Crochet Pattern: Shell Stitch Blanket

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. crochet blanket
Skill Level: beginner crochet skill level

Finished Size: Whatever you want it to be!

Materials:
Medium Weight Yarn
Crochet hook
crochet yarn size 4

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, turn, 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!

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21 Comments

  1. Harold says:

    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!!!!

  2. Rachel says:

    You’re welcome Harold!!! I hope your blanket turns out great!

  3. Christine says:

    how many ounces of yarn are needed to make a blanket the size of the one pictured above

  4. Rachel says:

    Hi Christine!

    14oz of each color would be a good start. But as a rule of thumb always get more yarn then you need :)

  5. Juli says:

    I’m making this for my son. It’s a great pattern and is going very quickly.

  6. Rachel says:

    Awesome Juli! I’m glad that it’s going fast :) I hope your son loves it.

  7. [...] 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 [...]

  8. Arlene says:

    I’m going to try this blanket next. But what size crochet hook do I use? Beautiful work you do. Thanks,

  9. Rachel says:

    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 :)

  10. Lois says:

    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

  11. Rachel says:

    Hey Lois!
    Yup, you can start with 162 for row 1.
    I hope that helps :)

  12. Judy says:

    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

  13. Rachel says:

    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.

  14. Toni says:

    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!!

  15. Rachel says:

    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.

  16. Rosa says:

    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.

  17. Rachel says:

    Hi Rosa, I never made a blanket that large either! I’m going to guess you’ll need about 4000 yards.

  18. Kathy says:

    Hello
    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. :) Thanks for posting your blanket/work/and instructions! Its always great to share! :)

  19. Kathy says:

    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! :)

  20. Rachel says:

    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.

  21. Kathy says:

    Thank you very much Rachel for replying! I appreciate that! I was so surprised, you are the first to actually reply! lol Thanks again! :)

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