A Knit Blanket for Green Thumbs, Or Black Thumbs

This is one of those projects where I don’t even know what to say about it other than it’s stunning and amazing and I don’t know if I would have the skill for it but if I made it I would definitely show it off to everyone who came to my house ever again.

The houseplant blanket from Sarabeth Hall has a beautiful allover colorwork pattern of monstera and other tropical plant leaves. Which would be cool enough, but it’s also double knit, for double thickness, reversible fabric that looks good no matter how it’s casually tossed around the house, and lots of squishy warmth.

It was designed to be a baby blanket, but I could see it being used as a little lap blanket or throw, too. I mean, if I knit this I would definitely want to keep it for myself and would have to find ways to use it. The finished measurements are 42 by 37.5 inches, or 106.68 by 95.25 cm.

It calls for fingering weight yarn so it would definitely be worth investigating making it with, say, worsted weight yarn instead to get a bigger blanket.

The pattern is charted and assumes you know how to read and follow a colorwork chart for double knitting (and how to double knit, of course!).

Double knitting is a lot of fun but it’s something I haven’t done in a long time. Maybe this winter would be a great time to refresh those skills and stitch up this amazing blanket. I love it in green and white but you could also stitch it up in less realistic colors to bring brightness to any baby room or gray day.

The best part of all is that this is a free pattern on Ravelry, so you have no excuse not to check it out and give it a try. If you do, I’d love to hear how it goes (and I’ll definitely share if I end up making a version, too!)

[Photo: Sarabeth Hall]

Next Pattern:

There is something very sweet about vintage baby knitting patterns, especially the ones that still feel wearable today. This Vintage Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern PDF from the CraftGossipStore has that lovely old-fashioned charm without looking fussy or too dated, which is exactly what makes it a nice find for knitters who enjoy making baby gifts with a bit of heirloom feeling.

The pattern includes two classic baby sweater styles: a textured crew neck jumper and cardigan options with raglan sleeves. The stitch pattern gives the finished pieces that beautiful handmade texture we all love, but it still feels practical enough for real babies — not just the kind of outfit that gets worn for one photo and then carefully folded away forever.

You can find the pattern here: Vintage Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern PDF from CraftGossipStore.

This is a restored vintage knitting pattern delivered as a printable PDF, so there is no physical pattern posted out. After purchase, the file is available through Etsy as an instant digital download, which is handy if you’re the sort of knitter who gets an idea at 9 pm and wants to cast on before common sense has a chance to intervene.

The pattern is designed for 8 ply / DK weight yarn, which makes it a practical choice because DK baby yarn is easy to find in soft modern colours. It uses 3.25 mm and 4 mm knitting needles, along with stitch holders, buttons for the cardigan versions, a yarn needle, scissors, and measuring tape.

What I like about this pattern is the flexibility. Worked in cream, lemon, powder blue, sage green, oatmeal, dusty pink, or warm beige, it would suit either a traditional baby wardrobe or a more modern neutral nursery style. The cardigan version is especially practical because cardigans are always easier when dressing little ones. Anyone who has ever tried to wriggle a jumper over a sleepy baby’s head will understand that immediately.

Because this is a vintage pattern, it is worth remembering that older knitting patterns are often written more briefly than modern ones. They tend to assume the knitter already knows a few things, so I’d recommend this for confident beginners through to intermediate knitters rather than someone picking up needles for the very first time. If you’re comfortable reading shaping instructions, checking gauge, working textured stitches, and sewing seams neatly, this should be a very satisfying little project.

Before starting, make a tension square. I know, I know — no one wants to hear it, but baby garments are small enough that gauge really does matter. A tiny difference in tension can quickly change the finished size, and nobody wants to finish a beautiful baby cardigan only to discover it fits a doll or a toddler with very optimistic shoulders.

This pattern would make a lovely baby shower gift, newborn photo outfit, heirloom baby knit, or handmade market sample. It is also a nice choice for knitters who enjoy vintage patterns but prefer having them cleaned up into a more usable digital format.

If you need supplies, look for a soft DK baby yarn, smooth knitting needles, small cardigan buttons, stitch holders, and a blunt yarn needle for finishing. Mary Maxim is always worth checking for baby yarns and classic knitting supplies, while Amazon can be handy for basics like stitch holders, measuring tapes, button packs, and printed pattern binders if you like keeping your PDF patterns organised.

For anyone who enjoys traditional baby knitting, this is a sweet little pattern with plenty of charm. It has that “made by Grandma, kept forever” feeling, but with enough simplicity to make it useful for everyday babywear too.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?