A crochet animal blanket perfect for any wild animal lover, a wildlife animal themed nursery or as a child’s blanket!

Let’s embark on a Wild Animal Crochet Adventure: 12 unique and adorable wild animal crochet squares designed by Nana’s Crafty Home!

These 12 crochet squares are inspired by the world of wild animals. This crochet animal blanket will be great for any skill level – from beginner to advanced! This crochet animal blanket has several fun features that add a lovely tactile quality to your finished blanket as well!

Each of these squares are a quick and easy-to-complete project! Work up one of these squares in an evening of crochet!

How to Make the Crochet Animal Blanket 

For the full written pattern instructions for this free crochet animal blanket pattern, scroll down below to get the links for the individual squares. The joining and border instructions for this throw blanket are at the bottom of this post. You can purchase the ad-free PDF of the entire Wildlife Blanket for a fee. Currently for a limited time you can purchase for a reduced price! Or, become a Lifetime Member and never pay for a PDF again! I also have each individual square as a separate pattern PDF if you are interested in picking up a smaller number of squares! You can find those in my shop or there are links provided on each square’s post.

1. You may already be familiar with the style of this large square from my three previous designs – the Christmas Granny Square Blanket, the Easter Granny Square Blanket and the Fall Squares Blanket. Each large square begins with several rounds of double crochet stitches worked as a circle. The circles are worked with standard increases throughout just offsetting the increases so you end up with a perfect round circle.

2. The circle is then “squared” off to make joining easier. Each individual square ends up with an approximate measurement of 14″ x 14″. Perfect for pillows, too!

3. Once the squares are complete, each square will have simple applique pieces to sew to the front of the square – eyes, nose, muzzle, ears, cheeks, etc. – basically all the bits that make that animal unique. These appliques are going to be fairly easy and would be a great way to jump into the applique crochet world!  Some of the squares will have some stuffed elements as well which add a three dimensional quality to those squares.

If you are new to applique techniques in crochet, I have all of my sewing applique tips and tricks in a complete video tutorial! 

There are a total of 12 squares which is 3 more than my previous blankets. My previous character granny square blankets measure approximately 48″ x 48″ including border and this crochet animal blanket has 4 rows of 3 squares and ends up at approximately 47″ wide x 62″ in height. A good-size throw!

Each of these wild animal squares are available as free crochet patterns individually on the blog. The links to each square are provided below. Check out all 12 squares:

Each square uses approximately 2.0 oz or 106 yards for the face or circle portion of the square plus 1.5 oz or 80 yards for the squared off portion.  

Because of the large size of these squares there will be so many possibilities and variations in sizes! If you wanted to make a crochet baby blanket, you could make a Safari themed 4-square blanket for baby’s nursery which would end up at around 30″ x 30″. So you could mix and match the squares with your favorite animals for your perfect blanket! Pair your baby blanket with a matching amigurumi toy to complete a set!

4. I use some size variations of my cartoon Crochet Eyes for these squares. These are the same crochet eyes I have used for my previous blankets and I just love how much personality they add! I have a complete photo and video tutorial for the crochet eyes to help you make them as well.

5. Once the squares are all complete I joined my squares together using the slip stitch zipper join. I have a complete photo and video tutorial for this join method on the blog. I also have several other join options if you are looking for something a bit different – the Single Crochet Join method is not flat and will add a ridge between the squares, the Braided Slip Stitch Join is flat but adds a unique texture, and if you want a completely invisible join the Mattress Stitch is a sewing method that creates a completely invisible join!

6. Once the squares are joined with your preferred method, I added a very simple and small border. The blanket was already quite large so I elected a shorter stitch so I could use several colors from the blanket without adding a lot of inches to my finished blanket.

I worked rounds of single crochet stitches worked in the back bar of the previous round of single crochet stitches. Do not confuse the back bar with the back loop! If you roll your single crochet towards you and look at the back of the sc stitch you will find a back bar across each stitch. That is where you will work your single crochet stitches. This will push the top two loops forward creating a knit like texture very similar to the hdc in the third loop stitch. For the final round of green I worked that final round in hdc to provide a little more green color for that final round. 

Some tips for working in the single crochet back bar – work your stitches loosely and perhaps change up to a more pointed crochet hook. I use Clover hooks typically and found it was a little more difficult to get that hook into the bar easily. Bates hooks have a more pointy end which may help you as well.

If you are looking for other border options you may want to check out the Granny Block Stitch Border, the Puff Stitch Border,  the Bobble Shell Stitch Border, or a Pom Pom Border. I also considered simply adding one round of single crochet edge and then adding a different color pom pom to each corner of the throw which I think would look super cute as well!

Supplies for Crochet Animal Blanket

This post contains affiliate links. You can click on any yarn or material highlighted to purchase. I will receive a small commission if you purchase but it won’t cost you any extra! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

My Wild Animal Blanket uses Red Heart Super Saver* which is a medium worsted weight acrylic yarn. Very economical and with plentiful color options! You can certainly substitute your favorite worsted weight yarn – Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn!, Red Heart With Love, Paintbox Simply Aran, Vanna’s Choice, Big Twist Value, Caron Simply Soft, Caron One Pound and so many more! Raid your yarn stash – even mix and match.

I now have the complete blanket pattern together in 1 PDF! Or you can purchase each square individually as well.

If you love PDFs, you might want to check out my Lifetime Membership. It’s an awesome deal! Never pay for one of my PDFs again!!

If you would like daily crochet inspiration be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Twitter and Tumblr!

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You may also like the following free animal crochet patterns by Nana’s Crafty Home:

• 1. Panda C2C Throw free crochet blanket pattern
• 2. Koala C2C Throw free crochet pattern
• 3. Elephant C2C Throw free crochet pattern

Wildlife Animal Blanket Border

Pattern written in US crochet terminology

Supplies for Blanket Totals:

Red Heart Super Saver Weight 4 / Medium (100% acrylic)

• (4) Frosty Green 21.2 oz / 1102 yards (Green)
• (2) Light Gray 10.0 oz / 520 yards (Gray)
• (1) Cornmeal 6.2 oz / 325 yards (Yellow)
• (1) White 5.5 oz / 290 yards (White)
• (1) Carrot 5.5 oz / 290 yards (Orange)
• (1) Aran 5.0 oz / 260 yards (Cream)
• (1) Cafe Latte 4.0 oz / 210 yards (Brown)
• (1) Black 3.0 oz / 160 yards (Black)
• (1) Baby Pink 1.0 oz / 55 yards (Pink)
• (1) Turqua 0.5 oz / 26 yards (Blue) 

Total: 61.9 oz / 3238 yards 

Size I (5.5 mm) crochet hook
Poly-fil fiber for stuffing
Scissors
Stitch marker (optional)
Tapestry needle

Approximate finished size: 47” x 62″

Abbreviations:

• ch(s) = chain(s)
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• sp = space
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• sk = skip
• sl st = slip stitch
• RS = right side

Recommended Tutorial:

Flat Zipper Slip Stitch Join Tutorial

Joining Instructions

Assemble the 12 squares in the desired placement.  Placement for mine is  as follows:

Join squares by rows then by columns. 

Place your squares RS facing up.

Begin by joining squares 1 & 2. The squares are joined using a surface slip stitch seam and green yarn. This join is worked from front to back by inserting hook through back loops of matching sts on adjoining squares, draw up loop from behind to front and through loop on hook. The slip stitch will be visible on the RS of your work.

Continue working a slip stitch in the back loops of both squares to opposite corner space.

At the corner space, insert hook through back loops of chains from both squares, yo, and pull through loops to complete sl st.

With RS of Squares 3 & 4 facing up, insert hook in the back loops of chains from both squares, yo, pull through loops to complete sl st.

Continue working surface slip stitch join through squares 3 & 4 and 5 & 6.

Fasten off.

Now join Squares 2 & 7, Squares 4 & 8 and then Squares 6 & 9 together in same manner.

Repeat process joining squares 7 & 10, Squares 8 & 11 and then Squares 9 & 12 in same manner.

Once all rows are joined you will now join the columns.

Begin working slip stitch join for Squares 10 & 11 to first corner.  At the corner, insert hook in the BLO of the chain st closest to the stitch on the side you are joining from Square 10 and then insert your hook in the chain stitch closest to the last stitch you worked on Square 11 and under the join from the columns that joined squares 7, 10, 8 & 11, yarn over and pull through to complete the slip stitch, ch 1. 

Continue working surface slip stitch join through squares 7 & 8, 2 & 4 and 3 & 1.

Repeat corner instructions at intersection of previous joins.

Repeat same steps for next column of squares beginning with squares 11 & 12 working through squares 8 & 9 and then squares 6 & 4 and then squares 5 & 3.

Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Border Instructions

Attach green to any ch-2 corner space.

Round 1: Ch 1, 3 sc in ch-2 space, [*1 sc in each stitch to next ch-sp at join between squares, 1 sc in ch-sp, 1 sc in join between squares, 1 sc in ch-sp after join,* repeat from * to * across all square seams, 1 sc in each st to ch-2 corner sp, 3 sc in ch-2 sp] 4 times omitting final corner, switch to orange and fasten off green. Do not sl st join; begin working in continuous rounds without joining.

Round 2: Work stitches in back bar of sc from previous round, sc in each st around working 3 sc stitches in back bar of middle sc of each 3 sc corner.

Switch to next color as indicated and fasten off previous color. 

Round 3: Repeat round 2 in yellow.

Round 4: Repeat round 2 in brown.

Round 5: Repeat round 2 in cream.

Switch to green, fasten off cream.

Round 6: Work stitches in back bar of sc from previous round, hdc in each st around working 3 hdc stitches in back bar of middle sc of each 3 sc corner.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Copyright 2024 Tonya Bush/Nana’s Crafty Home

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