Baby cocoons are popular as photography props for newborn pictures, but that’s not the only thing they’re good for. They can be given as an extra-special gift for new parents to bundle up baby and bring him or her home from the hospital. Since baby cocoons are roomy and stretchy, they can also be used for swaddling or extra warmth during the first few months after birth. Use this easy-to-follow pattern with pictures from Mary Ylisela of Crochet Crazy to crochet your own baby cocoon with a matching hat. If you’ve mastered the half-double crochet (double crochet in some countries), and know how to increase and decrease, you can easily follow this pattern.