How to Knit the “Forrest” Baby Blanket [Free Video Tutorial & Written Pattern!]
***You can purchase an INEXPENSIVE AD-FREE PDF of this pattern on Ravelry HERE or Etsy HERE***
Meet Forrest – My take on a festive blanket! For a while now I’ve wanted to knit a Christmas blanket, but didn’t want it to be something that screamed Christmas so strongly that it just wouldn’t appeal to someone who happened to stumble across the pattern during the other months of the year.
I like to think this little pine tree design I’ve come up with will work as a Christmas blanket during those festive months, and a nature themed blanket for those other months – or for the people out there for whom Christmas is not an important milestone,
Forrest has quite a long repeat for my blankets, it’s an 18 stitch pattern multiple worked across 30 rows. It’s definitely not one for the complete beginners out there, but isn’t outside of the realms of someone who has mastered knit and purl stitches (and can count to 18!)
yarn and sizing tips & tricks
I’ve chosen to knit my blanket in double-knit yarn (for those of you outside the UK, the equivalent is Light Worsted or 3 weight yam), but this blanket design will work in any weight yarn you choose. Just make sure that you select the right size needles for the yarn you want to work with.
My instructions produce a Blanket approximately 60cm x 80cm, but for those of you wanting to adjust this size, it can easily be done using the pattern multiple of 18+10 for the middle textured panel, and an additional 18 stitches (9 for each side) for the garter stitch edging.
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Materials Needed
- 4mm Circular Needs (to recreate this blanket 100cm is a perfect length).
- 400g Double Knit Yarn – I used King Cole Cherished in Fern.
- 2 Stitch Markers
- Tapestry Needle
- Embroidery Scissors
Written Pattern
Stitches & Abbreviations
- K – knit
- P – purl
- Sl1pwyf – Slip one purlwise with yarn forward.
- Pm – place marker
- Sm – slip marker
- RS – right side
- WS – wrong side
Bottom Garter Border
Foundation Row: Cast on 136 Stitches.
Knit 15 rows as follows: K until final stitch, sl1pwyf.
Main Pattern Repeat
Row 1 (RS): k9, pm, k until 9 stitches remain, pm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 2 (WS): k9, sm, p until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 3: k9, sm, k until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 4: k9, sm, p4, k2, *p7, k2* repeat from *to* until 4 stitches before second marker, p4, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 5: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 6: k9, sm, p until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 7: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 8: k9, sm, p2, k6, *p2, k8, p2, k6* repeat from *to* until 2 stitches before second marker, p2, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 9: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 10: k9, sm, p until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 11: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 12: k9, sm, p3, k4, *p4, k6, p4, k4* repeat from *to* until 3 stitches before second marker, p3, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 13: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 14: k9, sm, p until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 15: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 16: k9, sm, p4, k2, *p6, k4, p6, k2* repeat from *to* until 4 stitches before second marker, p4, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 17: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 18: k9, sm, p until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 19: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 20: k9, sm, p13, k2, *p16, k2* repeat from *to* until 13 stitches before second marker, p13, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 21: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 22: k9, sm, p until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Rows 23-30: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Repeat Rows 1 – 30 8 times in total (slipping markers on Row 1 instead of placing them), and then work Rows 1-23 once more before moving on to top border.
Top Garter Border:
Knit 15 rows as follows: K until final stitch, sl1pwyf. (On your first row – remove your stitch markers)
Final row (Row 16): Cast off knit wise with right side facing.