Hugs for Baby by Becky Rudella

Hugs for Baby

Knitting
March 2022
DK (11 wpi) ?
21 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches
in Stockinette stitch on larger needles
US 6 - 4.0 mm
US 7 - 4.5 mm
5.0 mm (H)
724 - 1000 yards (662 - 914 m)
35" long by 30" wide; option included for larger blanket
English
This pattern is available for $3.25 USD buy it now

Two-skein pattern.
This sweet blanket makes a special baby gift and quickly becomes a favorite!
Self-patterning yarn does all the floral design work. This stitch pattern also works very well with solid, variegated, or long-gradient color changing yarn. Two 362-yard skeins of Hayfield Baby Blossom DK yarn are all it takes to knit this blanket. This specific yarn often includes more than 100 grams / 362 yards, so there might be enough yarn to knit a little longer blanket. (Note: Also see my With Love to Baby pattern, which was designed to use only one 362-yard skein. Perfect for a stroller and easy for a toddler to carry around)!

The pattern lets you know when you should check to ensure enough yarn remains to work the top border, so no worries about running out of yarn or having too much left over. Instructions also include the option to create a wider and longer blanket with more than 725 yards of dk weight yarn, if desired.

This pattern includes the following techniques that will also be useful for many other patterns:
-- a method for neat side edges so no extra finishing is necessary
-- techniques to ensure a flat blanket body without edges curling, flipping, and pulling in
-- boxes to check after finishing each row in the bottom and top borders for ease in tracking progress
--instructions for the cast-on method that visually matches the traditional bind-off
--abbreviation descriptions and instructions for commonly used left and right-leaning increases and decreases, as well as yarn overs in English/Western and Continental knitting styles.

Skills required: knit, purl, and traditional BO (instructions for other required techniques are included in the pattern).

The crochet hook is used only for the cast-on method. The hook can be a size close to 5 mm but does not have to be exact for this purpose.

Enjoy the pattern! I would be SO happy to see a photo of your blanket project posted!