Crochet Pattern: Shell Stitch Blanket
By Rachel – 39 Comments| The shell stitch blanket is simple yet elegant. It is crocheted with rows and rows of shell stitches. Each shell stitch is staggered so that it creates a beautiful pattern. This is intended to be a generic blanket pattern, so that you can create any blanket size that you desire. Simply follow the initial instructions to determine the proper number of foundation chains needed for your desired blanket size. |  |
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Finished Size: Whatever you want it to be!
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Materials: Medium Weight Yarn Crochet hook |
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Need help understanding the abbreviations? Check out the crochet abbreviation chart.
Crochet Pattern: Blanket
Row 1: make a chain as wide as you want your blanket.
(Note: the number of chains should be a multiple of 6, since each shell uses 6 chains.)
Row 2: ch 2, sc in second ch from hook, (skip 2, 5 dc in next ch, skip 2, sc in next ch) across, changing color in last sc made
Row 3: ch 2, turn, 2 dc in next sc, skip 2, sc in next dc (skip 2, 5 dc in next sc, skip 2, sc in next dc) across, skip 2, 3 dc in last sc, changing color in last dc made
Row 4: ch 1, turn, sc in next dc, (skip 2, 5 dc in next sc, skip 2, sc in next dc) across, changing color in last sc made
Repeat row 3 and 4 until blanket is the length you desire.
To create border, double crochet around your finished blanket. You can change colors as desired. For the finishing shell border just follow the shell pattern, (skip 2, 5 dc in next ch, skip 2, sc in next ch) around.
Crochet Tips:
- For beginners, it is really easy to miss count your stitches. Even I miss count all the time. So just be careful!
- Each shell (set of 5 double crochets) you make should be positioned between two shells on the previous row.
- Each single crochet after the shell (set of 5 double crochets) should be positioned on top of a shell on the previous row.
Need Help? No worries just leave a comment!
THANK YOU Rachel!!!!!!!!!!!! AFter the project that I am working on now, this is going to be my next one!! Thank you again!! I enjoy your patterns and they are very easy!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep it up!!!!
You’re welcome Harold!!! I hope your blanket turns out great!
how many ounces of yarn are needed to make a blanket the size of the one pictured above
Hi Christine!
14oz of each color would be a good start. But as a rule of thumb always get more yarn then you need
I’m making this for my son. It’s a great pattern and is going very quickly.
Awesome Juli! I’m glad that it’s going fast
I hope your son loves it.
[...] hook case is made with a series of shell stitches. It uses the same shell stitch pattern as the shell stitch blanket pattern. To make this case, we start by creating a simple rectangle shape that is as wide and tall as you [...]
I’m going to try this blanket next. But what size crochet hook do I use? Beautiful work you do. Thanks,
Hi Arlene!
I would suggest a size I hook (5.5 mm). But it also depends on how tight or loose you want your blanket to be.
I hope that helps
multiples of six…does this mean I can start with a chain of 162 and this would be ok to start my chain?? I know I am new to this craft hehe
Hey Lois!
Yup, you can start with 162 for row 1.
I hope that helps
I want to try this out but am a very beginner at this, how many chains did you use and what color yarn is the blanket
hey Judy!
the beginning chain is as long as you want it to be as long as it is a multiple of 6. So it’s any number multiplied by 6. For example, 30* 6 = 180 so 180 can be the length of the chain if you want it than long. It’s all up to you
I don’t know the exact name of the colors used but the ones in the pic are white, blueish green, burgundy and a peachy color.
Hi Rachel,
Love your afghan! I want to use your pattern for my future “great’ grandbaby but not sure of the size and amount of yarn needed. How big is your afghan pictured? I’d probably want a nice size blanket, guessing maybe 40″ wide x 60″ long or do you think that’s too big? If I make it the size stated, how much yarn would I need? Thanks so much for your help!!
Hi Toni,
The blanket in the picture is pretty small, if I remember correctly it was approximately a 20″ square (good for a small preemie).
You can make the blanket as big or small as you want!!! The size you are thinking about is a very good size for a child. The amount of yarn you use will be based on how you crochet. I would suggest creating a small gauge using the pattern to determine how much yarn you need.
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for posting this great pattern! I’d like to make this blanket for a double bed. Any idea how much yarn I would need? (I’ve never made an afghan of that size before).
Thanks.
Hi Rosa, I never made a blanket that large either! I’m going to guess you’ll need about 4000 yards.
Hello
Thanks for posting your blanket/work/and instructions! Its always great to share! 
Saw your blanket…oh my…its GORGEOUS!! I am definitely going to try to make this! Wish me luck!! I’m a newbie, so I can only hope it’ll look as good as yours.
Oh, I have a question if you have time to answer. I was originally trying to make a dishcloth, and it has both cluster and shell. Are they both the same?? Thx in advance!
Hi Kathy, a cluster is sort of like an upside down shell. A shell is where you crochet multiple stitches in one stitch. A cluster is multiple stitches crocheted across a series of stitches but are all joined together at the top, hence an upside down shell.
Thank you very much Rachel for replying! I appreciate that! I was so surprised, you are the first to actually reply! lol Thanks again!
[...] a blanket pattern? No worries, here is one of mine that you can use: Crochet Pattern: Shell Stitch Blanket. This is a beginner level pattern so anyone can make a blanket to [...]
Hi,
On the first row , what should your last sitch be? Should it be a shell or a single crochett?
Hi Jami, the first row in this pattern is just the chain. Row 2, is where the shells start.
Ok so does it matter what sitch you end each row with? What would be a good number of chains for a baby blanket.
Each row ends with a different stitch. Take a look at the pattern, you will see that the last stitch is stated at the end of each row’s instructions.
For a baby blanket, I can’t tell you how many stitches to makes, because this pattern does not use a guage and it varies for each person since different people crocheted tight/looser than others. Use the instructions in the pattern to make it the size you want it to be. A good baby blanket size is around 35 1/2” (90 cm) wide, 42” (106.5 cm) long (the same size used in the Crochet Pattern: Lovable Heart Blanket)
On row 2 of this pattern you tell us to chain 2 and turn. but how are you going to turn on a chain stitch?
Hi Brenda, thanks for pointing that out! It shouldn’t say turn. All fixed now!
When doing the border how many stitch do you do in each corner?
Hi Jami, do 3 stitches in each corner.
Can you use just one color instead of multiple colors?
Sure Bonny, just don’t change colors in the pattern.
Thank you for posting this pattern. I made a shell stitch blanket years ago and couldn’t remember how to do it. Your instructions are very clear and helpful.
Thank you for the pattern, Rachel! Not an expert at crocheting but wanted something quick and easy to make my mom in a nursing home. Am making it to cover her legs when she is in her wheelchair. Thanks again for the awesome instructions!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Love it! Just a quick question. On row 2 what do you end with, SC or DC that is part of the shell? before chaining 2 for row 3.
Thanks.
Lisa, you end with a sc.
I am a beginner and seem to be having a problem. I made 162 Chains and by adding the extra 2 CH to start row 2 off with. This leaves me with 2 extra chains when I complete the last SC at the end of row 2.
Lisa, each shell uses 6 chains since the repeat is: (skip 2, 5 dc in next ch, skip 2, sc in next ch)
skip 2 = 2 chains
5 dc in next ch = 1 chain
skip 2 = 2 chains
sc in next ch = 1 chain
2+1+2+1 = 6 chains total for each shell repeated.
So the 162 chains is great! 162/6 = 27 shells on the row.
The additional ch 2 at the beginning is needed since the row begins and ends with a single crochet. 162+2=164 total chains. The ch 2 is used at the beginning of the row where it says “sc in second ch from hook”. By crocheting in the second ch from hook, you are skipping one stitch then single crocheting in the next, using up the 2 extra chains you crocheted. After your first single crochet you are left with 162 chains to work your 27 shells.
If you have extra stitches leftover, you either miss counted while you were crocheting the chain or miss counted while crocheting the shells. Be very careful, because it can be very tricky when working with such a long chain. You can try placing stitch markers along your chain every 6, 12, or 24 chains so you can see where the shells are suppose to end. Learn more about markers here: All About Stitch Markers in Crochet