Tahki Yarns Palmetto Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern

Tahki Yarns Palmetto Baby Blanket

Project Overview

The Palmetto Baby Blanket is an easy-level knitted blanket designed by Susan Baron, perfect for beginners looking to create a finished home textile project. This blanket measures 38 x 28 inches (96.5 x 71 centimeters) and is worked flat using the side-to-side construction method, which allows for interesting color blocking and stitch pattern combinations.

What Is Being Made

This project creates a baby blanket suitable as a gift or nursery accessory. The finished piece features a thoughtful construction with distinct sections: a central stockinette stitch area, decorative slipped stitch pattern borders on the sides, and garter stitch edgings that frame the design. The two-color construction using light spring green and spring flowers creates visual interest while maintaining beginner-friendly techniques.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Palmetto Baby Blanket employs several fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for beginners:

• Flat knitting — The blanket is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, making it accessible for knitters learning basic construction methods
• Side-to-side construction — Rather than knitting from one short end to the other, this blanket is worked horizontally, allowing for creative stitch pattern placement and color changes
• Color work — Two yarn colors are introduced and managed throughout the pattern, building skills in color transitions and yarn management
• Picking up stitches — The side edgings require picking up stitches along the worked edges, a valuable technique for adding borders and finishing
• Blocking — The finished blanket is blocked to measurements, an important finishing technique that evens out stitches and sets the final dimensions

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates three primary stitch patterns:

• Garter stitch — Created by knitting every row on both right-side and wrong-side rows. This produces a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges. Garter stitch is used for the top and bottom edgings and the side borders, providing a sturdy frame for the blanket
• Stockinette stitch — Formed by knitting right-side rows and purling wrong-side rows. This creates a smooth, flat fabric with a distinctive V-pattern on the right side. Stockinette stitch comprises the central section of the blanket
• Slipped stitch pattern — A decorative stitch pattern that repeats over 16 rows and uses a multiple of 8 stitches plus 6. This pattern involves slipping stitches with yarn in back (wyib) on right-side rows and slipping stitches with yarn in front (wyif) on wrong-side rows, creating a textured, interlocking appearance. The slipped stitch pattern is worked in the side border sections, alternating between the two yarn colors

Materials and Tools

The Palmetto Baby Blanket uses Tahki Yarns COTTON CLASSIC, a 100% mercerized cotton yarn that is ideal for baby blankets due to its softness, breathability, and washability. The yarn specifications are 1.75 ounces per 50 grams with 108 yards per 100 meters.

Yarn quantities:

• 4 hanks in color #3722 light spring green (Color A)
• 6 hanks in color #5100 spring flowers (Color B)

Tools required:

• One size 6 (4mm) circular needle, 32 inches (80 centimeters) long — Circular needles are used here for flat knitting, providing comfortable needle length for managing the large number of cast-on stitches
• Stitch markers — Used to mark pattern repeats and construction sections
• Yarn needle — Essential for weaving in ends and finishing the blanket

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 21 stitches and 40 rows equals 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the slipped stitch pattern on the right side