WA/CJ: Homespun Baby Blanket

Today is New Year's and I am happy to announce that I have my first pattern to post of the new year. I would have posted earlier, but sleep deprivation finally caught up with me. This pattern is classified as a Weekend Adventure (WA)/ Commitment Junky (CJ) project. It took me roughly three days to finish this blanket, but I had a bit of a deadline to finish. I would suggest spreading the work out over a week or two (20 rows a day = 13 days to finish) to keep knitting enjoyable and to save your fingers! Anyways, here is the most-anticipated pattern:

Homespun Baby Blanket

This is a crib blanket made from LionBrand Homespun yarn in Blue Sky. Crib blankets measure 36" x 52", but a regular baby blanket is typically 34-36" x 34-36". The finished size is really up to you, but the directions are written for the crib blanket size of 36" x 52".

Materials:

• 4 skeins Homespun yarn in Blue Sky
• Size 10 circular needles
• Yarn needle

Gauge: I used the gauge listed on the yarn, which is 14 sts by 20 rows for a 4" x 4" tension square using size 10 needles.

Directions:

1. Cast on 126  stitches onto a size 10 circular needles. Do not join stitches.
2. Knit until the entire piece, measured from beginning to end, measures 52". This is approximately 260 rows or 13 sets of 20 rows each.
3. Bind off all stitches.
4. Weave in ends and enjoy!

This baby blanket is really versatile and easy to make. This blanket can have a few different looks without changing the pattern too much. I have included the various options, with instructions:

1. The instructions above can easily be converted to a crochet pattern. Using a size K-10.5  hook, cast on 126 stitches. Single chain in each stitch across the row. Chain 1, turn, and repeat until the entire piece measures 52". Slip the working yarn through the last stitch, pull, and weave in the ends. The crochet version is pictured left.
2. Knit the blanket according to the pattern above and crochet a border around the entire blanket using a size K-10.5 hook. The crochet border can be single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet, or even triple crochet all the way around. The choice is yours.
3. Follow the instructions in the previous step, but use a double crochet stitch along the border. Take 1/4" wide ribbon in a complimentary color and weave throughout the border. Then form a bow with the ribbon ends. You will need a little more than 5 yards of ribbon. To keep the bow from coming untied, sew the middle pieces together. I will actually be posting pictures of this example in the next blog post, as soon as I finish the ribbon addition.

As you can see there are several different options for customizing your own baby blanket. And of course, you could always just change the color. LionBrand's Homespun yarn has several color choices available. The complete selection can be seen at LionBrand Homespun Yarn on the website's homepage. Homespun can be a bit pricey, $6.99 a skein on LionBrand's website, but has a rich, warm texture that is great for blankets. Michaels and Joann's has Homespun for approximately $5.99 each, while Walmart has it listed for $4.99 each. I encourage knitters to keep their eyes open for store coupons and special deals to save a lot of money. At Michael's this past week, I was actually able to get each skein of Homespun Blue Sky yarn for $2.49 each! I ended up saving $14 on 4 skeins!

Happy New Year's and Happy Knitting!