Dreaming of a safari? Giraffe Family Blanket is available now!

Have you got a baby on the way? Maybe a friend or family member does? Are you looking fr the perfect gift for them? The Giraffe Family Blanket might be just the thing!

When I was little, I wanted a pet giraffe! I’ve always been tall, and when I was little I found these tallest of animals fascinating. I would have loved the Giraffe Family Baby Blanket as a small child, and this makes the perfect gift for a new baby (especially if the parents are tall!). 

At 91 x 71 cm (35.75 x 28 in), the blanket is sized to fit a pram, stroller, Moses basket or crib, and can also be rolled out on the floor and used as a playmat. The blanket is knitted in one piece with the giraffes being incorporated using the intarsia technique. The giraffes stand against a green grass and blue sky background, and the edge stitches of the blanket are knitted in moss stitch to prevent curling.

The blanket instructions are written out in full, with both charts and written instructions for the giraffes.

Ready to cast on? Pick up your copy now!

Use the code GIRAFFE to get 15% off. Expires 11.59pm BST, Friday 22nd October 2021

PayHip: https://payhip.com/b/TSXPt

Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/giraffe-family-baby-blanket**

********

Want the technical info? Keep reading...

 

Sizes

One size: 91 x 71 cm (35.75 x 28 in)

 

Tension

16 sts and 22 rows = 10 cm (4 in) in stocking stitch worked flat on 5.5 mm (US 9) needles after wet blocking, or size needed to obtain correct tension.

 

Yarn

Aran-weight yarn in the following colours and amounts: A (green): 125 m (140 yds); B (pale blue): 520 m (570 yds); C (yellow): 115 m (130 yds); D (brown): 40 m (45 yds); E (black): 5 m (10 yds)

The yardages given are enough to knit the grass, sky, and yellow portion of the giraffes, then add the spots and faces using duplicate stitch. If you knit the whole blanket using intarsia, you will find you need less yellow than stated.

I would recommend using an acrylic, wool, or wool/acrylic blend yarn with plied structure and good stitch definition. If you are making the blanket for a baby, you may wish to consider using a machine washable yarn to make the blanket easy to care for.

Needles

5 mm (US 8) circular needle at least 80 cm (32 in) in length; 5.5 mm (US 9) circular needle at least 80 cm (32 in) in length

 

Notions

Stitch markers x 4; Bobbins for holding the different yarn colours during colourwork; Chart row marker; Tapestry needle

 

Pattern notes

The sample is knitted in Stylecraft Special Aran (aran, 196 m per 100 g ball, 100% acrylic) in Meadow 1065 (A), Cloud Blue 1019 (B), Saffron 1081 (C), Mocha 1064 (D) and Black 1002 (E).

Weave your ends into regions of the same colour to avoid show-through.

Weave in your ends every 10 or so rows to avoid having to do them all at the end.

When working from the chart, odd numbered rows should be worked right to left, and even numbered rows should be worked from left to right.

If you find that printing the chart on A4 paper is too small to easily read, you can find a few solutions in this blog post: https://www.vikkibirddesigns.com/2021/10/making-knitting-charts-larger.html

You may prefer to add the spots to the giraffes at the end using duplicate stitch. If you wish to do this, knit all the spot sts from the chart or written instructions in C (yellow) while you are knitting the blanket, then sew over them at the end using D (brown).

This pattern was tech edited by Jo Torr.

A version of this pattern was published by Willow Yarns.

Pick up your copy now!

Use the code GIRAFFE to get 15% off. Expires 11.59pm BST, Friday 22nd October 2021

PayHip: https://payhip.com/b/TSXPt

Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/giraffe-family-baby-blanket**

 

**Ravelry link. May cuase issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution.

Daisy Chain Blanket - the crochet version

Did you see yesterday’s Daisy Chain Blanket – the knit version? Well it’s got a friend, the crochet version!

Are you looking for a baby gift that is bright and bold, and can be finished in just a few days? The Crochet Daisy Chain Blanket is just the thing! The blanket uses mini-corner-to-corner crochet, which is really easy to learn and gives a satisfyingly speedy finish.

The pattern is written for the smallest size (a good car seat or Moses basket blanket size), if you want to make a larger blanket, you can make multiple panels, seam them and add the border at the end. This blanket isn’t just for babies, and could also be made as a throw or lap blanket. The blanket is crocheted in machine washable, aran weight yarn, making it quick to work up and easy to care for.

This pattern contains both a chart and written instructions for the multi-colour section (mostly because I hate reading charts diagonally, and I may as well do the hard work so you don’t have to!).

This pattern is written using US terms. Where applicable, UK terms are given in square brackets: US [UK]. Full photo tutorials for both the mini-corner-to-corner crochet technique and border, making this pattern suitable for advanced beginners.

If the Daisy Chain Blanket – the crochet version looks like your sort of thing, head to my Ravelry* and PayHip stores now. Fancy a discount? Use the code DAISY to get 15% off. Code expires 11.59pm BST, Thursday 12th August 2021.

If knitting is more your thing, you can find the knit version here.

*Ravelry link. May cause issues for people with photosensitivity; proceed with caution.

Tessellate baby blanket: now available on LoveCrafts!

The Tessellate baby blanket is available now in LoveCrafts store!* Haven't heard of LoveCrafts? It's the new combined home of LoveKnitting and LoveCrochet. You can find all my downloadable patterns in my LoveCrafts store.*

The Tessellate baby blanket* (originally published in Knit Now issue 86) is a bold, high contrast design, inspired by patchwork and quilting. The blanket features a strong geometric design created using simple two-colour squares that are knitted on the diagonal – this blanket makes excellent TV knitting, and is a great portable project. You could work the blanket in pastels, as shown, for a really pretty baby blanket, or you could use something brighter and bolder for a more contemporary look.

Unusually for me, this pattern is completely suitable for beginners. All you need to be able to do is knit garter stitch, work simple increases and decreases, and pick up stitches! The project is also perfect for those of you that want an easy project to take along on days out over the summer – as it's worked as individual squares, it'll fit perfectly in your bag among all the other stuff you need for a day out.

The pattern is written for the baby-sized blanket, as shown, but I've also included details on how to make a larger or smaller blanket, and provided diagrams for alternative seaming arrangements, so this blanket is fully customisable.

The original blanket is knitted in Three Bears Yarn Affection 100% Cotton Aran, which is spun in Lancashire by English Fine Cottons, but you can use any aran weight yarn that is suitable for babies (ideally chose something smooth and machine washable to make it easy for new parents to care for). LoveCrafts doesn't sell Three Bears Yarn, so I've suggested using Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran, which comes in a brilliant array of colours!

Happy knitting!

********

Pattern details

Sizes

One size: 93 cm (36.5 in) square

Tension

17 sts and 34 rows = 10 cm (4 in) in garter stitch worked flat on 5 mm (US 8) needles after wet blocking, or size needed to obtain correct tension.

Yarn

Aran-weight yarn in the following colours and amounts (for the blanket as shown; options are included to make a larger or smaller blanket):

A (white): 285 m (310 yds)

B (light blue): 285 m (310 yds)

C (light purple): 160 m (175 yds)

Needles

5 mm (US 8) straight needles at least 25 cm (10 in) in length

5 mm (US 8) circular needle at least 60 cm (24 in) in length

Notions

Tapestry needle

Sample details

The sample is knitted in Three Bears Yarn Affection Aran (aran, 85 m per 50 g ball, 100% cotton) in Pure White (A), Baby Blue (B) and Purple Delight (C).

********

*Affiliate link.

Tessellate baby blanket

Hello! I'm back into full-swing with work (well, as full-swing as is possible around three children during the summer term – a lot of my time seems to be taken up with sports days!), and have been starting to work through the pile of third-party designs that need adding to my Ravelry store.

The Tessellate baby blanket (originally published in Knit Now issue 86) is a bold, high contrast design, inspired by patchwork and quilting. The blanket features a strong geometric design created using simple two colour squares that are knitted on the diagonal – this blanket makes excellent TV knitting, and is a great portable project. You could work the blanket in pastels, as shown, for a really pretty baby blanket, or you could use something brighter and bolder for a more contemporary look.

Unusually for me, this pattern is completely suitable for beginners. All you need to be able to do is knit garter stitch, work simple increases and decreases, and pick up stitches! The project is also perfect for those of you that want an easy project to take along on days out over the summer – as it's worked as individual squares, it'll fit perfectly in your bag among all the other stuff you need for a day out.

The pattern is written for the baby-sized blanket, as shown, but I've also included details on how to make a larger or smaller blanket, and provided diagrams for alternative seaming arrangements, so this blanket is fully customisable.

The original blanket is knitted in Three Bears Yarn Affection 100% Cotton Aran, which is spun in Lancashire by English Fine Cottons, but you can use any aran weight yarn that is suitable for babies (ideally chose something smooth and machine washable to make it easy for new parents to care for).

The pattern is available now on Ravelry. From now until 11.59pm BST, Sunday 7th July 2019, you can get 20% off with the code TESSELLATE, just add the code before you check out.

The pattern will also be available shortly on Love Crafts* (the new name for Love Knitting) - just search for Tessellate baby blanket (note that discount codes do not apply on Love Crafts).

Happy knitting!

********

Pattern details

Sizes

One size: 93 cm (36.5 in) square

Tension

17 sts and 34 rows = 10 cm (4 in) in garter stitch worked flat on 5 mm (US 8) needles after wet blocking, or size needed to obtain correct tension.

Yarn

Aran-weight yarn in the following colours and amounts (for the blanket as shown; options are included to make a larger or smaller blanket):

A (white): 285 m (310 yds)

B (light blue): 285 m (310 yds)

C (light purple): 160 m (175 yds)

Needles

5 mm (US 8) straight needles at least 25 cm (10 in) in length

5 mm (US 8) circular needle at least 60 cm (24 in) in length

Notions

Tapestry needle

Sample details

The sample is knitted in Three Bears Yarn Affection Aran (aran, 85 m per 50 g ball, 100% cotton) in Pure White (A), Baby Blue (B) and Purple Delight (C).

********

*Affiliate link.

FO Friday: Beatrice baby blanket

Last week some of my close friends had a new baby, which means I can finally properly share the baby blanket I made for them.

As soon as I found out my friends were having a baby, I knew exactly the type of thing I wanted to make for their new arrival - a crochet baby blanket that was airy enough for the summer, but snuggly enough for the autumn too, and in rainbow colours. My friends are not knitters, so I decided to make the blanket from an easy-care yarn, going for Stylecraft Special DK as it comes in lots of bright, bold colours, there are plenty of options for rainbows, and it withstands everything a small child is likely to throw at it really well.

To decide what colours to go for, I did a lot of browsing on Ravelry to see what other people had already done. There were many, many beautiful colourways that stood out, some girly, some very masculine, and some happily in the middle. I eventually found a favourite, then tweaked a couple of the colours for ones that I preferred, and ordered my yarn.

Choosing the pattern was easy: I made a Beatrice by Little Doolally for a different friend's wedding a few years ago and loved making it, so knew that I wanted to do that again. The pattern is lovely to work from, and grows quite quickly. The only slight drawback is that its open nature means it's hard to work over the ends as you go, and you end up having to darn in lots of ends at the end.

The finished blanket is beautiful, and has been well received. Even better there are enough rainbow  leftovers to make a blanket for another friend who is currently expecting a baby - I'm thinking of a Bertie Baby Blanket (also by Little Doolally) using Silver as the neutral colour.

What's your favourite baby blanket pattern?

********

Pattern: Beatrice Baby Blanket by Little Dolally
Yarn: Stylecraft Special DK* in Cream, Lipstick, Spice, Saffron, Lime, Aster, Violet and Emperor
Ravelry project page

*Affiliate link.

New designs: Reach for the Stars cushion and children's jumper

I have two new patterns for you, both on a astronomical theme: the Reach for the Stars children's jumper and cushion. Both items are from my Reach for the Stars collection, and go with the baby blanket that I released last year. Each item in the collection features a brightly coloured space rocket with a fiery trail, inspired by one of my children's favourite toys.

Both patterns are suitable for intermediate level knitters, and the intarsia section is provided both as charts (in greyscale and colour for your preference) and as written instructions.

Reach for the Stars cushion

 

The cushion features a large intarsia rocket, is fastened with four buttons across the back and is designed to fit a 46 cm (18 inch) square cushion with a little negative ease to ensure a nice plump cushion. The cushion is knitted flat in one piece, starting at the middle of the back with a ribbed button band, then the first half of the back, the front and the second half of the back are knitted in stocking stitch, and finally the ribbed buttonhole band is worked. The cushion is seamed down the side edges using mattress stitch.

The cushion sample is knitted in Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky* [100% acrylic: 136 m (149 yds) to 100 g] in Midnight Blue (MC, 337), Buttercup Yellow (CC1, 322), Blood Orange (CC2, 319) and Pillar Red (CC3, 314).

Reach for the Stars children's jumper

 

The Reach for the Stars children's jumper is knitted in pieces from the bottom up; the neckline is picked up and knitted in the round after seaming the shoulders of the jumper. The rocket motif is incorporated using the intarsia technique.

The jumper is knitted in aran weight yarn, and has a casual fit with approximately 9 cm [3.5 in] positive ease, making it perfect as a cosy extra layer in the winter, or an outer layer as the weather starts to warm up.

Sample shown is knitted in size 4 years, in Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran* (100% acrylic, 184 m [201 yds] per 100 g ball) in Midnight Blue (237, MC), Buttercup Yellow (222, CC1), Blood Orange (219, CC2) and Pillar Red (214, CC3).

The pattern is written in 6 sizes: 2 (4, 6, 8, 10, 12) years, to fit chest sizes 53 cm [20.75 in], 58.5 cm [23 in], 63.5 cm [25 in], 67 cm [26.5 in], 71 cm [28 in], 76 cm [30 in] with approximately 9 cm [3.5 in] positive ease.

Introductory offer

If you'd like to pick up either pattern, why not make the most of my introductory offer? If you buy any of the patterns from the collection: the cushion, children's jumper or the blanket, there's 25% off until 11.59pm BST, June 24th 2018, no code needed. The patterns are also available in an ebook, which is also included in the offer – it's a bargain as you get all three patterns for the price of two – perfect if you're thinking of making more than one item.

All the patterns are available now in my Ravelry store.

*Affiliate link.

Yarn Along: Edinburgh anticipation

In the past couple of weeks since I wrote my last Yarn Along post, we have had a lot of snow. We don't normally get all that much snow; some winters we get none, but this winter has been an excpetion. The first snow fell in November, and we've had at least a couple of days of snow every month since then. But the snow we had in late February was the heaviest. I lost count of how many days of snow we had, but there was almost a foot at its peak. Our local schools were shut for 3 days, and I had a lovely (if rather tiring) time, entertaining the kids, both in the snow and indoors. I got almost no knitting done, but it was lovely to spend a few extra days with them.

This time next week I will be in Edinburgh for the day for Edinburgh Yarn Festival. If you're also going, say hello to me if you see me. I really need to look through the vendor list and decide what I most want to look at (I already know I will be making a beeline for the Toft stall as I really want one of their highland cow kits; it is too cute). The festival has been extended to three days this year (from two in previous years), so I'm hoping it's a little less busy that it was last year. I'm also looking forward to a few hours uninterupted knitting time on the train, an added bonus!

I am currently working on two downtime projects: Flora the Bunny and a rainbow crochet blanket. I should have finished the bunny last weekend, as I've done all the knitting, and only have the seaming and finishing to go, but I totally forgot to order the safety eyes, and had to ask a local friend if I could borrow a small pom pom maker (yes, I could have made a pom pom without a maker, but it's a lot quicker with a pom pom maker!). I now have both safety eyes and a pom pom maker, so this will be an FO by the end of the weekend, much to my daughter's delight. The crochet blanket is progressing really well; I'm enjoying the somewhat mindless nature of it, and the colours are so cheery. I am a little over half way, but know that I am going to run out of cream yarn before I get to the end of the border (and will have to wait until I have some other things to order, or make it to a local yarn shop, rather than ordering a single ball). It's also a terrible project to take out and about as it requires 8 balls of yarn and a very large bag! I might have to cast on something else and reserve this for sofa crochet.

World Book Day happened during the snow, so the school events were rescheduled to this week, and I sent two happy children off as George from George's Marvellous Medicine and Princess Pearl from  Zog and the Flying Doctors (that happened to coincide with International Women's Day and it made me pretty proud that my daughter chose to go as a princess who is also a doctor, rather than a generic frilly princess; if you have young girls, go out and find a copy!). I am reading Pax by Sara Pennypacker at the minute. It's a children's book about a boy who saved a fox's life when the fox was a baby, and has to give up the fox when his circumstances change. The chapters alternate being written from the perspective of the fox and the boy, and the writing style is perfect. It's turning out to be an interesting and thought-provoking read.

Marvellous medicine! Or chocolate...

What are you reading and crafting on at the minute?

Linking up with Ginny for Yarn Along.

Snuffle, snuffle: Hedgehog and Hoglets available now!

Some of you may remember that last October I had a pattern published in Knit Now for a blanket featuring three hedgehogs. Well, the rights have reverted to me and the pattern is now available in my Ravelry store.

I have always loved hedgehogs - something that probably started with my mum reading The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle to me when I was little - and a quick search on Pinterest will always bring up a lot of beautiful images of woodland-themed nurseries, so I thought that hedgehogs would make an excellent image for a baby blanket. The Hedgehog and Hoglets blanket features a cute little hedgehog family, with two baby hedgehogs (hoglets) following their mum.

This blanket is knitted in one piece from the bottom up, with a moss stitch border knitted at the same time as the rest of the blanket, so once you've finished knitting the only finishing required is darning in the ends. The hedgehogs are knitted into the blanket using the intarsia technique; the facial features can either be knitted in, or added at the end using duplicate stitch.

As an experiment, I have included written instructions for the intarsia portion of the blanket, as well as the usual charts. If this approach is successful I'll start including written instructions for all my future intarsia designs, so let me know in the comments if this is something you'd like to see more of.

Head to my Ravelry store to pick up your copy. If you use the code SNUFFLE you'll be able to buy the pattern for £3.25, rather than the usual price of £4 (the code is valid until 11.59pm BST, Friday June 30th 2017). If you start knitting now you might even have time to finish the blanket in time to gift it to an autumn arrival! 

Like the blanket, but would prefer it if the background was a different colour? The blanket is knitted in a standard aran-weight yarn (the sample is knitted in King Cole Fashion Aran*), so you can use any aran weight yarn you would like. I would recommend using a machine washable wool or wool/acrylic blend yarn to make the blanket easy to care for.

Beige not your thing? Feel free to choose any colours you'd prefer!

As ever, I would love to see your finished blanket. You can share pictures via Ravelry or Love Knitting by linking your finished project to the pattern page, or via Instagram by tagging your image #vikkibirddesigns

Happy knitting!

*Affiliate link.

New designs: I Like Knitting magazine, April 2017

This week's new patterns are all about the bunnies! The April issue of I Like Knitting magazine has a section called Some Bunny Loves You, which includes several patterns featuring Bunny motifs, perfect for spring.

First up we have my Peter Rabbit Pillow and Blanket set. 

The Peter Rabbit Pillow and Blanket feature the same motif: a rabbit silhouette with a fluffy tail. Both designs are knitted using the intarsia technique on a stocking stitch background, and would make a perfect nursery set.

The designs are knitted in chunky weight yarn (Hayfield Baby Chunky and Sirdar Snowflake Chunky) so are quick to knit. The set is shown with a pink background, but could be knitted in any colour - I think the bunnies would be perfect on a purple or green background.

And secondly we have my Baby Bunnies Cardigan.

The Baby Bunnies Cardigan features a border of cabled bunnies knitted in stranded colourwork on a background of reverse stocking stitch. The cardigan is knitted in stocking stitch from the top down with a garter stitch border, raglan shoulders and buttons down the front. The pattern is written in sizes 2-10 years, to fit bust sizes 21–28 inches (52.5–70 cm).

The cardigan is knitted in Drops Merino Extra Fine, a DK weight 100% Merino yarn that comes in a huge array of colours and is excellent value.

All the patterns are available in the April 2017 edition of I Like Knitting Magazine, an e-zine that can be accessed either online or via the I Like Knitting website. Subscriptions are available from $19.97.

*This post contains affiliate links for both Love Knitting and I Like Knitting magazine. See the Policies and disclaimers page for more information.*

Want to add these patterns to your Ravelry queue or favourites? Here are the links:

Peter Rabbit Pillow
Peter Rabbit Blanket
Baby Bunnies cardigan
 

All images in this post copyright I Like Knitting magazine.

New Design: Reach for the Stars baby blanket

In the autumn a close friend announced that she was expecting her second baby. I had knitted a hat and blanket for her first child, but every new baby requires a special present, so I decided that I would knit a blanket for this new baby too. The design is one that has been in my head for a long time, and may be familiar to anyone who has been following my work for a while: a zooming rocket with a fiery tail! The rocket motif first appeared on my Reach for the Stars baby jumper, which appeared in an issue of Knit Now a few years ago, and I had always had a blanket in mind for the same motif.

The Reach for the Stars baby blanket is knitted in a single piece with a large moss stitch border surrounding the central stocking stitch panel; the moss stitch border makes the blanket lie flat, and means that blanket requires minimal finishing. The rocket motif is knitted into the blanket using the intarsia technique. The chart for the rocket motif is split vertically across two pages to maximise the size of the individual squares, while you only have to work from one chart at a time.

Chunky weight yarn is used in this design, allowing it to be knitted up quickly. The sample is knitted in Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky, an acrylic yarn that comes in a huge array of colours, so you can mix and match as you please. This yarn also has the advantage of being machine washable, so is perfect for new parents.

The pattern is available now from my Ravelry store at the introductory price of £3 until 11.59pm GMT Tuesday 14th March 2017, after which the price will increase to £4.

The Reach for the Stars baby blanket will be joined by other designs featuring the same rocket motif over the course of 2017, including a cushion, baby/toddler jumper and children's jumper. If you know now that you would like to have access to all the patterns, you can buy the ebook for the introductory price of £7.50; the additional patterns will be added automatically as I release them. The ebook will increase in price to £10 as soon as the second pattern is released.

*This post contains affiliate links. See the Disclaimers and policies page for more information.*

A loose end

Yesterday I finished both a sock and a baby blanket. Woohoo! Free needles! Time to cast on something new.

Ends? Must mean a finished blanket! I'll share the finished pictures soon.

But I can't decide what to cast on.

The things I want to cast on (two jumpers to match the blanket I've just finished and a cardigan for a friend's new baby) require (1) yarn to be ordered and delivered, (2) the patterns to be written (or at least the maths to be done and charts drawn). The sock I finished needs its mate to be knitted, but I just don't fancy it at the minute and I need to make sure I've finished adding the corrections to the pattern before I cast on.

I worked on my Antler cardigan/jumper at the weekend, but the gauge on the sleeve doesn't match that of the tension square (I'll wash it and see; worst case scenario is that I have to mess about with the maths for the rest of the jumper, which I was going to have to do anyway to do the cardigan-jumper conversion; actual worst case is that I have to start again. I'm not going to think about that).

I considered casting on a shawl in the Malabrigo Worsted I got for Christmas, but I haven't had time to wind it yet. Maybe that's a job for this evening. Or another day.

 It would appear I am at a loose end. Maybe the best idea is just to sit on the sofa and work on my sock yarn blanket for a day or two: I think I got to day eleven on the advent squares...

But a big tick in the box for positivity: the sun shine today, all day! For the first time in months. Spring might be on its way!

*This post contains affiliate links. See my Disclaimers and policies page for more information.*

New pattern: Granny's Button Jar

I thought I'd start the new year off with a bang, and have three new patterns to show you over the next few days. First we have my Granny's Button Jar blanket, which I previewed towards the end of last year.

I knitted the sample blanket for a friend's new baby who made her arrival at the end of September, but this blanket is one that I have wanted to knit for ages. The blanket is inspired by the collection of buttons at my Mum's house, which includes buttons from her mother. I loved playing with those buttons when I was little - arranging them into patterns, threading them on to string and just admiring them. One of the highlights of Mum knitting a garment for me was being allowed to choose the buttons for it.

The blanket is knitted in one piece with the buttons being incorporated using intarsia. I added the buttonholes at the end using duplicate stitch, but they could easily be knitted in as you go. The blanket has a moss stitch border that is knitted as you go.

Granny's Button Jar has huge potential for playing with colour: the blanket as written features seven colours of button, carefully arranged so no colour is adjacent to itself, whether horizontally, vertically or diagonally (this was a feat, and required me to arrange and rearrange bobbins of colours many times!). But you could make the blanket with as many or few colours as you wish, making it great for using up leftovers from other projects, though I would recommend using the same fibres throughout to prevent distortion when the blanket is washed.

The sample blanket was knitted in Red Heart Soft Baby Steps, which is a lovely soft acrylic yarn, but since I knitted the sample Love Knitting have reduced the number of colours available, making the yarn a little tricky to get hold of. The good news is that the blanket can be knitted in any plied acrylic, wool or acrylic/wool blend aran-weight yarn. I would recommend Paintbox Simply Aran (100% acrylic), which comes in an amazing range of colours, and is very good value for money. If you fancy something a little more luxurious, MillaMia Naturally Soft Aran (100% merino wool) is wonderfully soft, lovely to knit with and wears really well.

The pattern for the blanket is available now via my Ravelry and Love Knitting stores. If you buy the pattern from my Ravelry store before 11.59 pm GMT on Tuesday 10th January, it's available at the special introductory price of £2.50 (just add the oattern to your car and the reduction will apply automatically); after this time it will cost £3.60.

As always, I would love to see your finished project, so go ahead and set up a project page on Ravelry or Love Knitting when you cast on. For both sites, you have to set up a free account to post a project.

********

This post features affiliate links. For more details, see the Disclaimers and policies page.