The Crochet Call The Midwife Baby Blanket wasn't a baby blanket and was never called the Call The Midwife Blanket. It was simply called the Block Shawl in an original publication in the 1980s by Patons using the Beehive brand of yarn. As many of you already know, Patons North America falls into the Yarnspirations family of brands.
It was initially a 4 mm / G hook using the pattern I have attached to the free downloadable pattern here. So the blocks you see in the pattern would be much tighter than the sample I have recreated. Beehive was a lightweight yarn. Today, yarns are thicker and more pleasing to crocheters.
Patons aka Yarnspirations don't have this pattern out in any of their social media but it still belongs to them. Our sponsorship covers the pattern they make. We have a free easy PDF download for you to have access to.
Optional Free Crochet Diagram
Click picture to print or download.
Tutorial
Crochet Call the Midwife Blanket
Easy, Designed by Yarnspirations.
Materials
Red Heart Roll With It Tweed, 5.29 oz/150 g, 311 yds/285 m
- A - 2 Balls, Stormy Blues
Hook: 5.5 mm / I
Abbreviations
- Approx = Approximate(ly)
- Beg = Begin(ning)
- Ch = Chain(s)
- Dc = Double Crochet
- Rep = Repeat
- Sk = Skip
- Sl St = Slip Stitch
Instructions
This type of pattern looks great with solid coloured yarn versus being variegated.
This pattern is easily adaptable to using other yarns and crochet hooks to compliment the blanket.
To increase the size of this pattern. Multiple is 16 + 6. This pattern has 7 repeating boxes across.
Ch 118 or in Multiples of 16 + 6.
Row 1: 1 dc in 6th ch from hook. *Ch 1, sk 1 st, 1 dc in next st. Rep * across. Turn.
Stitches can include ch 1 spaces and dc.
Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc + ch 1 here and throughout), sk next ch sp, 1 dc in next 15 sts include ch-1 sps. *Ch 1; sk next ch-1 sp. 1 dc in next 15 sts include ch-1 sps, Rep * 6 more times. Ch 1, sk next ch sp, 1 dc in 3rd ch of turning ch in row below. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 4, sk next ch sp, 1 dc in next 6 dc, ch 3, sk next 3 dc, 1 dc in next 6 dc. *Ch 1, sk next ch sp. 1 dc in next 6 dc, ch 3, sk next 3 dc, 1 dc in next 6 dc. Rep * across. Ch 1, skip next ch sp, 1 dc in 3rd th ch of turning ch. Turn.
Row 4: Ch 4. Sk next ch sp, 1 dc in next 4 dc, skip next 2 dc, ch 3, sl st into ch-3 sp. Ch 3, sk next 2 dc sts, 1 dc in next 4 dc. *Ch 1, sk next ch sp. 1 dc in next 4 dc. Ch 3, skip next 2 dc, ch 3, sl st into ch-3 sp. Ch 3, sk next 2 dc sts, 1 dc in next 4 dc. Rep *across. Ch 1, skip next ch sp, 1 dc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn.
Row 5: Ch 4. Sk next ch sp, 1 dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next ch-3 sp. Ch 3. 2 dc in next ch-3 sp, 1 dc in next 4 dc. *Ch 1, sk next ch sp. 1 dc in next 4 dc, 2 dc in next ch-3 sp. Ch 3. 2 dc in next ch-3 sp. 1 dc in next 4 dc. Rep * across. Ch 1, skip next ch sp, 1 dc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn.
Row 6: Ch 4. Sk next ch sp, 1 dc in next 6 dc, 3 dc in ch-3 sp, 1 dc in next 6 dc. *Ch 1, sk 1 st. 1 dc in next 6 sts, 3 dc in ch-3 sp, 1 dc in next 6 sts. Rep * across. Ch 1, skip next ch sp, 1 dc in 3rd ch of turning ch. Turn.
Row 7: Ch 4. Skip next ch sp. 1 dc in next. *Ch 1, sk next dc, 1 dc in next dc. Rep * across. Turn.
Next Rows: Rep rows 2 to 7 - 7 more times.
Optional Border
Rnd 1: Join to a corner to do the top side first. Ch 1, 3 sc in same st as join. Working across, 1 sc in each st and ch-1 sp to next corner. 3 sc in corner. Working down side, 2 sc in each post space to next corner. 3 sc in corner. Across bottom, 1 sc in each st and ch-1 sp to next corner. 3 sc in corner. Working up side, 2 sc in each post space to beg corner. Join with sl st. Fasten off and weave in ends.
You can increase the border with single crochet, ensure to keep 3 sc in the corner stitches to keep the blanket growing evenly.
The border is simple which will allow you to add more rounds if you prefer to do a bit more. I used Red Heart Roll With It Tweeds.
So, Where Did the Name Come From?
Set designers for the show Call the Midwife used this pattern in their TV Show. People wondered what the pattern was and in time, it morphed from a shawl to a baby blanket and the public began to call it the Call The Midwife Blanket.
Patricia Hodge says
Please advise. Row 2 says *chain 1, sk next dc.
The video has sk next ch sp
The video seems correct.
Mikey says
Great catch. I have corrected pattern. THanks so much.
heather says
grid
Mikey says
THanks