Lavender Jellyfish Baby Blanket Free Crochet Pattern

There is something about crocheting for a baby that slows everything down in the best possible way. You pick up your hook, you choose your colors, and for a little while, the whole project feels like a quiet act of love. This lavender jellyfish baby blanket pattern is exactly that kind of project. It is whimsical, soft, and genuinely beautiful — the kind of blanket that gets passed down and remembered.

Whether you are crocheting for your own little one, making a baby shower gift, or just diving into a fun new pattern for the joy of it, this design delivers something special. The gentle lavender tones give it a dreamy, soothing quality, and the jellyfish motifs add a playful underwater charm that works for any nursery theme. Best of all, this is a free pattern, written in full detail below so you can pick it up and start crocheting today.

Let us walk through everything you need to know, from the materials list to the finishing touches.

Why Lavender for a Baby Blanket

Lavender has long been associated with calm, rest, and gentle energy — all things we want to surround newborns with. In the world of baby crochet, lavender is a universally beloved color because it sits perfectly between pink and blue, making it a beautiful gender-neutral choice. It pairs effortlessly with cream, white, soft mint, or even a pale grey, giving you lots of flexibility in how you style the finished blanket.

On a practical level, lavender yarn tends to photograph beautifully, which is wonderful if you are planning to gift the blanket and want to document it. It also complements wooden nursery furniture, white linen, and natural textures in a way that feels timeless rather than trendy.

If lavender is not your first choice, this pattern works just as well in soft sage, pale peach, buttery yellow, or classic cream. The jellyfish motifs are versatile enough to look adorable in virtually any pastel or neutral palette.

Materials You Will Need

Before you begin, gather the following supplies. Having everything ready before you start makes for a smoother, more enjoyable crochet experience.

Yarn: You will need approximately 600–700 yards of a soft DK or worsted weight yarn in lavender. Look for something labeled “baby” or “soft” — yarns like Lion Brand Pound of Love, Paintbox Simply DK, Bernat Baby, or Red Heart Soft are all excellent choices. If you want a slightly more luxurious feel, a cotton-acrylic blend will give the blanket a beautiful drape and is easy to wash, which is essential for anything going near a baby.

For the jellyfish tentacles and accent details, you will need approximately 150–200 yards in a coordinating color — a soft cream or white works beautifully against lavender.

Hook: A 5.0 mm (H/8) crochet hook is recommended for this pattern with worsted weight yarn. If you are using DK weight, a 4.5 mm hook may give you a better tension. Always swatch before starting to ensure your gauge matches what the pattern calls for.

Other supplies: A yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, stitch markers (helpful but not required), and a measuring tape.

Gauge: 14 stitches and 16 rows = 4 inches in single crochet. Gauge is especially important here because the jellyfish motifs need to be proportional to the blanket body to look their best.

Finished size: Approximately 30 inches wide by 36 inches long, which is a standard receiving blanket size suitable for a newborn through toddler age.

Understanding the Pattern Structure

This blanket is worked in two parts. The main blanket body is crocheted in a simple textured stitch — a combination of single crochet and half double crochet that creates a subtle, squishy texture without being overly complex. Once the blanket body is complete, the jellyfish motifs are crocheted separately and then sewn onto the surface of the blanket, which gives them a lovely dimensional, almost sculptural look.

This two-part approach is great for beginners who want to try appliqué-style crochet for the first time. You are never doing too many things at once. You crochet the body, you crochet the jellyfish, and then you assemble. Simple, satisfying, and very manageable.

Abbreviations and Stitch Guide

Throughout this pattern, the following abbreviations are used:

ch — chain
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
sl st — slip stitch
dc — double crochet
sk — skip
sp — space
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
rep — repeat
BLO — back loop only

If you are new to any of these stitches, there are excellent video tutorials available on YouTube for each one. The hdc in BLO, used in the main blanket body, creates that lovely ribbed texture and is well worth learning if you have not tried it before.

Part One: The Blanket Body

Foundation chain: Using your lavender yarn and 5.0 mm hook, chain 107. This gives you 105 working stitches plus 2 turning chains.

Row 1 (WS): Sc in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. (105 sc) Chain 2, turn.

Row 2 (RS): Hdc in BLO of each stitch across. (105 hdc) Chain 1, turn.

Row 3: Sc in BLO of each stitch across. (105 sc) Chain 2, turn.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until your blanket measures approximately 34 inches from the foundation chain. End on a row 3 (sc row) with the wrong side facing. Do not fasten off.

This alternating pattern of hdc and sc rows in BLO creates a gentle, stretchy texture that is soft against baby skin and gives the blanket a beautiful, professional finish. The fabric will have a slight horizontal ridge running across it, which adds visual interest without distracting from the jellyfish appliqués you will add later.

The Border

Once your blanket body is complete, work a simple border to neaten the edges and give the whole piece a polished look.

With the right side facing and your lavender yarn still attached, work as follows:

Round 1: Ch 1, work 1 sc in each stitch across the top edge. At the corner, work 3 sc in the corner stitch. Work sc evenly down the side edge (approximately 1 sc per row end). Work 3 sc in the corner. Work 1 sc in each stitch across the bottom edge, working into the remaining loops of the foundation chain. Work 3 sc in the corner. Work sc evenly up the remaining side. Work 3 sc in the final corner. Join with a sl st to the first sc. Do not turn.

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, working 3 sc in each corner stitch. Join with a sl st. Fasten off and weave in ends.

If you want to add a more decorative border, you can work a simple shell border or a scallop edging around the outside after completing round 2. To do this, join your cream or white yarn at any corner and work as follows: sl st in the first sc, ch 3, work 4 dc in the same stitch, skip 2 sts, sl st in the next stitch, skip 2 sts, work 5 dc in the next stitch. Repeat the shell sequence around the entire blanket, adjusting slightly at corners to keep the shells even. This optional step adds a beautiful, lacy finish that elevates the entire piece.

Part Two: The Jellyfish Motifs

Now comes the truly magical part. You will crochet five jellyfish motifs in cream or white yarn (or you can vary the colors — pale pink, soft mint, and lavender all look gorgeous), and then attach them to the blanket in a scattered, floating arrangement.

Each jellyfish is made up of a rounded bell (the top dome) and a set of dangling tentacles. The combination creates an adorably realistic little sea creature that looks like it is gently drifting across the blanket.

Make 5 jellyfish total. You can make them all the same size or vary them slightly — making two or three slightly smaller by working fewer increase rounds — to give the impression of jellyfish at different distances, like they are floating at different depths.

Jellyfish Bell

Using cream or white yarn and a 4.5 mm hook, make a magic ring (or ch 4 and join with a sl st to form a ring).

Round 1: Ch 1, work 6 sc into the ring. Join with a sl st to first sc. (6 sts)

Round 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in each sc around. Join. (12 sts)

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. Join. (18 sts)

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. Join. (24 sts)

Round 5: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. Join. (30 sts)

Round 6: Ch 1, sc in each sc around. Join. (30 sts)

Round 7: Ch 1, sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog (single crochet two together), rep around. Join. (24 sts)

Stuff the bell lightly with a small amount of fiberfill or a piece of scrap yarn if you want it to be slightly three-dimensional, or leave it flat if you prefer a flatter appliqué look. Both approaches are lovely.

Round 8: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog, rep around. Join. (18 sts)

Sl st in the next stitch to close off. Do not fasten off. You will work the tentacles directly from this point.

Jellyfish Tentacles

The tentacles hang from the bottom edge of the bell. To attach them, you will work a series of chains directly into the bottom opening of the bell.

Working around the bottom opening of the bell, join your yarn (you can use a slightly different shade if you like — even a pale lavender works beautifully for the tentacles while the bell is cream). Work the following into the stitches around the bottom opening:

Tentacle 1: Sl st into the first open stitch at the bottom of the bell, ch 12, sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. Sl st back into the base stitch.

Tentacle 2: Sl st into the next stitch, ch 15, sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. Sl st back into the base stitch.

Tentacle 3: Skip one stitch, sl st into the next stitch, ch 10, sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. Sl st back into the base stitch.

Tentacle 4: Sl st into the next stitch, ch 14, sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. Sl st back into the base stitch.

Tentacle 5: Skip one stitch, sl st into the next stitch, ch 12, sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. Sl st back into the base stitch.

Continue adding tentacles of varying lengths around the bottom of the bell until you have 8–10 tentacles total, varying the chain counts between 8 and 16 to create an organic, natural look. The varying lengths are key — uniform tentacles look stiff, while varied lengths look like the jellyfish is actually floating and moving through water.

Fasten off and weave in ends. Make all five jellyfish before moving on to assembly.

Assembly: Placing the Jellyfish

Lay your finished blanket flat on a clean surface with the right side facing up. Arrange your five jellyfish motifs across the blanket in a scattered, organic pattern. Think about spacing — you want them to feel like they are gently drifting rather than arranged in a grid.

A suggested placement is one jellyfish near the upper left corner, one toward the center right, one in the lower left area, one in the upper center, and one near the lower right. But honestly, trust your eye here. Move them around until the arrangement feels balanced and whimsical.

Once you are happy with the placement, pin each jellyfish bell to the blanket using straight pins or locking stitch markers. The tentacles should hang freely below the bell — you are only attaching the bell portion, not the tentacles themselves.

Using your yarn needle and a length of matching yarn, whipstitch around the outer edge of each bell to attach it firmly to the blanket. Take small, neat stitches and make sure the bell is secure on all sides. Weave in all ends on the back of the blanket.

Finishing Touches and Care Instructions

Once all five jellyfish are attached and all ends are woven in, give your blanket a gentle block. For acrylic yarn, you can lightly mist it with water and smooth it flat, or use a steamer held a few inches away from the fabric. For cotton or cotton blends, wet blocking works beautifully — soak the blanket in cool water, gently squeeze out the excess without wringing, and lay it flat to dry in shape.

Blocking makes an enormous difference in how a finished crochet project looks. It evens out the stitches, softens the fabric, and gives the whole blanket a professional, polished appearance.

Care: This blanket is designed to be practical as well as beautiful. Wash it on a gentle cycle in cold water and lay flat to dry, or tumble dry on low. Check your specific yarn label for care instructions, as different fiber blends may have different requirements. Most acrylic and acrylic-blend yarns are machine washable, which is one of the things that makes them so popular for baby items.

Tips for Making This Pattern Your Own

One of the things that makes crochet so endlessly rewarding is how much room there is for personalization. Here are a few ways to put your own spin on this lavender jellyfish baby blanket.

If you want a thicker, warmer blanket, try doubling the yarn and using a larger hook — a 6.0 or 6.5 mm hook with two strands held together will create a chunkier, cozier fabric that is especially lovely for cooler climates.

For a scrappy or rainbow version, make each jellyfish in a different pastel color. A collection of five jellyfish in lavender, mint, peach, yellow, and soft pink against a cream blanket background looks absolutely stunning and is a great way to use up small amounts of leftover yarn.

If you want to add a little extra detail to the jellyfish faces, use a small amount of black yarn or embroidery thread to stitch on tiny dot eyes before attaching the bells to the blanket. A simple French knot on each side of the bell creates an endearing, cartoon-like face that babies and parents alike tend to love.

You can also size this pattern up or down. For a lap blanket or a larger crib blanket, simply increase your foundation chain to your desired width and work more rows. For a small lovey or stroller blanket, reduce accordingly. The jellyfish motifs stay the same regardless of blanket size, which keeps things simple.

A Few Words on Gifting This Blanket

Handmade gifts carry a weight that store-bought items simply cannot match. When you crochet a blanket for a baby, you are giving something of your time, your attention, and your care. Every stitch is an intentional act. Parents who receive handmade baby items often keep them long after their child has outgrown them, and many become treasured family heirlooms.

If you are gifting this lavender jellyfish blanket, consider presenting it with a handwritten tag that includes the care instructions and a note about the yarn used. Tucking it into a small basket with a coordinating burp cloth or a little stuffed animal makes for a beautiful, thoughtful presentation.

And if this is for your own baby — enjoy every moment of making it. There is something profoundly meaningful about crocheting something that your child will be wrapped in during their earliest, most precious days.

Final Thoughts

This lavender jellyfish baby blanket is one of those patterns that hits a perfect balance — it is simple enough to be accessible for crocheters at an intermediate level, interesting enough to stay engaging throughout the whole project, and beautiful enough to be something truly special when finished. The jellyfish appliqués are the heart of it, bringing personality and whimsy to an otherwise straightforward blanket, and the lavender color