Free Solid Shell Stitch Blanket Pattern in 12 Sizes
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Happy Friday Crocheters! I have a new free crochet pattern for you today. This post includes my Solid Shell Stitch Blanket Pattern. I have written this pattern for a baby sized afghan (33 inches wide X 36 inches long) and I have included the instructions to make this blanket in 11 additional sizes.
I chose to use a variegated yarn for this blanket so it worked up very quickly! If you would like to make it by changing colors every row it looks lovely but it does require that you sew in your ends on every row end. I have a second blanket sample I’m working on using 2 colors and I will add a second image of that for you at the end of the post so you can see what it looks like so far, (hopefully tomorrow!) but it will require some more time for me to completely finish it because of all those ends!
I hope you love this quick and easy shell stitch blanket pattern and can put it to good use this season making warm and cozy blankets for those near and dear!
PIN this pattern for later here
Solid Shell Stitch Blanket Pattern
Add this pattern to your Library on Ravelry.
Supplies
-
- Yarn: Red Heart, Bunches of Hugs. 10 oz (284 g) and 678 yds (620 m). 100% Acrylic. Medium Weight Yarn [4]. Machine wash cold, gentle cycle. Tumble dry low. Do not iron. Do not bleach.
- Colors: 2 skeins in Magical, E866_6348.
- Hook: 5.5 mm (I-9). I used this hook.
- Finished Project Yardage: 33 inches x 36 inches: 12 oz (350 g) / 836 yds (765 m)
- Scissors, Yarn Needle, Stitch Marker
Difficulty Level
Easy
Finished Size
Solid Shell Stitch Baby Blanket length approximately 36 inches X 33 inches width
For the other sizes please check which size you want to make and then chain the number of stitches indicated in the CH column below. Follow the pattern as written, for the number of rows indicated in the ROW column below for your size. I have provided an estimate of the yardage you will need for each size in the YDS column below.
| SIZE | W (inches) | L (inches) | CH | ROWS | YDS |
| Lovey | 10 | 10 | 25 | 15 | 70 |
| Security | 14 | 17 | 37 | 27 | 167 |
| Stroller | 30 | 35 | 91 | 60 | 739 |
| Receiving | 40 | 40 | 121 | 69 | 1126 |
| Toddler | 42 | 52 | 127 | 91 | 1537 |
| Swaddle | 47 | 47 | 139 | 82 | 1554 |
| Throw | 52 | 60 | 157 | 106 | 2196 |
| Twin | 59 | 85 | 181 | 151 | 3529 |
| Full/Queen | 90 | 90 | 277 | 160 | 5700 |
| Super-Queen | 96 | 94 | 295 | 167 | 6350 |
| King | 108 | 90 | 331 | 160 | 6840 |
Gauge
Approximately 2 rows per inch and 3 sts per inch
You can substitute any yarn and hook for this stitch pattern – just remember when you substitute if your gauge is different, the finished size, and amount of yarn used for your project will also be different.
Abbreviations
US Terminology used
ch – chain
dc – double crochet
R – row
RS – right side
rem – remaining
rep – repeat
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
sl st – slip stitch
st/sts – stitch/stitches
* to **– Repeat the instructions between the asterisks the number of times indicated. This repeat will contain of multiple instructions.
[] – at the end of the row – the total number of stitches
() – important notes AND sets of stitches to be worked within one stitch, or space
Helpful Tutorials
Helpful Video Tutorials
Notes:
- Initial ch 3 counts as 1 dc
- Stitch multiple is 6 + 1 (for the starting ch)
- See the sizes section above for additional Solid Shell Stitch Afghan Pattern sizes and the number of chains you need to start with.
Solid Shell Stitch Blanket Pattern Instructions
33 inches wide X 36 inches long
The solid shell stitch blanket is crocheted back and forth in rows, in one piece.
A simple edging is added to complete the blanket.
Using your 5.5 mm (I-9) hook (or size required for gauge):
R1 (RS): Ch 97, 2 dc in the fourth ch from the hook (the sk 3 chs count as 1 dc), sk the next 2 chs, 1 sc in the next ch. *Sk the next 2 chs, 5 dc in the next ch, sk the next 2 chs, 1 sc in the next ch**. Rep from * to ** across. Turn. [78 dc and 16 sc]
R2-R62: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in the first sc, sk the next 2 dc, 1 sc in the next dc. *Sk the next 2 dc, 5 dc in the next sc, sk the next 2 dc, 1 sc in the next dc**. Rep from * to ** across, Turn. [78 dc and 16 sc]
Finishing Instructions:
The simple edging is worked around the outside edges of the blanket in rounds.
Work 3 rounds. Work the same number of sc down each side edge (lengthwise) and the same number of stitches for top and bottom edges (widthwise). The width and length will not have the same number of stitches since this is a rectangle. Work 3 sc in each corner.
This is how I worked the edging for the baby blanket.
With RS facing and beg in the top corner of the first side edge:
R1: Work 3 sc in the corner, work 102 sc evenly down the side edge to the bottom corner. Work 3 sc in the corner, work 92 sc evenly across the bottom edge to the next corner. Work 3 sc in the corner, work 102 sc evenly up the side edge to the next corner. Work 3 sc in the corner, work 92 sc evenly across the top edge. [400 sc]
R2: Work 3 sc in the corner, work 104 sc evenly down the side edge to the bottom corner. Work 3 sc in the corner, work 94 sc evenly across the bottom edge to the next corner. Work 3 sc in the corner, work 104 sc evenly up the side edge to the next corner. Work 3 sc in the corner, work 94 sc evenly across the top edge. [408 sc]
R3: Work 3 sc in the corner, work 106 sc evenly down the side edge to the bottom corner. Work 3 sc in the corner, work 96 sc evenly across the bottom edge to the next corner. Work 3 sc in the corner, work 106 sc evenly up the side edge to the next corner. Work 3 sc in the corner, work 96 sc evenly across the top edge. Finish off with an invisible join. [416 sc]
#redheartyarns #joycreators #babyblanket #babycrochet #shellstitch #crochet
Happy crocheting!
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Hi Linda, You’re very welcome 🙂 I’m so happy you like the Angel patterns too! Thank you for making them and giving them as gifts. Makes my heart happy to hear this 🙂 Best wishes, Rhondda
Hi Rhondda,
Thank you for the info on the chain. I always have gone through two in the back but never tried just one in the back. Thank you. And thank you for all of your angel patterns, my niece gives them at Christmas to the children’s school teachers.
I usually work into the back bump of the chain now – I find it gives a bit more stretch to the beginning row. But, when I wrote this pattern I worked under the back loop of the chain only. So you can do whichever is your preference 🙂 Hope this helps! Rhondda
Hi Rhondda,
Working into the chain, do you work on the bumps in the back of the chain to do this?
Welcome!
Thank you Rhondda,
Thank you for the information, I will try a bigger hook and see if that makes it easier.
Linda
Pound of Love yarn is a Medium Weight yarn isn’t it? If you doubled up the yarn the blanket would be much thicker when you are done and you will likely need to increase your hook size as well – since 2 strands of Medium/Worsted Weight yarn make a bulky weight yarn. The pattern is written for a Medium Weight yarn. Is it that your chains feel tight? and you can’t get the hook into the loops of the chain? If that is the problem I’d recommend going up to a 6 mm hook just for the chains and then switch to the 5.5 mm hook for the rest of the pattern. That should give you a bit of wiggle room for your hook and make that first chain row a bit less tight to work into. I hope this helps, Rhondda
Hi Rhondda,
I am starting this shell blanket using pound of love yarn and am having a hard time it seems so thin that I cannot go into the chain for the first row. I was wondering if I did 2 strands of yarn for the blanket if that might work better?
Thank you
Linda
Hi Angelan, I apologize. I’m not sure what you mean by my ‘ending stitch’? are you asking what my number of stitches are at the ending of the row? or something else? The pattern is written for a blanket that measures 33 inches wide X 36 inches long
and my final count for the repeat round of the pattern is [78 dc and 16 sc].This means 78 double crochet and 16 single crochet stitches. Above the pattern there is a chart that gives you other starting chain sizes to make larger blankets. Let me know if I answered the question or if it was something else you were asking. Best wishes, Rhondda
Hello! I have been crocheting for a long time 30+ years, but I am confused. What is your ending stitch? A shell or a single crochet? It just seems like if you start the first row with 3 Double crochets, that you would end that first row with 3 double crochets, so that the start and finish of first row would be uniform. Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thank you.
I’m so happy you like the pattern Sue 🙂 Thank you for visiting and leaving me a comment 🙂 Have a lovely week, Rhondda
Excellent as a pattern to change sizes. The shell is an elegant look in a simple stitching pattern. Thank you for this posting, it’s a wonderful find for me!!
Thank you for including the information for other sizes! This is super-helpful, and something I have often struggled with when trying to adjust other patterns for size. I can’t wait to try this one.
You are very welcome 🙂
I love the simple elegance of the shell stitch. It looks amazing in either solid or patterned. Thank you so much for the pattern and for providing the different afghan sizes.
I’m happy you like the design 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment 🙂 Have a lovely week, Rhondda
I am SO excited to find a pattern with size variations! I’m constantly making blankets for other people that never seem the right size because I have to guess to increase. This is the BEST!
And I love shells. So pretty, so easy, and people think it’s so difficult
Hi Barbara 🙂 The pattern is right in the post! Go to the size chart and choose your size then chain the number of stitches required for the throw size. Here is the information:
Size Width Length chain rows yards
Throw 52 60 157 106 2196
So you chain 157 and begin the pattern.
When you have 106 rows, proceed to the edging.
Have fun,
Rhondda
HI;
I would love to crochet the Solid Shell Stitch Blanket Pattern In 12 Sizes
Where do I find the pattern for a throw??
Thank U, Barbara
Looking forward to trying this pattern. Love everything “shell”. Thanks for the very understandable pattern:)