# Baby Blue Heirloom Layette Free Crochet Pattern
A layette is one of the most precious gifts you can make — a whole matching set for a brand-new baby. This one includes a little cardigan, a bonnet, booties, and a receiving blanket, all in the softest baby blue with white picot edging. It’s worked in gentle shell stitches that look intricate but are really just double crochets and chains.
I’ve made this set three times now — twice for friends and once “just because” — and every time, the mom cried. Fair warning! The blanket is the biggest piece, but it’s repetitive and relaxing, and the little pieces work up in an evening each.
What You’ll Need
- DK weight baby yarn in baby blue: approx. 900 yards total (blanket ~500, cardigan ~250, bonnet ~75, booties ~75); small amount of white for edging
- 4.0 mm (G/6) hook
- 3 small white buttons (approx. 12 mm), yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers
Finished size:
- 0-3 months. Blanket approx. 30 x 36 in
- Cardigan chest approx. 17 in
- Bonnet fits approx. 13-14 in head
- Booties approx. 3.5 in long
The Pattern
Shell stitch pattern: In the same st or space, work (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc). It fans out into a gentle shell — pretty from both sides.
Receiving Blanket
Foundation: Ch 122.
Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook (counts as dc), dc in next ch, *skip 2 ch, shell in next ch, skip 2 ch, 3 dc in next ch* across to last 6 ch; end with skip 2, shell in next ch, skip 2, 2 dc in last ch. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 3 (dc), dc in next st, *skip 2 sts, shell in ch-1 sp of next shell, skip 2 sts, 3 dc in middle dc of next 3-dc group* across; end with 2 dc in top of ch-3. Turn.
Rows 3-60: Repeat Row 2. The blanket should measure about 30 in wide x 36 in long.
Edging: With white, join anywhere.
Round 1: Sc evenly around, 3 sc in each corner.
Round 2: *Sc in next st, ch 3, sl st in first ch (picot), sc in next 2 sts* around. Fasten off.
Cardigan
Worked top-down in one piece — no seaming!
Yoke: With baby blue, ch 54.
Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook and each ch across. (52 dc) Mark the raglan points: st 1, st 12 (front), st 24 (back), st 36 (back), st 42 (sleeve)… simpler: place markers after sts 8, 20, 32, 44. Increase at each marker (2 dc in marked st) every row until you have 76 sts total across 6 rows.
Row 7: Separate — work 12 front sts, skip 18 sleeve sts, work 28 back sts, skip 18 sleeve sts, work 12 front sts. Join in the round. (52 sts)
Body:
Rounds 8-24: Work in shell pattern — ch 3, *skip 2 sts, shell in next st, skip 2 sts, dc in next 3 sts* around. Increase 4 sts evenly on rounds 12, 16, and 20 (64 sts). Finish with 2 rounds of sc. (64)
Sleeves: Pick up the 18 held sts at each underarm. Work 8 rounds of shell pattern, decreasing to 14 sts on the last round. End with a white picot round like the blanket edging.
Button band: Sc 3 rows up the right front edge; on the middle row, work (sc 2, ch 2, skip 2) three times for buttonholes. Sew the 3 white buttons to the left front to match.
Bonnet
Ch 56.
Rows 1-14: Work in shell pattern rows (like the blanket). The piece should be about 6 in tall x 8 in wide. Fold in half and seam the back. With white, work a picot edge around the face opening. Tie two 12-inch white yarn cords (twisted) to each side for ties.
Booties (make 2)
Sole: Ch 10.
Round 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 7 ch, 3 sc in last ch; working along the underside, sc in next 7 ch, 2 sc in last ch. (20 sc)
Rounds 2-3: Sc around. (20)
Foot:
Round 4: Sc in next 6, *sc2tog* 4 times, sc in next 6. (16)
Round 5: Sc in next 6, sc2tog twice, sc in next 6. (14)
Rounds 6-8: Work shell pattern in the round (14 sts → shells adjust: work 2 shells and fill with dc). Finish with white picot round. Weave a thin white ribbon through Round 7 as a tie.
Finishing
Weave in all ends, wash gently in baby-safe detergent, and lay flat to dry. The shells bloom beautifully after the first wash.
Sophie’s Tips
- Make the blanket first — it’s the mindless part, and finishing it gives you momentum for the little pieces.
- Baby yarn with a little nylon holds up to washing far better than pure cotton for layette pieces.
- Embroider the baby’s initials in white on one blanket corner before the edging goes on. It turns a lovely gift into an heirloom.
Wrap it up with a little note, and get ready for happy tears!
