Siesta Key Baby Blanket

Siesta Key Beach Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern

Dreaming of Siesta Key🌞
The beach there is beautiful and rated #1 in the US, #11 in the world. I am calling this the Siesta Key blanket because I’m knitting it in sections that remind me of the sand and the aqua water.🏖 It’s going to be stroller sized for yet another new baby! Between me and my group of friends we have about 40 grandchildren and I like to knit a baby blanket for each new baby that comes along. I wouldn’t mind knitting myself a shawl or hat but with this baby boom I don’t have time! Who do you like to knit for?

Yarn

As usual, for my baby blankets, I headed to my stash and pulled out some Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn in cream and aqua.  I think this would be really pretty in blue and white as well.  But I’m not sure if I am knitting for a boy or girl, so aqua and cream it is!  I am proud of myself for heading to my stash before driving to the store!  I know that if I do run short, Hobby Lobby has this yarn in abundance so I could also go get more if necessary.  Because this blanket will be stroller sized, I know I only need a couple skeins.

From me to you → a coupon from Hobby Lobby that does not expire

Needles

Next step – gather my needles.  I always knit with circular needles because the work can rest safely on the cable when I am not knitting.  The needles I have been using lately are the Knitpicks Circular Interchangeable Needles.  I really just love them.  For my baby blankets and the Hobby Lobby yarn I like, I always choose a size 8 needle.

I have been loving this needle organizer from Etsy.  It keeps everything together in one place.  I can throw it in my knitting bag and everything stays put.

This weekend I am heading to Boston to visit my daughter and grandson.  I will probably switch over to these needles because the case is super sturdy and certified for airport security.  Look at these needles, aren’t they so pretty?

A sweet pile of baby blankets simply makes me happy🤗🌷
My baby grandson is coming over for the day, 4 months of deliciousness💙 Although I must admit I’ll be looking forward to naptime so I can pick up my needles and the Siesta Key baby blanket that I’m working on for some rainy day knitting! Stuck in the house? No problem!

Pattern

The Siesta Key Beach Baby Blanket is available on ravelry.

I finished up the blanket and did a stretchy bind off.  The way I do the stretchy bind off is this:

Knit 2 stitches.

Insert left needle into the 2 stitches on the right needle and knit them.

Knit 1 stitch

You now have 2 stitches on the right needle to insert the left needle into, and knit.  Continue on until all stitches are bound off.

Now weave in your ends. This class is excellent if you want to really up your game and learn how to finish your knits beautifully.

Here it is!

Next comes a little bath.

What I like to do washing my blankets is I take a capful of Eucalan and mix it with a sink half filled with warm water.  I soak the blanket for 20 minutes.    Then I take a big beach towel, wrap up the blanket, and throw it in the dryer with some other towels.  Because I am using acrylic yarn, the blanket comes out just beautifully!  So soft and cozy.  It’s made for wool but it is rinse free and smells nice, so that’s how I wash my blankets when they are done.

I would highly recommend taking this class to learn how to properly block a blanket if you used any yarn other than Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn.

All done!

The Siesta Key Beach Baby Blanket is available on ravelry.

I hope you have enjoyed this post about knitting the Siesta Key Beach Baby Blanket.  If you don’t have time to soak up the knitting vibes in this article, simply pin for later!