Free Frog Lovey Pattern: Lily Pad Security Blanket Your Baby Will Adore
There is something undeniably magical about a lovey. That small, soft combination of blanket and stuffed toy becomes a child’s closest companion through nap times, late-night wakings, long car rides, and every uncertain moment in between. If you have been searching for the perfect handmade gift for a new baby or a growing toddler, this free frog lovey pattern — complete with a lily pad security blanket — is exactly what you need. It is charming, washable, beginner-friendly, and genuinely one of those projects you will want to make again and again.
Whether you are a seasoned crafter or someone who has just picked up a crochet hook or knitting needles for the first time, this pattern is designed to be approachable without sacrificing the kind of finished result that feels truly special. By the end of this post, you will have everything you need to create a lovey that any little one will treasure for years.
What Is a Lovey, and Why Does Every Baby Need One?
A lovey, sometimes called a security blanket or comfort object, is a small blanket — usually around twelve to eighteen inches square — with a stuffed animal head attached to the center. The combination of the silky or soft blanket texture and the familiar shape of a toy makes it deeply comforting for babies and toddlers. Child development specialists have long noted that transitional objects like loveys help children self-soothe, navigate separations from caregivers, and build confidence as they grow more independent.
Handmade loveys carry an extra layer of meaning. When you stitch one yourself, you pour time, care, and intention into every row. The recipient’s family will almost certainly be able to tell, and that handmade quality tends to make the object even more cherished. A crocheted or knitted frog lovey with a lily pad blanket is particularly well-loved because frogs are universally adored by young children, the green and yellow color palette photographs beautifully, and the circular lily pad shape gives the blanket a little more visual interest than a basic square.
Materials You Will Need
Before you dive into the pattern itself, gather your supplies. Having everything on hand before you start will make the process much smoother.
Yarn: Choose a soft, baby-safe yarn rated for infant use. Look for yarns labeled machine washable, as the lovey will be washed frequently. A worsted weight yarn in medium green for the frog body and lily pad, a lighter green or yellow-green for the lily pad detail, white for the frog’s eyes, and a small amount of black or very dark green for the eye pupils and mouth will serve you well. Brands like Lion Brand Baby Soft, Paintbox Simply DK, or Bernat Baby Blanket yarn are all excellent choices. You will need approximately 200 yards of the main green, 50 yards of the lighter accent green, and small amounts of white and black.
Hook Size: A size 4.0mm (G/6) or 4.5mm (7) crochet hook works well for worsted weight yarn and will give you a fabric dense enough to hold its shape while remaining soft and flexible.
Polyester Fiberfill: You will need a small amount of polyfill stuffing to give the frog head its rounded, three-dimensional shape.
Safety Eyes: Use 12mm or 15mm plastic safety eyes, or if you are making this lovey for a baby under three years old, embroider the eyes instead using black yarn to eliminate any choking hazard entirely.
Tapestry Needle: For weaving in ends and sewing pieces together.
Stitch Markers: These will be especially helpful when working in the round.
Scissors
A Note on Safety
Before beginning any project for a baby, please take a moment to consider safety. Plastic safety eyes, while called “safety eyes,” are still small parts and can pose a choking risk if removed. For babies under three, always embroider features rather than using attached plastic or button components. Likewise, ensure that all pieces are sewn together securely before giving the finished lovey to a child. Pull-test every seam and every yarn end. The frog head should be firmly attached to the center of the blanket, with no gaps or loose threads.
Understanding the Pattern: Abbreviations and Stitches
This pattern is written using standard US crochet terminology.
ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
MR — magic ring (also called magic circle)
st(s) — stitch(es)
inc — increase (two single crochets in the same stitch)
dec — decrease (single crochet two stitches together)
BLO — back loop only
FLO — front loop only
rnd — round
rep — repeat
If you are new to crocheting in the round, take a few minutes before starting to practice the magic ring. It creates a tightly closed center that is essential for making neat amigurumi-style pieces like the frog’s head and eyes.
The Pattern: Lily Pad Security Blanket
Part One: The Lily Pad Blanket
The blanket portion of this lovey is worked in the round from the center outward, creating a circular shape with a small notch cut in like a real lily pad. The textured ridges are created by alternating your stitch height, giving the finished piece a beautiful botanical look.
Foundation: With your main green yarn and a 4.5mm hook, make a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 11 dc into the ring, sl st to top of ch-3 to join. (12 dc)
Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st to join. (24 dc)
Round 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next st, repeat from to around, sl st to join. (36 dc)
Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in same st, hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, repeat around, sl st to join. (48 sts)
Round 5: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, repeat around, sl st to join. (60 sts)
Round 6: Switch to your accent light green yarn. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (60 sc) This ridge round creates the lily pad vein effect.
Round 7: Switch back to main green. Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts, repeat around, sl st to join. (72 sts)
Round 8: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 5 sts, repeat around, sl st to join. (84 sts)
Round 9: Switch to accent green. Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to join. (84 sc)
Round 10: Switch to main green. Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 6 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 6 sts, repeat around, sl st to join. (96 sts)
Round 11: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 7 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 7 sts, repeat around, sl st to join. (108 sts)
Round 12: Switch to accent green. Ch 1, sc in each st around. Do not sl st to join at the end of this round.
Round 13 — Creating the Lily Pad Notch: This is what gives the blanket its lily pad shape. Work around the circle in main green dc, but when you reach approximately the 10 o’clock position (roughly 14–16 stitches back from where you will place the frog head), turn and work back in the opposite direction for 6 stitches, creating the characteristic V-shaped notch of a lily pad. Fasten off and weave in ends neatly.
Border Round: With accent green, work a single round of sc evenly around the entire perimeter, including the notch edges, to give the blanket a clean, finished look. Sl st to join and fasten off.
If you prefer a larger blanket, simply continue adding increase rounds in the same pattern before working the final border. For a lovey-sized blanket, the 12–13 round version is ideal, giving you a blanket roughly 14 to 16 inches in diameter.
Part Two: The Frog Head
The frog head is made in the round using standard amigurumi construction. It creates a rounded, dimensional head that sits beautifully in the center of the lily pad.
With main green yarn:
Round 1: MR, 6 sc into ring. (6 sc) Pull ring closed.
Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sc)
Round 3: Sc in next st, inc in next st, repeat around. (18 sc)
Round 4: Sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st, repeat around. (24 sc)
Round 5: Sc in next 3 sts, inc in next st, repeat around. (30 sc)
Round 6: Sc in next 4 sts, inc in next st, repeat around. (36 sc)
Rounds 7–10: Sc in each st around. (36 sc)
Round 11: Sc in next 4 sts, dec, repeat around. (30 sc)
At this point, insert your safety eyes (or embroider them) between rounds 8 and 9, spaced about 8 stitches apart. Stuff the head firmly with polyfill before closing.
Round 12: Sc in next 3 sts, dec, repeat around. (24 sc)
Round 13: Sc in next 2 sts, dec, repeat around. (18 sc)
Round 14: Sc in next st, dec, repeat around. (12 sc)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Close any remaining gap and weave in ends.
Part Three: The Frog’s Eyes (Optional Raised Eyes)
If you want the classic bulging frog eye look, you can make two small raised eye domes and sew them onto the top of the head before attaching the safety eyes or embroidering pupils.
With white yarn:
MR, 6 sc into ring. Sl st to join. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Lightly stuff each eye dome before sewing them to the top of the head, roughly 4 stitches apart. Attach safety eyes through the centers of the white domes, or embroider pupils with black yarn.
Part Four: The Smile
Using a length of black or very dark green yarn threaded onto your tapestry needle, embroider a simple curved smile across the front of the frog’s face, centered just below and between the eyes. A gentle upward curve spanning about 6–8 stitches creates a sweet, friendly expression that babies love.
Assembling the Frog Lovey
Assembly is the step that transforms your individual pieces into a complete lovey, and it is worth taking your time here.
Position the frog head in the center of the lily pad blanket. The frog should face upward, with the slightly flatter “closing” edge of the head facing downward toward the blanket. Using your tapestry needle and a long length of main green yarn, sew the head firmly to the blanket by stitching through the base of the head and the center stitches of the blanket. Work around the entire circumference of the head’s base, securing it at multiple points. You want this join to be absolutely stable — tug it firmly from every direction to test it before finishing off.
Once the head is secured, weave in all remaining ends on both the head and the blanket, threading them through multiple stitches in different directions to lock them in place.
Customization Ideas
One of the best things about this pattern is how easily you can adapt it. Here are some ideas to make your frog lovey feel truly one-of-a-kind.
Color variations: Traditional frogs are green, but there is no rule that says your lovey has to be. A pale lavender frog on a matching blanket makes a gorgeous gender-neutral gift. A teal and aqua combination has a beautiful coastal feel. A golden yellow frog would make an adorable sunshine-themed nursery gift.
Add a flower: Real lily pads often have a flower nearby. You can crochet a simple five-petal flower in pink, white, or yellow and sew it at the edge of the blanket near the notch for an extra botanical touch.
Textured blanket: Try working the blanket in a shell stitch or a simple granny square grid instead of the round structure for a different look while keeping the same frog head.
Bow or crown: A tiny crocheted bow in a contrasting color sewn to the top of the frog’s head adds a sweet feminine detail. A small crocheted crown makes for an adorable royal frog prince look.
Personalization: Embroider the baby’s name or initials onto the blanket portion using a contrasting color of yarn. Keep the letters simple and the stitching tight.
Care Instructions for Your Finished Lovey
Because this lovey will be handled constantly and washed frequently, it is important to use care instructions that protect both the yarn fibers and the overall structure of the piece. Machine wash on a gentle or delicate cycle in cold water. Lay flat to dry, reshaping the blanket while it is still damp so it dries in the correct circular form. Avoid putting the lovey in a hot dryer, as heat can distort the fibers and cause the stuffed head to lose its shape over time. If the frog’s head begins to look a little flat after many washes, you can gently re-stuff it through a small seam opening and resew the seam closed.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
A few small details will elevate your finished lovey from good to genuinely beautiful. Use a slightly smaller hook than your yarn label recommends for the frog head — a tighter gauge means no gaps in the fabric and no stuffing visible through the stitches. When stuffing the head, fill it more firmly than you think you need to; the polyfill compresses over time and with washing, so a slightly overstuffed head will settle into the perfect shape after a few uses. Block your blanket before assembly by misting it lightly with water and pinning it into shape to dry; this gives the lily pad a flatter, more even appearance.
Take your time with the facial embroidery. The expression on the frog’s face gives the whole lovey its personality, and a slightly asymmetrical smile or eyes placed just a stitch or two off-center can make all the difference between a frog that looks charming and one that looks a little unsettling. Stitch slowly, step back often, and adjust before fastening off.
Gifting Your Frog Lovey
A handmade frog lovey with a lily pad blanket makes an exceptional baby shower gift, a newborn welcome present, or a birthday gift for a child under three. To package it beautifully without spending much, fold the lovey into a neat square with the frog face showing, place it in a simple kraft paper box or a muslin drawstring bag, and tuck in a handwritten card with the care instructions and a few words about the pattern. New parents will genuinely appreciate knowing how to care for the piece.
If you are selling loveys at a craft fair or on an online handmade marketplace, be sure to include a tag noting the materials used and confirming that the piece is designed for supervised use, particularly for the youngest children.
Why This Pattern Belongs in Your Project Queue
Handmade baby gifts are always meaningful, but the best ones are the ones that hold up — that survive years of being dragged across floors, thrown in washing machines, and clutched through dozens of naps and thunderstorms. A well-made crocheted lovey is exactly that kind of gift. This frog lovey pattern, with its lily pad blanket and sweet little face, strikes the perfect balance between whimsy and durability. It is a project you can finish in a weekend, a gift that will be cherished for years, and a pattern you
