It's A Hoy Set - Free Booties Knitting Pattern For Babies in Paintbox Yarns Baby DK

It's A Hoy Set – Free Baby Knitting Pattern Collection by Paintbox Yarns

The It's A Hoy Set is a charming, coordinated collection of free baby knitting patterns from Paintbox Yarns, available as a downloadable PDF. The collection includes multiple designs — among them a striped baby blanket, as well as booties, cardigans, and hats — all designed to work together as a cohesive gift set or layette. Each piece is rated intermediate in difficulty, making this collection ideal for knitters who are comfortable with the basics and ready to explore more structured techniques such as buttonholes and seaming. All designs are worked in Paintbox Yarns Baby DK, a soft, baby-appropriate yarn that comes in a wide palette of shades.

It's A Hoy Blanket

The It's A Hoy Blanket is a beautifully simple yet striking striped baby blanket, knitted flat to a finished measurement of 60 cm (23½ in) square. The stripe pattern creates a bold, graphic look that is both modern and timeless — perfect as a nursery staple or a handmade gift for a new arrival.

Materials for the Blanket

• Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Baby DK, 50g balls
• Colour A: Midnight Blue — 4 balls
Colour B: Paper White — 3 balls
• Needles: 3.75mm (UK 9 / US 5) and 4mm (UK 8 / US 6) knitting needles

Tension (Gauge)

The recommended tension is 22 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm (4 in), measured over the main stitch pattern. Achieving the correct tension is important to ensure the blanket reaches the intended finished dimensions. A tension swatch is always recommended before beginning.

Techniques Used in the Blanket

• Worked flat on straight knitting needles, making it accessible to knitters who prefer not to work in the round
• Stripes in two colours — Midnight Blue and Paper White — creating a clean, classic two-tone design
• Seamed construction where applicable to finish the piece neatly

Pattern Notes

The pattern is written using UK knitting terminology, with US terminology provided in round brackets throughout, making it accessible to knitters on both sides of the Atlantic. Yarn quantities stated are based on average requirements and are approximate. Paintbox Yarns notes that they cannot accept responsibility for the finished item if any yarn other than Paintbox Yarns Baby DK is used.

About the It's A Hoy Collection

Beyond the blanket, the It's A Hoy Set encompasses a full range of coordinating baby knits, including booties, cardigans, and hats. Together, these pieces form a complete handknitted layette set, all sharing the same yarn, colour palette, and design sensibility. The use of stripes across the collection ties each item together visually, while individual pieces introduce additional techniques such as buttonholes and button bands — particularly relevant on the cardigan — giving intermediate knitters a satisfying range of skills to practise.

Techniques Across the Collection

• Buttonholes — worked neatly into button bands, a key skill for garment knitting
• Buttons — used as functional and decorative fastenings on the cardigan and possibly the booties
• Seamed construction — pieces are worked flat and then joined using seaming techniques for a professional, structured finish
• Stripes — a consistent design element throughout the set, worked by alternating yarn colours
• Worked flat — all pieces in the collection are knitted on straight needles rather than in the round