Every beloved child needs a cushy, luxurious, machine-wash/dry blankie they can love. This project is a pleasant and relaxing knit with delightful yarn. It will surely be loved for a long, long time.

This one is a winner. It shows off handpainted yarn very well, in a checkerboard/basketweave pattern. Good photo assistance to help you learn how to count those rows as you proceed. It makes a great baby blanket, but in a smaller version might make a great lap robe as well.

Gauge: 4.5 stitches and 6 rows per inch, stockinette. Exact gauge is not crucial in this pattern (but may change yarn requirements).
Size: If you use my gauge and follow the pattern exactly, your blanket will be about 36”long by 31” wide after machine washing and drying.

Needle: Size 9 US/ 5.5 mm, 20-32 inch long circular. Consider if you knit very loose or very tight, and adjust needle accordingly if necessary. A looser gauge will likely make a too-floppy fabric, especially if you substitute yarns.

Yarn: 1050 yards of LynnH Cushy ColorSport yarn. This yarn is a machine wash/machine dry 100% merino. It is a dense and springy DK weight yarn. Because this particular yarn is extremely springy, it can be knit successfully at this looser-than-usual gauge. Also consider a washable yarn in Aran or Heavy Worsted which indicates 4.5 to 5 stitches per inch on the ball band.