Whit's Knits: Forever Baby Blanket

I call this the Forever Baby Blanket because its design is so timeless and classic. You will never look at it and wonder, "What was I thinking?", which is important when it comes to baby blankets because no one throws away a handknit baby blanket. It is, in fact, forever. It gets wrapped in tissue, surrounded by cedar, and tucked away until a new generation comes along and thanks you for having made such an enduringly beautiful blanket!

I was really excited to use Purl Soho's latest addition to our line of Anzula yarn, For Better or Worsted. Like our beloved Squishy, For Better or Worsted is a superwash merino, cashmere and nylon blend in gorgeous hand dyed colors. It is the perfect baby blanket yarn, machine washable, super duper soft, and special enough for heirloom knitting.

Ever since making the Autumn Equinox Vest I've wanted to revisit the Cartridge Belt Rib. Its distinctive texture is characterised by deep valleys and high ridges, created by a simple slip stitch pattern. For a baby blanket this rib is a wonderful choice because it provides a lofty coziness nothing short of what we want for our precious babies!

If you've got a baby in your future, please visit our Forever Baby Blanket Project Journal. Thanks! - Whitney

Comments

[Sarah]

Where can I find that gorgeous Moses basket?

[Kristina]

Beautiful! I really like the look of this yarn all knit up.

[Erika]

Perfect timing! Just found out I'm going to be an auntie again!

[naomi]

ooh that is truly scrummy, what a classic design and colour

[Susanne Johnson]

I just picked up a skein of the Anzula For Better or Worsted in a gorgeous saturated pink last weekend! I love the "squishy" look of this yarn and the stitch pattern. I just might make one for myself. I am proud to say that my baby blanket is still sleeping with me even at age 26! There is something very comforting about having all that love that went into it surround me during sleep.

[purl bee]

Hi Sarah,

It's from Target. Here is the link:

http://www.target.com/s?keywords=moses%20basket

Thanks for the question-

Molly

[Sharm's Outlet]

I love this... I was at NYC a couple of weeks ago and bought some yarn from your shop and matter fact I blog about it too. I have bought two books during this holiday season for crafting and they are written by you...
I love all your work and your talent in understanding the color wheel and the organization skill may be something for you to write about in your blog...

[Denise]

Love! I was hooked on the Super Easy for a while, I think I made about eight of them. Thanks for the inspiration, this is gorgeous.

[Help For Families]

Awesome work! I've been knitting since I was in high school. I've learned the craft from my mother when she teaches me how it works. I'd still remember the first project I made and gave it to her. I made a cute purse!

[MaryAlice]

I've had an abiding interest in the cartridge stitch, too. I used it on a vest design to flow around the perimeter of the whole garment, figured out how to turn the corner, and it worked beautifully. No one can ever figure it out. I also knit an entire vest and pure black with that stitch and found it worked well because of the shadows it allowed.

[Brandie]

LOVE this! I tried a small swatch to make sure I understood the pattern, and it looks different than your beautiful picture...hmm. Wonder if it is the different yarn I am using or maybe it is wrong? I'll try again! =0) Thanks for sharing this...I love your blog!!

[Barbara]

I would like to practise the pattern for this project, but don't want to cast on 179 stitches to do it. It seems to be a multiple of 4, but 4 doesn't go into 179 evenly. How many stitches is the pattern a multiple of?How many stitches should I cast on to make a small sample?

[Robin]

Thanks for the question, Barbara. I want to make sure I understand the pattern before I go nuts with 179 sts. What would be the right number of stitches for a little swatch?

[MaryAlice]

A check of Barbara Walker's Second Treasury gives repeat of 4 stitches plus 3. That means you knit 4 and 4 and 4, etc, then 3. That shifts the stitches so the rib stands out on either side. Hope I'm clear.

[Diane]

I love this stitch and am thinking about it for a scarf! Barbara and Robin both asked what the multiple of stitches is - it seems to me a multiple of 4 plus 3. The 3 being the first K3 of Row 1 in the pattern. Is this correct? Thanks!

Row 1: K3, *sl 1 wyif, k3, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2: K1, *sl 1 wyif, k3, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, sl 1 wyif, k1.

[Sara]

i still am not getting my pattern to come out properly i am very disapointed, either i don't understand the pattern instruction or its still an error somewhere. so i will look for a different blanket pattern for now and try this one again when i have more patience to try to figure it out.

[MaryAlice]

4 + 3 = knit 4 pattern stitches, and repeat that until you have only 3 stitches left. knit the 3 stitches.

turn the work

once again, knit 4 stitches, and repeat that until you ahve only 3 stitches left. knit the 3 stitches.

turn the work

repeat the above for the length of the piece. A swatch can be a multiple of 4 stitches, say 20, plus 3 more stitches on the end.

[Sara]

i tried a swatch with your instructions maryalice, it must be me because when i follow what you wrote i get a basket weave type pattern!! so i am taking the instructions to my LYS and what i've swatch to see just what the heck i have done to butcher this up.
thanks for your help

[purlbee]

Hi everyone with questions about the stitch pattern,

You're all correct! Yes, the Cartridge Belt Rib is worked on a multiple of 4 plus 3, for example 4 times 7 equals 28 plus 3 equals 31.

Please let me know if anyone has any other questions and thank you all for asking!

Whitney

[MaryAlice]

What you are saying, Whitney, is that the pattern is a repeat of 4 + 3 a multiple of times to equal the total of cast on stitches? I really and politely beg to differ, and so much that after I finish my morning chores I'm going to cast on and see what happens. As I said earlier, I've used this as a round trim for a vest, turning the corners with miters, but I haven't done it for a long time. I love these puzzles in knitting as well as getting frustrated with them. Report to come.

[MaryAlice]

Oh, Whitney, I read your post wrong. Now I don't have to knit a swatch I don't need, though I do like knitting up swatches. Sorry.

[Jackie]

How would this work with a bulkier yarn?? I'm due in 3 1/2 weeks and need it to be quick! :)

[purl bee]

Hi Jackie-

This would work with larger yarn, although it would be quite thick (but that might be nice?) You just need to make sure you use the appropriate sized needles for your yarn

We have a quicker baby blanket project here that was designed with bulkier yarn in mind: http://www.purlbee.com/bulky-baby-blankets/

Please let us know if you have any other questions and congratulations on your impending new arrival : )