Baby Blueprint Crochet

Would you be interested in owning a book of unique crochet baby patterns presented using symbol crochet charts and written instructions? If so,

Baby Blueprint Crochet: Irresistible Projects for Little Ones

is a crochet pattern book I think you’re going to LOVE. It includes a mix of patterns suitable for baby boys and baby girls: some sweaters, a couple of blankets and a fantastic variety of useful accessories (socks, bibs, booties, a diaper cover and others).

What You Need to Know About This Crochet Baby Pattern Book:

Baby Blueprint Crochet Book by Robyn Chachula, Published by Interweave

Baby Blueprint Crochet Book by Robyn Chachula, Published by Interweave



Book Title: Baby Blueprint Crochet: Irresistible Projects for Little Ones


Author: Robyn Chachula


Publisher: Interweave Press


ISBN 13: 978-1-59668-201-6


Book Format: Trade Paperback With Perfect Binding


Number of Pages: 152


Skill Level: Skill level ratings are not mentioned in this book.

The Focus of This Book:

There are two main themes in Baby Blueprint Crochet:


  • All the crochet patterns presented in the book are suitable for babies and children;



  • All Robyn’s pattern instructions incorporate symbol crochet charts as a tool to help you visualize and easily re-create the design.


One other thing I noticed: the majority of these patterns are vaguely retro, with colors, details and design themes that are evocative of the 1970s and 1980s. There are a few patterns in the book that don’t fit with that hipsterish type of look, but overall it’s a pretty cohesive theme throughout.

Crochet Patterns and Instructions You’ll Find in Baby Blueprint Crochet:

You’ll find a total of 19 different crochet projects included in this book. They’re all designed for babies and toddlers. The garment patterns are intended to fit babies and toddlers from approximately six months old through two years old. Some of the wearable accessories are intended to fit newborn babies and also older babies and toddlers. There are also several patterns for projects that don’t need to fit anybody, such as stuffed toys, blankets, a washcloth, etc.

Baby Blankets:

There are two patterns for baby blankets included in this book. These are creative and pretty different from a lot of other baby blanket styles you see around.

  • Kyla Mod Stroller Blanket: This is a patchwork-style blanket that incorporates granny square variations plus other textural crocheted squares. Apart from the small made-for-a-stroller sizing, there’s nothing overly “babyish” about this design; it’s sophisticated, stylish and classic all at once. The pattern includes instructions for ties which allow you to easily tie it onto a stroller as pictured in the book, but you could omit the ties and use the blanket as an ordinary baby blanket if you prefer that option.

    The colorway shown is “girly,” with deep pinks and rose tones, complemented by orange and an unexpected pale yellow-y green. The design could be re-colored for baby boys without any major problems. Personally, I’d recolor this even if making it for baby girls, but that’s me. Your opinion may vary.

  • Froggie Blanket: This boy-friendly baby afghan is made using Tunisian crochet. It features a frog-shaped applique; complete instructions are included for crocheting the frog, which is great because you can make as many frogs as you like, adding them to other things such as purchased sweatshirts or whatever else strikes your fancy.

    The sample blanket is crocheted in bright shades of blue and green with a vibrant orange border. The whole thing works for me except for the orange border; I think I’d like the border better in navy blue, or perhaps a deep olive or forest green. That aside, it’s a creative design that looks interesting to crochet, and a great pattern to have on hand if you like crocheting interesting baby shower gifts.

Accessories

It’s the adorable baby accessories that really sway me into thinking this book would be an exceptionally good investment for prolific crocheters. There are multiple creative accessory patterns that I could envision making bunches of times — maybe even multiple times for each new arrival.


  • Snuggly Socks: These are completely adorable. There are a couple different variations in how you could make this sock pattern. There’s a two-color version, which is made up and photographed in blue and green; it’s nice as-is, but could easily be re-colored if you’d prefer a different colorway. There’s also a solid green version.



  • Pea Pod Slider Slippers



  • Popsicle Boots: These just couldn’t possibly be any cuter. They’re a little like a crocheted Uggh boot. The version shown is styled for baby girls, but the design could easily be re-colored for baby boys too.



  • Greenie Diaper Cover: This would be a fantastic baby shower gift, which you could give with or without cloth diapers and / or a bottle of lanolin. It’s an endlessly useful pattern to have on hand.



  • Andie Cap: This cute little visor beanie looks like a fun crochet project.

Baby Sweaters and Baby Clothes:

  • Joni Jumper: There are a couple of ways the word “jumper” could be used; it’s a “jumper” as Americans would use the word, and not so much as the British would. This jumper is a cute sundress-style jumper designed for little girls. It features a lacy crocheted motif appliqued onto the front.



  • Callum Pullover: a boy-friendly unisex style pullover sweater featuring a dinosaur applique.



  • Stella Jacket: This little girls’ jacket features eye-catching contrasting and trim, which contrast with the body of the jacket. The style is very grown-up.



  • Hank Vest: A sporty zip-front vest styled for little boys



  • Leah Pullover: a tunic-style pullover sweater styled for little girls



  • Charlie Vest: A zip-front vest with an interesting textured stitch pattern, styled for little boys



  • Rosa Car Coat: This is a multicolored cardigan featuring granny squares; it’s styled for little girls, although in my opinion it looks pretty “grown-uppish.”



  • Hunter Pullover: This tiny pullover resembles a classic ski sweater; it features multicolored snowflakes, with retro-style coloring and details.

Miscellaneous Designs:

  • Upcycled Washcloth: This is one of my favorite patterns in the book; it’s an eye-catching design with broad appeal, and who couldn’t use a few more washcloths?



  • Burp Cloth Bib: This is a practical pattern that I think would be a great addition to any crocheter’s pattern stash; if you crochet your baby shower gifts for friends and colleagues, you’re likely get a lot of use out of this bib pattern. The instructions include two different variations for coloring the design, one solid and one multicolored. Both versions are nice.

Stuffed Animals and Amigurumi:

  • Stuffed Toy Robot: They named him “Robot Burt.”



  • Stuffed Toy Elephant: The official name of this design is “Ellie on Parade.”

The Best Things About This Book

These projects are super cute and appealing — and there’s a delightful, and practical, mix of projects included. From just this one book, you could make a truly significant percentage of a new baby’s layette.


Crocheting your own projects doesn’t necessarily save you money — but, in this case, it is possible that maybe you’d be able to get ahead, depending on your choices of projects and materials. For example, that diaper cover pattern has a whole lot of potential. When my daughter was a newborn, I spent $36.95 each on her most frequently used wool diaper covers. That amounted to a small fortune! It looks to me like you could save a bundle by making your own diaper covers if you’re careful with your yarn choices.


If you make your own baby shower gifts, you’ll never lack for baby shower gift ideas once you have a copy of this book in hand.


These patterns include text instructions, symbol charts, diagrams, and photos; so, whichever way you like to consume your crochet pattern instructions, you’re pretty well covered. I get many, many requests for symbol crochet patterns, and I’d recommend this book to anyone who shows interest in having that type of pattern.

The styling and photography enhance the projects. The projects are presented in a realistic way, making it easy for crocheters to assess each design. With the more complex patterns, they’ve given you several different photos from different angles, which will help you to visualize all the little details necessary for making each project a success.

Other Observations About This Book

Overall, this is a fantastic and worthwhile book; but for me, it has several minor drawbacks, none of which are deal breakers:

  • Some of the color selections just don’t work for me. My overall perception is that the fantastic design work in this book is often camouflaged by poor color choices. Your opinion may be different; it’s possible that you’ll love the colors exactly as they are presented in the book. If you don’t, it’s crucial to remember that any of these patterns could easily be re-colored. If the colorways you see in the book don’t work for you, please don’t hesitate to recolor any of these designs.



  • Some of the apparel designs look so grown-up and sophisticated that it’s hard for me to envision dressing a baby in them.



  • No skill level ratings are included.

Conclusion:

I recommend Baby Blueprint Crochet to other crocheters who are interested in owning retro, hipster-style baby patterns quite unlike the typical traditional pastel blue and pink designs you often see around. If you’re interested in crocheting an entire wardrobe for your newborn, this is not the best pattern book for that purpose, as newborn sizes are not available in most of the projects; but otherwise, if you’re interested in crocheting a big part of your little one’s wardrobe up through toddlerhood, this book is likely to be a truly worthwhile investment for you.

Where to Buy This Book:

Related Resources

Find another GORGEOUS crochet pattern design by Robyn Chachula in this Delicate Crochet Book by Sharon Hernes Silverman, Published by Stackpole Books

Find another GORGEOUS crochet pattern design by Robyn Chachula in this Delicate Crochet Book by Sharon Hernes Silverman, Published by Stackpole Books


This book is included on two of our best-of lists:

References and External Links:

I considered the following sources when writing this book review:


  • I visited Robyn Chachula’s blog and viewed her blog post about the Rosa car coat.



  • Obviously, I looked at the book I am reviewing: Baby Blueprint Crochet




  • I also looked at Interweave Crochet’s press release announcing the arrival of the book.

More Crochet Baby Pattern Books

Adorable Baby Crochet Book by Kristi Simpson, Published by Stackpole Books

Adorable Baby Crochet Book by Kristi Simpson, Published by Stackpole Books

Related Resources on Our Website:

About Your Book Reviewer: Amy Solovay is a freelance writer with a background in textile product development. She has been crocheting and crafting since childhood, and knitting since she was a teenager.

This page was last updated on 7-26-2023.