I’m really quite pleased with the finished blanket.

Used the Emily Ocker cast on, magic loop, and am following the pattern as-is. Using stitch markers to indicate all 10 sections, with a different colour marker to indicate the beginning.
Knit to 52 stitches within each section (520) before beginning border.

Used the Russian join for joining new balls based on what I read from others who made this.

Using this eyelet border:
R1 - P
R2 - K
R3 - P
R4 - k2tog, yo
R5 - P
R6 - K
R7 - P
bind off as if to knit
{Will definitely use this border again.}

Used the kfb for increases in the garter section R2, R6 instead of YO’s. BUT, when making this blanket again in future, these kfb are definitely not necessary on this border.

Used this simple stretchy bind off.

YARN: my personal choice is to always use natural fibres but busy working new moms really want something machine washable, so the reason for using this blend. My only real complaint about this yarn is how splitty it was. Washed and blocked well for gifting so I hope it doesn’t pill for her.

Notes if making this again:
If I make another small one with this yarn, only knit to 50 or 51 stitches before border (because I ran out and had to use a few yards of the next ball). OR, keep on knitting to make a larger one.
Also, see note above, no need to do the kfb on the knit rows in the garter border.

I’ll decide once finished but I think I may duplicate stitch a little white heart on two of the 10 sections.