Herringbone Checkerboard Crochet Baby Blanket

Portrait of Amanda, founder of Baby Crochet Ideas, crocheting at home

By: Amanda April 12, 2025

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The Herringbone Checkerboard Crochet Baby Blanket is a crochet blanket project that brings a handmade touch to a useful everyday item. Its familiar blanket form makes it a welcoming choice for a range of crocheters.

This project can appeal to someone making a thoughtful present, preparing for a new arrival, or adding a handmade item to a home. A finished blanket can be used for cozy moments or shared as a personal gift.

Making a blanket offers time to practice patience and careful work. It can also build confidence through steady progress and bring satisfaction from completing a handmade gift.

What Is a Baby Blanket?

A baby blanket is a small, soft covering made to offer comfort during quiet moments at home or while traveling. Its familiar purpose makes it a popular handmade project for welcoming a new child or celebrating a growing family.

Blankets come in many styles, textures, and levels of detail. They can be understated or expressive, depending on the maker’s preferences and the recipient’s needs, while remaining useful long after the gift-giving occasion.

Crocheters enjoy making blankets because the work can be approached at a comfortable pace and adapted to personal taste. A handmade one also carries the care and thought invested in every part of its creation, making it a lasting keepsake as well as a practical gift.

Why This Is a Great Choice for a Baby Blanket

Personal gift: A handmade blanket can feel especially thoughtful because it reflects time and attention. It is a useful present for welcoming a child or marking an important family occasion.
Enjoyable progress: Blanket projects provide a steady rhythm, making it satisfying to see the work grow over time. The gradual progress can make a relaxed crafting session feel rewarding.
Useful at home: A blanket can be kept nearby for quiet time, shared family moments, or travel. Its familiar purpose means it can be appreciated in everyday life.
Room for expression: Handmade blankets offer room to reflect personal taste through yarn choices and an overall style. The result can suit a recipient’s preferences while still feeling distinctively personal.
A lasting keepsake: A lovingly made blanket can become a reminder of the person who created it. Families may keep it as a meaningful object associated with a special moment.

Before You Start

Make a gauge swatch and compare it with the target gauge. Adjust your approach before beginning if your fabric is noticeably different.
Read through everything from beginning to end first. A full overview helps you understand the project’s flow and prepare for transitions.
Keep a notebook or tally sheet handy to record progress. A brief note after each work session makes it easier to return without guesswork.
Wind yarn into manageable balls before you begin. Keep each ball in a stable place so it unwinds smoothly and does not tangle as you work.

Yarn and Hook Recommendations

Choose a fiber that feels comfortable against the skin. A cotton and acrylic blend can offer a balance of softness and practical wear for a frequently used blanket.
Match the yarn weight to the desired fabric. Medium-weight yarn is a familiar option for blankets, creating a fabric with visible definition and a comfortable drape.
Look for smooth yarn with consistent thickness. Even strands make it easier to see where the hook belongs and help the finished fabric look regular.
Consider how clearly the yarn shows texture. A solid or gently blended yarn can make surface details easier to notice than a highly variegated option.
Select colors with enough contrast to make visual sections distinct. Different values, such as one light and one dark shade, can make a design easier to read.
Begin with the recommended hook size, then let your swatch guide adjustments. A different hook can change the fabric’s density, drape, and overall dimensions.

Materials

Yarn: Red Heart With Love Better Half (100 g/3.5 oz, 159 m/174 yds, 4 weight, 50% cotton, 50% acrylic)
Ivy (deep forest green): 3 skeins
Indigo (deep dark blue): 3 skeins
Crochet hook: size H, 5 mm
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Gauge: 1.5 inches = 6 HHDC and 4 rows
Finished size: 30 inches by 30 inches

Herringbone Checkerboard Crochet Baby Blanket Instructions

Color key

Ivy = deep forest green; Indigo = deep dark blue.

Abbreviations

ch = chain; HHDC = herringbone half double crochet; sc = single crochet; sl st = slip stitch; st(s) = stitch(es); yo = yarn over.

SC

Insert the hook, yo and pull a loop back through, then yo and pull through all loops on the hook.

HHDC

Yo, insert the hook, yo, pull up a loop, and pull it directly through the first loop on the hook. Yo and pull through the remaining 2 loops.

Color changes

Always pull through on the last step of the 5th st of each color block. Crochet over whichever color you are not using and carry it along the row.

Blanket Body

With Indigo, ch 116 (the pattern repeat is any odd number x 5, plus 1).
Row 1: Work 1 HHDC in the 2nd ch from the hook. Work 1 HHDC in each of the next 4 chs, joining Ivy on the 5th HHDC (5 HHDC made in Indigo). Work HHDC with Ivy in each of the next 5 chs, crocheting over the Indigo tail and bringing it along, laying it flat against the chain. Pull through with Indigo on the 5th HHDC. Alternate across the row, switching between Indigo and Ivy every 5 chs. Ch 1 and turn. (Your last color block should be Indigo.)
Rows 2-4: Bring the Ivy around the end of the row. Continue crocheting over the tail and work HHDC in each of the next 5 sts with Indigo, then pull through with Ivy. Alternate the colors every 5 sts as in Row 1. Always ch 1 and turn.
Rows 5-8: At the end of Row 4, pull through with Ivy and wrap Indigo around the end of the row. Work HHDC in each of the first 5 sts, carrying Indigo along the row. Work HHDC with Indigo in each of the next 5 sts, working over the Ivy. Keep alternating every 5 sts, laying the unused yarn across the row and working over it. Ch 1 and turn.
Rest of blanket: Keep alternating colors every 4 rows until you have 23 blocks in length. Your last row should end with Indigo as the last 5 sts. Cut the Ivy and continue with Indigo to start the first round of the border.

Border

Round 1: Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 sc in each st across the top of the blanket. Work 3 sc in each corner. On each side, *skip 1 row, work 3 HHDC in the end of the next row. Repeat from * along each side. Work 1 sc per st across the bottom of the blanket. Join with a sl st to the first st of the round. Do not turn.
Round 2: Work 1 HHDC in each st and 3 HHDC in each corner st. Join with a sl st to the first st of the round. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Tips for Baby Blanket Success

Comfortable posture

Choose a chair that supports your back and lets your shoulders relax. Keep your arms comfortably close to your sides instead of lifting them for long stretches, and pause if you notice tension building.

Good lighting also helps you distinguish the loops and maintain a natural working position. Direct light toward your hands without creating glare, and shift your seat or lamp if you find yourself leaning forward.

Even tension

Aim for a relaxed, repeatable grip rather than pulling each loop firmly into place. Let the hook move freely, and avoid tightening the working yarn after every movement, which can make the fabric stiff and difficult to work into.

If your hands become tense, set the project down and loosen your grip when you return. A comfortable hold is more useful than trying to force every stitch into an identical shape by pulling harder.

Track your place

Use a tally sheet to mark completed work as you go, especially when you pause mid-session. Write down your current location in a way that makes sense to you, so resuming feels straightforward.

For longer projects, divide the work into manageable sessions and note any detail that might be easy to forget. A clear record is more dependable than relying on memory when daily routines interrupt crafting time.

Check your work

Pause occasionally to look at the fabric from a little distance. A broader view can reveal uneven edges, gaps, or changes in texture that are harder to notice while concentrating on the hook.

When you spot a problem, identify where it begins before deciding whether to undo any work. Correcting a small issue near its source can prevent it from affecting a larger area.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Skipping a swatch

Skipping a swatch can leave you with fabric that is looser or denser than you expected. Differences in individual tension, yarn, and hook handling can affect the finished result, even when you use familiar supplies.

Take time to make a sample and compare its measurements with the target gauge. If it does not match, adjust your hook or tension and make another sample before committing to the larger project.

Pulling too tightly

Tight tension can make the hook difficult to insert and the fabric rigid. It may also tire your hands, especially when you try to maintain the same force through a long crafting session.

Keep the working yarn controlled but not stretched taut. If the fabric feels hard to move or the loops resist the hook, relax your grip and let the yarn feed more freely.

Miscounting stitches

Miscounts can happen when you work while distracted or overlook an edge stitch. An unnoticed difference may become more difficult to locate as the fabric grows, so build a steady counting habit.

Count at natural pauses and use a tally sheet to record totals when that helps. If a count is off, inspect the most recent work carefully rather than continuing in the hope that the difference will disappear.

Leaving short ends

Short yarn tails can be difficult to secure neatly and may loosen with handling. Trimming too close before the ends are secure can also cause them to slip free later.

Leave enough tail to work in securely with a tapestry needle. Handle the yarn gently while securing it, then trim any excess only after the end feels stable.

Switching supplies midway

Changing yarn or hook during a project can alter the fabric’s appearance, feel, and measurements. Even supplies that seem similar may behave differently, which can make one area look distinct from another.

If a replacement is necessary, compare the new yarn with the original and test it in a small sample. Keeping your supplies consistent from start to finish helps the fabric remain more uniform.

Ways to Make It Your Own

Choose a palette that reflects the recipient’s taste, such as soft neutrals, bright shades, or calming earth tones. A thoughtful color pairing can make a handmade gift feel personal.
Select a different yarn in the same weight if you prefer another fiber or finish. Check that it feels comfortable and produces a fabric you enjoy handling.
Make a matching second project for a coordinated set, such as a small household accessory. Repeating your chosen palette can give the pair a connected look.
Include a handwritten note with your gift. A few sincere words about the occasion or the care behind your handmade work can make the present more meaningful.
Present the blanket in a reusable fabric bag or a simple gift box. A practical package can protect it and add a thoughtful touch without elaborate decoration.

Care and Washing Instructions

Washing: Follow the yarn label for cleaning guidance, since care needs vary with fiber content and construction. Use a gentle approach suited to the yarn, and avoid harsh treatment that may disturb the fabric. When uncertain, test a discreet area first.

Drying: Remove excess water without twisting or wringing the fabric, which can stretch it out of shape. Lay it flat on a clean, dry surface and arrange it gently. Allow it to dry fully before storing or gifting.

Blocking: Gentle blocking can help even the fabric and improve its overall appearance. Use a method appropriate for the yarn, and avoid excessive heat or stretching. Let the fabric rest in its intended shape until it is completely dry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different yarn?

Yes, another yarn can work if it produces a fabric you like and suits the intended use. Fiber content may affect softness, drape, care needs, and warmth. Make a gauge swatch with the alternative so you can assess its behavior before continuing.

How can I keep my stitches even?

Hold the yarn comfortably and let it feed without pulling it taut. A consistent grip usually supports more even loops than repeatedly tightening each one. Pause when your hands feel tense, then return with a relaxed hold and an unhurried pace.

What is a reliable way to count?

Count at regular stopping points rather than waiting until you have lost your place. A notebook or tally sheet can record progress in a format that feels clear to you. If you notice a difference, check nearby work before adding more.

What if the finished fabric looks different than expected?

First consider whether the yarn, tension, and hook are working together as you intended. Small differences in personal technique can affect the appearance without indicating a serious problem. If you want to adjust the result, test your preferred change on a sample before continuing.

How long should yarn tails be?

Leave enough yarn to secure each tail comfortably with a tapestry needle. A very short end can be difficult to handle and may not stay secure. Trim excess only after you have worked the tail in and confirmed that it feels stable.

More Ideas to Try

If you enjoy making handmade gifts, consider trying a lap blanket, a cushion cover, a market bag, or a simple scarf. These project types offer different ways to explore texture, practical uses, and personal style. Choose an idea that fits the recipient or your own home, then let your yarn choice shape the mood of the finished piece.

Conclusion

Give the Herringbone Checkerboard Crochet Baby Blanket a try if you would enjoy creating a thoughtful handmade gift. Take pleasure in the steady work and the satisfaction of making something with care. Explore more crochet ideas on the blog whenever you are ready to choose another project.