• Candy Stripes Blanket

Springtime in Indiana is mercurial, at best. We can always count on a last, unconvincing but bitter final fall of snow during the annual rite of spring, Hoosier Hysteria. For those who don't know all the stats of their local high school, favorite college and even professional basketball teams, this is a mystery. The state has a preoccupation with the game!

With the arrival of spring (finally!), we're sharing a pattern for a baby blanket in this issue of the newsletter. Babies and their mothers will love the soft, cozy warmth of this sweet little blanket made of Plymouth Yarn Company's Encore yarn. The colorway used is Candy, but there are so many other choices of colors in this wonderful yarn that you're sure to choose the right one for a new arrival!

The pattern combines seed stitch with stockinette stitch in an interesting design which resembles a basket-weave pattern on a larger scale. It would be easy to enlarge the dimensions to make this an afghan or lap robe as your needs dictate. We hope you'll enjoy this pattern, rated Easy.

Candy Stripes Blanket

Design by Lanie Hering

Skill Level

Easy

Finished Size

Approx 31 x 35 inches

Materials

• Plymouth Encore Colorspun Worsted 75 percent acrylic/25 percent wool worsted weight yarn (200 yds/100g per ball): 6 balls candy #7065
• Size 8 (5mm) 24-inch circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge
• Stitch markers

Gauge

18 sts and 27 rows = 4 inches/10cm in pat st.
To save time, take time to check gauge.

Pattern Stitch

Seed Stitch

All rows: K1, *p1, k1; rep from * as directed.

Pattern Notes

Circular needle is used to accommodate large number of sts. Do not join; work in rows.

On Rows 43–50, make sure to keep Seed st pat in correct st alignment; i.e., knit the purl sts and purl the knit sts.

Blanket

Cast on 143 sts.
Work in Seed st for 7 rows for border.
Rows 1, 3 and 5 (RS): Seed st 5, pm for border, *[k5, Seed st 5] twice, k5, p2, k25, p2; rep from * once; [k5, Seed st 5] twice, k5, pm for border, Seed st 5.
Rows 2, 4 and 6: Seed st 5, *[p5, Seed st 5] twice, p5, k2, p25, k2; rep from * once; [p5, Seed st 5] 3 times.
Rows 7, 9, 11 and 13: Seed st 5, *[k5, Seed st 5] twice, k5, p2, Seed st 25, p2; rep from * once; [k5, Seed st 5] 3 times.
Rows 8, 10, 12 and 14: Seed st 5, *[p5, Seed st 5] twice, p5, k2, Seed st 25, k2; rep from * once, [p5, Seed st 5] 3 times.
Rows 15–28: Rep Rows 1–14.
Rows 29–34: Rep Rows 1–6.
Rows 35 and 36: Seed st 5, knit to last 5 sts, Seed st 5.
Rows 37, 39 and 41: Seed st 5, *k25, p2, [k5, Seed st 5] twice, k5, p2; rep from * once; k25, Seed st 5.
Rows 38, 40 and 42: Seed st 5, *p25, k2, [p5, Seed st 5] twice, p5, k2; rep from * once; p25, Seed st 5.
Rows 43, 45, 47 and 49: Seed st 5, *Seed st 25, p2, [k5, Seed st 5] twice, k5, p2; rep from * once, Seed st to end of row.
Rows 44, 46, 48 and 50: Seed st 5, *Seed st 25, k2, [p5, Seed st 5] twice, p5, k2; rep from * once; Seed st to end of row.
Rows 51–64: Rep Rows 37–50.
Rows 65–70: Rep Rows 37–42.
Rows 71 and 72: Rep Row 35 and 36.
Rep Rows 1–72 once, then rep Rows 1–70 once.

Work 7 rows in Seed st for border.

Bind off in pat.

Copyright© 2005 Easy Afghans for Knitters, House of White Birches. All rights reserved.