IMPORTANT NOTE

Sylvine is a belly time blanket for lying on top of and SHOULD NOT be used to cover baby.

The finished blanket, using the recommended yarn and backing fabric, weighs approximately 1.3 to 1.5 kilograms (2.8 to 3.3 pounds). That is TOO HEAVY for baby.

! DO NOT COVER BABY WITH THIS BLANKET !

Belly Time

Belly time is beneficial for baby’s motor skill development by strengthening her back, neck, shoulder and arm muscles. Baby won’t get buff, but she will be able to use those muscles to learn to sit up, crawl and eventually walk on her own.

The thick yarn and soft backing of this blanket give comfort and cushioning during belly time, while the colours and textures provide visual and tactile stimulation.

About Sylvine

Featuring cabled woodland creatures (an owl, two bunnies and a bear) and earthy colours, this blanket is perfect for outdoorsy and nature loving parents.

The overall look was inspired by the love that shines through in visible mending and patched blankets. A blanket that is loved enough to be patched and mended rather than thrown out is such a treasure. To showcase the beauty of visible mending and patchwork, the seams in this blanket are purposefully made visible by purling the colour changes and the backing is sewed on with a visible running stitch. The blanket is meant to be chunky and to look lovingly homemade.

Care:

The blanket uses easy-care products, such as cotton and jersey fleece, to make sure it is easily machine washable and dryable. After all, especially on her belly, baby is gonna baby.

Size:

Approximately 110 x 110 cm (1.2 x 1.2 yards)

What you’ll need:

• Yarn: DROPS Paris Uni Colour - Aran weight (50 grams = 75 meters) (or equivalent):

  • colour 17 Off White - approx. 495 grams ~ 750 meters ~ 10 balls
  • colour 65 Rust - approx. 80 grams ~ 120 meters ~ 3 balls
  • colour 71 Tangerine - approx. 85 grams ~ 130 meters ~ 3 balls
  • colour 62 Sea Green - approx. 75 grams ~ 120 meters ~ 3 balls
  • colour 43 Forest Green - approx. 75 grams ~ 120 meters ~ 3 balls
  • colour 19 Light Yellow - approx. 40 grams ~ 60 meters ~ 1 ball

• Backing fabric: 150 x 150 cm thick jersey fleece (or equivalent)

• Needles: 6 mm, or what you need to get gauge. If you’re using circulars, the cable doesn’t need to be overly long, as the blanket is knit in strips, sewn together as you knit

• Notions: 1 cable needle (if desired), 1 large sewing needle for jersey fabric, 1 darning needle, fabric scissors

About the construction:

The blanket is knit patch by patch in columns starting from the bottom left. The columns are “sewn” together by picking up stitches from the selvedge while knitting up the next column.

The border is added after the columns are finished. Then the backing fabric is tacked to the back of the knit blanket and enclosed in the border, which is sewn shut with a simple running stitch.

No extra sewing thread is needed, the backing is sewn on using the same yarn.

About the pattern:

There are two separate patterns: one uses charts, the other has written instructions. Both provide extra information on construction and finishing.

key words:
animal, baby, backing fabric, bear, belly time, blanket, blocks, bunny, cabled, cables, fabric back, owl, patch, patchwork, rabbit, teddy bear, tummy time, woodland