Coleman Baby Blanket

Coleman Baby Blanket by Distracted Knits

Project Overview

The Coleman Baby Blanket is a knitted throw designed by Faith Schmidt and sized perfectly for car seats and strollers. This project is ideal for adventurous beginners and experienced knitters alike, offering an accessible introduction to chevron stitch patterning while producing a practical, finished piece measuring 32" x 24.5" when lightly steam blocked.

What is Being Made

This is a small blanket or throw blanket specifically proportioned for infant use. The finished dimensions of 32" x 24.5" make it suitable for draping over car seats, strollers, or use as a decorative nursery blanket. The project uses a single cake of self-striping yarn, making it an efficient one-skein or near-one-skein project that produces a complete, wearable item.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Coleman Baby Blanket employs fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for beginner-level crafters. The primary construction method involves working with increases and decreases to create the chevron stitch pattern. Key techniques include:

• Casting on to establish the foundation stitches
• Increases using the knit front and back (KFB) method to add stitches and create the chevron's upward peaks
• Decreases using knit 2 together (K2TOG) and slip, slip, knit (SSK) methods to form the chevron's downward valleys
• Stockinette stitch as the base fabric structure
• Binding off to finish the final edge
• Steam blocking to set the finished dimensions and even out the chevron pattern

Stitches Used

The Coleman Baby Blanket relies on a limited stitch vocabulary, making it accessible for beginners while still creating visual interest:

• Stockinette stitch forms the primary fabric base
• Chevron stitch pattern created through strategic placement of yarn overs, knit front and back increases, and decrease stitches to form the characteristic zigzag or wave pattern
• Knit 2 together (K2TOG) decreases
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK) decreases
• Knit front and back (KFB) increases

Materials and Specifications

Yarn: The pattern calls for Caron Big Cakes Yarn, a 100% acrylic yarn available in self-striping colorways. One cake provides 300 grams and 603 yards of yarn, which is sufficient to complete the entire blanket. The self-striping nature of this yarn means color changes occur automatically as you knit, creating visual interest without the need to manage multiple yarn colors or change yarns during the project.

Needles: US 7 needles, or the size needed to obtain proper gauge. The pattern notes that gauge is not critical to this project, offering flexibility for knitters who may not achieve exact gauge specifications. However, yardage requirements may vary if a different gauge is achieved.

Gauge: The pattern specifies 16 stitches to 4 inches in stockinette stitch when lightly blocked. This relatively loose gauge is typical for worsted and aran weight yarns and contributes to the blanket's drape and softness.

Yarn Weight and Construction

The Coleman Baby Blanket is designed for aran and worsted weight yarns, which are medium-weight fibers that knit up quickly and create fabric with good structure and warmth. The use of acrylic yarn makes this blanket practical for baby items, as acrylic is durable, machine-washable, and hypoallergenic—important considerations for infant blankets that require frequent laundering.

Finishing and Blocking

The pattern includes specific instructions for steam blocking acrylic yarn. The blanket should be pinned right side up, and an iron held approximately one inch above the fabric for about 20 seconds per section, with repetition as needed. This finishing technique helps set the chevron pattern, even out the stitches, and achieve the final dimensions of 32" x 24.5".

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner project, the Coleman Baby Blanket is accessible to knitters new to the craft while remaining engaging for more experienced makers.