Owl Hooded Blanket Crochet Pattern ... Or Hooded Towel!

This owl hooded blanket is so cute and cuddly and makes a great gift for a baby shower or for any new mom. As written, the hooded blanket is perfect for for babies and toddlers, but the pattern is so easy to customize for any size you desire! Another plus … this hooded blanket pattern is also so versatile … just a change of yarn turns this pattern from a comfy hooded blanket to super absorbent hooded towel.

This owl hooded blanket pattern has been a well loved favorite in my shop and has also been published in Baby Brights: 30 Colorful Crochet Accessories. Now I am making it available to all my readers as a free crochet pattern!!

Owl Hooded Blanket / Towel Crochet Pattern

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Available as a convenient, ad-free pdf download here.

Here is what you will need:

Approximately 1,420 yds worsted-weight yarn (shown here in Bernat Handicrafter Cotton White)
scrap amounts of black and yellow worsted weight yarn for the eyes and beak (shown here in Lily Sugar’n Cream Yellow and Black)
two coordinated colors worsted weight yarn for eye detail and ears, less than 90 yds each (shown here in Lily Sugar’n Cream Hot Pink / Soft Violet and Hot Blue / Hot Green)
US H-8 / 5 mm crochet hook
stitch markers
yarn needle and scissors for finishing

This free pattern is written in U.S. crochet terms and abbreviations. Stitch counts are provided at the end of each round to help you keep on track.

Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, U.S. to U.K. Crochet Conversion Chart.

Notes:

To crochet a comfy hooded blanket, I recommend a soft and washable acrylic such as Brava Worsted. For an absorbent hooded towel, I recommend Bernat Handicrafter Cotton.
The stitch pattern used here is called the Rocking Stitch. Here is a tip to make sure your stitching is on the right track … the loops pulled for each sc3tog should follow this sequence from the row below: sc, ch-sp, sc, except in Row 63, where the sequence from the row below would be ch-sp, sc, ch-sp. I have also included a stitch diagram below for a visual of the stitch placement.
Blanket size as written measures approximately 26½ in. x 26½ in. Blanket size can be easily modified by continuing to increase until you reach your desired size and then begin following the decreasing instructions starting at Row 63 below.
Gauge is approximately 13 single crochets and 14 rows = 4 in.

Special Stitches:

Single crochet 2 together (sc2tog) – Insert hook into specified stitch and draw up a loop, insert hook into next stitch and draw up a loop, yarn over and pull through 3 loops on hook.

Single crochet 3 together (sc3tog) – Insert hook into specified stitch and draw up a loop, insert hook into next stitch and draw up a loop, insert hook into next stitch and draw up a loop, yarn over and pull through 4 loops on hook.

Long single crochet (Lsc) – Insert hook into stitch of previous row. Draw up a loop to height of current row being worked, complete as single crochet (the Lsc takes the place of the next stitch in the current row).

Crocheting the Hooded Blanket

BLANKET

With white yarn, ch 2.

Row 1: Work 3 sc in furthest ch from hook, turn — 3 sts.

Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as st here and throughout), 1 sc, beginning in same st as sc just made, sc2tog, ch 1, beginning in st where last loop was pulled, sc2tog, sc in same st as last loop pulled, turn — 5 sts.

Row 3: Ch 1, 1 sc, beginning in same st as sc just made, sc2tog, ch 1, beginning in st where last loop was pulled, sc3tog, ch 1, beginning in st where last loop was pulled, sc2tog, sc in same st as last loop pulled, turn — 7 sts.

Row 4: Ch 1, 1 sc, beginning in same st as sc just made, sc2tog, ch 1, *beginning in st where last loop was pulled, sc3tog, ch 1, rep from * across until 1 st remains, beginning in st where last loop was pulled, sc2tog, sc in same st as last loop pulled, turn — 9 sts.

Rows 5 through 62: Repeat Row 4 (each row will increase by 2 sts, ending with 125 sts in Row 62).

Row 63: Ch 1, sc3tog, *ch 1, beginning in st where last loop was pulled, sc3tog, rep from * across, turn — 123 sts.

Rows 64 through 122: Repeat Row 63 (each row will decrease by 2 sts, ending with 5 sts in Row 122).

Row 123: Ch 1, sc3tog, ch 1, beginning in st where last loop was pulled, sc3tog — 3 sts.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Click here to reference Crochet Stitch Chart Symbols.

Crocheting the Hood

Follow directions above for blanket, ending after Row 25 — 51 sts.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Owl Applique

Eyes (make two)

Option 1: Flowery Eyes

With black, ch 2.

Round 1: Work 6 sc in furthest chain from hook, join— 6 sts.

Round 2: Join CA, ch 1, 2 sc in same st as join and each st around, join — 12 sts.

Round 3: Join CB, ch 1, Sl st in same st as join, ch 2, sk 1, *Sl st in next, ch 2, sk 1, rep from * around, join — 6 ch-2 spaces.

Round 4: *[Ch 1, 1 dc, 2 tr, 1 dc, ch 1] in ch-2 space, Sl st in Sl st from previous round, rep from * around — 6 petals.

Fasten off, leaving a long enough tail to sew eyes to hood.

Option 2: Hoot-Hoot Eyes

With black, ch 2.

Round 1: Work 6 sc in furthest chain from hook, join— 6 sts.

Round 2: Join CA, ch 1, 2 sc in same st as join and each st around, join — 12 sts.

Round 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in same st as join, 1 sc in next, *2 sc in next, 1 sc in next, rep from * around, join — 18 sts.

Round 4: Join CB, ch 1, 1 sc in same st as join, 1 Lsc in next st 1 row below, *1 sc in next, 1 Lsc in next st 1 row below, rep from * around — 18 sts.

Round 5: Ch 1, 2 sc in same st as join, 2 sc in next, 1 sc in next, *2 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 sc in next, rep from * around, join — 30 sts.

Fasten off, leaving a long enough tail to sew eyes to hood.

Beak

With yellow, ch 2.

Row 1: Work 2 sc in furthest ch from hook, turn — 2 sts.

Row 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in each st across, turn — 4 sts.

Row 3: Ch 1, work 1 sc in each st across, turn — 4 sts.

Row 4: Ch 1, work 2 sc in first stitch, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc in last st, turn — 6 sts.

Row 5: Ch 1, work 1 sc in each st across, do not turn — 6 sts.

Edging: Beginning in same st as last sc made, work 1 Sl st along the end of each row down to the tip of the beak, [Sl st, ch 1, Sl st] in the tip, work 1 Sl st along the end of each row back up, ending with a Sl st in the same st and 1st sc in Row 4 was made, join.

Fasten off, leaving a long enough tail to sew beak to hood.

Finishing: Using a tapestry needle, sew eyes and beak to hood as shown above. Weave in ends.

Adding Hood to Blanket and Finishing Edging

Place hood on desired corner of blanket, making sure rows match up (safety pin in place if desired). Attach by working 1 sc along the edge of each row through both pieces, work 3 sc in corner, continue along until hood is attached. Continue working 1 sc along the edge of each row of the blanket, working 3 sc in remaining corners, join.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Ears

Cut 2 pieces of each color yarn used on face (except black), each about 4 inches long (you should have 6 lengths of yarn). Using a tapestry needle, pull each strand halfway through the stitch in desired location (use photos below as a guide). Cut another length of yarn approximately the same length, gather yarn sewn into stitch and use the last piece cut to tie around them. Trim to desired length.

More Hooded Blanket options … make them all!

Now you have a cozy hooded blanket to gift or enjoy. Check out all of my animal applique choices to make just the right hooded blanket for that special someone! Click here or on image below to see full applique pattern package.

Owl Hooded Blanket Crochet Pattern … Or Hooded Towel!

Owl Hooded Blanket / Towel Crochet Pattern