Pink Posies Crochet Blanket

Wrap your little one in cozy comfort with this beautiful striped baby blanket featuring a soft cluster stitch and a textured puff stitch border.

Have you ever started a baby blanket project only to get bored halfway through? I know I have. It is a common hurdle for many makers.

Many baby blankets rely on repetitive, flat stitches that can feel like an endless chore to complete. Plus, weaving in dozens of yarn tails from color changes can make you want to hide your crochet hooks forever.

That is why I designed this striped afghan to keep your hands engaged and your yarn tails to an absolute minimum. We will be carrying our yarn up the sides of the work, meaning you won't have to weave in ends at every single row change.

This design features a lovely combination of flat cluster stitches and a beautifully textured puff stitch border. It is the perfect balance of drape and squish.

If you enjoyed making my Just Peachy Baby Blanket, you are going to fall in love with this texture. Let's grab our hooks and get started!

Why You'll Love This Pattern

• Minimal Weaving: Carrying the yarn up the sides saves you from the nightmare of weaving in endless loose ends.
• Gorgeous Texture: The combination of flat clusters and a raised puff border creates a beautiful tactile experience for babies.
• Easily Customizable: You can easily adjust the size or swap the colors to suit any nursery theme.

Materials You'll Need

• Yarn: Caron Simply Soft (Worsted weight, size 4; 100% acrylic). You will need 2 skeins of each color: Strawberry (Pink), LT Country Peach (Peach), and Off White (Cream).
• Hook: Size K (6.5mm) for the main blanket body and Size I (5.5mm) for the border.
• Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in the final ends and scissors.
• Yardage: Approximately 400 yards of Strawberry, 400 yards of Off White, and 500 yards of LT Country Peach.

Gauge & Sizing

• Gauge: 7 cluster stitches = 4 inches (using the larger 6.5mm hook).
• Sizes included: One size (Baby blanket).
• Finished measurements: 32 inches wide by 36 inches long (easily adjustable).

Abbreviations & Stitch Instructions

• ch: Chain
• sc: Single crochet
• dc: Double crochet
• sk: Skip
• sl st: Slip stitch
• cl (Cluster Stitch): (Yarn over, insert hook into the specified chain space and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops, leaving the remaining loops on your hook) 3 times. You will have 4 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops.
• puff st (Puff Stitch): (Yarn over, insert hook into the designated stitch and pull up a loop to the height of a double crochet) 3 times. You will have 7 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all 7 loops.
• US to UK Terms: If you are more familiar with British terminology, check out our US to UK Crochet Chart.

Pattern Notes

• Skill Level: Advanced Beginner.
• This pattern is written in US crochet terms.
• The main blanket body is worked flat in rows, while the border is worked in the round.
• Tension Tip: Keep your chain stitches relaxed so the bottom edge of your blanket doesn't pull inward.
• Customization Tip: To make the blanket wider, simply start with any even number of chains.
• Color Management: Do not cut your yarn when changing colors. Instead, drop the old color and carry it up the side of your work. The border will completely hide these carried strands! For a detailed guide on this, see our Seamless Color Change Technique.

Step-by-Step Instructions

The Foundation and Row 1

With your peach yarn and the larger K (6.5mm) hook, chain 114.

Row 1: Work a single crochet in the second chain from your hook. Single crochet in the next chain. *Chain 1, skip the next chain, work 1 single crochet in the next chain. Repeat from * until you have 3 chains remaining. Chain 1, skip the next chain, then work 1 single crochet in each of the last 2 chains. Turn your work. (You should have 58 single crochets and 55 chain spaces).

Row 2 (The Cluster Row)

Row 2: Chain 4 (this counts as a double crochet and a chain-1 space). *Skip the next single crochet, work a cluster stitch in the next chain-1 space, chain 1. Repeat from * until you reach the last chain-1 space. Work a cluster in that last chain-1 space, chain 1, skip the next single crochet, then work 1 double crochet in the very last single crochet.

While completing this final double crochet, stop when you have 2 loops left on your hook. Yarn over with your pink yarn and pull it through to finish the stitch. Drop the peach yarn to the back (do not cut it) and turn. (55 cluster stitches).

Row 3 (The Single Crochet Row)

Row 3: Chain 1 (does not count as a stitch). Work a single crochet in the first double crochet, then work a single crochet in the next chain-1 space right before the first cluster. *Chain 1, skip the next cluster, work a single crochet in the next chain-1 space. Repeat from * across the row until you have skipped the final cluster. Work 1 single crochet in the space beneath the turning chain, and work 1 single crochet in the top of the beginning chain-3. Turn. (58 single crochets and 55 chain spaces).

Repeating the Pattern

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 to build your blanket. Remember to switch colors at the end of every Row 2 repeat. The color sequence is peach, pink, and cream.

Keep working until your blanket reaches your desired length, making sure to finish on a peach cluster row (Row 2). Bring back your cream yarn to begin the border, and fasten off the pink and peach yarns.

Working the Border

Switch to your smaller I (5.5mm) hook. We will work all border rounds on the right side (the side facing you when you work the cluster rows).

Round 1: Using cream yarn, join with a single crochet right after any corner. Work single crochets evenly along the sides of the blanket, working over the carried yarn strands to hide them. I recommend placing 3 single crochets across the edge of each colored stripe.

When you reach the foundation chain corner, work 3 single crochets in the corner. Work 1 single crochet into each chain loop along the bottom edge. Work 3 single crochets in the next corner, then distribute single crochets evenly up the other side. Work 3 single crochets in the next corner, then work 1 single crochet into each stitch and cluster across the top row.

At the starting corner, work 3 single crochets, then slip stitch to your first single crochet. Do not turn.

Round 2: Chain 1. *Work 1 single crochet in each stitch across to the next corner, then work 3 single crochets in the corner stitch. Repeat from * all the way around the blanket. End with 3 single crochets in the starting corner, then slip stitch to the first single crochet. Fasten off the cream yarn.

Round 3 (Puff Stitch Round): Join your peach yarn with a slip stitch in any corner stitch. *Chain 3, work a puff stitch in the next stitch, skip the next 2 stitches, slip stitch in the next stitch. Repeat from * around the blanket.

As you approach each corner, slip stitch into the corner stitch after completing a puff stitch. (If you only have 1 stitch left to skip before the corner, that is perfectly fine!). Repeat this sequence around the entire blanket. After your final puff stitch, slip stitch to the base of your starting chain-3. Fasten off and weave in all remaining ends.

Easy Variations & Custom Ideas

• Solid Color Classic: Skip the color changes entirely and crochet this blanket in a single solid shade to highlight the beautiful stitch texture.
• Chunky Weight Swap: Use a bulky weight yarn and a larger hook to create a super chunky, fast-growing throw. If you love quick projects, you might also enjoy our Cookies and Cream Blanket.
• Tassel Corners: Instead of the puff stitch border, finish with a simple clean edge and add large, fluffy tassels to the four corners.
• Boy-Friendly Palette: Swap the pink and peach for soft blues, mint greens, and grey for a lovely baby boy nursery theme.
• Puff Stitch Body: If you love the texture of the border, you can try our Puff Stitch Candy Twist Blanket for an extra squishy alternative.
• Colour ideas: Try a modern monochrome look with charcoal grey, light grey, and crisp white stripes.
• Yarn substitutions: Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran or Stylecraft Special DK (double stranded) make excellent alternatives to Caron Simply Soft.

Common Troubleshooting & Fixes

• Problem: My edges are curling inward or looking wavy.
  Fix: This usually happens if your tension changes between the single crochet rows and the cluster rows. Try using a slightly larger hook for the single crochet rows if they are too tight, or block your finished blanket to even out the tension.
• Problem: The carried yarn is peeking through the border.
  Fix: Make sure you are crocheting directly over the carried strands during Round 1 of the border. Keep your single crochets snug to fully encase the carried yarn.
• Problem: My stitch count is off at the end of a row.
  Fix: Always count your clusters on Row 2. It is easy to accidentally skip a chain-1 space or add an extra stitch at the very end of the row.
• Problem: The yarn is tangling when I switch colors.
  Fix: When changing colors, always bring the new strand to your left and under the other two skeins. Pulling from the center of your skeins also prevents them from rolling around and tangling.

Care Instructions

To keep your baby blanket looking fresh and soft, machine wash it on a gentle cycle using cold water and a mild detergent. Tumble dry on low heat or lay it flat to dry. Avoid ironing or using high heat, as acrylic yarn can "kill" or melt under extreme temperatures.

Final Thoughts

There is nothing quite like gifting a handmade blanket to a new parent. This project is a joy to make, and the lack of ends to weave in makes it a fast favorite. If you are looking for more inspiration, check out our roundup of 13 Free Crochet Baby Blankets That Take 6 Hours or Less. Happy crocheting, my friends!