Sea Turtle Blanket {crochet}

A crochet sea turtle blanket is a great inspiration project to work on during the summer, crocheting up the beach, the waves, the ocean, and the sea turtles. It’s like you can just feel the sun on your face and the ocean breeze in your hair, yet you’re sitting in your comfy chair, with or without a margarita.

I was inspired by similar blankets I saw on Pinterest and decided to make up one of them.

For this blanket, I used a crocheted ripple pattern. If you have a ripple pattern you like or have used, go ahead and use it. There are all types of ripple patterns too — the traditional ones, a granny square stitch one, a softer peaked ripple — take a peek on Pinterest for some ripple pattern designs.  And you wouldn’t have to use a ripple pattern, but I think the ripple just gives this blanket a bit more character and gives the look of ocean waves.

Crochet Blanket Supplies

When I made this blanket I used some older skeins of yarn but didn’t keep track of the amount. I would plan for a small skein of yarn, say 245 yards.

• 4 weight yarn – tan, 3 shades of blue, white
• 6 weight fluffy, baby yarn, white – I used Red Heart Baby Clouds in color Cloud
• Scrap balls of variegated yarn for the turtles – I used Premier Yarn Designs in color Northern Lights

Crochet Blanket Pattern

Stitches used:

• chain
• double crochet
• double crochet Increase – crochet 2 double crochets into the same stitch
• double crochet Decrease – start your double crochet by yarning over the hook, insert the hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook. There will be 2 loops remaining on the hook. Stop. Yarn over and insert the hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook. Yarn over pull through remaining 2 loops.

Hook size: J

Chain 114.

Row 1: 2DC in 3rd chain from hook. 5DC in each of the next five stitches, *2DC DEC in each of the next 2 stitches, 4DC in each of the next 4 stitches, 2DC INC in each of the next 2 stitches, 4DC in each of the next 4 stitches. Repeat from * across row.

Row 2: Turn, CH2, 5DC in each of the next five stitches, *2DC DEC in each of the next 2 stitches, 4DC in each of the next 4 stitches, 2DC INC in each of the next 2 stitches, 4DC in each of the next 4 stitches. Repeat from * across row.

Row 3+: Repeat Row 2 until you reach the desired length.

• Darkest blue – 15 rows
• Medium blue – 21 rows
• Light blue – 26 rows
• White – 2 rows
• Fluffy White – 1 row
• Tan – 15 rows

Making the beach and the ocean

Oddly, I started with the darkest blue and worked up through the ocean and into the beach. But you could start at the beach and work into the ocean. I’m not really sure why I did it that way, but we’re going with it.

Using your ripple pattern and darkest blue yarn, work 15 rows.  You can really do any number of rows, I would just try to stay away from doing a 50/50 beach and ocean. As with anything in nature, you want it to look more natural and not so perfectly planned.

After getting to the desired number of rows, switch colors to medium blue, then to light blue, white, fluffy white, and finally tan.

The fun thing about the blue is you could use all the same color of blue, OR you could do more of an ombre style where you start with a lighter blue and move through darker shades.  You could do this with 2 shades of blue, or as many as you like.  And if you have visions of teal-er waters, feel free to incorporate a teal shade or two — think the Emerald Isle in Fort Walton Florida.

Once you get to the fluffy white, I think this yarn just makes the blanket. I love it. It mimics the ocean waves crashing into the shoreline.

Making the sea turtles

After I had made the beach and ocean portion of the blanket I couldn’t figure out how I wanted to do the sea turtles. I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted, so I decided to whip up my own pattern.  I’m not a fan of tucking so I didn’t want to make multiple body pieces that needed sewn on and ends tucked. I definitely wanted the turtles to be colorful, but not cartoon-y.

Stitches used:

• Chain
• Single Crochet
• Half Double Crochet
• Double Crochet
• Treble Crochet
• Slip Stitch

Sea turtle pattern I created:

Leaving a long tail at least 9″, CH 4. Slip stitch to 1st chain to create circle.

Round 1 (shell): CH2, 10DC in center hole, slip stitch to beginning chain.

Round 2 (shell): CH2, 1DC in beginning stitch, 2DC in each stitch around, slip stitch to beginning ch

Front leg 1: CH6, SC in 2nd chain from hook, SC in next chain, 1HDC in next chain, DC in next 2 chains, TRC in base stitch of shell. Slip stitch in same stitch as treble or next stitch. Slip stitch in back loop only of next stitch of shell.

Head Row 1: CH2, DC in next stitch of shell, SC, DC, turn.

Head Row 2: CH1, SC, DC, SC, turn.

Head Row 3: CH1, SKIP first and second stitches, slip stitch into 3rd stitch. Work two slip stitches down the side of the head. Slip stitch into the next 3 stitches of the shell.

TURN!!!!!!! This is important as it will determine the angle of the sea turtle’s leg.

Front leg 2: Repeat Front leg 1

Slip stitch in next 2 stitches

TURN!!!!!!! This is important as it will determine the angle of the sea turtle’s leg.

Back leg 1: CH5, SC in 2nd chain from hook, SC in next chain, HDC, DC in each of next chains. DC in next stitch of shell. Slip stitch in next stitch

Slip stitch in next 4 stitches of shell

Tail: CH3, SC in each of the 3 chains. Slip stitch in each of next 4 stitches of shell.

Back leg 2: Do NOT turn, again this will determine the angle of the leg. Repeat Back leg 1.

Tie off with a long 9″ tail.

You can make as many turtles as you like. I made 5.

Attaching the sea turtles

The placement and orientation of the turtles are completely at your discretion. You can put all of them in the water, on the beach, in the waves, or a combination of all three. You can look at my placement and use that if you like.

Using the long tails of yarn on the finished turtles, thread one of the yarn tails with a yarn needle.  Use the turtle’s outline as your guide and stitch around the perimeter of the turtle, attaching it to the blanket as you go — up from the bottom of the blanket, through the turtle, stitch over a small piece of the turtle, and then back down through the turtle, and through the blanket. Repeat.

Once you make it around the perimeter of the turtle, I turned to the wrong side and tied a knot with the beginning yarn tail and the ending yarn tail and tried to position the knot somewhere under the turtle’s shell. If you run out of yarn on the first tail before making it all the way around the turtle. Simply pick up the second tail and work in the direction of the first tail.

Once all of the turtles are attached, you are finished. The hardest decision now is just who do you give it to?

Closing thoughts on our crochet sea turtle blanket

This crochet sea turtle blanket is a good gift idea for an ocean-themed baby shower, a young child who is intrigued by the ocean and its inhabitants, or even as a service project to donate.  I’m thinking about donating one to a nursing home.  How fun would that be to have it used as a lap blanket?!

Inspired by the sea turtle crochet blanket? Here are a few other articles to check out:

• 12 month sampler
• Teal blanket
• Crochet edged fleece

“Try to be like the turtle – at ease in your own shell.” – Bill Copeland

Who are you going to make this blanket for? Drop me a note in the comments!

Sea Turtle Blanket (crochet)