Crochet Baby Cocoon – Free Crochet Pattern
Here is a pattern for crochet baby cocoon that is uber-soft, ribbed, and looks like it was knitted. I chose to make this one differently than most of the patterns you'll see. Most are made like a very long, upside-down hat. This one is made as a rectangle, sewn together, then crochet the base on at the end. I did it this way so I could create a the ribbed pattern, which gives the cocoon a knit look and such luxurious texture.
I chose the half double crochet stitch because it's my favorite stitch – it works up quickly, unlike the single crochet, but it doesn't have the holes and gaps of the double crochet. And, I just love the way it looks. But, this pattern could easily be worked with a single or double crochet, too.
Crochet Organic Cotton Baby Cocoon Pattern
Written and designed by Sara McFall of My Merry Messy Life
Materials
- Hook: Size J (6 mm)
- Yarn: Worsted weight – (the original colors I used are no longer available, so here is something very similar) – Lion Brand Cotton Yarn in Ecru and Grass
- Tapestry needle to sew in tails
- Scissors to cut tails
- 2 buttons of choice
- Sewing needle and matching thread
Abbreviations
- Half double crochet = hdc
- Chain = chain
- Half double crochet decrease = hdc dc
- Back loop only = blo
- Yarn Over  = yo
Finished Project Measurements
23 inches long, by 10 inches wide (That is from the top of the cocoon, all the way down to the point of the base. Newborns are only 18-22 inches are so, including the head. Remember – the head will not also be inside the cocoon, so this size should last well beyond three and even six months). If your finished measurements aren't exactly the same as mine, don't fret! It's not like a sweater or a hat that needs to fit perfectly.
Half Double Crochet
YO, insert hook into space and pull up a loop. YO, and pull through all three loops.
Half Double Crochet Decrease
YO, insert hook into space and pull up a loop. There are 3 loops on your hook. YO again, and insert hook into the NEXT space and pull up another loop. There are 5 loops on your hook. YO and pull through all 5 loops.
The Pattern
Step #1
Row 1
- Ch 60 (or however long you want it to be. This size fits a newborn through about 3 to 6 months, maybe even longer)
- In the 2nd ch from the hook, work a hdc
- Work 1 hdc in each ch all the way down (58 hdc total)
Row 2 and all remaining rows will be worked in the back loops only to achieve the ribbing:
- Ch 1
- Work a hdc in the same stitch in blo (if you forget this step, the rows will continually get smaller. Learn from my mistake!)
- Work 1 hdc in each stitch all the way down in blo (58 hdc total)
Step #2
Repeat row 2, changing colors every 2 rows, for a total of 36 rows. I chose to make all the color changes on the same side so all the tails would be on one side. It was the rougher looking side, so I made that the bottom and crocheted the base onto the rough side, which disguised it very well.
Step #2 cont'd
Now, sew in all your tails first and insert a stitch marker (a piece of contrasting colored yarn will do just fine) to remember which side you cut off all the tails. I wanted all my tails to be cut off on the inside of the cocoon so they wouldn't show.
You're going to whip stitch it together inside out, then turn it right-side out before sewing on the base.
Whip stitch it together like so, sewing together the two sides that are not the ends, so that the cocoon will be longer than it is wide.
Step #3
Now, in order to be able to close it with a button, I chose to whip stitch it three-fourths of the way up. If you don't plan to use the buttons, just stitch it all the way up.
Step #4 – The Base
You're going to crochet in the round to create a circle on the bottom of the cocoon, on the side where you sewed in all of your tails.
First, attach the yarn anywhere on the bottom with a slip stitch and a ch 1.
(This is the tricky part because you are working on the sides of the rows and not in traditional spaces, so I chose to do 2 hdc's for each row. )
Work 2 hdc's for each row (72 hdc total)
Join to beginning ch 1 with a slip stitch, ch 1
- Round 2 – work 1 hdc in each stitch around (72 hdc total)
- Round 3Â – *work 1 hdc in each of the next 4 stitches, then 1 hdc decrease* repeat from *
- Round 4Â – *work 1 hdc in each of the next 3 stitches, then 1 hdc decrease* repeat from *
- Round 5Â – *work 1 hdc in each of the next 2 stitches, then 1 hdc decrease* repeat from *
- Round 6Â – *work 1 hdc in each of the next 1 stitch, then 1 hdc decrease* repeat from *
This is a bit unconventional, but I continue working round 6 (instead of doing just decreasing stitches) until I run out of space and the circle is closed. I find this looks much nicer than the other method because the decreasing stitches are not stretched out.
Step #5Â – Sew on the Buttons
Sew one button on each side of the opening. There is enough space and stretch in the yarn that a hole isn't needed to go over the button. I bought mine at JoAnn's where they have several varieties of this wooden button that I just love!
And you're done! It's really an easy pattern to work and I loved working with the organic cotton yarn. It is so soft! Here's a close-up of the ribbed texture.
Merry crocheting!
LIKE THIS PATTERN VERY MUCH AND IT IS SO WELL WRITTEN WOULD LIKE TO DOWNLOAD BUT CAN’T FIND THE ;GREEN PRINTER FRIENDLY BUTTON AT BOTTOM OF POST? (pLEASE EXCUSE THE CAPS)
Hi Nancy! Yes I used to have that but don’t anymore…so sorry!
Hi Sara, I have read through your pattern a couple of times, and didn’t see how many skeins of yarn are needed for your beautiful baby cocoon. I have a great grandbaby to be born in December. This will keep our new little one good and warm on those cold days and nights.
Thank you for your help with this.