New babies

This is my latest insanity - once I start I just feel compelled to create. All the other projects get short shrift and I can't seem to care.

A dear friend's sister is having a baby - and she asked me to make her a baby blanket. It was the first time this friend of mine has ever requested such an effort of my time- and so like her that she not even be the recipient. So of course, I had to say yes. Babies when they first come into this world send out a signal, letting those grown ones know what to gather together for their soon-to-be needs, helping to feather the nest they will soon be inhabiting. We have all heard it, and we respond to the calls that are meant for us to hear.

I could have kept it simple - that thought did in fact run through my head, but what fun would that be. I also felt a little prideful of my efforts - I did not want the blanket from my hands to look just like one of those poor, discarded baby afghans I sometimes run into at the thrift store. Run of the mill, rather boring in appearance, but handcrafted with love and endless hours of labor.


After rummaging through my abundant stash, and keeping in mind that this was an expected boy baby whose Mom and Auntie did not want anything too frilly, I came up with the color theme you see (ok,ok - still rather traditional, but I am a practicing recessionista.)

The pattern is from a very old copy of possibly Knitter's Magazine, but you could use any knitting stitch encyclopedia and have at it. Knitting the patchwork afghan in strips makes it easier to assemble, keeping possible the balance of color and stitches used and traveling with project in hand easier.

Yarn: All DK weight, some Sirdar Baby Double Knitting, and Bernat Baby Yarn in white (same approximate weight)

Needles: Size US 6/ 4 m Circular ( they are the best! - travel easily and up until now, never grabbed at the airport as potential dangerous weapons!)

Cast On - Approx. 34 - 41 stitches depending on the stitch used

Anticipated size - around 40 - 45 inche square, which I will then probably do an edging around.

Words of Encouragement - If the square you just knit looks wider than the previous, don't despair and reknit- when you put the strips together, it all evens out in the wash. And try some fun stitches you don't usually get to use and reuse the ones you like. Alternate so that you don't have two squares with similar stitchs next to one another, which happened to me when a seed stitch square landed next to a Daisy Stitch, which took much more effort to make and now will not shine as much for the beauty that it is.