Short answer: it depends on your yarn, your hook and how tightly you crochet. A chunky yarn might need 70 stitches for a baby blanket, and a DK yarn might need 150. So instead of guessing, let’s do the math once and get it right.
The 30-second formula
- Make a swatch about 5 × 5 inches in the stitch you’ll use for the blanket. Wash and dry it the way you’ll wash the blanket.
- Count your stitches across 4 inches. That’s your gauge. Say it’s 14 stitches.
- Stitches per inch = 14 ÷ 4 = 3.5.
- Multiply by the width you want. 3.5 × 36 inches = 126 stitches.
- Add your turning chain. For single crochet, chain 127 and start in the 2nd chain from the hook. For double crochet, chain 128 and start in the 4th chain (the skipped chains count as your first stitch).
That’s it. If you’d rather skip the arithmetic, the blanket size calculator does all five steps for 12 standard sizes, and it tells you how many rows and how much yarn too.
Free calculatorBlanket size & starting chainWork out my starting chain →Chart: stitches and chains by gauge
Find your gauge (stitches per 4 inches) on the left. Each cell shows the stitch count and the foundation chain for single crochet and double crochet.
| Your gauge (per 4 in) | 30 in stroller | 36 in baby | 40 in receiving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 sts | 75 sts · ch 76 (sc) / ch 77 (dc) | 90 sts · ch 91 (sc) / ch 92 (dc) | 100 sts · ch 101 (sc) / ch 102 (dc) |
| 12 sts | 90 sts · ch 91 (sc) / ch 92 (dc) | 108 sts · ch 109 (sc) / ch 110 (dc) | 120 sts · ch 121 (sc) / ch 122 (dc) |
| 14 sts | 105 sts · ch 106 (sc) / ch 107 (dc) | 126 sts · ch 127 (sc) / ch 128 (dc) | 140 sts · ch 141 (sc) / ch 142 (dc) |
| 16 sts | 120 sts · ch 121 (sc) / ch 122 (dc) | 144 sts · ch 145 (sc) / ch 146 (dc) | 160 sts · ch 161 (sc) / ch 162 (dc) |
Common baby blanket sizes are a 30 × 35 inch stroller blanket, a 36 × 36 inch baby blanket, and a 40 × 40 inch receiving blanket. A crib blanket is bigger, around 45 × 60 inches.
When your stitch pattern has a repeat
Lots of stitch patterns say something like “multiple of 4 + 2”. That means your stitch count has to be 4 × some number, plus 2. If the formula gives you 125, the nearest numbers that fit are 122 (4 × 30 + 2) and 126 (4 × 31 + 2). Pick whichever gets you closer to the width you want.
The calculator has a “Stitch pattern repeat” box that does this rounding for you and shows the width you’ll actually get.
Why is my blanket narrower than the math?
- Tight foundation chain. Chains are often tighter than the stitches above them. Use a hook one size up just for the chain, or try a foundation single crochet.
- Unwashed swatch. Lots of yarns relax after washing. Measure after, not before.
- Tension drift. Most of us crochet looser when relaxed. Measure again after a few inches and adjust if needed.
Questions
How many chains for a baby blanket with worsted yarn?
With worsted (medium, #4) yarn in single crochet, gauge is often around 11 to 14 stitches per 4 inches. At 14 stitches per 4 inches, a 36 inch blanket is 126 stitches, so chain 127. Check your own swatch, because hook size and tension change it.
How many chains for a chunky baby blanket?
With bulky yarn at about 10 stitches per 4 inches, a 30 inch stroller blanket needs 75 stitches. That’s a chain of 76 for single crochet or 77 for double crochet.
Does the turning chain count as a stitch?
It depends on the pattern. For single crochet it usually doesn’t. For double crochet many patterns count the first 3 chains as a stitch. Follow your pattern, and if it doesn’t say, the calculator writes out both the chain count and where to start.