Our latest project, the “Easy Crochet Toddler Blanket with Dinosaur Friends,” is a delightful blend of creativity and comfort.
It’s a blanket designed to mimic the scales of a dinosaur. This playful and imaginative design brings a touch of prehistoric magic to the world of crochet. There is a small series of chapter books on a dinosaur and his adventures. The idea of this blanket is to provide a soft and snuggly space for a little one. While sparking their imagination with the joy of reading.
This charming creation not only wraps your little one in coziness but also transports them to a world where friendly dinosaurs roam amidst a landscape of crochet scales.
I chose to make this a toddler size throw at 38 x 38 inches square. Just big enough to wrap around a little one.
Yarn Options for Dinosaur Friends Blanket
My goal was trying to achieve the look of dinosaur scales without using a complicated stitch pattern. Therefore, the short color sections in this variegated yarn worked perfectly with this crochet stitch to achieve the look.
However, if you just want to make this pattern without trying to have the look of scales, any medium-weight yarn would work nicely. It would look lovely in a solid color or a variegated yarn with different colors. In fact, if I was not going for a specific look, I would prefer longer sections of each color in the yarn as it would look better.
This yarn is no longer made; however, I have a few ideas for yarn substitutes for you.
- Big Twist Yarns
- Loops and Threads
- King Cole Cozy Love Aran
- Bernat Super Value
- Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran
Sober Granny Stitch
This is a great project for a confident beginner. However, it is a repeat of row two, so it becomes an easy crochet pattern once you get going. We have a whole blog post written on how to crochet the sober granny stitch along with links to video tutorials on our YouTube channel.
I chose this crochet stitch because it clustered double crochet stitches, which helped mimic the look of dinosaur scales when paired with this yarn. When creating unique looks such as this, it is a good idea to work up a small swatch before beginning the larger blanket pattern itself.
Once you are satisfied with the look and have the gauge, you are ready to begin.
Here are videos of me working on this blanket from the beginning.
What is the quickest crochet stitch for a baby blanket?
The double crochet stitch has long been touted as being a crochet stitch that works up quickly and you get a lot of area crocheted compared to other stitches. It is an easy pattern to work which makes it an easy repeat for smaller projects or a whole blanket.
Blanket Sizes
The pattern is written for a toddler blanket size, but you can easily adjust it to any size you want. Make your starting chain in multiples of 4 plus 2. I have added an excerpt from our blog post on Crochet Guidelines for Standard Bed and Blanket Sizes.
- Lovey blanket 20 x 20 inches. Starting chain will be about 65-75 chain stitches. Plan on about 300 yards of yarn.
- Square Baby Blanket 31 X 31 inches. The beginning chain will be about 90-100 chain stitches. About 700 yards of yarn.
- Throw Blanket (small) 48 X 48 – 60 inches. Starting Chain is approximately 175-185 chain stitches. Plan on about 2,600 yards of yarn.
- Throw Blanket (large) 60 X 72 inches. Plan on a starting chain about 190-200 chain stitches. Plan for approximately 4,000 yards of yarn.
Toddler Loves This Blanket
What I haven’t told you yet is how difficult it was to take photos of this blanket. My grandson was relentlessly grabbing it, laying on it, and walking away with it. He loves it and since it has been washed the yarn has become soft. The sober granny stitch is a nice textured crochet stitch, and this yarn helps it feel a bit squishy too.
While I was saving this blanket for another toddler, my grandson has added it to his blanket stash. He uses this one all the time. But as crocheters, that is the best thank you we could possibly have.
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Directions: Easy Crochet Toddler Blanket Dinosaur Friends
Skill Level
Confident Beginner Crocheter.
You should be able to read a crochet pattern and work double crochet stitches and chain stitches.
Gauge
15 single crochet stitches and 16 rows for every 4 inches.
Finished Size
38 X 38 inches square.
Make your starting chain in multiples of 4 plus 2. Therefore, to adjust the width, use multiples of 4. Therefore, the sample is 4 X 4 = 16 stitches plus 2 = 18 stitches. Adjust the length by adding or decreasing rows.
Abbreviations
CH = Chain
DC = Double Crochet
SC = Single Crochet
SK = Skip
ST = Stitch
STs = Stitches
[ ] = Repeat Between
Materials
8 Skeins of Premier Yarns, Dream in the color Storm Cloud or a total of 1,520 yards. This yarn is a number 4 medium-weight yarn.
If you are not able to find this yarn, I have a few ideas of yarn that will work listed above.
Crochet Hook Size I, 5.5 MM
Yarn Needle
Scissors
Crochet Pattern Notes
Turn at the end of each row.
You will be working a series of crochet stitches around the chain stitches in the row below that was created by the CH 2. Once you get going, this is a nice crochet project to do if you don’t want a lot of counting.
This pattern is a one row repeat throughout.
This pattern is written in U S Crochet Terms.
Since this stitch pattern and yarn color would hide yarn ends throughout the rows, I used the yarn knot to join skeins. By doing so, you can crochet until you are almost done with a skein of yarn, securely join the next and keep crocheting. Less yarn ends to weave in too.
Begin
Chain 142 foundation chain stitches.
Row 1
In the second chain from the hook work 1 SC, CH 2 (Counts as DC). Into the same stitch work 4 DC STs. [SK 3 CH, in the 4th CH from the hook work (SC, CH 2 and 4 DC into the same ST)]. Repeat between [ ] across. End with 1 SC into the last ST. Turn
Row 2
CH 3 (Counts as a DC). In the SC below, work 2 DC. [Skip over to the CH 2 SP. Working around the STs, work a (SC, CH 2, and 4 DC all into the same SP)]. Repeat between [ ] across ending with a SC into the last ST. Turn
Rows 3 through 66
Continue repeating row 2.
Finishing
When you have reached your desired length, cut the yarn leaving about a 12-inch yarn tail. Pull the yarn tail through the last stitch.
Use the yarn needle to weave the yarn through the crochet stitches to secure.
How to Finish off Crochet
If you are new to crochet, you may find the tutorial on finishing off your crochet work useful.
We hope you enjoyed this lovely free crochet pattern. Here are a few more free patterns for you to explore.
You can find Victoria crocheting, quilting, and creating recipes. She has cooked in restaurants for over 20 years, including many larger parties. She learned to crochet when she was just 11 years old and has been crocheting ever since; over 50 years now. Over 40 years ago, she loved her first class in sewing and continues to hone her skills in quilting. Many have enjoyed the handmade gifts over the years. In her professional career, she has worked in management in a wide variety of businesses including higher education as a dean of a division. All the while attending college part-time to achieve her doctorate in higher education with an emphasis in e-learning.