I have about 15 friends and relatives who have recently had babies or are currently pregnant. It’s SO MANY ladies, you guys! While all of this baby news is super exciting, it can be a bit of a burden when you try to knit blankets for that many babies. The pattern I’m sharing today is one I came up with for two of the blankets I’ve gifted so far. It’s easy and is good even for beginner knitters. The only things you need to know how to do beyond casting on & off and knit & purl is how to knit 2 together and yarn over.
Supplies
4 skeins (95 yd, 2 oz. skeins) Sugar & Cream 100% cotton yarn
size 7 knitting needles
crochet hook
scissors
Directions
This blanket is a simple repeating pattern, bordered by 2 rows of stockinette stitch on each edge. I opted to use a simple and widely available cotton yarn, the classic Sugar ‘n Cream 100% cotton yarn loved by wash cloth makers for generations, in the Summer Splash colorway. This yarn is great because it’s a baby friendly cotton, isn’t expensive, and the color I went with is gender neutral.
Abbreviations
CO – cast on
YO – yarn over
k2tog – knit 2 together
BO – bind off/cast off
sts – stiches
The Pattern!
CO 88 stitches
row 1. k across
row 2 & all even rows. p across
row 3. k6, {k2 tog, YO, k6}, repeat from { to } until last 2 sts, k2
row 5. k across
row 7. k2, {k2 tog, YO, k6}, repeat from { to } until last 4 sts, k4
Repeat rows 1 through 8 until you’re close to running out out of yarn. Knit rows 1 and 2 a final time.
BO and weave in ends
I don’t have any kids, so when I went to photograph my finished blanket, I had to enlist my poor dog Storm. She was supposed to sit nicely with hear head on her paws for this picture, but she was stressed out and wouldn’t. So, here’s a tummy shot of her with the blanky! Anybody else out there have a baby boom happening among their friends & relatives?
I love this! I normally don’t like ombre yarn for anything than plain stockinet, but the eyelets really look fantastic. This is definitely something I’ll make for the next baby shower I’m invited to.
Thank you Rachel Lyn! I really wasn’t sure about the eyelets when I started developing the pattern, but I think it ended up being an interesting alternative to stockinette that lays a lot nicer. If I do say so myself, haha! -Heidi
cant wait to try this, thanks so much!
What is the finished size of the blanket?
About 34×26 inches! I can’t believe I didn’t think to include that. Thanks for the reminder :)
Thanks so much! I love this blanket. Any more ideas or patterns are truly welcomed!
Lovely pattern! Which is why I’m choosing to test it out. Relatively new to knitting, but I’m having trouble with the spacing between the gaps.
With the gap rows…the first gap row says to k6. and the second gap row says to start with k2. I am doing this, however my gaps are not lining up properly. They aren’t spaced evenly. Any idea as to what I’m doing wrong?
OMG! There’s an error in the pattern, Katelyn! I’m so sorry! The k2’s in the brackets should be k6! The pattern has been updated with my apologies! If you could email me your mailing address to handsoccupied-at-gmail-dot-com I’d like to send you a thank you gift for catching my error!
No problem, Heidi! I’m glad it wasn’t me. I’ve knitting for a long time but recently got back into it.
I altered the pattern since I had already started to gap row one starting 2k in and gap row 2 starting 4k in. I think I will have this pattern down just with my gaps closer together. I will link back when it’s complete.
And absolutely not necessary for a gift, the free pattern is gift enough!
Lovely blog,
Katelyn
Hi, have just seen your blankie and although I’m not really a fan of holes in baby blankets, this is one pattern I’d like to try for baby pressies.
The close-up shows you actually did “YO, K2tog” rather than “K2tog, YO” as in the instructions. This sounds minor and almost picky, but it makes a marked difference to the appearance! I tried both ways so can show you the difference in a photo attachment if you let me know your email address.
I actually knitted this left-handed and then (tried to, haha) reverse the pattern to share with you all. :) I’d love to see your pics! handsoccupied-at-gmail-dot-com is my address. Thanks, Norma!
i want to modify the pattern for my 3 year old nephew. I’m in need of some help. when I looked at the pattern it doesnt appear to have been changed from the error from last week. but, it’s very possible that i’m just missing it.
Thank you!
Kristina Fisher
Yep, it’s been updated! Rows 3 & 7 used to say k2 instead of k6. :)
Thank you very much for sharing such an easy baby blanket pattern, using the only yarn I use Sugar&Cream, as I’m a beginning knitter who’s only know how are knit, purl, stitch togethers & yarn overs. Learning how to perfect my knit in front & back/increase stitch, but this pattern is perfect & I’m so eager to get started you’ve got no idea! Would really enjoy seeing more patterns similar to this in baby blankets, carseat blankets, washcloths & scarves :).
Just to double check as I’m re-reading with a lil confusion, my apologies. The brackets in Rows 3 & 7 state above {K2 YO K6} is this correct or should it state {K6 YO K6}, am I not seeing an updated version? Thank you :)!
I updated the pattern in the post itself, so follow what’s listed there in the blue rectangle. :) I’ve even had someone knit the updated pattern successfully to double check!
Thank you very much, I’m starting today & am so excited, this’ll be my 1st blanket! :)
Hi :)! It’s me again, I’m sorry… I just cast on my sts for this blanket, got thru my 1st 2 rows w/no problems. Thought I was doing fine n the 3rd row til I finished my lady set of {k2tog, YO, k6} & it leaves me with not 6 sts to finish the row but 8. I’ve counted, re-counted & even ripped the row out, counted twice again (always get the 88 sts) & knit it again to end with an extra 2 again??? Please tell me either that I’m nuts cause that’s how it’s to be or what in the world I’m doing wrong cause I so want this to work out & read this as a wicked easy pattern just can’t figure what I’m messing up. Thank you again & again, I apologize for bothering you :)!
After I originally commented I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on
every time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the same comment.
Is there a way you are able to remove me
from that service? Kudos!
What name did you originally comment under? I’m happy to see what I can do!
So, I’m pretty sure this pattern was made for me! Not only did you post this on my birthday, but I have a schnauzer that looks just like yours and loves blankets, AND I just recently discovered this yarn for making washcloths. So I had purchased a bunch of it! Thanks so much, can’t wait to give this pattern a try!
Schnauzers are the best!! You’ll have to email me pics of your finished knitting- I love seeing what people make!
Hi, pretty blanket. I am eager for it to work out for me, too.
I am trying to follow the pattern and am having the exact same problem that Jennie is having. It seems like it should work out, but I end up with two extra stitches at the end of my third row, too. I have ripped it out a couple times and tried again. I can see the stitches I have just completed (in row three) and they are just right, but why the two leftovers? I have done the math and it seems like it should work out exactly right with 88, but something is going wrong or I am overlooking something. Do you have any insight? It would mean a whole lot. Thank you!
Hi Kathryn!
Thanks for the comment – I found the error and have corrected it. In rows 3 and 5 there are 2 k sts at the end that I left out. The pattern has been corrected in the post, and the changes are in bold.
My apologies, this was one of the first patterns I ever designed and am still figuring out how to write them! Thanks for your patience :)
I am having a problem. Please tell me what I should do. I got through the first seven rows fine. Started back to repeat and after row 1and part of row 2 realized that it was wrong. Pulled it out and tried again. Same thing. When I begin row 1 on repeat I am on a purl row. Can I just reverse so will be correct and do the pattern rows on 3and 5? Not sure if this even makes sense. Also don’t have any idea why this is occurring. I haven’t been knitting long and also left handed. Thanks for any insight on this.
Hi Sue Anna – I do most of my knitting left handed due to a tendon injury, so I feel your leftie pain :). Are you purling across on all odd rows? You can drop me a line at handsoccupied at gmail dot com if you want more in-depth help, I’m happy to give advice! -Heidi
I think it needs to say repeat rows 1-8, not 1-7. If you do not purl again on row 8, your pattern will reverse itself and be on the backside of the blanket. Hope this helps, it worked for me :)
I see where the confusion comes in! I’ll remember to say rows 1-8 (or whatever the repeating row number is) next time. Thanks, Cheryl! :)
Thanks so much Cheryl! What I ended up doing after pulling it out several times and thinking I was doing it right, just added a row and made sure I was on knit row to make pattern! Wish I been smart as you and figured it out sooner!
Thanks Heidi also for help!
Loving me some hands occupied!!
Heidi,
I want to make this smaller so could be used to throw over car seat or in air condition. Could you lead me to instructions on how to figure number to cast on? Math skills not working! Thanks
Hi Sue Anna!
All you’d need to do is cast on a smaller number of stitches. You can cast on any of the following: 88 sts, 80 sts, 72 sts, 64, 56, 48, 40 etc. You’re really just subtracting 8 sts a time for the staggered holes to repeat properly. :)
Good luck,
Heidi
Heidi,
Finished blanket and I really like but edges rolled. Solution for this for next attempt? Thanks! Last question I promise.
With any blanket knit primarily in stockinette stitch, there will be rolling. Blocking your finished blanket will help a bit (here’s a tutorial for how to block a piece of knitting). You can also knit this pattern and omit the first and last two stitches on each row or use something other than stockinette stitch for the edges, like garter stitch. That might help too. :) -Heidi
I notice a lot of people make hats for babies using the sugar and cream cotton yarn. Everytime I pick it up in the store I just think of how rough and tough it is and set it back down and walk away. I then wonder if people have a way of making it soft for baby? What is your take on this?
After you block your finished yarn, it softens up a bit. If you’ve never blocked a project before, I have a tutorial for that.
I have been knitting this pattern but whe holes are too big any idea what I’m doing wrong?
What size needles & what yarn are you using? Another idea: Are you wrapping your yarn as shown in this video? https://youtu.be/9Qq__ttEMUo If you’re wrapping your YO the wrong way, that could affect its finished look.
As a fairly new knitter, I’m confused about the pattern. Some how I managed to lose 3 stitches. I started over a couple of times. I assume I should be doing row 8 as purl. Are row 3 and 7 supposed to start with k6 or k2. This is the pattern I’m following:
CO 88 stitches
row 1. k across
row 2 & all even rows. p across
row 3. k6, {k2 tog, YO, k6}, repeat from { to } until last 2 sts, k2
row 5. k across
row 7. k2, {k2 tog, YO, k6}, repeat from { to } until last 4 sts, k4
Repeat rows 1 through 8 until you’re close to running out out of yarn. Knit rows 1 and 2 a final time.
BO and weave in ends
Thank you for your clarification.
Hi Lynn, glad to have you here! If you’re missing stitches, you’re most likely dropping them or missing a YO here or there, easy and common mistakes to make. Yes, row 2 and all even rows (a.k.a. wrong side rows) are purled. Row 3 starts with a k6. Row 7 starts with a k2. All best! -Heidi
I was wondering about the yarn. I have used this yarn to make dishclothes. When washed it fades. Is there a way to keep the colour vibrant even after washing?
This is very common issue with Sugar’n Cream yarn. I’ve used this technique
to help slow the process, but it unfortunately doesn’t stop it all together.
Iam guessing that this is worked in multiples of 8? If not can you tell us on the pattern?
You’re correct! A multiple of 8 works. :)