Hayfield 5349 Blankets Knitting Pattern

Hayfield 5349 Baby Blossom Chunky Blankets

Project Overview

This downloadable knitting pattern from Hayfield features two distinct baby blanket designs created from the same yarn: a Garter Stitch Blanket and a Lace Pattern Blanket. Both projects are worked flat from the bottom up in a seamless construction, making them ideal for beginners and experienced knitters alike. The blankets showcase classic knitting techniques combined with decorative elements, resulting in versatile nursery accessories.

Garter Stitch Blanket

Finished Measurements: Approximately 56 cm x 72 cm (22" x 28 ¼")

The Garter Stitch Blanket is constructed using fundamental knitting techniques that create a textured, reversible fabric. This design employs the bottom-up construction method, beginning with a single cast-on stitch that is increased systematically through knit-front-and-back increases. The blanket is worked flat on straight needles, allowing for easy row-by-row progression. Garter stitch—created by knitting every row—produces a dense, squishy fabric with horizontal ridges on both sides, making it equally attractive from either direction. The increases are strategically positioned at the side and lower edges to create a rectangular shape with defined borders.

Lace Pattern Blanket

Finished Measurements: Approximately 58 cm x 80 cm (22¾" x 31½")

The Lace Pattern Blanket incorporates more advanced techniques while maintaining accessibility for intermediate knitters. This design features lace construction, utilizing yarn forward (yfwd) increases and decrease sequences such as slip, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over (s1, k2tog, psso) to create openwork motifs. The pattern is worked flat and begins with 99 cast-on stitches, establishing a wider base than the garter stitch version. The lace repeat is introduced after an initial garter stitch foundation, allowing the decorative pattern to develop gradually. This technique creates delicate, airy sections within the blanket while maintaining structural integrity through strategic stitch placement.

Yarn and Materials

Both blankets are designed to be created using Hayfield Baby Blossom Chunky yarn, a worsted-weight option available in 100g balls. The Garter Stitch Blanket requires shade 350, while the Lace Pattern Blanket uses shade 353. Each blanket requires 3 balls of yarn, providing ample yardage for the complete project. The yarn features a distinctive color design with alternating pink and green spots throughout, creating visual interest in the finished fabric. The pattern includes a helpful tip regarding yarn orientation: knitters should check which color spots appear first when unwinding the yarn, then knit accordingly to ensure the decorative "Flowers" appear above the "Leaves" in the finished blanket.

Needles and Equipment

• For the Garter Stitch Blanket: 1 pair of 5½mm (UK5 / USA9) knitting needles
• For the Lace Pattern Blanket: 1 pair of 6½mm (UK3 / USA10.5) knitting needles

The needle sizes correspond to the different yarn tensions required for each blanket style, with the larger needles used for the lace pattern to create the appropriate openwork fabric.

Tension and Gauge

Achieving correct tension is essential for proper blanket dimensions. The Garter Stitch Blanket is worked at 14 stitches and 26 rows over 10 cm (4") on 5½mm needles. The Lace Pattern Blanket requires 17 stitches and 17 rows over 10 cm (4") on 6½mm needles. These tension specifications ensure that the finished blankets meet the stated measurements and that the lace pattern develops with appropriate spacing and definition.

Construction Techniques

Both blankets employ bottom-up construction, meaning they are begun at the lower edge and worked toward the top. The seamless nature of these designs eliminates the need for seaming, as each blanket is created as a single continuous piece. The worked flat technique means both blankets are knitted back and forth on straight needles rather than in the round, making them straightforward to execute and modify if desired.

The Garter Stitch Blanket demonstrates the stripe technique through its structured increases, which create subtle horizontal lines as the blanket expands. The Lace Pattern Blanket showcases the