Colorful Crafting with Jen: Koigu Basket Weave Baby Blanket

My friend Aimee is due in November.  She and her husband are one of the few couples I know who haven't found out if they are having a boy or a girl.  I love the idea of not knowing as the parent, but it sure does make it harder to choose colors when you are the gift giver!  I wanted to make something colorful and cheerful that would suit either a boy or a girl, but not too bright because Aimee prefers softer colors.  I also wanted the finished product to be washable, of course.  When I started thinking about this blanket, we had just received a new shipment of Koigu KPPPM (their multi-color 4 ply merino).  I chose a bright color that caught my eye and decided to knit it together with a strand of natural white Koigu KPM (their single-color 4 ply merino) to soften the overall color of the blanket.  This blanket has so many possibilities since you use two strands held together to work the blanket.  For instance, a solid other than natural white could be used to emphasize one of the colors from the multi, or you could use eight skeins of the same multi to achieve a more saturated look.   Enjoy! --Jen

Materials

• 4 skeins of Koigu KPPPM, I used color 119
• 4 skeins of Koigu KPM, I used color 0000
• US size 7, 24-inch circular needle (or size needed to get the correct gauge)
• Tapestry needle

Gauge

• 18 stitches = 4 inches in basket weave stitch (please note: yarn is doubled throughout)

Finished Measurements

• Approximately 29-inches square

The Pattern

With one strand of each color held together, cast on 132 stitches.

Knit 2 rows.

Rows 1 - 20:  K18, p16, *k16, p16; repeat from * to last two stitches, k2.

Rows 21 - 40:  K2, *p16, k16; repeat from * to last two stitches, k2.

Repeat these 40 rows four more times.

Knit 2 rows.

Bind off loosely. 

Use tapestry needle to sew in ends.