hat booties and blanket

Kristen’s free baby blanket pattern with matching hat and booties

Knitting a baby blanket for a brand new baby is an ancient art that is calming, stress reducing and happiness producing.  First I will talk about the blanket and then the hat & booties.

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Skill Level → Beginner

Skills to know ↓

This blanket begins with 5 knit stitches and using yarnovers, it grows until it’s as long as you want.  Then using decreases, the blanket finishes up with 5 stitches.

For help on increases and decreases this great book from Knitpicks.  Read and Learn →

Product Image

Yarn

I used 4 skeins of Cascade Aran Splatter, colourway #10 for the blanket and 1 skein for the hat and booties.

I loved this yarn and it got softer after I washed it.  It requires a bit of care with washing since it is machine wash cool and dry cool.

My LYS had it in abundance but then discontinued the line but fortunately I found it on etsyCheck out this gorgeous yarn!

4 skeins yarn




Some other choices of yarn that is easily wash and dried can also be found on Etsy. I have knit many blankets with these yarns with great results.

Etsy self striping acrylic yarn

How much yarn should I buy?

Assuming a gauge of 4.5 stitches to the inch and worsted or aran weight yarn:

  • Stroller: 400 yards for 24 x 24
  • Baby: 700 yards for 30 x 30
  • Small: 1000 yards for 36 x 36
  • Medium: 1300 yards for 42 x 42
  • Large: 1600 yards 48 x 48
Tip → Decide how big you want to knit your blanket then buy the yarn.  Start the decreases after you have used exactly half the yarn needed and  you will have just the right amount of yarn

Needles for the Crosswise Blanket

Knitpicks: Mosaic Options Interchangeable Circular Needles

Size 8 with a 24″ or 32″ cord with a gauge of 18 stitches per 4 inches

knitting needle set

The Rainbow Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set is the ultimate in knitting versatility!

Featuring smooth joins, perfectly tapered tips and flexible cables, this set includes 9 of our bestselling needle tips and 2 sizes of cables – all of which are stored in a handy vinyl case.

Made of beautiful laminated birch wood, the Rainbow needles show off waves of color and provide just the right amount of grip to make slick yarns manageable.

Kristen Crosswise Baby Blanket Pattern

With Size 8 circular needles:

Cast on 5 stitches. Knit 1 row.

Next row Knit 4, yo, knit to end.
Repeat last row until the sides are 24″ (30″, 36″, 42″, 48″) wide

Begin Decreases

Next Decrease Row Knit 3, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat last row until there are 5 stitches on needle.

Bind off 5 stitches.

Weave in Ends

Knit it in stripes from your stash → Jake’s Crosswise Baby Blanket

striped knit baby blanketI just love this blanket pattern!  So easy but beautiful, soft and warm!

striped knit blanket

 

Knit it in Sparkly Cotton → Cora’s Crosswise Baby Blanket

pink baby blanket

Matching Booties and Hat

Needles

Size 9 Circular Needles with 16″ cord for the hat and size 6 circular needles for the booties.  First let’s talk about the hat.

The needles I am using for this project are my absolute favorite for hat knitting.  They are the Knitpicks Caspian Options Short Interchangeable Circular Set.   With small tips and 16″ cords I can knit baby hats in the round.

needles

Related Post → Simple Fair Isle Double Pom Hat and Easy Stay On Booties

double pompom hat and bootiesEasy Stay On Booties Pattern

Size 6 needles

Cast on 29 stitches.
Rows 1 through 10: Knit
Row 11: K12, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K12.
Row 12: P11, P2tog, P1, P2tog, P11.
Row 13: K10, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K10
Row 14: P9, P2tog, Purl 1, P2tog, P9.
Row 15: K8, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K8.
Row 16: P7, P2tog, P1, P2tog, P7.
Rows 17 through 24: Knit.
Bind off using the stretchy bind off, leaving 10′′ of yarn to sew up back seam.  Turn booties inside out to sew seam. Make 2.
Stretchy bind off:
Knit 2 then insert left needle into those 2 stitches and knit off.
Wrap it up with the best baby gift a new mama could wish for….

Related Post → Candy’s flower hat and booties

knit hat with flower and bootiesPompom Hat Pattern

Size 4 needles with a 16″ cord

Cast on 48 stitches and knit 6 rows.

Join in the round.

Knit until piece is 6″ tall.

Use the kitchener stitch to bind off the seam.

Here is a cute and fun way to remember how to do the kitchener stitch! kitchener it closed

Kitchener Stitch Tool

Next, make 2 pompoms with this handy dandy clover pompom maker.
Use a jumbo craft needle to sew up the first six rows of the brim.
I hope you enjoy knitting this cute little set!

Related Post → Biddeford Baby Blanket

baby with knit blanket

Related Post → The Blake Hat

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