This unisex blanket and pillow set features an array of bunny silhouettes that make it the perfect addition to any baby’s nursery. Knitted from the bottom up, the blanket’s bunnies are added using the intarsia technique, and the entire piece is finished off using a moss stitch border. The Bunny Pillow is a much smaller project, featuring a single bunny at its center. Add a touch of woodland whimsy to any room using this charming set.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Blanket: 41¼” × 39½”; Pillow: 14¾” square, designed to fit a 16” square pillow inner
Gauge: 14 sts and 19.5 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st.
Materials
Blanket
Yarn:
Hayfield Baby Chunky (70% Acrylic, 30% Nylon; 169 yards [155 meters]/100 grams): 408 Pinky (MC), 5 balls; 402 Tufty (CC1), 3 balls.
Sirdar Snuggly Snowflake Chunky (100% Polyester; 68 yards [62 meters]/25 grams): 630 Milky (CC2), 1 ball.
Needles: US size 10 (6 mm): 32” circular
Notions: Markers (8); yarn bobbins; chart row marker; tapestry needle
Pillow
Yarn:
Hayfield Baby Chunky (70% Acrylic, 30% Nylon; 169 yards [155 meters]/100 grams): 408 Pinky (MC), 2 balls; 402 Tufty (CC1), 1 balls.
Sirdar Snuggly Snowflake Chunky (100% polyester; 68 yards [62 meters]/25 grams): 630 Milky (CC2), 1 ball.
Needles: US size 10 (6 mm): straight
Notions: Markers (2); removable markers (4); yarn bobbins; chart row marker; tapestry needle; four 1-1/3” (34 mm) buttons
Special Stitches
Moss Stitch
Row 1 (RS): Sl1 pwise wyib, *k1, p1; rep from * to last st, k1.
Row 2: Sl1 pwise wyif, *p1, k1; rep from * to last st, p1.
2×2 Rib
Row 1 (RS): K2, *p2, k2; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): P2, *k2, p2; rep from * to end.
Rep Rows 1-2 for patt.
4-st buttonhole
Sl1 kwise wyib, (sl1 kwise wyif, pass the first slipped stitch over the second) 4 times, return the last st from the RH needle to the LH needle. Turn. CO 5 sts using the Cable Cast-On method. Turn. Sl the first st from the LH needle to the RH needle pwise, pass the last cast on st over the slipped st.
Cable Cast-On
*Place the tip of the RH needle between the first 2 sts on the LH needle, pull the yarn through to make a st. Place the new st on the LH needle; rep from * until the required number of sts have been cast on.
Pattern Notes
The blanket is worked from the bottom up with the bunnies incorporated using the intarsia technique. The Bunny Blanket features nine bunny rabbits arranged across a square in three rows. The first and last rows face left, while the central row faces right. The blanket is worked from the bottom up with the bunnies added using the intarsia technique. A Moss Stitch border is worked at the same time as the main body of the blanket, thus minimal finishing is required.
The pillow cover is worked flat in one piece, starting in the middle of the back with a 2×2 Rib buttonband, then the first half of the back, the front and the second half of the back are worked in stockinette stitch, and finally the 2×2 Rib buttonhole band is worked. The pillow cover is seamed down the side edges using mattress stitch.
Both items are worked in chunky weight yarn making them quick to complete and the large blocks of colour make it a good project for someone who is new to colourwork.
If you wish to knit both items, you will need 7 balls in MC, 4 balls in CC1, and 1 ball in CC2.
Blanket Pattern
Blanket
With MC, CO 144 sts.
Border
Starting with a RS row, work 6 rows in Moss Stitch.
Main Body
Row 1 (RS): Sl1 pwise wyib, (k1, p1) twice, pm, k to last 5 sts, pm, (k1, p1) twice, k1.
Rows 2, 4 and 6 (WS): Sl1 pwise wyif, (p1, k1)] twice, sm, p to last 5 sts, sm, (p1, k1) twice, p1.
Rows 3 and 5: Sl1 pwise wyib, (k1, p1) twice, sm, k to last 5 sts, sm, (k1, p1) twice, k1.
Left Facing Bunnies (set one)
Row 1: Sl1 pwise wyib, (k1, p1) twice, sm, (k5, pm, work 38 sts from Left Facing Bunny chart, pm) 3 times, k5, sm, (k1, p1) twice, k1.
Rows 2-52: Maint border as est, work the central portion of the blanket in St st, working the Left Facing Bunny chart across the 38-st sections indicated by the markers, slipping markers as you go.
Rows 53, 55 and 57: Sl1 pwise wyib, (k1, p1) twice, sm, k to last 5 sts, slipping markers as you go, sm, (k1, p1) twice, k1.
Rows 54, 56 and 58: Sl1 pwise wyif, (p1, k1) twice, sm, p to last 5 sts, slipping markers as you go, sm, (p1, k1) twice, p1.
Right Facing Bunnies
Row 1: Sl1 pwise wyib, (k1, p1) twice, sm, (k5, sm, work 38 sts from Right Facing Bunny chart, sm) 3 times, k5, sm, (k1, p1) twice, k1.
Rows 2-52: Maint border as est, work the central portion of the blanket in St st, working the Right Facing Bunny chart across the 38-st sections indicated by the markers, slipping markers as you go.
Rows 53, 55 and 57: Sl1 pwise wyib, (k1, p1) twice, sm, k to last 5 sts, slipping markers as you go, sm, (k1, p1) twice, k1.
Rows 54, 56 and 58: Sl1 pwise wyif, (p1, k1) twice, sm, p to last 5 sts, slipping markers as you go, sm, (p1, k1) twice, p1.
Left Facing Bunnies (set two)
Row 1: Sl1 pwise wyib, (k1, p1) twice, sm, (k5, sm, work 38 sts from Left Facing Bunny chart, sm) 3 times, k5, sm, (k1, p1) twice, k1.
Rows 2-58: Work as for Left Facing Bunnies (set one).
Remove all markers.
Border
Starting with a RS row, work 6 rows in Moss Stitch.
BO all sts loosely in patt.
Pillow Cover
With MC, CO 54 sts.
Back
Work 8 rows in 2×2 Rib.
Beg with a knit row, work 32 rows in St st.
Place removable markers at each end of the row just worked to mark the end of the back of the pillow cover.
Front
Beg with a knit row, work 10 rows in St st.
Chart Placement
Row 1: K8, pm, work 38 sts from Left Facing Bunny chart, pm, k8.
Rows 2–52: Work in St st to m, work Left Facing Bunny chart between markers, sm, work in St st to end.
Beg with a knit row, work 10 rows in St st.
Place removable markers at each end of the row just worked to mark the end of the front of the pillow cover.
Back
Beg with a knit row, work 32 rows in St st.
Work 4 rows in 2×2 Rib.
Buttonhole Row (RS): Work 8 sts in patt as est, (work a 4-st buttonhole, work 6 sts in patt as est) 3 times, work a 4-st buttonhole, work the last 8 sts in patt as est.
Work 3 rows in Moss Stitch.
BO in patt.
Finishing
Weave in all ends.
Blanket
Wash the blanket according to the instructions on the ball band. Lay the blanket out to the last measurements and pin in place. Allow the blanket to dry flat.
Pillow Cover
Fold the pillow cover along the rows marked by the stitch markers with RS together. Use mattress stitch to sew the side seams, making sure the buttonhole band lies on top of the button band. Stitch the buttons in place making sure their positions correspond to the buttonholes.
Wash the pillow cover according to the instructions on the ball band. Squeeze out all excess water, then lay out the pillow cover to the dimensions given and leave it to dry flat.
Once the pillow cover is dry, put the pillow form inside and button in place.
I see pattern but no picture of blanket. Can you send?
So sorry about that! The blanket photo should now be appearing. Happy Knitting! – Nicola, Editor
No picture of blanket?
So sorry about that! The blanket photo should now be appearing. Happy Knitting! – Nicola, Editor