DESIGN INSPIRATION

In chemistry, a saturated solution is one in which the maximum amount of solute has been dissolved in a solvent at a given temperature. If you’ve ever ordered iced tea and really wanted sweet tea, you likely found that after dumping in a few packets of sugar, quite a few crystals of sugar settled on the bottom of your glass. This is because the solution, your now only slightly sweetened tea, is saturated; that is, no more sugar can dissolve in the iced tea.

When I designed this blanket for my sister’s new baby, I kept thinking about how this child will enter the world with their parents’ and sisters’ hearts full of love, or, if you will, saturated with love. The Saturation Blanket, gifted to someone for whom you are full of love (even yourself!), is sure to become an heirloom piece.

The faux rib/garter texture of the Saturation Blanket creates a squishy, cozy fabric. The edges of the blanket feature beautiful braided cables that entwine at the corners and continue along all four sides of the blanket, giving it an elegant, cohesive look. With plenty of rest rows and pattern interest, this blanket will fly off the needles.

CONSTRUCTION

The Saturation Blanket begins with a provisional cast-on, and the body is worked along with cables on the left and right sides of the blanket. After completing the body, applied edgings are used to add the cables to the top and bottom of the blanket, and the corners are worked using stitches from the body and the applied edging. Photos of the process are included to help keep you on track.

PATTERN INFORMATION

Difficulty Rating
INTERMEDIATE: Project is worked flat and includes cables, provisional cast-ons, applied edgings, and decreases.

Recommended Yarn
Approximately 1100 {1450, 2025, 2500} yds (1005 {1326, 1852, 2286} m) worsted weight yarn. Sample is shown in Tosh Vintage by Madelinetosh in the colorway Button Jar Blue, 100% superwash merino wool, 200 yds (183 m) per 4 oz (113 g).

This design will look great in a variety of dye styles and yarn weights. You can use a heavily speckled yarn with low contrast, a lightly speckled, tonal, or solid yarn, or you could hold a neutral together with a heavily speckled/variegated yarn to get a dilution effect. Superwash wool or wool blends are recommended because they can be blocked nicely.

Needles/Notions

• US #7 (4.5 mm) 24-40” (60-100 cm) circular OR size needed to obtain gauge
• Tapestry needle for Kitchener stitch and weaving in ends
• 2 stitch markers
• 1 progress keeper
• Cable needle
• Crochet hook for provisional cast-on
• Waste yarn

Gauge
18 sts and 28 rows to 4” (10 cm) in 2x3 faux rib on US #7 (4.5 mm) needles.

Pattern gauge was measured after washing and blocking. While gauge is not crucial for this project, a different gauge will affect how much yarn is required as well as the finished size of the project. Instructions are included for how to make a gauge swatch.

Sizes Available
Baby {Toddler, Crib, Throw}

Finished Measurements
31x36 {36x42, 42x49, 47x54} inches
79x91 {91x107, 107x124, 119x137} centimeters

Finished measurements were taken after washing and blocking.

This pattern has been tech edited and test knit.