Pile of Squish Blanket

Wrap your favorite little one in pure comfort with this wonderfully textured, super chunky striped crochet blanket that works up in just one afternoon.

Have you ever touched a crochet project and immediately wanted to bury your face in it?

Many baby blankets look gorgeous but end up feeling stiff or taking weeks of tedious stitching to complete. When you need a quick, impressive baby shower gift, staring at a mountain of tiny stitches can feel incredibly overwhelming.

That is exactly why I designed this project. By combining a plush, cloud-like yarn with clever post stitches, we can create a fabric that is deeply textured yet incredibly soft. It feels like a warm hug, and the best part is how quickly it comes together.

You can easily finish this entire project in about five hours. It is the ultimate weekend make.

I currently have my original sample draped over my favorite studio chair. Every time I sit down, I find myself running my fingers over the thick, squishy ridges. It is simply irresistible.

Why You'll Love This Pattern

• Incredible texture: The combination of super bulky yarn and front post stitches creates an extra-thick, pillowy fabric.
• Fast results: Using a large hook means you can complete this blanket in just a single afternoon or weekend.
• Minimal weaving: Carrying the yarn up the sides means you won't have a million loose ends to weave in when you finish.

Materials You'll Need

• Yarn: Bernat Baby Blanket (100% Polyester; Super Bulky Weight #6) in White and Baby Sand, and Bernat Blanket in Light Teal.
• Hook: Size N/P (10mm) crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge.
• Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in the few ends you have.
• Yardage: 1 skein of Light Teal, 1 skein of Baby Sand, and slightly more than 1 skein of White.

Gauge & Sizing

• Gauge: 8 stitches = 5 inches in the main stitch pattern.
• Sizes included: One size (Baby/Toddler blanket), easily adjustable.
• Finished measurements: Approximately 38.5 inches wide by 41 inches long.

Abbreviations & Stitch Instructions

• ch: Chain
• st(s): Stitch(es)
• sc: Single Crochet
• dc: Double Crochet
• fpdc: Front Post Double Crochet. Yarn over, insert hook from front to back and to the front again around the vertical post of the indicated stitch below, yarn over, pull up a loop, and complete your double crochet as usual.
• BLO: Back Loop Only. Insert your hook only under the back loop of the stitch, leaving the front loop unworked.
• sl st: Slip Stitch
• If you are used to British terminology, check out our handy US to UK Crochet Chart to translate these stitches easily.

Pattern Notes

• Skill Level: Advanced Beginner.
• This pattern is written in US crochet terms.
• The item is worked flat in rows, with a border added in the round at the end.
• Tension Tip: Keep your post stitches loose. If you pull too tightly on the front post double crochets, your blanket will bunch up and lose its drape.
• Color Changes: Do not cut your yarn when changing colors. Instead, drop the old color and pick up the new one. Carry the unused strands loosely along the side of your work. You can learn more about this clean transition style in our guide on the Seamless Color Change Technique.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Setting the Foundation

With Teal yarn, chain 59. If you want to customize the width, you can chain any multiple of 4 + 7. If you struggle with tight chains, read our guide on How to Adjust Your Foundation Chain.

Row 1: Work 1 dc in the 4th chain from your hook (the skipped 3 chains count as your first dc). Work 1 dc in each remaining chain across to the end. Turn. (57 dc)

Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch here or throughout). Work 1 sc in the very first stitch and in each stitch across. In the final stitch (which is the top of your starting chain-3), begin your sc, but pull through your new color (White) on the final step of the stitch to join it. Turn. (57 sc)

Building the Textured Stripes

Row 3: Ch 2 (counts as your first dc). Work 1 dc in the next sc. Work 1 fpdc around the post of the dc located directly below the next sc (this will be the third dc of Row 1). *Work 1 dc in each of the next 3 sc, then work 1 fpdc around the post of the dc directly below the next sc. Repeat from * across until you have 2 stitches left. Work 1 dc in each of the last 2 stitches. Turn.

Row 4: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in the first stitch and in each stitch across to the top of the starting chain-2. Work your final sc into the top of the chain-2, pulling through your next color (Baby Sand) on the final step of the stitch to join it. Turn. (57 sc)

Row 5: Ch 2 (counts as your first dc). *Work 1 dc in each of the next 3 sc, then work 1 fpdc around the post of the dc directly below the next sc. Repeat from * across until you have 4 stitches left. Work 1 dc in each of the last 4 stitches. Turn.

Row 6: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in the first stitch and in each stitch across to the end, joining your Teal yarn back in on the final step of the last sc. Turn. (57 sc)

Repeating the Pattern

Keep repeating Rows 3 to 6, maintaining your color rotation (Teal, White, Sand) every two rows. In the rows that follow, it will be easy to identify the dc around which you have to work the fpdc stitch. There will be 3 dc stitches between every 2 fpdc stitches of the previous stripe. The fpdc stitches of the current row will be worked around the middle dc of those 3 dc stitches.

Continue this sequence until you have completed 24 full stripes.

On the very last stitch of your final Teal stripe, join your White yarn back in.

Fasten off the Teal and Sand yarns, leaving tails to weave in later. Do not fasten off the White yarn.

Adding the Cozy Border

Turn your work so you can continue working along the edge you just finished.

Round 1: Ch 1 at the corner. Work 1 sc in each stitch across the top edge. Work 3 sc into the corner stitch.

Now, work down the side of the blanket. Distribute 2 sc across the end of each stripe, and work 2 sc directly into the junction where two stripes meet.

When you reach the next corner, work 3 sc.

Continue along the bottom foundation chain. Work 1 sc into the space beneath each dc stitch across.

Work 3 sc in the next corner.

Finally, work up the remaining side where you carried your yarn strands. Be sure to work your sc stitches directly around these loose strands to completely encase and hide them. Insert your hook into the turning chains themselves rather than the spaces beneath them.

Distribute 2 sc along each stripe and 1 sc into the junction between stripes.

Work 2 sc in the final corner, then slip stitch to your first sc of the round. Do not turn.

Round 2: Ch 1. Work 1 sc in the BLO of each stitch all the way around the blanket, working 3 sc into each corner stitch. Slip stitch to the first sc of the round. Fasten off.

Weave in any remaining tails with your tapestry needle, and your blanket is complete!

Easy Variations & Custom Ideas

• Adjust the Size: You can easily scale this up to a throw size or down to a security blanket. Simply adjust your starting chain using a multiple of 4 + 7.
• Two-Tone Look: Instead of three colors, try alternating just two colors for a classic, high-contrast striped look.
• Solid Texture: Work the entire blanket in a single solid color to let the rich post-stitch texture take center stage.
• More Quick Blankets: If you love speedy projects, explore our collection of 13 Free Crochet Baby Blankets That Take 6 Hours or Less.
• Colour ideas: Try a modern nursery palette of mustard yellow, slate grey, and cream, or a soft pastel mix of lavender, mint, and white.
• Yarn substitutions: Any super bulky weight #6 yarn will work beautifully. Try Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick for a wool-blend option, or Premier Yarns Basix Blanket for a budget-friendly alternative.

Common Troubleshooting & Fixes

• Problem: The edges of my blanket are pulling inward and looking puckered.
  Fix: Your post stitches are likely too tight. Try to pull up a slightly taller loop when working your front post double crochets so they match the height of your regular double crochets.
• Problem: The carried yarn along the sides is sagging or showing through the border.
  Fix: Make sure you keep a light, even tension on the dropped yarn strands. When working the border, ensure your single crochet stitches fully encase the carried strands.
• Problem: My stitch count is off at the end of a row.
  Fix: Remember that the starting chain-2 counts as a stitch. Always count your stitches at the end of your single crochet rows to ensure you still have exactly 57 stitches.
• Problem: The yarn is tangling terribly when I switch colors.
  Fix: Always bring your new color to the left and over the other two colors when switching. Keep the two inactive colors to your right to prevent them from twisting together.

Care Instructions

Since this blanket is made from 100% polyester blanket yarn, it is incredibly easy to care for. Machine wash your finished blanket in cold water on a delicate cycle. Tumble dry on low heat or lay flat to dry. Avoid using bleach or ironing, as high heat can melt the synthetic fibers and ruin that gorgeous squish.

Final Thoughts

There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of finishing a beautiful, functional project in just a few sittings. This blanket is bound to become a treasured family favorite or a highly praised baby shower gift. Grab your giant hook, pick your favorite colors, and enjoy every single squishy stitch!