DOUBLE CROCHET & SHELL STITCH BABY BLANKET

This is not an original pattern – either my own design, or the original Jack Frost Booklet pattern: it is an adaptation for an up-to-date baby blanket. I shortened the length and width & left off the original shell edging, keeping the edges straight and plain. The original yarns are no longer available, so I have substituted Lion’s Brand Baby Soft yarns and 1 skein of Bernat Softee Baby yarn in the colors I had on hand, and they work fine. You can choose your own color scheme or simply work this pattern in one main color throughout – either way, this is a nicely patterned baby blanket and works up quickly because the pattern stitches are so simple and basic.

DC & SHELL BABY BLANKET READY TO BE DONATED

Materials: 2 skeins Lion’s Brand Baby Soft yarn in Twinkle Print (main color); 1 skein EA Lion’s Brand Baby Soft contrasting yarns in Lilac & Sweet Pea and 1 skein Bernal Softee Baby yarn in Lemon. OR you could use 5 skeins Lion’s Brand or Bernat Softee Baby yarns in a main color of your choice. #5 steel Susan Bates crochet hook

PATTERN: With Twinkle Print & hook, ch 169.

Row 1: Crochet 1 dc in 3^rd st from hook, and in each st to end of row. Ch 2; turn.

Row 2: Work 1 dc in each st. Ch 2; turn.

Row 3: 1 dc in each of the first 7 dc, *skip 2, 2 dc-ch2-2dc in next st, skip 2, 2 dc-ch2-2dc in next st, 1 dc in 8 sts*: finish with 7 dc at end of row. Ch 2, turn.

Row 4: 1 dc in 7 st, *skip 2, 2 dc-ch2-2dc in next st, skip 2, 2 dc-ch2-2dc in next st in same place as previous row, 1 dc in 8 sts*; repeat as previous row, end with 7 dc at end of row. Ch 2, turn.

Rows 5 thru 8: Work first 7 sts in Twinkle Print; attach Lilac yarn and work shell and post pattern from * to * as established in in previous row to last 7 sts; attach 2^nd skein of Twinkle Print and work last 7 sts in that color. At end of row 8, cut Lilac, tie off, and finish row in Twinkle print. Ch 2, turn.

Rows 9 thru 12: With Twinkle Print, work these rows in established pattern.

Rows 13 thru 16: Work first 7 sts in Twinkle Print; attach Sweet Pea yarn and work shell and post pattern from * to * as established in in previous row to last 7 sts; carry 2^nd skein of Twinkle Print along side of work and work last 7 sts in that color. At end of row 8, cut Sweet Pea, tie off, and finish row in Twinkle print. Ch 2, turn.

Rows 17 thru 20: Repeat rows 9 thru 12.

Rows 21 thru 24: Work first 7 sts in Twinkle Print; attach Lemon yarn and work shell and post pattern from * to * as established in in previous row to last 7 sts; carry 2^nd skein of Twinkle Print along side of and work last 7 sts in that color. At end of row 8, cut Lemon, tie off, and finish row in Twinkle print. Ch 2, turn.

Rows 25 thru 28: Repeat rows 9 thru 12.

Continue in this color scheme until you have 4 Lilac bands in the blanket pattern; end blanket with 2 rows Twinkle Print double crochet & shell st pattern … and 2 rows Twinkle Print double crochet rows – directions below. 84 rows completed from start to finish if you are making a solid color baby blanket.

Double crochet rows are worked over the double crochet & shell rows as follows: work 1 dc in EA double crochet st and shell st across row, leaving no space between sts – 167 dc posts:

Finish up with 1 row of 167 double crochet sts worked on the double crochet sts of previous row. Cut yarn and neatly weave in loose ends along top row and of all colors along blanket side …

KNIT DIAMOND PATTERN SWADDLING BLANKET

Finished blanket. 28” x 28” square

This pattern is an old one – I found the baby patterns book at a sale decades ago and made this particular baby blanket 27 years ago when our first granddaughter was born.

The original pattern calls for skeins of 1-oz Columbia-Minerva yarn called ‘Precious Nantuck’ but that yarn has since been discontinued, and my understanding is that it was a light weight sport weight yarn. The pattern is based on a multiple of 8 sts + 7 pattern. The original pattern using a sport weight yarn will measure about 27” x 31” when completed. But I make my blankets using Red Heart Worsted for a sturdier Fall/Winter weight baby blanket so my blankets are a bit plumper and sturdier though I do follow the original pattern.

I really like this pattern design and I think you will too. I makes up pretty quickly and this blanket I am working on will also be another donated item when it is completed.

KNIT DIAMOND PATTERN SWADDLING BLANKET

Materials Required: Columbia-Minerva PRECIOUS NANTUCK, 1 oz. pull skeins (or Red Heart Super Saver Jumbo worsted, 1 skein); one pair “Boye” size 6 knitting needles; one crochet hook size 1 (or size 8-H) if using worsted yarn); 2 stitch markers.

Gauge: 11 sts = 2 inches; 15 rows = 2 inches

PATTERN STITCH: Multiple of 8 sts + 7.

Row 1 (RS): K 7, *P 1, K 7; repeat from * across.

ROWS 2 and ALL EVEN ROWS: K the K sts and P the P sts as they face you.

ROW 3: *P 1, K 5, P 1, K 1; repeat from * across: end with P 1, K 5, P 1.

ROW 5: K 1, P 1, *K 3, P1; repeat from * across: end K 1.

ROW 7: K 2, P 1, K 1, P 1, *K 5, P 1, K 1, P 1; repeat from * across: end K 2.

ROW 9: K 3, *P 1, K 7; repeat from * across: end P 1, K 3.

ROW 11: Repeat Row 7.

ROW 13: Repeat Row 5.

ROW 15: Repeat Row 3.

ROW 16: Repeat Row 2.

Repeat these 16 rows for pattern.

BLANKET

Approximate Size: 27 x 31 inches using sport weight yarn; (28 x 28 if using worsted weight yarn)

Cast on 151 sts. K 4 rows. Next row K 4, place marker on needle, knit to last 4, place 2^nd marker on needle and K 4.

ROW 1: K 4 garter sts for border, sl marker, work in pattern on the center 143 sts; sl marker, K to end. Keeping 4 garter sts on each side, continue to work in pattern on the sts between markers …

Patterned swaddling blanket being worked using worsted yarn

When piece measures about 30-1/2 inches (27-1/2 inches using worsted) from start, end with Row 2. K 6 rows. Bind off. On right side, crochet 1 row of sc around blanket, increasing at corners.

FALL COLORS SWADDLING BLANKET PATTERN

                                  

With Hubs being in and out of the hospital so much, and with us using the hospital Bridge Program to pay for all the hospitalization and doctor appointments, I felt that I should do something by way of a payback – money is out of the question; if we had a million dollars, we wouldn’t be using the hospital Bridge Program. While I was visiting Hubs one day, a nurse saw me reading a novel covered by one of the book covers I had crocheted for myself and asked if I had made it … I said, “Yes, I did – we were doing the PNW Bazaar circuit before our lives took a sharp turn south”. And she asked if I would be interested in using my talented skill to make dontable items for the hospitals beneficiary program for patients that need handmade things like hats and blankets. I said yes in quick reply. That IS something I CAN DO … and I already have several of those items in my bazaar bin cache already made and waiting for someplace to go ;-)

Last night I finished work on this baby blanket and just finished weaving in the ends a few minutes ago. A swaddling blanket is just a small baby blanket; lightweight, soft, and warm. Generally about a square in dimensions measuring 48”x48” sq. inches (blanket shown is quite a bit smaller). Cost varies between $15 and $50 for manufactured swaddling blankets that don’t look half as nice as something homemade: MPO. I have no idea yet what it will cost me in materials to make my blanket because though the yarn has never been used, it is not newly purchased and the receipt has long been shredded with the other paper refuse I shred and put in my garden beds.

I am posting the original pattern below, from my ‘Jack Frost’ vol. 47 pattern book, but I have made personalized changes to my swaddling blanket while using the original pattern … as I always do, whatever I make. I always like to put my own signature on everything I make ;-)

CARRIAGE COVER BLANKET (original pattern; Jack Frost design)

Materials: 1 pair #3 knitting needles, 14’ Length; Jack Frost Pompadour (or Paradise) yarn, six count 3-3/4 oz. skiens

Size: 28’ x 28”

With needles, cast on 164 sts. Knit 34 rows garter st. Then start pattern as follows:

ROW 1: K 23, *K 6, P 2, repeat from * 13 times; K 29.

ROW 2: K 23, P 118, K 23.

ROW 3: Repeat row 1.

ROW 4: K.

Above 4 rows form Pattern. Repeat them until piece above garter st rows measures 27 inches – finish by knitting 34 rows garter st for edging. BO

pattern in progress

A very simple pattern that looks very nice when completed :-D