Twinkle Twinkle Baby Blanket

This easy granny square blanket is made extra special with the addition of the appliqué stars. These colors highlight each other so well that they make the stars pop against the simple background. You can make as many stars as you like and scatter them about freely. They would even make a nice garland to hang in baby’s room!

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Skill Level: Easy

Materials:

Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling yarn in Steel Blue – 3 skeins

Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling yarn in Frost – 2 skeins

Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling yarn in Lemonade – 1 skein

Hook size H/8 – 5.00mm

Stitch markers – optional but recommended

Gauge:

4 granny stitch clusters and 6 rows = 4”

Dimensions:

31” wide by 31” long

Abbreviations:

Ch – chain

Sc – single crochet

Dc – double crochet

Tc – treble crochet

St, sts – stitch, stitches

Sp – space

Ss – slip stitch

Notes:

Beginning chains count as stitches. I prefer a magic circle to start so there’s no hole in the middle. However, if you’d like you can do Round 1 this way – ch 4, 2 dc into 4th ch from hook, ch 2, *3 dc in same ch sp, ch 2*. Repeat from * to * two more times. Join at top of beginning ch with ss. (4 clusters)
Do build-up chains loosely to make it easier to get your hook through for the slip stitch at the end of each round.
For the blanket, place a stitch marker in the third chain of the “chain 3” build-up, and it will be much easier to know where to join with the slip stitch.
For the stars, place a stitch marker in the second chain of the “chain 2” in round 1, and in the starting “chain 1” in round 2, and it will be much easier to know where to join with the slip stitch.

Instructions:

For Granny Square Blanket

With Lemonade , make a magic circle. (or use optional instructions in Notes.)

Round 1: Ch 3 into circle, 2 dc, ch 2, *3 dc, ch 2*. Repeat from * to * two more times. Join at top of first chain in round with slip stitch. You should have four clusters.

Round 2: Turn, ch 3, 2 dc in the corner space, ch 2, 3 dc in the same space, *ch 1, (3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) in next corner space*. Repeat from * to * two more times. Ch 1, join at top of first chain in round with ss. You should have eight clusters at the end of this round.

Round 3: Turn, ch 3, 2 dc in ch 1 space, *ch 1, (3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) in next corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 1 space*. Repeat from * to * two more times. Ch 1, (3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) in last corner. Ch 1, join at top of first chain in round with ss.

Round 4: Continue pattern following color changes as indicated, doing 3 dc in each ch 1 sp, and ch 1 between clusters along the rows. Do (3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) in every corner.

Rounds 5 – 10: Continue with Lemonade

Rounds 11 – 20: Frost

Rounds 21 – 28: Steel Blue. Tie off and weave in ends.

For Star Appliqués

Make 2 in Lemonade, 3 in Steel Blue, and 4 in Frost.

Start with a magic circle (or ch 3 and work the 9 dc in round 1 into 3rd chain from hook).

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as dc), 9 dc into circle, ss into top of starting ch to join.

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in very first st, *(dc, tc, ch 2, ss into 2nd ch from hook (picot made) tc, dc) in next st, sc in next st*, repeat from * to * four times, ss into first sc to join. Tighten the center if using a magic circle, but leave the tails of yarn from the center and the last round to attach stars.

To easily attach the stars, I used the tails to tie them in place on the blanket. Then I tacked each point of the star to the blanket with a few stitches of coordinating yarn to give the stars a flat and neat appearance. You can then trim the ends and/or weave them in. Position the stars as shown in the photo or however you like.