Valley Yarns Martius Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Martius Baby Blanket

What Is Being Made

The Martius Baby Blanket is a square knitted baby blanket designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This project creates a finished blanket in three size options: 28 inches square, 32 inches square, or 36 inches square. The blanket features a coordinating design that pairs with the Martius Baby Pullover, making it an ideal companion piece for a coordinated nursery set. The finished blanket is warm, soft, machine washable, and designed to be enjoyable for knitters to create.

Techniques Used

This blanket employs several key knitting techniques that make it suitable for beginner-level knitters seeking to expand their skills. The primary techniques include:

• Cable knitting: The blanket features classic Aran cables, which are worked using a cable needle to create twisted rope-like textures. These cables add visual interest and dimension to the finished piece.
• Seamless construction: The blanket is worked as a single continuous piece without requiring seaming, which simplifies the finishing process and creates a more polished final product.
• Flat knitting: Rather than working in the round, this blanket is worked flat on straight needles, making it accessible for knitters who prefer traditional back-and-forth knitting methods.
• Stitch marker management: The pattern uses multiple stitch markers (6, 6, or 8 depending on size) to help organize the different pattern sections and keep track of cable placements throughout the project.

Stitches Used

The Martius Baby Blanket combines several essential stitches to create its textured design:

• Moss Stitch: This fundamental stitch alternates knit and purl stitches in a checkerboard pattern, creating a dense, textured fabric. The pattern uses both even-numbered and odd-numbered versions of Moss Stitch to accommodate different sections. Moss Stitch provides a stable background that allows the cables to stand out visually.
• Staghorn Cable: A decorative cable panel consisting of 18 stitches that repeats over 6 rows. This cable features back crosses (BC) and front crosses (FC) that create an intricate branching pattern reminiscent of staghorn shapes.
• Front Cross (FC) and Back Cross (BC) Twist Cables: These cable variations are worked throughout the blanket to create the classic Aran cable aesthetic. The cables are formed by crossing groups of stitches over each other using a cable needle, which temporarily holds stitches while others are worked.

Materials and Tools

The Martius Baby Blanket requires specific materials to achieve the desired finished product:

• Yarn: Valley Yarns Valley Superwash, which is 100% Extrafine Merino Superwash fiber. The yardage required varies by size: 8 skeins (approximately 776 yards) for the 28-inch size, 11 skeins (approximately 1,067 yards) for the 32-inch size, or 13 skeins (approximately 1,261 yards) for the 36-inch size. Each skein weighs 50 grams and provides 97 yards. The Superwash treatment makes the finished blanket machine washable, a practical feature for baby items.
• Needles: US size 7 (4.50mm) needles or the size needed to achieve proper gauge. Straight needles are used for flat knitting.
• Additional tools: A cable needle for working cable stitches, and stitch markers to organize pattern sections. The pattern calls for 6 stitch markers for the smaller sizes and 8 for the largest size.

Gauge and Construction Details

The blanket is worked to a gauge of 4.5 stitches and 6 rows per 1 inch when measured in Moss Stitch using the larger needles. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished dimensions. The blanket begins with a cast-on that creates alternating sections of Moss Stitch and cable panels. The total cast-on varies by size: 162 stitches for the 28-inch blanket, 182 stitches for the 32-inch blanket, or 210 stitches for the 36-inch blanket. These stitches are organized into repeating sections marked by stitch markers, with Moss Stitch borders framing decorative cable panels. The knitter works alternating rows of Moss Stitch and cable pattern rows until the blanket reaches the desired