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
Linda Midtlyng says
I have almost completed the Midwife blanket. I did make it a bit wider, making 10 boxes across. I’m on row 19, wanting a longer blanket. Now I think it’s not wide enough. Is there a way I can make it wider by making 3 or 4 more boxes and 19 rows and being able to join the addition without it not being obvious.
Any ideas???? TYIA.
Wendy Maruna says
Did you see the stitch along we did a couple years ago - the Timeless Tunisian Blanket Stitch Sampler? You can find the article on our website and YouTube.
For that piece we made a larger middle piece and made thinner pieces to seam together. I think making two strips for your piece, each with two boxes for the Call The Midwife pattern then stitching them along the edges might be an interesting way to solve your width need. I think I would join the strips using the technique from the article “Celtic Dream Afghan” to add an interesting join to isn’t too bulky for the delicate pattern.
Jessica says
I noticed an error in the newest revised version in Row 4 in the repeat section (second sentence) It says to “Ch 3, skip next 2 dc, ch 3, sl st into ch-3 sp.”. I believe there is an extra ch3 in there when it should be once.
Mikey says
You are right. Great catch. Updating file now.
Mikey says
Pattern is revised with new crochet diagram included.
Linda Clinton says
Hi there is this US Terms in revision 2? I'm new to crochet and in the UK so wanted to check. Thankyou
Marina King says
Yes it is in US terms, normally I find if the pattern is written in UK terms they state it at the beginning of a pattern.
joy church says
Hi revision 2 still has the mistake on row 6
in row 6, I think you are missing 2dc in the ch 3 space. Your count with one dc is 13. There needs to be 3 dc in ch 3 space by the picture and to get the correct count.
Thanks for the pattern.
Marina King says
I haven't worked up the pattern myself, but you could be quite right.
Meg says
Yes, having made this blanket before ...it is for row 6
Ch 4 sk 1, dc next 6 sts. 3 dc in the ch 3 space, dc next 6 sts, ch1. Sk1 repeat.
Julie Anderson says
How do I get the correction to row 6
Mikey says
Morning Julie, it's been fixed already. I have updated the article to reflect that.
Denise says
Could you tell me what yarn this is? I have been looking for these colors!
Mikey says
Red Heart, Roll with It Tweed.
Alyssa Cicalese says
LINK IS WORKING FINE
Cat Vaiasicca says
Hi, I’m trying to make this but I wanted to make it a little wider so I added 16 to make 134 chains which is a multiple of 16 + 6 row one works up fine but row two does not .... what am I doing wrong? I have not tried it at the original size yet...
Ana says
Was the original shawl square or rectangular?
Mikey says
I believe it was a rectangle.
Ana says
Thank you for posting this beautiful blanket pattern. I would like to use this to make window curtains with size 10 thread. Any recommendations? Would it be as easy as making a starting chain in the multiple of 16 + 6 the length I need to cover 1/2 my window? I would appreciate your thoughts because I've never made crotchet curtains before, only cloth ones.
Thank you,
Ana
Mikey says
Correction was made in Row 6 thanks to a couple women who emailed me to let me know. It's now on Revision 2.
Susan Rogers says
I think there is a mistake in Row 6. There should be 3 dc in the chain 3 space in order to maintain the 15 count per square.
Mikey says
Fixed.
Susan Rogers says
Reading the pattern, in row 6, I think you are missing 2dc in the ch 3 space. Your count with one dc is 13. There needs to be 3 dc in ch 3 space by the picture and to get the correct count.
Thanks for the pattern.
Beverly says
Where are directions for the hood to the baby
Mikey says
I don't recall a hood. I didn't see it in the archives.
Amelia says
I keep seeing this blanket and it's always so pretty. It seems that you can't easily go wrong with the call the midwife blanket:)