This blanket is a mix of intricate Arabic and Indian motifs. The bobble-and-lace motif is taken from Indian henna art and the stranded motif from wrought-iron balconies in Lebanon. The result is a beautiful and elegant circular blanket, enough to give a baby warmth, but not too heavy or toasty.
Skill Level: Advanced
Size: Finished Diameter 44″
Gauge: 31 stitches and 31 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in Chart A pattern, after wet blocking; 48 stitches = 7 1/16″ [18 cm] and 53 rows = 6.25″ [16 cm] in Chart B pattern, after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn:
Knit Picks Stroll Fingering (75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon; 231 yards [211 meters]/50 grams): 24595 Sprinkle Heather (MC) 5 balls
Knit Picks Stroll Fingering, undyed (75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon; 462 yards [422 meters]/100 grams): 23852 Bare (CC) 2 balls.
Needles: US size 3 (2.5 mm): DPNs, 32″ and 60″ circular needles; US size 5 (3.75 mm) 16″ and 60″ circular needles
Notions: Stitch marker; tapestry needle
Abbreviations
() surround small sections of instructions to be repeated
K: knit
K2tog: knit two stitches together
P: purl
Skp: sl1, k1, pass slipped stitch over (“Ssk” can be substituted here if preferred)
Sl: slip
St(s): stitch(es)
Tbl: through the back loop
Yo: yarn over
Special Stitches (if needed)
Bobble: (K1, k1tbl, k1) into next st, turn, p3, turn, (pass second stitch on left needle over) twice, k1tbl.
Double decrease: sl2 as if to K them together, K1, pass slipped sts over.
Pattern Notes
Gauge and Blocking
Swatches must be blocked to measurements given, but should not be blocked excessively simply to achieve gauge; after they are dry, there should still be some “give”. Exact gauge is not essential, as this is a blanket, but if your gauges are different from those given, you may need to adjust your yarn yardage requirements accordingly.
The blocked gauge in the actual blanket will not always be identical to the gauge asked for in the swatches. As well, because the blanket is circular, you will not be blocking to identical stitches-per-inch measurements throughout the blanket. Rather, in each section, the fabric will need to be stretched more towards the outside edge compared to how much it is stretched at the inside edge.
Please refer to the schematic for guidelines on how wide the diameter of each individual section should be when blocking. It’s recommended that you block the innermost section to the measurement given, then block the next section outwards to the measurement given, and so-on, working outwards section-by-section until the outermost section has been blocked to the given measurements.
Which Needles to Use
Throughout this pattern, the number of stitches on the needles increases, starting with 3 stitches and expanding to 768. If you know how to work the magic loop technique, you may need just one 60″ 2.5mm circular and one 60″ 3.75mm circular needle for the entire blanket.
Alternatively, you can start out on 2.5mm double-pointed needles for Rounds 1-31, switch to a 16″ 3.75mm circular needle for Rounds 32-57, to a 32″ 2.5mm circular needle for Rounds 58-119, to a 60″ 3.75mm circular for Rounds 120-168, and finally to a 60″ 2.5mm circular needle for Rounds 169-174. Any length of 3.75mm needle can be used for the bind-off.
Pattern
With smaller needles and MC, CO 3 sts. Place marker, join in the round, being careful not to twist:
Round 1 and all odd-numbered rounds in this MC-only section: Knit.
Round 2: (K1, yo) 3 times – 6 sts.
Round 4: (Yo, k1) 6 times – 12 sts.
Round 6: (K2tog, yo) to end.
Round 8: (Yo, k1) 12 times – 24 sts.
Round 10: As Round 6.
Round 12: (Yo, k2tog) to end.
Round 14: As Round 6.
Round 16: (Yo, k1) 24 times – 48 sts.
Round 18: As Round 6.
Round 20: As Round 12.
Repeat Rounds 17-20 twice more, then work Round 17 once more.
Round 30: As Round 6.
Round 31: *(P1, p1tbl, p1, p1tbl) into next st; repeat from * to end of round – 192 sts.
Switch to larger needles.
Begin working from charts, working repeats from left-to-right throughout.
Round 32: Join in CC as needed, work 12-stitch repeat of Row 23 of Chart A, 16 times.
Round 33: Work 12-stitch repeat of Row 24 of Chart A, 16 times.
Round 34: Work 12-stitch repeat of Row 1 of Chart A, 16 times.
Round 35: Work 12-stitch repeat of next row of Chart A, 16 times.
Continue pattern as set until you have completed a total of 25 rounds using Chart A, ending with a Row 23 of Chart A.
Break CC. From this point, you will be working only with MC until instructed to re-join CC.
Round 57: Knit.
Switch to smaller needles.
Round 58: *(P1, p1tbl) into next st; repeat from * to end of round – 384 sts.
Rounds 59-61: Knit.
Round 62: Work 48-stitch repeat of Row 1 of Chart B, 8 times.
Round 63: Work 48-stitch repeat of next row of Chart B, 8 times.
Continue pattern as set until all 53 rows of Chart B have been worked.
Rounds 115-118: Knit.
Round 119: As Round 58 – 768 sts.
Switch to larger needles.
Round 120: Join in CC as needed, work 12-stitch repeat of Row 1 of Chart A, 64 times.
Round 121: Work 12-stitch repeat of next row of Chart A, 64 times.
Continue pattern as set, repeating Rows 1-24 of Chart A as needed, until you have completed a total of 45 rounds using Chart A in this section, ending with a Row 21 of Chart A.
Break CC. From this point, you will be working only with MC.
Switch to smaller needles.
Round 169: Knit.
Round 170: Purl.
Repeat Rounds 169-170 twice more.
With larger needles, bind off knitwise.
Finishing
Immerse blanket in water (or water combined with no-rinse wool wash) and block to given measurements.
Weave in all ends.
Which blanket is it ? Looks like there’s 2 blankets pictured????? Is it the blanket the baby is laying on or the white & blue one? If it’s the one the baby is laying on well ya can’t see it.
Hi Nancy, this is one blanket, and it’s purple and white. Additional photos are on the right side of the pattern and charts/diagrams are available for logged-in Gold Members. Please let me know if I can help with anything else. – Nicola, Editor
Where are Charts A and B for this pattern located?