Free Knitting Pattern: Super Easy Baby Blanket Redux

The 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.

It’s a common complaint among women and femme dressing folk that our clothes do not include enough (and enough useful) pockets. And even if your clothes do have good pockets, there’s always a chance that you’d rather have another pocket to put some essentials in rather than having to carry a whole bag.

But because we are knitters, we can take this problem into our own needles and knit ourselves some auxiliary pockets.

Beatrice Mase did just that, with a kind of fancy toolbelt pocket accessory that they call VELVET Pockets.

The stitch pattern has a plush, sort of velvet effect, thus the name, but it’s worked with regular fingering/sock weight yarn. (The sample uses wool, but you could experiment with other fibers, too.) It calls for 776 yards of 710 meters, which you might just have in your sock yarn stash.

The pattern includes several pockets of different sizes, with the main body of the pocket worked flat in one piece and the exterior pockets sewn on at the end. You also have the option of adding screw rivets and a coordinating clasp that make it look even more toolbelt chic.

The design is worked with a loop of knit fabric at the top so it can slide onto a belt. The pattern includes explanatory diagrams, photo and video tutorials and is adjustable to fit different sizes of belts.

It’s almost enough to make me want to start wearing belts again, even though I haven’t for years. Because who wouldn’t want a few extra little pockets to hold things when you don’t have enough to really justify carrying a bag around?

The pattern is available in English and French on Ravelry and you can also buy a kit complete with the yarn, rivets and clasp (the pattern is not included in the kit) direct on Etsy.

[Photo: Beatrice Mase]

Comments

Have you read?