So as I approach middle age (ok by approach I mean I still have 13 years till I get there but I’m closer in that direction than the other one and I DO think policemen are getting younger) I begin to understand my grandmother’s generation and their need to knit when a baby is born into the family.

For me, there is absolutely nothing lovelier than something homemade, homegrown, or homebaked in life as a present for someone dear to you. To give someone a gift that is full of your time, effort, care and love is surely a beautiful thing. Now I’ll be honest, my knitting still isn’t totally perfect and it does possess a certain somewhat, erm, ‘rustic’ appeal shall we say, but it’s from the heart, and that’s what matters! 

There’s nothing that says ‘I ran out of time’ more than bringing someone a few random things clearly picked up from Tesco stuffed into a gift bag purchased at the same time. 

So. I have a new nephew. And I’m burning to make a baby blanket for him, but I really want it to be something just a touch more intricate than I’ve done before. Something lovely that (hopefully) will be treasured and tugged around in the garden, and carted about everywhere as little bubba grows up. 

I’ve trawled the Internet, books, shops etc for over a month and finally I’ve found one I love the look of. It’s perfect. Very old school. Retro darling don’t you know. 

 

This is white chunky wool. I love chunky, it’s cosy and warm and is a joy to knit with as you can see your work really coming to life. And if you make a mistake, it’s easy to pick it back and see where you’ve gone wrong!

So here we go: 

Cast on 60 onto 8mm needles. Bamboo are my favourite to work with.

Knit ten rows plain, this gives a nice border. 

Then row 11 is pattern A – knit 5, purl 10, knit 10, purl 10, knit 10, purl 10, knit 5

Row 12 is pattern B – knit 15, purl 10, knit 10, purl 10, knit 15

Repeat row A&B four times taking you to row 20

  

Row 21 is pattern B, row 22 is pattern A, repeat four more times to row 30 then 31 is A, 32 is B blah blah blah. 

Rinse and repeat as they say. You will have a lovely waffle-esque pattern of squares with a border round the outside. It’s kind of like doing rib but you’re alternating your rows every 10. I really like the effect.

One thing I would say is just keep a note of which rows you’re on incase you get an Amazon delivery or you are busting for a pee in the middle of a row. That way you’ll be sure to know where you got to and what pattern to do next.

  

Once you hit row 80 (ten plain then 70 pattern) knit another ten rows of plain to complete the border and cast off. 

That’s it done.

I hope they like it. I’m chuffed to pieces with it I have to say.