How to Knit the “Heather” Baby Blanket [Free Video Tutorial & Written Pattern!]
A lot of my blankets use modern geometric patterns for the textured panel, but sometimes I get the urge to knit something a little more traditional. Heather is worked using a super chunky basketweave pattern, which gives her bags of texture and a more traditional feel.
I’ve knitted in a lovely muted purple colour, but I think it would work in any number of colours, or you could even knit it in a variegated yarn as the texture is so prominent it won’t be hidden by the colour changes.
Heather is not a reversible pattern, it does have a very definite right and wrong side thanks to the stockinette and reverse stockinette patterns used to achieve the basketweave pattern on the front.
That being said, the reverse does have a charm all of its own – so definitely no ugliness if the wrong side is facing outwards.
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 16+4 for the middle textured panel, and an additional 18 stitches (9 for each side) for the garter stitch edging.
pin for later
Materials Needed
- 4mm Circular Needs (to recreate this blanket 100cm is a perfect length)
- 400g of DK Yarn – I used King Cole Cherished in Mulberry
- Scissors & Tapestry Needle for sewing in ends
- 2 Stitch Markers
Written Pattern
Stiches Used
- k – knit
- p – purl
- sl1pwyf – slip one purlwise with yarn in front.
- Pm – place marker
- Sm – slip marker
- RS – Right Side
- WS – Wrong Side
Bottom Garter Border
Foundation Row: Cast on 134 stitches. (I like to use the Long-Tail method)
Knit 15 Rows as Follows: k until one stitch remains, sl1pwyf.
Main Pattern Repeat
Row 1 (RS): k9, pm, k until 9 stitches remain, pm, k8 sl1pwyf.
Row 2 (WS): k9, sm, p until 2nd Marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 3: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8 sl1pwyf.
Row 4: k9, sm, k8, p4, *k12, p4* repeat from *to* until 8 stitches before second marker, k8, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 5: k9, sm, p8, k4, *p12, k4* repeat from *to* until 8 stitches before second marker, p8, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 6: k9, sm, k8, p4, *k12, p4* repeat from *to* until 8 stitches before second marker, k8, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 7: k9, sm, p8, k4, *p12, k4* repeat from *to* until 8 stitches before second marker, p8, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 8: k9, sm, k8, p4, *k12, p4* repeat from *to* until 8 stitches before second marker, k8, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 9: k9, sm, p8, k4, *p12, k4* repeat from *to* until 8 stitches before second marker, p8, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 10: k9, sm, k8, p4, *k12, p4* repeat from *to* until 8 stitches before second marker, k8, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 11: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8 sl1pwyf.
Row 12: k9, sm, p until 2nd Marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 13: k9, sm, k until 9 stitches remain, sm, k8 sl1pwyf.
Row 14: k9, sm, p4, *k12, p4* repeat from *to* until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 15: k9, sm, k4, *p12, k4* repeat from *to* until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 16: k9, sm, p4, *k12, p4* repeat from *to* until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 17: k9, sm, k4, *p12, k4* repeat from *to* until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 18: k9, sm, p4, *k12, p4* repeat from *to* until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 19: k9, sm, k4, *p12, k4* repeat from *to* until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Row 20: k9, sm, p4, *k12, p4* repeat from *to* until second marker, sm, k8, sl1pwyf.
Repeat Rows 1 – 20 12 times in total (slipping markers on Row 1 instead of placing them), and then work Rows 1-13 once more before moving on to top border.
Top Garter Border
Knit 15 rows as follows: K until final stitch, sl1pwyf.
Final row (Row 16): Cast off knit wise with right side facing.