February 16, 2005
An Idea that Reserves the Right to Evolve into a Contest
Remember this guy?
Well, he's about to get a brother or a sister, probably in July. Which means that I have to start planning a new baby blanket! The problem is, I have NO idea what to make. It has to look at least as "interesting" as the slip-stitch blanket in the photo above. I was thinking about something in a simple lace pattern, which would be fine if it turns out to be a girl but maybe not the best for a boy. And would it be as warm as something without holes in it? I was also thinking about an aran-y blankie. Or an intarsia blankie with squares of lots of different colors. Argh, I have no clue.
Anyhow, what do you suggest? My main rule is that the yarn should be soft, at least 75% natural fiber, and machine washable. And nothing bigger than a US6 needle, probably. (Although that's the most negotiable thing up here.)
There's a good likelihood of a prize if you have the idea which ends up becoming the actual baby blankie. But I have no idea what it is. Some sort of gift. We'll talk. Invent a blanket idea first...
Posted by Jon at February 16, 2005 01:30 AMI have no idea. I have 3 babies to knit for and I just don't know. But I plan on stealing any ideas you get. Fair warning.
Posted by: Iris at February 16, 2005 03:57 AMJon,
I saw this pattern on the web. I think it could work up nicely. You could really whatever yarn you like and it's got some eyelet so, not too hot. Cables for interest. Plus, it's a free pattern.
Good luck with the search.
www.nancyhearne.com/drawingboard/cableblanket.htm
Jon,
I have 3 babies, and the only thing I can tell you, is that I was given a knitted baby blanket that was lacey, and I never used it. I had to untangle my daughters tiny fingers from the thing a few times and then I gave up on it and put in her keepsake bin.
There are two great baby blackets in the book Adorable Knits for Tots, by Zoe Mellor. They are both a nice tight knit that would not catch little fingers. One is called Dots and Stripes and the other is called hearts and stars. I need to make one for a friend of mine who is expecting and like them both so much I just can't decide!
Posted by: Kelly O at February 16, 2005 11:32 AMDear Jon
Go see Debbie Bliss pattern books - she has a lot of nice ones with cotton and with simple but very nice pattern...
And this one with a small hat !!http://www.theknittinggarden.com/db-bookbabycash.htm
Go see the patchwork throw on this one
http://www.theknittinggarden.com/db-book3.htm
How about an aran sampler blankie - with maybe 9 squares each with a different cable or gansey sweater type motif? You could even do them in a melange of neutral baby colors - yellow, green, and blue or lavendar perhaps. Maybe something out of a nice soft merino blend. It would be interesting enough that you wouldn't have to get bored with it, and portable too if you knit one square at a time. and if it doesn't look feminine enough and the baby's a girl, you could edge it with a nice leafy cable edge.
Posted by: gaile at February 16, 2005 10:13 PMHow about the baby blanket pattern from Debbie Maccomber's book, _The Shop on Blossom Street_? The book ought to be available at the library. It's a nice pattern, interesting but easy, and fully reversible. Gender neutral. I'm debating doing one for someone that just had a baby, but my gods I have so much knitting I want to get done!
Posted by: Laura Gallagher at February 18, 2005 12:47 PMWhat if you went for a blanket with panels...images from the baby's family? Like the intitials for siblings, father, mother, images of things that are important to them...a theme that would be unique to that family?
Posted by: heather at February 20, 2005 02:20 PMHow about mitered squares? Those are always good. And if you use a bunch of different yarn you'll get something that'll work out fiarly well.
Cheers,
sam