A Great Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern for Beginners

I belong to a Facebook group for new knitters, mostly because I like to see what questions they have (and sometimes I even answer them, LOL) and what kids of projects they are making.

It seems like a lot of knitters start with, or make early on in their knitting careers, a bias knit washcloth. (There’s a very old pattern of mine for one of these on the Internet Archive, or try this one from Handy Little Me.)

This is actually a great place to start (though I tend to suggest a scarf as a first project) because it’s a small project, it teaches you the knit stitch as well as increases and decreases, and it doesn’t matter if it comes out a little wonky because it will still wash people or dishes.

What happens when you knit the same square bigger? You get a super cute baby blanket that’s also a fine project for a newer knitter.

A version of this is the Sea Lavender Baby Blanket from Yarnspirations. Using Bernat Blanket yarn in three colors, this easy bias knit square is a perfect gift for a new little one. Make it in the colors of baby’s room or whatever colors you like. I know it kind of looks like this one is two colors, but there is one color used throughout and you alternate stripes between that color and the other color, switching your contrast color halfway through.

Of course once you have the knack for knitting on the bias, you can make a project as big as you like. You don’t have to stop with a baby-sized blanket. But this one is a great option for little ones and would be ideal for tummy time since it’s so squishy.

You can download the pattern for free from Yarnspirations.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

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