Forest Spirit Baby Blanket: free knitting pattern



My new Forest Spirit baby blanket is finished, and today I can share a free pattern with you. I am very happy with the final result. This blanket is very light and airy, but warm at the same time. And the colour changes within every stripe are so nice. This project is very easy and is suitable for beginners. Self-patterning Spirit yarn* helps to reach a wonderful effect with the most basic knitting garter stitch.
Forest Spirit baby blanket_FREE crochet pattern_www.lillabjorncrochet.com


You can see more pictures with the finished blanket HERE.

Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue

You will need:


~ Fingering yarn. I used Spirit yarn by Scheepjes in 10 following colors (one skein of each) – 260g in total: 305 (Gazelle), 315 (Salmon), 309 (Dolphin), 307 (Grasshopper), 301 (Orca), 308 (Turtle), 304 (Lion), 303 (Eagle), 311 (Butterfly), 302 (Wolf).

Spirit yarn is available for purchase via Wool Warehouse* and Black Sheep Wools* (both in UK with international shipping),  Caro's Atelier* (NL and Europe), Knotty House* (Canada) and in your local Scheepjes stores. If you haven't tried this yarn yet, please, read my review HERE.

You will need approx. 20-22g for 1 stripe. And 18-20g in each of three shades for the border (I used 304, 308 and 302)

~ Circular needles size 4 mm/US6 80cm
~ Tapestry needle to weave yarn tails in

Gauge


With garter stitch 19sts x 36 rows = 10cm x 10cm (4in x 4in)

Size


Pattern is written for one size: approx. 85cm x 110cm (33 1/2in x 43in) after blocking.

But you can easily adjust its width by casting on more (or less) stitches in the beginning. And if you want a longer blanket you can just knit more rows (and make some of the stripes wider according to your taste). For example, if you want to make your blanket 10cm (4") longer - you should add 36 rows.

Stitch guide and Abbreviations


beg - beginnig
st(s) - stitch(es)
yo - yarn over
k - knit
p – purl
prev - previous
RS - right side
garter st




Pattern Notes



Forest Spirit Baby blanket pattern is written for one size which can be easily adjusted by casting on more sts and knitting more rows. For example, if you want to make your blanket 10cm (4") longer, you should add 36 rows.

Given size uses 206g of Scheepjes Spirit yarn in total: approx. 20-22g for one stripe, and 18-20g in each of three shades for the border (used colours 304, 308 and 302).

First st in the beg of every row is always knitted in front loop (See pics. 1-2). And last stitch of every row is knitted in back loop (See pics. 3-4).
Forest Spirit baby blanket_FREE crochet pattern_www.lillabjorncrochet.com

To change color, simply start to knit a new row with new yarn.
Forest Spirit baby blanket_FREE crochet pattern_www.lillabjorncrochet.com

INSTRUCTIONS

 Copyright LillaBjornCrochet 2016. All rights reserved. This pattern is for unlimited personal use only. Do not reproduce or sell the pattern. The pattern may not be copied in any way (print or digitally), in part or in full. Items may be sold that are made from this pattern as long as the designer is credited. Shop owners, if you wish to make a kit with yarn using this pattern, please request permission and copyright details from me before offering any kits for sale. Please, read Copyright page for more information.

Work in rows. Begin with yarn 305.

Cast on 140 sts (or as many sts as you need for a desired width of your blanket) on needle size 4mm/US6. Work 36 rows with garter stitch (10cm/4in).

Make 9 more colourful stripes with garter stitch (each stripe contains 36 rows) in the following order: 315 (Stripe 2), 309, 307, 301, 308, 304, 303, 311, 302. Don’t bind off in the end of last stripe.

Border


Border is made with same circular needles in rounds, always on the right side. To get a garter stitch effect, you should knit and purl on every other round. HERE is a video tutorial about how to work with garter stitch in rounds.

Every corner is shaped with two increases on knit rounds (no increases on purl rounds).

Read about different ways to increase HERE. Please, choose the one you are comfortable with. I worked twisted yo, k1, twisted yo in every corner for my blanket. Be sure to mark central stitch in the corner and move the marker to next rounds as you progress. It will help you easily find the stitch where you should make increase on next rounds.

Instructions (Border)


Work in rounds on RS. Begin with yarn 304.

Round 1: k1 in each st until end, make two increases in last st (don’t forget to mark central stitch), turn a quarter.

Note: for my increases I made (twisted yo, k1, twisted yo) in every "corner" stitch for 1st and all next knit rounds.
Forest Spirit baby blanket_FREE crochet pattern_www.lillabjorncrochet.com
 
Continue to knit along another side, making k1 in every “ridge” till you come to next corner.
Forest Spirit baby blanket_FREE crochet pattern_www.lillabjorncrochet.com


Make two increases in first st of Row 1 k1 in each of Row 1 until next corner, make two increases in last st, turn a quarter.
Forest Spirit baby blanket_FREE crochet pattern_www.lillabjorncrochet.com


Continue knitting along fourth side as prev, make twisted yo (or one increase) and k1 in the same st where you began this round.
Forest Spirit baby blanket_FREE crochet pattern_www.lillabjorncrochet.com

Round 2: continue with yarn 304. P1 in every st around.

Round 3: change to yarn 308. K1 in every st around making increases in marked st in every corner.
Forest Spirit baby blanket_FREE crochet pattern_www.lillabjorncrochet.com

Round 4: continue with yarn 308. P1 in every st around. Change to yarn 302.

Repeat rounds 3 and 4 with yarn 302, bind off loosely. Weave in all yarn tails using tapestry needle (you can weave them into the seam between the blanket and the border). Block blanket to measurements.

Congratulations!!! Your Forest Spirit Baby Blanket is now finished! :)

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24 comments

  1. thanks for the tutorial. Have you knitted back and forth on one circular needle or did you use two circular needles ?

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    Replies
    1. I used one circular needle, and worked back and forth. And mine was even shorter. But for the border it is better to use longer needles...

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    2. i just learned to knit back and forth on a circular needle and i find it difficicult to hold the yarn in my left hand, i have always knitted holding the yarn in my right hand, so it will take some mor practice to get use to it.

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    3. Hold the yarn however is most comfortable for you. There is really no right or wrong in knit or crochet. I have found that people who learn to knit first hold yarn in their right hand, i also crochet this way. People who learn to crochet first hold yarn in their left hand and then go on to knit this way too. It is all about what works for you. Carry on doing what you do best xx

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  2. If I wanted to make this larger, say a throw for myself, how many more stitches would you cast on? I love the pattern and the yarn. Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. It depends on how much larger you want to make it... every extra 19 stitches make extra 10cm/4in in width. How wide would you like to make it? And how long?

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  3. I would like for it to be about 65" by 48". Thank you for your help. Such a pretty blanket.

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    Replies
    1. ok, let's do a little math... (48-2)"/4 x 19 = 218 stitches. That will be your width. If you want to make 10 stripes, as I have in my blanket, you shoudl work 58 rows (6 1/3") with each color for 580 rows in total. But noq I am not sure how much yarn in each shade you will need... If to do ideal math, you should need 46g for each stripe. But this will work if your gauge is perfectly same as mine... And you will obviously need extra skein in each of 3 shades for the border. Will you order Spirit yarn overseas? I would still order 13 skein. Because if you buy 2 skeins in eash shade (+the border) you risk to have many leftovers... You will see: after you start and knit a bit you can measure your gauge. And if you are off, you can frog everything and start again with less stitches... And I really hope I calculated everythign correctly :)

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    2. you can even work 56 rows for each stripe. It shoudl still bring you to desired height, but you will use less yarn. And 1 skein for 1 stripe should be enough... I hope :)

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  4. Thank you so much! It is just awesome how quickly you answer my questions. Blessing. I am going to make your blanket!!

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  5. Love the pattern but stuck right out of the gate! I'm using 4mm/80 cms circular needles and cast on 140 sts. I knit one row, purled the next but I'm getting a garter stitch on one side and a stockinette stitch on the other side. I know you attached a video to show you how to knit garter stitch in the round but we are not knitting in the round here, are we? Confused in Canada, Doré

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Dore! Garter in rounds is only valid for the BORDER! the rest of the blanket is made in rows. So cast on 140 sts and work in rows with garter stitch, turning your work after each row. You could use straight needles for that. But I believe circular are more handy for large projects. Just imagine you use straight needles for the "bode" of the blanket, instead of circular. Please, let me know if it's clear!

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  6. Thank you for the lovely pattern. :) Your blanket is so pretty and cozy. Wishing you a most lovely day. :)

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  7. Lovely blanket that I intend to make. I need to clarify a few things regarding the instructions: it is knit in garter stitch using circular needles with cast on of 140. There will be a total of ten panels, one in each shade of yarn, with 36 rows per panel, totaling 360 rows. For border you say K1 in 139 sts, make 2 increases in last st (use marker in center stitch as you go around). My question here is where do the 139 sts come from, since cast on 140. There is probably a simple answer and maybe it will become obvious as I knit but I'm having a problem imagining doing the border based on the instructions. Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Mary, I am not sure where the problem is... Yes, it's correct that you cast on 140 sts. So for first part (first of four) of the border you K1 in 139 sts and then make 2 increases in last (140th) st... then you turn a quarter and work another side of the border. And then you work 3rd and 4th sides - always with 2 increases in each corner.

      Instructions for the border are devided with pictures, so 139sts + 2 increase is not a complete instruction for Round 1 of the border...

      I am not a knitting designer and I am not experienced with knitting patetrns. But I hope that's clear now :)

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    2. Thank you. I see my mistake now that I read what you wrote. I'll not worry about the border for now. I have 10 panels to knit first! I ordered the yarn today from the Wool Warehouse link on your page. Thanks again.

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    3. Mary please feel free to contact me again if something is not clear... And thank you very much for using my link :) It is very much appreciated!

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  8. Can you please tell me whether the yarn is fingering weight or DK? You call it fingering but on the WoolbWarehouse website they say it is DK. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Marieta, Spirit is fingering yarn. If it's listed as DK somewhere - then it's an error.

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  9. 260 g is given as a total- 206 is given later. 22 g per stripe and 20 per border (220 plus border 60) coming to 280. I'm confused. How many skeins do I need to order? thank you. Pat

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    Replies
    1. Well, you'll use something between 260 and 280g. If you use Spirit yarn, you need only one skein in each color.

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  10. Hi! Thank you for the lovely pattern, I'm really excited to make this blanket. I've never done a blanket border like this, so I hope you don't mind me asking a couple of things. For my first round on the border, do I start with using the last row of the knitting for the blanket?
    And do I just keep going around the border, eventually ending up with all 4 sides of the blanket on the needles to do the rounds? I'm pretty sure that's what it means, but I just wanted to check. Thank you!

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  11. BONJOUR, Merci pour votre très joli modèle !

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