Knitting the Snuggle Up Baby Blanket
Get ready to learn how to knit the soft, squishy Snuggle Up Baby Blanket pattern. Perfect for stroller size and large enough for playtime, this pattern only uses easy knit stitches so that everyone can enjoy making a special blanket to keep their little one snuggled up warm. With just 2 skeins of yarn and no weaving of ends with the color changes, this is an easy pattern that will always make for a special and thoughtful gift.
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Yarn
To ensure that your Snuggle Up Baby Blanket turns out as soft and cozy as possible, it’s important to choose the right yarn. The quality and type of yarn you use can make a significant difference in the final product, so take your time in selecting the perfect one.
First, consider the fiber content of the yarn. For a baby blanket, you’ll want to opt for something that is soft, hypoallergenic, and gentle against delicate skin. Natural fibers like cotton or bamboo are excellent choices, as they are breathable and less likely to cause irritation. Alternatively, you can go for a blend of synthetic fibers, such as acrylic or nylon, which are known for their durability and easy care.
Next, think about the weight and thickness of the yarn. The Snuggle Up Baby Blanket pattern recommends using a worsted weight yarn, which provides a good balance between warmth and drape. This weight are also ideal for beginners, as they are not too bulky or fine to work with. However, feel free to experiment with other weights based on personal preference.
Color is another important consideration. While it’s tempting to choose vibrant hues or bold patterns, keep in mind that a baby blanket should ideally promote a sense of calm and relaxation. Soft pastel shades or neutral tones are often preferred for their soothing effect and timeless appeal. Ultimately, select a color that resonates with you and reflects the intended purpose of providing warmth and comfort to your little one.
This Snuggle Up baby blanket is knit with Hobby Lobby’s “I Love This Yarn Prints” in “After Dinner Drinks” and “Lavender Metallic Sparkle”
How much yarn should I buy?
Assuming a gauge of 4.5 stitches to the inch using Hobby Lobby’s worsted weight “I Love This Yarn”
- Stroller: 400 yards for 22 x 28
- Baby: 700 yards for 28 x 36
- Small: 1000 yards for 34 x 40
- Medium: 1300 yards for 36 x 46
- Large: 1600 yards 42 x 50
Needles
Circular needles are a versatile tool for knitters, especially when working on larger projects like blankets. The key feature of circular needles is the cable that connects the two needle tips. This cable allows you to distribute the weight of your project evenly, reducing strain on your hands and wrists.
When using circular needles for your Snuggle Up Baby Blanket, make sure to choose a length that comfortably accommodates the width of your project. Circular needles come in various lengths, ranging from 16 inches to 60 inches or longer. For a baby blanket, a 24-inch or 32-inch circular needle would be suitable, but feel free to adjust based on your personal preference.
For my blankets I often recommend Knit Picks Needles. These are the Knitpicks: Sunstruck Options Interchangeable Circular Set that I just love. The wood is warm in my hands and the joins are smooth.
Related Post → Hug ‘N Kisses
Pattern
Cast On and Start Knitting
Now that you’ve chosen the perfect pattern for your baby blanket and have selected the ideal yarn and needles to bring it to life, it’s time to cast on and start knitting. This is where your cozy creation begins to take shape and the magic of knitting truly comes to life.
The first step is to cast on, which is essentially creating the foundation row of stitches on your knitting needles. This can be done using a variety of techniques, including the long-tail cast on or the knit cast on. Each method has its own unique qualities, so choose the one that feels most comfortable to you.
I prefer the long tail cast on. A trick to using this cast on is to estimate the amount of yarn for the tail. The way I do that is to decide how wide I want the blanket to be and the then use 3 times that amount for the tail. For example, if I am knitting a stroller sized blanket that is 28″ wide, I would estimate the tail being 3 times that length or approximately 28×3 = 84″. I usually add on a few extra inches as well. Better to have too long of a tail than too short of a tail.
VeryPink.com has wonderful tutorials. This is my favorite long tail cast on.
So let’s get going!
Name your skeins Color A (Variegated) and Color B (Solid)
For stroller (baby, small, medium, large) and Color A cast on 100 (130, 170, 200, 230) stitches
Knit 10 rows with Color A
Body of Blanket
Row 1: With Color A, knit to end
Row 2: With Color A, knit to end. But stop! Do not turn your work like you would normally do. At this point you will slide your work to the left so the you will begin the next row on the right side of the same row you just knit.
Row 3: Pick up Color B and knit to the end.
Row 4: Turn work and with Color B knit to the end. Now do not turn your work. Instead you will slide your stitches over, pick up Color A and Repeat rows 1 through 4.
When the blanket is as long as you want it to be, then with Color A, Knit 10 rows.
Bind off with the stretchy method.
Stretchy Method of Binding Off
Knit the first 2 stitches.
Insert the left needle into the 2 stitches on the right needle and knit them together.
With one stitch on the needle, knit the next stitch, and then knit these two stitches together.
Continue this until all stitches are off your needles.
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- Finishing Row 2
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- Sliding the work to the left
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- finish sliding work to the left
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- Pick up the work and with Color B beging knitting
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- Knitting with Color B
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