Projects
The Coolest Baby Blanket
Dear Ann,
I have been having the time of my life knitting an improvised blanket based on Lorilee Beltman’s Sinkmates Suite dishcloth. I’m calling it the Pack & Play blanket, in homage to everybody’s favorite supposedly-portable playpen.
The Pack & Play blanket offers the kind of sweet knitting ride that only garter stitch + lots of colors + a memorizable, intuitive pattern can provide. It’s perfect for late-summer road trips, and also for sitting on the porch keeping as motionless as possible to avoid melting.
Last week, I took an epic trip from New York to Nashville, then on the backroads of Arkansas and Tennessee—with a historic-for-me stop at the West Memphis Cracker Barrel (thank you Ann for this cherished memory)—and then back to New York. This odyssey got me all the way through block 3 of the 4 blocks needed for this stripe festival of a baby blanket. Whee!
For those just joining me, my basic instructions for turning the Sinkmates Suite dishcloth pattern into a blanket are here.
And now, gather ’round—momma’s got tips!
A Clip & Save for the Pack & Play
Start out right. At the beginning of each block, make the first 90-round section of i-cord, then pick up 90 stitches into the i-cord for the first side of the block. This way, you can be sure your i-cord is the right length before you make the sections of i-cord for the hanging loop and the second side of the blanket. This tip is less important if you are making the whole i-cord in a single color, but it’s still helpful to not over- or under-shoot your i-cord length.
The more (markers) the merrier! As I picked up stitches into the i-cord, I placed a ring marker after every 10 stitches. You can place markers at any interval you like, but every 10 stitches was my sweet spot. It’s enormously helpful in getting the decreases lined up straight down the center of the blanket, and removing the markers as the stitch count decreases gives a great sense of progress. Also, if you drop a stitch, you can find it easily in its designated 10-stitch section.
Variety is the spice. If you want your stripes/color blocks to have a pleasing randomness, use dice, or a handy dice app on your phone to determine how many garter ridges to knit for each section. (If I’m trying to be random on my own, I fall into boring consistency.) I mostly threw 2 dice to determine how many garter ridges I’d knit for a section; but sometimes I went wild and threw 3. It’s a blessing to be easily entertained.
About colors: don’t aim too hard. I found I liked my color mixes better when I limited the choices for a block to 6–8 colors of Rowan Handknit Cotton. You cannot properly judge the mix until the colors begin to play and repeat. If at first you’re not inspired by your color mix, keep going. It takes a while for a set of colors to start grooving, but it never fails to groove if you stick with it.
And that’s really it! There is not a lot of technical know-how required here—this is relaxation knitting at its finest.
I made myself a rule that I have to weave in the ends on a block before I start the next block, and I’ve been surprised by how satisfying and quick it is to get through a block’s worth of ends.
Weaving in the ones at the center of the blanket closes up any gaps perfectly.
Please hold while I get the ends done on block 3 so I can start block 4! The baby just turned a year old, so this knitter is motivated.
Love,
Kay
That is SO COOL!!! Once again, I am so inspired by a post on MDK. THANK YOU!!
I bet this could also work using all my Atlas odds and ends. It would be super soft as well as colorful.
What an enchanting project and knit! I especially like the idea of using the dice.
Kay, it’s been a delight to watch this idea unfold.
(see what I did there)
This is so creative and beautiful! I love your colors.
Oooh la la!! I love this Kay!
The babies and friends and relatives in your life are so very lucky.
I love the idea of throwing the dice! I’m going to use this for a hat I plan to make with odds and ends.
Gorgeous!
What a great idea! Thank you!
It looks pretty good so far. Can’t wait to see the finished blanket! (Hopefully, before the baby is old enough to tend bar…)
It IS a blessing to be easily entertained!
I have no idea what any of this means, but I love the colors, the randomness at the seams, and almost wish I was a knitter. Beautiful!
“This knitter is motivated.” I am hoping I will catch your motivation!
This really is the coolest baby blanket ever!