Knitted Braided Baby Blanket
The Knitted Braided Baby Blanket is a charming and cozy addition to any nursery, making it a perfect gift for new parents. The intricate braided design adds a touch of handmade craftsmanship and warmth to the blanket, creating a snug environment for the little one. Crafted with soft and gentle yarn, it provides a comforting feel against the baby's delicate skin. The versatility of this blanket allows it to be used for swaddling, tummy time, or simply as a soft layer for the crib. Its charming appearance and thoughtful design make it a wonderful keepsake that both parents and baby will cherish for years to come.
Needles: US size 9 (5.5 mm); US size 10.5 (6.5 mm).
Yarns used: Loops and Threads Impeccable Yarn (worsted weight (4); 100% acrylic; 285 yards/127.5 grams), 2 skeins of Pale Gray and 2 skeins of Navy.
Yardage: 570 yards of Pale Gray; 380 yards of Navy.
Gauge: 4 stitches per inch.
Other Notions: cable needle, extra needle for kitchener stitch (doesn’t matter what size), yarn needle for finishing.
Final Measurements (Blocked): 38.5 inches (97.8 cm) wide and 32.5 inches (82.6 cm), including border.
Stitch Abbreviations:
- k = knit
- p = purl
- sl = slip
- k2togfb = knit two together in front and back = pick up and knit two stitches for k2tog, do not take stitches off of left needle. Reach right needle around behind the stitch and knit the two stitches again through the back loop. Slide stitches off left needle.
- 3/3 rc = 3/3 right cross = slip 3 stitches onto cable needle, hold behind work; k3, k3 from cable needle.
- 3/3 lc = 3/3 left cross = slip 3 stitches onto cable needle, hold in front of work; k3, k3 from cable needle.
Pattern:
Using Pale Gray and size 9 needles, cast on 132 stitches.
Row 1: sl1, k to end.
Row 2: sl1, p to end.
Repeat these two rows until piece measures 34 inches (86.4 cm), or until both skeins have been finished. Bind off.
Cable border:
Begin at a corner, working counter-clockwise. See Pattern Notes for where along blanket edge to pick up stitches.
Using Navy and size 10.5 needles, cast on 13 stitches using a provisional cast on.
Row 1: k13, pick up one stitch along edge of blanket, pass previous stitch over.
Row 2 and all even rows: k2, p9, k2.
Row 3: k2, 3/3 rc, k5, pick up one stitch along edge of blanket, pass previous stitch over.
Row 5: k13, pick up one stitch along edge of blanket, pass previous stitch over.
Row 7: k5, 3/3 lc, k2, pick up one stitch along edge of blanket, pass previous stitch over.
Repeat Rows 1-8 until you reach the corner. Stop the pattern at the corner, ending on an even row (doesn’t matter which one).
Corner:
Begin creating short rows:
Row 1: k12, turn.
Row 2: k1, p9, k2.
Row 3: k11, turn.
Row 4: p9, k2.
Row 5: k8, k2tog, turn.
Row 6: p7, k2.
Row 7: k6, k2tog, turn.
Row 8: p5, k2.
Row 9: k4, k2tog, turn.
Row 10: p3, k2.
Row 11: k3, turn.
Row 12: p1, k2.
Row 13: k2, turn.
Row 14: k2.
Work back along the short rows:
Row 15: k1, k2togfb, turn.
Row 16: sl1, k2.
Row 17: k2, k2togfb, turn.
Row 18: sl1, p1, k2.
Row 19: k3, k2togfb, pick up top loop of k2tog from Row 9 and knit, turn.
Row 20: p4, k2.
Row 21: k5, k2togfb, pick up top loop of k2tog from Row 7 and knit, turn.
Row 22: p6, k2.
Row 23: k7, k2togfb, pick up top loop of k2tog from Row 5 and knit, turn.
Row 24: p8, k2.
Row 25: k9, k2togfb, turn.
Row 26: sl1, p8, k2.
Row 27: k10, k2togfb, turn.
Row 28: sl1, p9, k2.
Row 29: k5, 3/3 lc, k2togfb, pick up one stitch along edge of blanket, pass previous stitch over.
Row 30: k2, p9, k2.
Repeat Rows 1-8 of cable border to next corner.
Repeat short-row corner.
Continue in this way until border is knit all the way around the blanket. End the final corner on Row 29. Place provisional cast-on edge onto extra needle. Use kitchener stitch to join. (The kitchener stitch takes the place of Row 30. If you knit Row 30 before joining, there will be an extra row between the two cable twists.) Cut 6 inch tail; sew all ends under. Block to proper size.