in mind, I wanted to create a new blanket design that would not only be unique, but would also be gender neutral.
After being inspired by the classic lullaby that seems to always get sung to babies, the My Little Sunshine design was born!
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About This blanket
The Design
This blanket is very light and just a little delicate, perfect for a summer baby or for layering on some sunshine in cooler weather. A combination of open spaces and double crochet stitches are used to create a sun design towards the center, as well as “petals” at the edge of the blanket.
I think this makes it look like a big sunflower and just adore the picture of a small baby swaddled up in the center of this blanket. A sprinkling of bobbles and other stitches adds some texture and even more cheer and fun.
Overall, I would say this is an intermediate pattern. The most challenging thing about this design is keeping the pattern lined up correctly as you go while working in the round. This is a blessing though, because if things do start to get off it will be obvious pretty quickly.
The final size of this blanket is about 33 inches across.
The Materials
For My Little Sunshine, you will need a size G hook (4.5mm), and about 600 yards of DK yarn. For my version, I the Simply Cotton DK yarn from Paintbox.
The color is Daffodil Yellow, and it turned out to be the perfect sunny yellow for this design.
One final note: Although I don’t make any notes in the pattern about using stitch markers, I think they could be very helpful for showing where your increases are or where the pattern repeats end(or both!). Again, keeping the different parts of the pattern lined up is the most important thing to pay attention to in this project.
Ok, so with a little bit of general information out of the way, let’s get to the pattern!
Pattern for the My Little Sunshine Blanket
Materials Needed:
- Approx 600 yards of dk yarn
- G hook
- stitch markers(optional)
Things to keep in mind:
- In every row, the chain 3 to start the row will NOT count as a stitch. Instead, work a dc(what you will be using most of the time) into the same space as your starting chain of three in each new round. Then, when you come to the end of each round you will ss to close into the top of the first stitch that is counted. This helps to keep noticeable gaps out of your where they’re not wanted!
- In rows that start with two dc in the same stitch, I worked both in the same space as the starting chain of three
- Final stitch counts are shown at the end of every round(until the last section, which is worked in chains and would not add up the same).
- Repeats in the pattern work a little differently for different sections, and increases aren’t always in the same place from round to round. It all just depended on what seemed to work best for the design and for creating concise instructions.
Abbreviations used:
- ss- slip stitch
- ch-chain
- dc-double crochet
- The repeat is indicated in-between a set of asterisk (**)
Pattern Directions
Solid Center(Rounds 1-4)
Start by making a magic circle. If you need some help with that, you can see my magic circle tutorial here.
Round one: Ch3 and dc 12 into the magic circle. SS to close(12 sts).
Round 2: ch3 and add a 2dc into the same stitch. dc 2 into every other stitch and ss to close. (24sts)
Round 3: ch3, *2dc into the same stitch, dc 1* repeat around the round to the last stitch. Ss to close. (36 sts)
Round 4: ch3, *dc 2 into the same stitch., dc 2)* repeat around and ss to close. (48 sts).
Starting Sun Design (Rounds 5-9)
Round 5: ch 3, dc in the same stitch. *Ch 2, skip 1, dc 3 starting in next stitch.* repeat around until the last 3 stitches. Finish by completing the set of 3 dc that you started at the beginning. Ss to close.(60 sts)
Round 6: ch3, *dc 2 into the same stitch, dc 4* repeat around until the last 4 sts. Dc 4 and ss to close. (72 sts)
In your repeat, the increasing stitch should fall above the last dc in your group of 3 from the row below.
Round 7: ch3 dc 1 into the same stitch, dc 2. *ch2, skip1 and dc 5* repeat around, making sure that your spaces line up with the ones from row 5. At the end of the round you will dc 2 and ss to close. (84 sts)
Round 8: ch3, dc 1 into the same stitch, dc 2 into 1 stitch. *Dc 6, dc 2 into 1 stitch* repeat around to the last 4 stitches. Your increases should again line up with the last dc in each group from the previous row. Dc 4 and ss to close. (96 sts)
Round 9: ch3 and dc into the same stitch. *ch2, skip1 st and dc 7* repeat around to the last 3. Dc 3 and ss to close. (108 sts).
Adding Bobbles (Rounds 10-15)
Note: Each bobble is made by dc 5 into one space, and then ss behind the stitches through the top of the first and last dc.
Round 10: ch 3 *bobble, dc2, dc2 in 1, dc 5* repeat around and ss into first bobble.(120 sts)
Round 11: ch 3 and dc into the same stitch(should basically come out of the top of the bobble. Dc 5.
*ch2, skip 1, dc9, dc 2 in 1, dc9* repeat around. The round will end in the middle of a pattern repeat. Ss to close.
Round 12: ch 3 and dc 1`together. Dc 4, Dc 2 in 1. *dc 10, dc 2 together* Repeat around, ending in the middle of a repeat. Ss to close(144 sts)
Round 13: ch 3 and dc 1 together(your dc is still the first stitch. Count it in this repeat: *dc 8, ch 2 and skip 1. Dc 14 and dc 2 in one stitch* repeat around. You should finish with an increase. (156 sts).
Round 14: ch 3 *bobble. Dc 11, dc 2 in 1.* repeat around. (168 sts).
A the end of this row, I (again) slip stitched into the top of the bobble to start the next round right above it.
Round 15: *dc 13, dc 2 in 1* repeat around (180 sts).
Larger Sunburst (Rounds 16-24)
Note: In this section, alternating solid and mesh stitches make the “sunbeam” pattern. Increases are in the mesh sections
Round 16: *dc (ch 1 and skip a stitch, dc3)x3 ch 1 and skip a stitch, dc 2 in 1* repeat around and ss to close. (192 sts).
Round 17: *sc 15, sc 2 in one stitch* repeat around and ss closed. (204 sts)
Round 18: ch 5 and *dtr, (ch 1 and skip a stitch, dtr3) x3 ch 1 and skip a stitch, dtr 2, dtr 2 in 1* (216 sts)
Round 19: *sc 17, sc 2 in one stitch* repeat around and ss closed. (228 sts)
Round 20: *dc (ch 1 and skip a stitch, dc3)x3 ch 1 and skip a stitch, dc 4, dc 2 in 1* repeat around and ss closed(240 sts)
Round 21: *sc 19, sc 2 in one stitch* repeat around and ss closed. (252 sts)
Round 22: *dc(ch1 and skip a stitch, dc) x 8, bobble, ch1 and skip a stitch, dc, ch2.* (you will skip one stitch and start your next repeat with a dc in the next stitch. This should line up the “windows”. Your last ch 2 will end with the ss to close the round. (264 sts)
Round 23: *(dc, ch1 and skip a stitch) x10 dc, ch 2* Repeat around and ss to close. (276 sts)
Round 24: (dc, ch 1 and skip a stitch) x3. *Dc, bobble, (dc, ch 1 and skip a stitch) x7. Ch2 and skip a stitch.* repeat around and ss to close( 288 sts)
Final Petal/Large Sunburst Section (Rounds 25-32)
Round 25: dc 17, ch2 and skip a stitch. (dc 24, ch2 and skip a stitch) x11. dc 7 and ss to close. (312 sts).
Notes:
- The middle of each dc section should be centered on the last set of bobbles, and the open spaces should be above/centered on the set of bobbles before that.
- Make sure to dc2 when you are at a ch2 from the previous row.
- -make sure your chains are loose enough. Lay it flat several times from rounds 25-30 to make sure it lays well.-make sure your chains are loose enough. Lay it flat several times from rounds 25-30 to make sure it lays well.
Round 26: dc 14, dc 3tog. Ch3 and sc into open space.
(ch3, dc3tog, dc17, dc3tog, ch3 and sc into open space)x11 ch3, dc3tog, dc3, ss to close.
Round 27: *dc 13, dc3tog, ch3 and sc into first open space, ch4 and sc into next open space, ch3* repeat around and ss to close.
Round 28: dc3tog, dc9, dc3tog. Ch3 and sc into first open space, (ch 4 and sc into next open space)x2 ch 3.
*dc3tog, dc9, dc3tog. Ch3 and sc into first open space, (ch 4 and sc into next open space)x2 ch 3* repeat around. ss to close.
Round 29: *dc3tog, dc5, dc3tog. Ch3 and sc into the open space. (Ch 4 and sc into next open space) x3 Ch3 * repeat around and ss to close.
Round 30: *dc3tog, dc, dc3tog. Ch3 and sc into the open space. (Ch 4 and sc into next open space) x4 Ch3.* repeat around and ss to close.
Round 31: *dc3tog, Ch3 and sc into the open space. (Ch 4 and sc into next open space) x5 Ch3 .* repeat around until the very last join. Instead of just chaining 3, ch2 and dc into the top of the last point.
Round 32: *ch 4 and sc into the next open/ch4 space.* repeat around until the very last join. Instead of just chaining 4, ch2 and dc into the beginning of the row.
Annnnnnd Woohoo-you’re all done!
Final Encouragement
The last thought I have about this blanket, is that it’s light. Not only is it fantastic for a warm summery baby, but as that baby grows up it will be easy for them to carry around as their own special blankie.
My hope is that any little one who is gifted one of these will be cheered and comforted by the sunny color and your labor of love for many months into the future.
Whether you are creating for your own bundle of joy or not, enjoy this sunny pattern. I know the baby will!
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Keep the crochet delightful,
Amelia
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The My Little Sunshine crochet baby blanket Pattern is an uncommonly
sweet project that is sure to brighten up a little one’s space.
