Knitting

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Free Knitting Pattern: Super Easy Baby Blanket Redux

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purl bee super easy baby blanketThe Purl Bee has added several great new knitting patterns in the past few days, but most notable is the update to the Super Easy Baby Blanket.

The original blanket pattern was posted in 2008, and it’s a hugely popular pattern because it’s simple — just garter stitch — but also really pretty because of all the stripes. It was worked in Alchemy Temple, a superwash merino, in seven bold stripes.

The new variation uses Kertsi Merino Crepe from Koigu, which is not a superwash wool but it’s very pretty. Because it’s hand-dyed each skein is unique and semi-solid, which adds another dimension to the blankie not found in the original.

Garter stitch is a great choice for a baby blanket because it lies flat, looks good on both sides (though there will be little color breaks on the “wrong” side where you change colors) and it’s super easy and fast to knit up. I actually am about to start working on a garter stitch blanket for my baby book, too!

[Photo by The Purl Bee.]

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for more Baby Knitting patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

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Go Back to the ’90s with this Set of Knitting Patterns

If you want to feel personally attacked by a collection of knitting and crochet patterns as I was, check out the “90s Mod Inspired” pattern lookbook from Yarnspirations. 

It’s actually a great collection of patterns for folks who want to stitch up that Y2K look again (or for the first time). There’s an oversized, striped grandpa cardigan! A (crocheted) plaid messenger bag! A boxy argyle vest, and a rolled hem sweater the likes of which I bought in a store in the ’90s and knit a replica of later. 

There’s also a section of “Prep School” patterns (think “Clueless,” they’re even called things like “As if” and “Betty”) including a granny square tie and crocheted wrap skirt, and a knit cabled pullover, beret and cardigan with blocky stripes. Other sections include casual collegiate, punk and mod, and academia. 

Some of the patterns repeat among the sections but there’s a nice selection for people who want a little throwback for their back to school and fall wardrobes. 

Since I had this sweater, we’ll take a closer look at the Caron Cropped Stripy Sweater. The one I knit from a pattern of my own devising in the mid ’00s was tonal blues, but this one calls for two colorways of Colorama Haze, a fuzzy self-striping worsted weight yarn. 

The pattern comes in six sizes, with chest measurements ranging from 39 to 60 inches (that’s 99 to 152.5 cm). Clearly that’s a lot of ease at the lower sizes, since the smallest size is meant to fit an actual chest measurement from 28-34 inches, or 71-86.5 cm. 

The sweater is a modified drop shoulder worked flat in pieces and seamed. That means the stripes probably won’t match around the body but it’s still a classic look. This one does have ribbing at the neckline, where the original sweater I owned and my re-creation had rolled hems throughout, but you can do it either way depending on your preference. 

Do any of these projects remind you of clothes you might have worn or knit in the past? I’d love to hear about it!