Tag: baby blanket

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Knit-a-Long Baby Blanket: Week 15 (Final Instalment)

Posted on by Jackie B

After a bit of a delay, because Christmas and New Year have been hectic, here is the final part of the pattern – sorry if you’ve been waiting for it. My fault! Yvonne was on time as usual but I got caught up in other things and neglected the blog. Anyway, hope you had a lovely Festive Season and hoping that all of you have a fabulous 2024.

If you remember, the previous section was a checkerboard design of alternating plain and purl blocks of 3 stitches and 3 rows.

The final strip, before the garter stitch border looks rather like a diagonal rib.(see photo at top of post)

Yvonne writes,”I know you’ve all been waiting for the next instalment of our baby blanket and the final pattern which is pretty straightforward I think but we will see. So here we go…”

Week 15

Row 1. Remembering the edge sts, then K1, *K2tog but don’t slip the sts off and K into first st again and slip both off together, repeat to end of the row.
Row 2. And all wrong side rows P.
Row 3. K2tog, and K into first st again slipping both off together to last st K1.
Repeat rows 1 and 3 with P rows in between and then first two rows again until 10 rows have been completed.

When you have completed the pattern finish with your 10 rows of garter stitch to finish your blanket. Cast off, sew in ends and you’re all done.

Yvonne adds, “I have really enjoyed doing this blanket with you all and hope you have too and also learned something new along the way. Thanks guys for attempting to do this and I know it hasn’t been easy so well done to you all.”

I’d like to thank Yvonne on behalf of all of us for creating this project – we’ve all had a blast doing it and we love how they all turned out. It really took us out of comfort zones to try some challenging new stitches. Here are some of the results, from A, L and R respectively

It’s been very strange not to be knitting the blanket and comparing notes every week in our little knit and natter group.

Here’s my finished blanket – I’m going to block it. A labour of love like this deserves the time it takes to finish it properly…and I got a blocking mat for Christmas!

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Knit-a-Long Baby Blanket: Week 11

Posted on by Jackie B

Before the next set of KAL instructions, here’s a round up of our efforts with the Week 10 arrowheads pattern. Yvonne’s prototype version is in blue below.

Next, we have L’s salmon pink….

…A’s fawn…

R’s pink….

…and a close up of my white stripe.

We were all relieved that this pattern was easier than the intarsia in the previous double pattern and pleased it turned out so well – it’s a really effective design.

This week, blanket designer, Yvonne, writes, “Well guys, it’s that time again, ready for the next part. Again, it’s all about the counting but setting up the pattern is easy enough. Just take care from row 5. There are no special abbreviations, nitting,just k and p.

So eyes down and here we go.

Week 11

Row 1. Remember your edges and then k5, p5, to end of row.
Row 2. P5, k5, to end of row.
Row 3 & 4 rep rows 1 & 2.
Row 5. K1, p5, k5, end with p4.
Row 6. K4, p5, k5, to last st p1.
Row 7 & 8 rep rows 5 & 6.
Row 9 & 10 rep rows 1 & 2.

This pattern, if done on a bigger scale, looks like a concertina but unfortunately 10 rows just starts it off.

Have fun and see you all next week.

Happy knitting 
Yvonne

Some of us have already completed this pattern, and R is first to send a photo of hers. It looks great!

How are you getting on with your blanket? Keep sending the photos.

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Knit-a-Long Baby Blanket: Week 10

Posted on by Jackie B

After last week’s double helping of knitting pattern I did suggest that Yvonne had a week off so we could all catch up. She’s happy to carry on, so you’ll find her next pattern later on in this post.

It’s been quite challenging to do the week 8-9 section. How did you find it? I think it was the combination of intarsia for the words KNIT and CHAT combined with a the central cup and saucer design in plain/purl that stumped us. There are a few things you might want to try that may help. You could use stitch markers to show the position of the 3 sections (KNIT, teacup and CHAT). I find it easier to work from a chart so I tried transferring the teacup design to graph paper – it didn’t look quite the same as Yvonne’s (my saucer is shallower) but I got through it.

Also, if you are getting in a tangle with separate balls of wool for the intarsia colour work you could use one yarn and use plain/purl to work all the designs. Here’s how some of the blankets are looking after the jumbo weeks 8-9 section.

L worked hers in one colour using plain/purl for the words.

R’s pink and white showed up well.

A’s and mine are in pastels so the colour contrast is more subtle.

And now for the next instalment. Yvonne writes, “Here we go – it’s that time of week again when you are all waiting for the next pattern. This one is a bit easier. Initting,t’s called vertical arrow panel and is a bit lacy.

Week 10

Abbreviations are:

Yf yarn forward or round needle 
Sl 2tog slip 2 stitches together off one needle to the other
P2sso pass the 2 slip stitches over

Remember 8 border sts at each end.
Row 1. K9, (Yf, k4, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k4, Yf, k13), rep 4 times then Yf, k4, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k4, Yf, k9
Row 2. And all even rows p.
Row 3. K10, (Yf, k3, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k3, Yf, k15), rep 4 times then Yf, k3, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k3, Yf, k10.
Row 5. K11, (Yf, k2, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k2, Yf, k17), rep 4 times then Yf, k2, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k2, Yf, k11.
Row 7. K12, (Yf, k1, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k1, Yf, k19), rep 4 times then Yf, k1, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k1, Yf, k12.
Row 9. K13, (Yf, Sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, Yf, k21) rep 4 times then Yf, sl 2tog, k1, p2sso, k13.
Row 10. P


That’s all there is to it. Happy knitting guys and until next week have fun.
Yvonne 

Isn’t Yvonne doing a great job designing this?

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Knit-A-Long Baby Blanket: Week 6

Posted on by Jackie B

The KAL blanket is growing! Before I share the next instalment of Yvonne’s design, here are what some of the other group members are looking like. If you’ll remember, last week’s pattern was for a 5×5 check effect.

Here’s mine so far

…and L’s salmon pink…

…along with R’s pink and white

This week, Yvonne introduces a honeycomb pattern.

She writes,”Hi guys. Hope you are all well and managed last week’s pattern without too much trouble!

This week’s pattern consists of a 4 row repeat and uses a cable needle, it’s a little tricky but remember it’s all in the counting.

Week 6

We will be using abbreviations so here is the explanation for this pattern 
TW2R Twist 2 right which means put next st on cable needle and hold at back of work, knit 1, then knit 1 from cable needle.
TW2L Twist 2 left which means put next st on cable needle and hold at front of work, knit 1 then knit 1 from cable needle.

Ok here we go.
Row 1, (TW2R, TW2L) repeat to last st k1.
Row 2 and all even rows purl.
Row 3, (TW2L, TW2R) repeat to last st k1.

These 4 rows form pattern so repeat rows 1 – 4 again and then rows 1 & 2 again.

That’s all there is to it, good luck and happy knitting.
See you next week.

Yvonne.

I love a bit of cable so I’m looking forward to getting on with this one. To see what it should look like, look at the photo of Yvonne’s blanket at the beginning of the post – it’s the purple stripe at the top.

Keep on knitting and sending photos of your blanket so far!

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Knit-A-Long Baby Blanket: Week 4

Posted on by Jackie B

Welcome to Week 4 of the KAL – that means that when you’ve done this week’s section you are a quarter of the way through!

First of all let’s look at what those of us taking part have been up to.

Here’s mine. My alternating colour/white combo meant week 3 was in white yarn.

Here is L’s lovely pink one……

…and A’s cosy soft fawn.

Now for the Week 4 instructions. This week we are back to casually counting stitches like Week 2. Over to you Yvonne…..

Week 4 Instructions

Yvonne writes, “Well guys it’s that time of the week again and time for the next 10 rows. I’m sorry to say that it’s a little bit harder. Also please remember that the first and last 8 stitches are in garter stitch throughout. So here we go.”

Row. 1, knit.
Row. 2, p6, k1, to end finishing with a p6.
Row. 3, k5, (p3, k4) to end doing last st as k before border.
Row. 4, p4, (k5, p2) to last 4 sts p to end.
Row. 5, k4, (p5, k2) to last 4 sts k to end.
Row. 6, p4, (k2, p1, k2, p2) to last 4 sts p to end.
Row. 7, k4, (p2, k1, p2, k2) to last 4 sts k to end.
Row. 8, p5, (k1, p1, k1, p4) to last 5 sts p to end.
Row 9, k to end.
Row 10, p to end.

“This is my variation of a row of hearts as I have put lots into the blanket. Good luck everyone and happy knitting until next week.”

I’d love to hear about your progress on the KAL… with photos if possible. How did your Week 3 go? What colour(s) are you using?

Good luck with Week 4. The next instalment will be posted next week.

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Knit-A-Long Baby Blanket: Week 3

Posted on by Jackie B

It’s KAL time! As you’ll have realised if you are taking part, this is a MYSTERY KAL. This means that Yvonne, who designed our baby blanket is not showing us what the finished item will look like, only revealing it gradually, week-by-week as each section of the pattern is released. Before I post her next set of instructions, here’s where we are up to before Week 3’s knitting starts. This is L’s pink blanket so far……

…and R’s which combines a pink border with a pink and white yarn for the Week 2 pattern. The colours go beautifully.

Here is mine, which has a white border.

The Week 2 pattern was not without its challenges. One wrong stitch threw the rest of the row out and I had to start this bit again. Yvonne has been a little more lenient with us this week!

Week 3 Instructions

Yvonne writes, “Hi All. Week 3 already. I can’t believe it! Hope everyone managed to sort out the mishaps from last week but we are having an easier one this week.”

So here we go, remembering that the first and last 8 sts are in garter stitch.

Row 1, K to end.
Row 2, P1, K1, repeat to end.

These 2 rows form this week’s pattern so repeat rows 1 and 2 until 10 rows have been done in total.

“Until next week, happy knitting.”

This is mine in close up. I hope it shows clearly enough what Week 3’s design looks like. As I’ve mentioned previously, mine has a white garter stitch border. I’ve decided to alternate white and coloured sections for the body of the blanket. What colour next week I wonder?

I’d love to hear about your progress on the KAL… with photos if possible. Did you run into any problems with Week 2? Are you using a contrasting border? One colour or stripes?

Good luck with Week 3. The next instalment will be posted next week.