revisiting a finished project for which I reverse-engineered a pattern
Happy Friday morning, everyone! Today, I want to take a look back at a baby blanket I finished in March 2019. This was a gift I knitted for my new baby cousin. I decided to write my own pattern for this project, which I have included below. As with most of my patterns, this is a flexible pattern and has room for you to put your own spin on it. That’s what makes knitting and crocheting fun, after all! I like to see everyone’s unique creations.
Sometimes, I buy yarn, and hope I find a project for it, and sometimes I find a pattern, and seek out the right yarn for that pattern. With this project though, I found both the pattern and the yarn at the same time. Bonus!
I purchased the yarn at a yarn store I found while on vacation last year. I had been to this yarn store numerous times and remembered they had a lovely baby blanket on display using this yarn. It was soft, delicate and perfect for a baby. Here is the link to the pattern for this blanket that was on display (King Cole Pattern 5341). This pattern includes instructions for this eyelet blanket, and matching booties and a hat. This is such a giftable pattern!
Photos of the store’s display blanket
For my blanket, I believe I used about 6 balls of King Cole Finesse Cotton Silk DK yarn. I used the shade “Soft Pink,” but this yarn comes in a fantastic selection of pastel baby tones that work well for any baby or gender. This yarn is a dreamy blend of 77% cotton and 23% silk and is recommended for size 6 (4.00mm) needles.
(Side note: I have previously used some of King Cole’s other yarn for my Grenache Shawl!)
I love how soft, feminine, and cozy this yarn is!
Despite knowing which pattern was used to create this blanket, I decided to reverse engineer this pattern from these photos and write my own pattern! I truly do not know why I did this. I am guessing that I thought it would just be fun, or perhaps I didn’t want to pay for the pattern. Regardless, I wrote my own pattern for this blanket in an attempt to mimic the original King Cole pattern I saw in store.
This is the only photo I took of my finished blanket before gifting it. It was drying on a towel, hence the blue stripes beneath the blanket.
…and it worked! My blanket turned out so well and matched my inspiration quite nicely! I knit an eyelet pattern that alternated across 11 stitch intervals every 4 rows. I included the pattern I wrote and used for my blanket below.
Early progress on my blanket. At the bottom, you can see I leaned into the eyelet pattern too much, and decided to ease up immediately after. I should have taken this out and reworked this section, but I was in a rush to finish!
Pattern
Set up your work by casting on your desired amount of a multiple of 11 stitches, plus any border stitches (5 on each side works nicely). So, for example: 5 edge stitches, 121 stitches (11 sets of 11 stitches), 5 edge stitches. Place stitch markers to help keep each set of 11 stitches straight!
Work garter stitch for your desired border length, or about 6 rows. This is a stockinette stitch blanket with a garter stitch border, but feel free to substitute with your favorite border, like seed stitch.
Note: The eyelet motif is always worked on a knit row.
Row 1: k5, Purl to last 5 stitches, k5
Row 2: Knit all stitches
Row 3: repeat row 1
Row 4: (Eyelet row) k5, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k6* repeat from * to last five stitches, k5.
Row 5: repeat row 1
Row 6: Knit all stitches
Row 7: repeat row 1
Row 8: (Eyelet Row) K5, *k6, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk* repeat from * to last 5 sts, k5.
Repeat these 8 rows until you have reached your desired length.
Knit about 6 rows in garter stitch for the edge and bind off. Weave in ends.
This blanket has such a great drape to it. I cannot wait to work with this yarn again!
Well, that’s my overview for this blanket! I enjoyed knitting this, and I am actively looking for another baby project to make with this yarn because I love it so much. Luckily, I have a pregnant sister-in-law, so I expect you’ll be seeing more of this yarn soon! Feel free to send me your favorite patterns for baby knits. I’m curious to see your tried and true patterns.
Until we talk next, happy knitting, everyone!
Disclaimer: I have not looked at King Cole’s pattern. Any resemblance to their pattern is strictly coincidence and not an attempt to copy their work.
Bilingwool 