We received a few crocheted baby blankets when my daughter was born. They meant the world, especially knowing some family members had very little experience crocheting and the effort she put into it.  Some of our crocheted blankets were made of your basic cotton, and others were made of chenille, and other very soft and fluffy materials.

If you are thinking about crocheting a baby blanket for a new mom in your life and don’t know how to crochet you will first have to learn.   There are a variety of stitches, but they are easily learned and very clear directions are readily available at a number of websites.  If you want a little more direct instruction you can check at your local craft store. They often have crochet classes.  Learning to crochet with a teacher is nice because you get immediate feedback and can quickly correct any mistakes you make.

Once you have learned to crochet, you just have to find a great baby blanket pattern. You can find patterns for free online. You can often print these patterns out so you have them for reference. If you would prefer you can also check your local library.  There are complete books of crochet patterns for you to check out.  You can also get pattern ideas from craft magazines, don’t forget to check back issues.

Once you’ve sewn your first baby blanket gift you may find you enjoy crocheting so much you want to move on to something a little bigger.  You could then move up to throw blankets or even a bedspread.  The options are limitless, but it is sure to be a treasured gift.