Baby Blankie Blanket Knitting Pattern

Baby Blankie Blanket Knitting Pattern by Plymouth Yarn

Project Overview

The Baby Blankie is a charming knitted blanket designed by JoAnne Turcotte for Plymouth Yarn. This pattern creates a cozy, portable blanket measuring approximately 24 x 24 inches, making it the perfect size for car seats and travel. The design features a diagonal construction method that builds visual interest while remaining accessible to intermediate knitters.

What is Being Made

This pattern produces a square baby blanket with optional decorative trim. The blanket is constructed using a diagonal knitting technique that creates a diamond-shaped fabric that is then shaped into a square finished piece. The optional I-cord trim adds a polished, professional finish and can be threaded through eyelets created during the knitting process for added visual appeal and security.

Techniques Used

The Baby Blankie employs several key knitting techniques:

• Diagonal construction: The blanket is worked from a small cast-on that increases progressively to the widest point, then decreases symmetrically to create the diagonal shape
• Yarn overs: Used to create decorative eyelets throughout the fabric, which serve both aesthetic and functional purposes for the optional trim
• Decreases: Strategic decreases using knit two together (k2tog) stitches shape the blanket and work in conjunction with yarn overs to maintain stitch count during specific rows
• I-cord construction: A three-stitch cord is created using double-pointed needles and a continuous knitting method without turning the work, producing a tubular trim
• Eyelet threading: The finished I-cord is threaded through the eyelets created in the main blanket for decorative framing

Stitches Used

This pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches suitable for creating a soft, welcoming baby blanket:

• Knit stitch (K): The primary stitch used throughout the blanket for building the fabric
• Yarn over (yo): Creates the decorative eyelets that characterize the blanket's design and provide anchor points for the optional trim
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used to shape the blanket during increase and decrease rows
• I-cord stitch: A specialized technique creating a continuous tubular cord by knitting on double-pointed needles without turning between rows

Materials and Tools

The Baby Blankie pattern calls for Plymouth Yarn's Heaven yarn, known for its softness and suitability for baby projects. Knitters will need 4 balls of the main color and 1 ball of a contrasting color for the optional trim. The pattern requires US 15 straight or circular needles for the main blanket and US 13 double-pointed needles for the I-cord trim construction.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 8 stitches over 4 inches using size US 15 needles in pattern. This relatively loose gauge creates a soft, drapey fabric appropriate for a baby blanket. The finished blanket measures approximately 24 x 24 inches, a practical size for stroller use, car seats, and travel.

Pattern Construction Details

The diagonal blanket begins with a loose cast-on of 4 stitches. After knitting 2 foundation rows, an increase row is worked by knitting 2 stitches, then repeating a yarn over followed by knitting to the end. This increase row pattern continues until the blanket reaches 62 stitches at its widest point. The blanket then transitions to a decrease phase, where stitches are systematically reduced using knit two together decreases combined with yarn overs. This decrease pattern continues until only 5 stitches remain, at which point a final decrease row is worked, leaving 2 stitches to be bound off.

The optional I-cord trim adds a finishing touch to the blanket. Using size 13 double-pointed needles and contrasting color yarn, a 3-stitch I-cord is worked continuously until nearly the entire contrast color ball is consumed. Rather than binding off immediately, the cord length is left adjustable so it can be threaded through the eyelets created in the main blanket. Once threaded around the entire perimeter with even spacing, the I-cord is bound off and secured by tacking the beginning and end together on the reverse side, with additional tacks at each corner for safety.

Finishing and Care