Baby Blocks Blanket (Free Knitting Pattern)

YARN
 
Medium weight smooth yarn, approx. 715 yd (654 m). Since this is a baby blanket, consider using a yarn that is washable, such as a wool and acrylic blend or washable wool.
 
NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
- US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle at least 24" (61 cm) long or size needed to achieve gauge. The circular needle is necessary to accommodate the large number of stitches. You will be knitting back and forth on the circular needle.
- yarn needle for weaving in ends
- stitch markers
- rust-proof pins for blocking
 
EQUIPMENT
- washing machine
- towels
 
GAUGE
20 sts = 4" (10 cm) in stockinette stitch
 
FINISHED DIMENSIONS
28 1/2" (72 cm) by 28 1/2" (72 cm)

Cast on stitches and make blanket edging placing markers on final row of edging.
 
Cast on 144 sts using the cable cast-on method.
Rows 1 to 10: Knit.
Row 11: K6, [pm, k12] repeat 11 times, pm, k6.

Make first set of blocks.
 
Row 1: K6, [sm, k12, p12] 5 times, sm, k12, sm, k6.
Row 2: K6, [sm, p12, k12] 5 times, sm, p12, sm, k6.
Rows 3 to 18: Repeat rows 1 and 2 eight more times.

Make second set of blocks.
 
Row 19: K6, [sm, p12, k12] 5 times, sm, p12, sm, k6.
Row 20: K6, [sm, k12, p12] 5 times, sm, k12, sm, k6.
Rows 21 to 36: Repeat rows 19 and 20 eight more times.

Continue knitting until 11 sets of blocks are completed. You can now see how the two groups of 18 rows (36 rows total) form two sets of blocks made from contrasting stockinette stitch and reverse stockinet stitch. The 36-row repeat is worked four more times and then the first 18 rows are repeated once.
 
Rows 37 to 180: Repeat rows 1 to 36 four more times.
Rows 181 to 198: Repeat rows 1 to 18 once.

Remove stitch markers and make edging.
 
Row 1: Knit, removing stitch markers as you come to them.
Rows 2 to 11: Knit.

Bind off loosely and evenly. Cut yarn, leaving a tail at least 8" (20 cm) long.

Finishing
 
weave in all ends and damp block if desired.

Modifying the Pattern to Be Bigger or Smaller
 
A stitch pattern is a multiple of a given number of stitches. That is true of the blocks pattern used to make this blanket. Each block is 12 stitches wide and there are eleven blocks (132 stitches). In addition, there are 6 edge stitches (worked in garter stitch – all knit) on either side, an additional 12 stitches for a total of 144 stitches in the pattern. As you can see, this pattern is a multiple of 12 stitches. If you want to make the blanket wider, then add stitches in a multiple of 12; likewise if you want it to be narrower, then subtract stitches in a multiple of 12. For instance, if you want to add two extra blocks to the width (2 × 12), then you would cast on 168 stitches (144 + 24).
 
In addition to a pattern repeat worked into the number of stitches, a pattern usually has a row repeat as well. This pattern is worked for 18 rows, at which point the stockinette stitch and reverse stockinette stitch sections are switched for another 18 rows. So, the pattern has a 36-row repeat for two complete sets of alternating blocks. However if you only want to add one additional set of blocks you would add a single set of 18 rows.

This blanket knitting pattern is excerpted with permission from "First Time Knitting: The Absolute Beginner's Guide: Learn By Doing - Step-by-Step Basics + 9 Projects" by Carri Hammett (Creative Publishing International).