How to Crochet a Checkerboard Baby Blanket - Free Pattern & Video Tutorial
Get Your Game On with My Checkers Plays Pop Baby Blanket!
The Checkers Plays Pop Baby Blanket features a bold checkerboard effect worked in soft green and off-white, with playful pink and mustard pinstripes for a pop of colour. This blanket combines fun colourwork to create a modern twist on a classic baby make. The name was inspired by the kids' TV show Cheggers Plays Pop — a childhood favourite full of fun and colour, just like this blanket!
Why I Love This Kind of Project
Creating baby blankets is hands down one of my favourite crochet projects. There’s something incredibly special about crafting an item that will bring comfort and warmth to a little one. Each stitch feels like a tiny act of love, and I often imagine the baby snuggled up in it, creating new memories. Plus, seeing the colours come together in a larger piece is just so satisfying. Keep reading if you would like to find out how to crochet a checkerboard baby blanket.
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What Makes This Pattern Special
For the Checkers Plays Pop Baby Blanket, I've used a simple stitch that creates a bold checkerboard effect. It's essentially just half double crochet stitches, worked in a way that allows the colours to pop and define clear squares. It’s a fantastic way to create a modern twist on a classic baby make and the ribbed border pattern just adds that finishing touch.
Choosing Your Colour Palette
For my checkerboard baby blanket, I went with a soft green and a creamy off-white for the main checkerboard squares. To really add that "pop" of colour, I introduced playful pink and sunny mustard pinstripes. These bright accents elevate the design and give it its modern, joyful character.
You can really go to town with your colour choices and the surface stripes is a great opportunity to bust through your stash.
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Free Pattern and Video Tutorial
I'm thrilled to share this free pattern for the Checkers Plays Pop Baby Blanket with you! This pattern is suitable for confident beginners who are comfortable with basic crochet stitches and changing colours. I've also put together a video tutorial to walk you through the entire process and ensure you get that perfect bold checkerboard effect. This is a great project for learning how to crochet a checkerboard baby blanket with a fun, modern twist.
Is It Beginner Friendly?
While this pattern uses mostly basic stitches, the colour changes and working with multiple colours might be a bit challenging for absolute beginners. I'd classify it as confident beginner friendly. If you've made a few simple projects and are comfortable with the basics you should do great! If you're completely new to crochet, I'd suggest trying a simpler, single-colour baby blanket pattern first to get a feel for the stitches before diving into colourwork.
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Selecting the Perfect Crochet Hooks
For this tutorial, I used a 5.5 mm hook. I love to use these Clover Soft Touch hooks as they have a smooth surface that glides through the yarn easily and the handles are comfortable to hold. These are my preferred hooks to use and I have them in many sizes.
Handy Tools and Notions
Additionally, you'll need some helpful items like a pair of scissors, a measuring tape or gauge ruler, and a darning needle for neatly securing loose yarn ends. While not essential, stitch markers can be quite convenient for keeping track of your stitches.
Video Tutorial
To complement the written free pattern below, I’ve created a full video tutorial for the Checkers Plays Pop Baby Blanket! In this video, I walk you through the key techniques, including starting your chain, working the checkerboard stitch pattern, and most importantly, smooth colour changes. It’s perfect for visual learners and for seeing exactly how to crochet a checkerboard baby blanket with those playful pinstripes.
Yarn
Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran is a soft, durable, 100% acrylic yarn that's perfect for the bold colourwork in the Checkers Plays Pop Baby Blanket. Each 100g ball provides 184m (201yds) of Aran weight yarn, and it's machine washable, making it a great easy-care option for baby projects.
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Yarn Subs
Size Chart
This pattern includes a size chart with four options, from a small baby blanket to a twin, so you can make the perfect size for any space or occasion. The yarn quantities provided in this pattern are based on Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran, which has 184 metres (201 yards) per 100g ball and are approximate. If you choose to substitute with a different yarn to ensure you have enough, it's important to calculate your required amount using the total yardage, rather than the number of balls.
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Colour A - green
Colour B - white
Colour C - border
Checkers Plays Pop
Materials
Hook: 5.50 mm (I)
Other Items: Yarn needle, scissors
Gauge: 12 sts x 8 rows = 10cm (4 inches) in hdc
Special Technique
Surface crochet is a technique where slip stitches are worked on top of finished fabric to add decorative lines or accents.
Special Stitches
Fpdc (Front Post Double Crochet): Yarn over, insert hook from front to back around post of stitch, then work a dc stitch as normal.
Bpdc (Back Post Double Crochet): Yarn over, insert hook from back to front around post of stitch, then work a dc stitch as normal.
Abbreviations US Terms (UK Terms)
ch - chain
sl st - slip stitch
st(s) - stitch(es)
hdc - half double crochet (half treble crochet)
fpdc - front post double crochet (front post treble crochet)
bpdc - back post double crochet (ack post treble crochet)
Instructions
Pattern Notes:
- Read pattern carefully before starting.
- Ch1 at the start of a row does not count as a stitch.
- Unused yarn is carried across the work and crocheted over as you go.
- Before changing colour check the tension of carried yarn (give it a slight tug to ensure it is laying flat).
- To change colour, work the last stitch of the current colour up to the final yarn-over, then yarn over with the new colour and pull through to finish the stitch.
Colour Sequence
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[12 stitches in colour A, 12 stitches in colour B], repeat across row, ending with 12 stitches in colour A.
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Repeat step 1 for a total of 8 rows.
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[12 stitches in colour B, 12 stitches in colour A] repeat across row, ending with 12 stitches in colour B.
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Repeat step 3 for a total of 8 rows.
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Repeat steps 1 through 4 until blanket is required size ending with step 2 (see diagram).
Start Crocheting Here...
Chain required number for size (see size chart)
Row 1 Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each st across changing colours when called for (see colour sequence), ch1 turn.
Row 2 Hdc in 1st st and each stitch across, ch1 turn
Repeat row 2 until required number of repeats have been completed (see diagram).
Surface Crochet
Scrap yarn may be used here or the border colour. Add a row of surface crochet through the middle of each check. We recommend you watch the video tutorial if you have never attempted surface crochet before.
Border Prep
Work a row of slip stitches loosely across each side of the blanket (just the sides, not top or bottom). Aim for 12 stitches for each check, although this may be adjusted if tension necessitates.
Ribbed Border
Round 1 With colour C join with dc in any st across top, dc in each st to corner [dc, ch2 dc] in this and every corner, dc in each st across sides, bottom and top, join with sl st to 1st dc.
Round 2 Ch 2 (counts as bpdc), [fpdc in next st, bpdc in next st] repeat to corner, [dc, ch2, dc] in this and every corner.
The first stitch after the corner should be the same as the first stitch before the corner
Alternate between a fpdc and bpdc around the blanket finishing with a sl st to top ch2.
Round 3 Ch2, fpdc in every fpdc from previous round and bpdc in every bpdc from previous round, in corners [3dc], join with sl st to top ch2, fasten off and weave in ends.
Blocking
For a polished, professional result, we highly recommend blocking your finished blanket.
More blanket patterns for you to try...
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