Vanellope Crochet Baby Blanket
The Vanellope Crochet Baby Blanket is a fluffy, pom-filled granny square that fills you with excitement as soon as you see it! It was designed using a novelty yarn that can be tricky to use, but if you keep reading you’ll find some tricks to make it easier. This unique granny square blanket would really brighten up the baby’s nursery and put a smile on your face every time you see it.
This baby blanket has a pretty great story behind its existence, so I’m going to get right into that before we get to the pattern. If you are just too excited to whip up this gorgeous blanket and don’t have time for no long story, then scroll on down and get started!
The Name & The Design
A couple of months ago, I was shuffling down each aisle of Joann Fabrics arguing with myself about how much I would love to buy this yarn and that yarn. I told myself, “No. You need to start shopping with a purpose and not just buying yarn without a project in mind!”
You know, #yarnaddict problems.
Well, that didn’t last long. When I stumbled across this yarn, I stopped in my tracks, my jaw dropped, and I had to throw it in my cart. Yes, had to.
No, I did not know what I was going to make with it, but I didn’t care. I just had to have it. So I grabbed the last four skeins and off I went with a grin on my face and my now extremely colorful cart.
When I got home I don’t think I waited even 10 minutes before I whipped out this fluff ball and my 8mm hook. But… I was at a loss. I worked up a couple of rows just to get a feel for the yarn because I had only worked with a few novelty yarns up until this point.
As you can clearly see, it’s hard to see the stitches. I’ve worked with this type of yarn before so I knew it was possible. But I wanted to find a quick and easy way to work something up without worrying about miscounting stitches.
*Ding! Lightbulb!*
The Solution
Granny square baby blanket it is! By working this yarn up in a traditional granny square fashion, it eliminates the need to search on end for individual stitches. I
I’m not sure why, but the colors really reminded me of the movie Wreck it Ralph when I was finished. But people would think I was crazy so I just pushed it to the back of my mind.
Then this lovely lady told me it reminded her of something she would see in Candy Land. Immediately, I remembered the movie again and recalled the name of the game inside of the movie: Sugar Rush.
But instead of naming the blanket after the game, I remembered the super adorable little girl with a “can do” attitude, named Vanellope.
That my friend became the birth of the Vanellope Crochet Baby Blanket. (That’s Penelope with a ‘V’)
If you were wondering how I name my patterns, now you know it is a crazy process!
If you are new to crocheting with novelty yarn, go check out my picture tutorial on how to crochet the Traditional Granny Square. I suggest you familiarize yourself with it before attempting to work up this baby blanket. The stitches are very hard to see so it might make things easier knowing how it should look.
This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy for details.
Pattern:
- Get the ad-free, large print, printable PDF pattern HERE.
- PIN this pattern to your Pinterest boards for later HERE.
Materials:
- 4 balls Red Heart Buttercup yarn in the color “Carnival”
- Worsted weight yarn in white (I used Red Heart w/Love)
- 8 mm Crochet Hook
- Clover Pom Pom Maker
- Scissors
- Stitch markers (optional, but if you’re a beginner then necessary)
Abbreviations Used:
- Dc cluster (double crochet cluster): 3 dc in the same st
- Dc (double crochet)
- Ch (chain)
- Sl st (slip stitch)
- Sp (space)
- Rep (repeat)
Notes:
- Ch 2 at beginning of each round counts as a dc.
- The only chain stitches are used in corner spaces. There are no chains between the clusters along each side.
- The basic pattern is: (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in each ch 1 sp and 3 dc in each sp along the sides.
- The pattern for this baby blanket is the same as a Traditional Granny Square with a few added steps.
Vanellope Crochet Baby Blanket
Round 1: Ch 3. 2 dc into the first ch. Ch 1, dc cluster, Ch 1, dc cluster, Ch 1, dc cluster (all in the same st) Ch 1, sl st to the top of ch 2. (4 dc clusters, 4 ch 1 sp). Sl st into the next st and into ch 1 sp.
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc into the same sp. Ch 1, dc cluster into same sp. [Dc cluster, ch 1, dc cluster] in each ch 1 sp. Sl st to the top of ch 2. (8 dc clusters, 4 ch 1 sp). Sl st into the next st and into ch 1 sp.
Round 3: Ch 2, 2 dc into the same sp. Ch 1, dc cluster into same sp. Dc cluster in the sp BETWEEN the 2 clusters from the previous round (as indicated by the stitch marker). [Dc cluster, ch 1, dc cluster into the next ch 1 sp (corner sp). Dc cluster into sp between clusters from previous round] Rep [ ] two more times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (12 dc clusters, 4 ch 1 sp). Sl st into the next st and into ch 1 sp.
Round 4: Ch 2, 2 dc into the same sp. Ch 1, dc cluster into same sp. Dc cluster in the sp BETWEEN the 2 clusters from the previous round, twice. [Dc cluster, ch 1, dc cluster into the next ch 1 sp. Dc cluster into sp between clusters from previous round, twice] Rep [ ] two more times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (16 dc clusters, 4 ch 1 sp). Sl st into the next st and into ch 1 sp.
Because I know you can hardly see the stitches of the photos I’ve taken, I’ve included photos of the traditional granny square and what it looks like after rounds 4 and 5 are complete just so you have an idea of where you should be.
Round 5: Ch 2, 2 dc into the same sp. Ch 1, dc cluster into same sp. Dc cluster in the sp BETWEEN the 2 clusters from the previous round, three times. [Dc cluster, ch 1, dc cluster into the next ch 1 sp. Dc cluster into sp between clusters from previous round, three times] Rep [ ] two more times. Sl st to top of ch 2. (20 dc clusters, 4 ch 1 sp)
Continue each row with this pattern: (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in each ch 1 sp and 3 dc in each sp along the sides.
Continue the granny square pattern until you reach the desired blanket size. . Of course, if you would like to make it bigger you can but REMEMBER you will need more yarn AND when you’re buying this yarn at your local craft store, make sure they are all of the same dye lot. I’ve noticed that each dye lot looks drastically different so be aware of that.
Adding Poms:
Using the Clover Pom Pom Makers, create 10 pom poms total (5 for each side) and leave long tail to sew.
I hope you enjoyed crocheting the Vanellope Baby Blanket as much as I did and I hope it gets all the snuggles it deserves! I know I could curl up with one right now!
If you have any questions, be sure to leave a comment and I will get back with you! If you decided to take the plunge on this super easy, beginner-friendly baby blanket, post a picture or tag me on Instagram @sigonimacaroni!
Happy Hooking!
