Textured Knit Baby Blanket
Soft afghan is quick and easy in basic stitches
Panels of stockinette stitch and checks, outlined with rows of garter stitch and bordered in seed stitch, make a knitted baby afghan that's quick and easy.
This soft blanket in checks and stripes has a seed stitch border. There is no curling and no need to add an edging.
Panels of stockinette stitch and checks, outlined with rows of garter stitch, make a textured blanket that's easy and quick to knit.
Simply Soft yarn (available at Wal-mart) has a beautiful sheen and knits up easily; much faster and more economical than baby yarn.
Use 4 6-oz. skeins of Simply Soft for a 36-inch blanket, or about 6 skeins for a crib cover.
Use No. 10 or 11 circular knitting needle, or any size that will give a gauge of about 7 stitches to 2 inches.
Cast on 129 sts.
Row 1: K1, p1; repeat across row and end with a k1. This is the first row of the seed stitch border.
Rows 2 through 12: Repeat Row 1 for seed stitch border.
Row 13: (K1, p1) 3 times for border; k across to the last 6 sts; (p1, k#a) for border. This is the first row of a stockinette stitch panel.
Row 14: (K1, p1) 3 times for border; p across to within last 6 sts; (p1, k1) 3 times for border.
Rows 15 and 16: Repeat Rows 13 and 14.
Row 17: Repeat Row 13 to finish the stockinette stitch panel.
Rows 18 through 20: Repeat Row 13. These rows form the garter stitch outline for the checks panel.
Row 21: (K1, p1) 3 times; (k3, p3) across row to within last 9 sts; k3, (p1, k1) 3 times. This is the first row of the checks panel.
Row 22: (K1, p1) 3 times; (p3, k3) across row to within the last 9 sts; p3, (p1, k1) 3 times.
Rows 23 and 24: Repeat Row 21.
Row 25: Repeat Row 22.
Rows 26 and 27: Repeat Row 21.
Row 28: Repeat Row 22.
Row 29: Repeat Row 21. This finishes the checks panel.
Rows 30 through 32: Repeat Row 13. This is the garter stitch outline for the edge of the checks panel.
Repeat Rows 13 through 32 until the blanket is the desired length. Be sure to end repeats with Row 32.
Repeat Rows 13 through 17 once more for a stockinette stitch panel.
Repeat Rows 1 through 12 for the seed stitch border and bind off.
Weave in all loose yarn ends. Hand-wash, but do not put in the dryer or hang because it will stretch out of shape. Instead, spread the blanket out on a bed or on a clean sheet on the floor. Make sure the sides are straight by measuring with a ruler or tape measure. Pin the corners in place, and put a pin here and there along the sides to help it keep its shape as it dries. Let dry thoroughly.
