A Little Texture Baby Cocoon – Crochet Some to Donate!

A Little Texture Baby Cocoon is a great pattern to make to donate! Like the Little Dots Cocoon, this one has been waiting patiently for its turn to be released as part of my annual Preemie Crochet Challenge in 2022.

You can see why it is called A Little Texture ….

The change in textures and stitches as I made this one was fun but it still worked up quickly.

Yarn Suggestions:

This baby cocoon pattern calls for #4 weight (aran) yarn. But looking through my stash I didn’t have enough #4 weight yarn in the colours I was wanting.

This pattern uses approximately 200 yards of yarn (that is being generous!). I have been on a stash busting kick this year. So I am trying to use what I have in the main. I recently researched yarn weights and how to double up your yarn to increase the weight. So this is what I did here!! I doubled up some Stylecraft Special DK yarn, which I had 2 skeins of, and it came out perfectly!

If you would like to know more you can find my article on double stranding here. It is a fun technique to try, especially when using 2 different colours of yarn.

 

 

If you are going to be donating this baby cocoon you do need to be careful about what yarns you use.

Knots of Love, a charity that accepts donations for preemie babies, has a list of yarns that they will accept. This is a US list. If you are outside of the US you could always contact your local NICU to ask directly.

PDF Pattern Links

If you would like the ad free pdf version of this pattern you can find it in the shops below:

Pattern Specifics:

Materials needed:

• About 200 yards of #4 worsted weight yarn
• 5mm hook
• Stitch markers(optional)
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle

Gauge:

15 dc and 9 rows = 4×4” square

Sizing:

Preemie: roughly 9.5” long

 

 

Abbreviations:

• Ch(s)–chain(s)
• St(s)–stitch(es)
• rep–repeat
• MR—Magic Ring
• Ss—slip stitch
• Dc2tog—double crochet two together
• SDCP—staggered DC Pairs
• HHDC—herringbone half-double crochet

Pattern Notes:

• Written in US terms
• Ch3 count as DC stitches.
• Ch2 does not count as a stitch

Special stitches used in the baby cocoon:

Crab stitch

Working from left to right (instead of towards the left like usual), complete a single crochet in the next stitch to the RIGHT. This will create a slightly twisted stitch that makes a great border.

 

Camel Stitch (or third loop HDC)

This stitch is worked in the 3rd loop of a half-double crochet, which is either in front of or behind the HDC being worked. This pushes the “v” or top of the stitch outward, creating a knit-looking stitch.

1. YO, insert hook into the third loop of the indicated HDC, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull thru all 3 loops.

Herringbone half double crochet:

To work this stitch: YO, insert hook into next st, YO and pull through, pull through first loop on hook, YO and pull through 2 loops on hook.

Staggered Double Crochet Pairs

1. DC2tog over first two sts *ch1, dc2tog by inserting hook into next 2 sts; rep from * to last st, ch1, dc in last st. 
2. (Second row) Ch3, dc2tog over first and 2^nd ch sp, *ch1, dc2tog by inserting hook into same ch sp as last st, then in next ch sp; rep from * working 2^nd leg of last dc2tog under the turning chain of previous row, ch1, dc in 3^rd ch of same turning chain.
3. Repeat step 3 for all other rows.   

The Pattern for the baby cocoon:

Pattern

Rnd 1—       MR and chain 3 (counts as a dc)

7 dc in MR.  SS to join to top of ch3. (8)

Rnd 2—       Ch3, dc in same as join (counts as 2dc), 2dc in each st around, ss to top of ch 3 to join. (16)

Rnd 3—       Ch3, *2dc in next st, dc in next; rep from * to end—ending with 2dc in final st.  SS to top of ch3 to join. (24)

Rnd 4—       Ch3, dc in next, 2dc in next, *dc next 2 sts, 2dc in next; rep from * to end—ending with 2dc in final st.  SS to top of ch3 to join. (32)

 

 

Rnd 5—         Ch3, dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next, *dc next 3 sts, 2dc in next; rep from * to end—ending with 2dc in final st.  SS to top of ch3 to join. (40)

Rnd 6—       Ch3, dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next, *dc next 4 sts, 2dc in next; rep from * to end—ending with 2dc in final st.  SS to top of ch3 to join. (48)

Rnd 7—       Ch2, yo, insert hook into next st and pull up a loop, yo, pull thru two loops, yo, pull thru all loops on the hook; *ch1, sdcp around; rep from * to end.  SS to ch2 to join. Turn (48)

Rnd 8 –  CH2, Working into ch 1 sps only dc2tog over first and 2^nd ch sps, *ch1, dc2tog by inserting hook into same ch sp as last st, then in next ch sp; rep from * working 2^nd leg of last dc2tog under the turning chain of previous row, ch1. SS to join (see video in special stitches section if needed). Turn

Rnd 9 –           Rep round 8 but DO NOT turn at the end. (48)

Rnd 10—     Ch2, hdc in each st around.  SS to ch2 to join.  (48)

Rnd 11—     Ch2, camel st in each st around.  SS to ch2 to join. (48)

Rnds 12-13- Ch2, hhdc in each st around.  SS to ch2 to join. Turn (48)

Rnd 14 –        Rep round 12 but do not turn at the end of the round. (48)

Rnd 15–      Ch2, hdc in each st around.  SS to ch2 to join. (48)

Rnd 16–      Ch2, camel st in each st around.  SS to ch2 to join. (48)

Rnds 17-19– Repeat rows 7-9.  (48)

 

 

Rnd 20–      Ch2, hdc in each st around.  SS to ch2 to join. (48)

Rnd 21–      Ch2, camel st in each st around.  SS to ch2 to join. (48)

Note: at this point for a preemie you may want to move to round 27 here. If you would like the cocoon a little longer continue to round 22.

Rnds 22-23–         Ch2, hhdc in each st around.  SS to ch2 to join. Turn. (48)

Rnd 24 –        Rep round 23 but do not turn at the end. (48)

Rnd 25–      Ch2, hdc in each st around.  SS to ch2 to join. (48)

Rnd 26–      Ch2, camel st in each st around.  SS to ch2 to join. (48)     

Rnd 27–      Ch1, crab st in first and in each st around (please read the instructions for crab stitch). 

 

 FO and weave in ends.

 

 

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PREEMIE CROCHET CHALLENGE 2022

From June 22nd – 30th 2022 this pattern will be part of my annual Preemie Crochet Challenge.

This year is going to be a little different as there are 2 ways to take part:

1. Collect the patterns as they are free pdf downloads with the coupon code.
2. Buy the bundle! ALL of the proceeds (minus the PayPal fees, which I dearly wish I could cover), will be going to 2 preemie charities – Projects Sweet Peas and Bliss. You can find out more about these charities in the round up post.

Prefer not to get the bundle?

That’s ok! If you do not have the coupon code for this pattern grab it by clicking the round-up button below then come back and click the button to get your Free PDF Pattern!