Folk Art Donut Cuddle Blanket Crochet Free Pattern

Introduction

This Folk Art Donut Cuddle Blanket is a sweet little lovey that pairs a soft, flat crochet square with a plump stuffed donut sitting right in the middle. It's made for babies and toddlers who love to snuggle something small and grippy, but it's just as charming as a decorative keepsake or a gift for a donut-loving friend. The whole piece is worked in a calm lilac monochrome palette, with a pale lilac icing disc on top of the donut and delicate medium lilac folk flowers embroidered across it. The result is a soft, squishy, huggable blanket with a raised amigurumi center that little hands love to hold, and the simple single crochet fabric means it feels gentle and smooth against the skin.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: DK weight (Category 3) cotton, approximately 200 yards total:
  • Color A (lilac): 150 yards
  • Color B (pale lilac): 30 yards
  • Color C (medium lilac): 20 yards
• Hook: 3.5 mm (US E/4) crochet hook
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, embroidery needle, polyester fiberfill for stuffing, scissors, rust-proof pins
• Finished size: Blanket square 12 inches (30.5 cm) square; donut 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter

Abbreviations

• Ch: chain
• Sc: single crochet
• Inc: increase (work 2 single crochet into the same stitch)
• Dec: decrease (work 2 single crochet together into one stitch)
• St / sts: stitch / stitches
• Sl st: slip stitch
• MR: magic ring (adjustable starting loop)
• R / Rnd: row / round

Gauge

20 stitches and 22 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet. To check, crochet a small swatch in single crochet and measure a 4-inch section; adjust your hook size if you have too many or too few stitches.

Tips Before You Start

• Keep your single crochet tension even and relaxed so the blanket square stays flat and square rather than pulling in at the edges.
• Count your rounds on the donut as you go; the increases and decreases must line up to keep the shape round and symmetrical.
• Stuff the donut firmly but in small pieces so it stays smooth and puffy without lumps showing through the fabric.
• Embroider the icing before you sew the donut to the blanket, so you can work flat and comfortably without fighting the whole piece.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Blanket Square (Color A)

Row 1: Ch 61, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (60 sts).

Rows 2–66: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (60 sts).

Fasten off.

Donut (Color A)

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring (6 sts).

Rnd 2: Inc x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x6 (36 sts).

Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] x6 (42 sts).

Rnds 8–10: Sc in each st around (42 sts).

Rnd 11: [5 sc, dec] x6 (36 sts).

Rnd 12: [4 sc, dec] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 13: [3 sc, dec] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 14: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 15: [1 sc, dec] x6 (12 sts).

Stuff firmly.

Rnd 16: Dec x6 (6 sts). Close the opening.

Icing (Color B)

Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring (6 sts).

Rnd 2: Inc x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [Sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x6 (36 sts).

Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] x6 (42 sts).

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Sew the icing to the top of the donut, aligning the outer edges.

Embroidery (Color C)

Using the embroidery needle and Color C, embroider the folk motifs on the icing: work 6 lazy daisy stitches evenly spaced around the icing, add 3 French knots in the center of each flower, and finish with a running stitch border around the icing edge.

Assembly

Pin the donut to the center of the blanket square. Sew securely around the base of the donut using Color A.

Edging (Color B)

Rnd 1: Join B to any corner of the blanket. Sc evenly around the entire blanket, working 3 sc in each corner. Join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

Weave in all loose ends on the wrong side of the work, taking care to secure the embroidery tails so they don't work loose with washing. Gently block the blanket square by misting it lightly and pinning it to a 12-inch (30.5 cm) square, letting it dry fully flat so the corners stay crisp. Do not block the stuffed donut; simply smooth it into shape with your fingers. Once everything is dry, give the donut a final check that it is sewn firmly all the way around its base.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the lilac palette for a chocolate-and-cream scheme, or add a few tiny seed beads as sprinkles on the icing for extra folk charm.
• Work the blanket square in a soft cotton-blend or bamboo yarn for extra drape, but keep the donut in cotton so it holds its shape.
• Make a matching mini donut lovey in a single evening by using the same donut and icing rounds on a smaller 6-inch square for a pram-sized version.