Crochet Daisy Rows Baby Blanket (Free Crochet Pattern)

If you’ve been searching for a baby blanket pattern that feels as cheerful to make as it looks, the Crochet Daisy Rows Baby Blanket is exactly what you need. This free crochet pattern combines a timeless floral texture with beginner-friendly construction, making it an ideal project whether you’re picking up a hook for the first time or looking for a satisfying weekend make. The result is a soft, dimensional blanket covered in rows of delicate daisies that any new parent would be thrilled to receive as a gift.

In this post, you’ll find everything you need to know: materials, abbreviations, stitch notes, and the full step-by-step pattern. Let’s get started.

Why You’ll Love This Pattern

There’s something endlessly appealing about daisy-inspired crochet. The stitch creates a raised, petal-like texture that looks incredibly intricate but is actually formed through a simple technique called the daisy stitch or pull-up loop method. Once you get the hang of the rhythm, you’ll find yourself flying through row after row, watching a garden of tiny flowers bloom across your work.

This blanket is designed with babies in mind. The yarn weight and stitch structure create a fabric that is soft against delicate skin, has a little stretch, and drapes beautifully over a crib or stroller. Because the daisy stitch creates an almost lacy effect, the blanket has natural breathability, which is important for keeping little ones comfortable without overheating.

From a practical standpoint, this pattern is also incredibly versatile. Work it in a soft pastel for a classic baby gift, choose a creamy white for an heirloom-style blanket, or go bold with a bright cheerful color for a fun modern nursery. The simple rectangular construction means you can easily size it up or down depending on whether you want a lap blanket, a full crib blanket, or even a swaddle-sized wrap.

Materials You’ll Need

Before you begin, gather the following supplies. Having everything on hand before you start means you won’t have to stop mid-row looking for a yarn needle.

Yarn: Approximately 800–1,000 yards of worsted weight yarn (Category 4). A smooth, light-colored yarn will show off the daisy stitch the best, especially if you’re making this as a gift and want the texture to really pop. Soft cotton blends or acrylic yarns work beautifully for baby items because they are washable and gentle on skin. Brands like Lion Brand Pound of Love, Paintbox Simply DK (bumped to worsted), Caron Simply Soft, or Cascade 220 Superwash all work well.

Hook: 5.0 mm (H/8) crochet hook. This size pairs nicely with worsted weight yarn and produces a soft, slightly open fabric. If your gauge runs tight, size up to a 5.5 mm hook.

Additional supplies: Yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, stitch markers (optional but helpful for tracking your place), and a blocking mat and pins if you want to give the finished blanket a polished look.

Gauge

Gauge is particularly important with baby items because you want to ensure the fabric isn’t too stiff or too open. Work a gauge swatch before beginning.

14 stitches and 12 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in half double crochet using a 5.0 mm hook.

Keep in mind that the daisy stitch rows will be slightly shorter in height than the half double crochet rows, so your row gauge will vary slightly throughout the pattern. This is expected and normal. The key is that your stitch width gauge is correct so that the blanket comes out the right size.

Finished Dimensions

The pattern as written produces a blanket approximately 30 inches wide by 36 inches long, which is a generous stroller or lap blanket size. This is ideal for babies from newborn through toddler age.

To make a crib-sized blanket, increase your starting chain to produce a width of about 40 inches and continue working rows until the blanket measures 50–52 inches long.

Abbreviations

All abbreviations in this pattern follow US crochet terminology.

ch — chain

sl st — slip stitch

sc — single crochet

hdc — half double crochet

dc — double crochet

st(s) — stitch(es)

sp — space

rep — repeat

RS — right side

WS — wrong side

yo — yarn over

beg — beginning

t-ch — turning chain

Special Stitch: The Daisy Stitch

The daisy stitch is the heart of this pattern, so let’s walk through it carefully before you begin. Once you understand how it works, the pattern will flow naturally.

The daisy stitch is worked by pulling up loops through multiple points and then closing them together, creating a raised, flower-like cluster. Here’s how to work a single daisy:

Step 1: Insert your hook into the next stitch and pull up a loop (you now have 2 loops on your hook).

Step 2: Without closing those loops, insert your hook into the following stitch and pull up another loop (3 loops on your hook).

Step 3: Insert your hook into the stitch after that and pull up one more loop (4 loops on your hook).

Step 4: Yarn over and draw through all 4 loops on your hook. This closes the daisy cluster.

Step 5: Chain 1 to secure and create the center “eye” of the daisy.

You have now completed one daisy. Each daisy consumes 3 stitches from the previous row and produces 1 cluster plus 1 chain. Daisy rows are worked across the right side of the fabric so the petals face outward.

Pattern Notes

Before you begin, read through all of the pattern notes. These small details will make the process much smoother.

The blanket is worked flat in rows, back and forth. The foundation is a simple chain, and you alternate between standard half double crochet rows and daisy stitch rows throughout the pattern. This alternation is what gives the blanket its beautiful textured stripes of daisies separated by smooth rows.

Daisy stitch rows are always worked on the right side of the fabric. After completing a daisy row, you will turn your work to the wrong side and work a standard hdc row back across. This means the blanket always stays right-side facing when you’re working the daisies, which helps keep the clusters consistent and facing the same direction.

The starting chain number should be a multiple of 3, plus 2 for the turning chain. For the standard blanket size, chain 104.

If you are substituting yarn, make sure it is soft enough for a baby blanket. Avoid anything scratchy or stiff. When in doubt, do a quick test: press the yarn against the inside of your wrist. If it feels comfortable there, it will be fine for a baby.

The Full Pattern

Foundation Chain

Chain 104. (Or any multiple of 3 plus 2.)

Row 1 (Wrong Side):

Hdc in the third chain from hook and in each chain across. Turn. — 102 hdc

Row 2 (Right Side — Daisy Row):

Chain 1, do not turn. Working across the right side, work a daisy stitch over the next 3 stitches, ch 1 rep from to across until 0 or 1 stitches remain. If 1 stitch remains, sc in the last stitch. Turn.

Row 3 (Wrong Side):

Chain 2, hdc in each stitch and each ch-1 space across. Turn. — 102 hdc

Row 4 (Right Side — Daisy Row):

Repeat Row 2.

Row 5 (Wrong Side):

Repeat Row 3.

Continue alternating Row 4 (daisy row) and Row 5 (hdc row) until your blanket measures approximately 35 inches or your desired length, ending with a wrong-side hdc row.

Final Row:

After your last hdc row, do not turn. Work one round of single crochet evenly around all four sides of the blanket, working 3 sc into each corner stitch to keep the corners flat. Slip stitch to the first sc to join. Fasten off.

Border Options

The simple single crochet border described above gives the blanket a clean, tidy finish. But if you’d like to add a little extra charm, here are a few border variations to consider.

Shell Border: After your single crochet round, work a second round by skipping 2 sts, working 5 dc in the next st, skipping 2 sts, sc in the next st, repeating around. This creates a scalloped edge that looks lovely on baby items.

Reverse Single Crochet (Crab Stitch): After your single crochet round, work one round of reverse single crochet (worked from left to right instead of right to left) for a twisted, rope-like edge. This gives the blanket a more polished, professional finish.

Picot Border: After your single crochet round, work sc in the next stitch, ch 3, sc in the same stitch across for a delicate, lacy picot edge. This is particularly beautiful on heirloom-style white or cream blankets.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

Keep your tension consistent. The daisy stitch involves pulling up loops through multiple stitches, which can tighten your tension if you’re not careful. Practice pulling up each loop to a consistent height — roughly the same height as a regular hdc loop — before drawing through all loops. If your daisy rows are pulling in, try going up a half hook size for those rows only.

Count your stitches regularly. Because the daisy stitch consumes three stitches at a time, even a small counting error can throw off your stitch count. Take a moment at the end of every row to make sure you still have 102 stitches. Stitch markers at the 34th and 68th stitches can help you keep track across long rows.

Block your finished blanket. Blocking makes a dramatic difference with textured crochet. For acrylic yarn, wet blocking or steam blocking will help open up the daisy clusters and give the blanket an even, polished appearance. For natural fibers like cotton or wool, soak the blanket in cool water, gently press out the excess water (do not wring), and pin it to a blocking mat to dry.

Weave in ends as you go. If you’re joining new skeins of yarn throughout the project, get in the habit of weaving in your ends immediately after each join rather than leaving them all for the end. A blanket this size can accumulate a lot of ends, and weaving them in all at once can feel overwhelming.

Choose the right color. Light, solid colors — white, cream, buttercup yellow, soft mint, pale lavender, or baby blue — show off the daisy texture the best. Variegated or heavily tonal yarns can obscure the stitch definition and make the daisies harder to see. Save those beautiful self-striping yarns for a different project and let the stitch be the star here.

Caring for Your Crochet Baby Blanket

Baby items need to be washable, full stop. Before gifting this blanket, make sure your yarn is machine washable and that you’re comfortable recommending washing instructions to the recipient.

Most worsted weight acrylic yarns can be machine washed on a gentle cycle with cold water and tumbled dry on low. Cotton and cotton-blend yarns are also generally machine washable but may shrink slightly, so always wash your gauge swatch before beginning and account for any shrinkage in your finished dimensions.

When gifting the blanket, include a small tag or card with washing instructions. New parents are juggling a lot, and they will truly appreciate not having to guess how to care for the gift you’ve made them.

Sizing the Pattern Up or Down

This pattern is easy to resize because it’s based on a simple multiple of three. Here’s a quick guide:

For a smaller car seat or swaddle blanket (approximately 24 by 30 inches), start with a chain of 86 and work until the piece measures 30 inches.

For a standard crib blanket (approximately 40 by 50 inches), start with a chain of 140 and work until the piece measures 50 inches.

For a toddler blanket (approximately 36 by 48 inches), start with a chain of 128 and work until the piece measures 48 inches.

Remember that any starting chain should be a multiple of 3, plus 2 for the turning chain.

Making This Blanket as a Gift

Handmade baby gifts are among the most meaningful things you can give a new family. A crochet blanket represents hours of care and attention, and it’s something that often becomes a cherished keepsake long after the baby has outgrown it.

To make your gift extra special, consider pairing the blanket with a matching crochet item — a simple pair of baby booties or a small hat worked in the same yarn will tie the gift together beautifully. You could even work a small crochet daisy appliqué using the same flower technique and sew it onto a little card for presentation.

Packaging matters too. Fold the blanket neatly, tie it with a coordinating ribbon, and tuck it into a simple kraft paper gift bag. The natural texture of the crochet against simple, understated packaging looks gorgeous and lets the handmade quality of the gift speak for itself.

Final Thoughts

The Crochet Daisy Rows Baby Blanket is one of those patterns that strikes the perfect balance between visual impact and ease of execution. The daisy stitch looks like it belongs in an heirloom piece displayed in a boutique shop, but once you’ve worked a few rows and internalized the rhythm — pull up, pull up, pull up, draw through — you’ll wonder why you haven’t been making this for years.

Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter looking for a meaningful gift project or someone who has just learned to chain and wants to try something a little more textured, this pattern has something to offer. Take your time with the special stitch, trust the process when the loops seem like a lot to manage, and enjoy the moment when each little daisy closes up and reveals itself perfectly formed across your work.

Save this pattern, share it with a crafty friend, and come back and leave a comment below when yours is finished. There’s nothing better than seeing these little gardens of stitches grow in the hands of makers around the world.

Happy crocheting.