PEBBLES

PEBBLES Baby Blanket by Susan J Ward

Project Overview

The PEBBLES is a knitted baby blanket designed by Susan J Ward, measuring approximately 32x32 inches when completed. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a charming throw blanket constructed from four identical triangular pieces that are sewn together to form the finished square blanket.

What Is Being Made

A soft, decorative baby blanket composed of four knitted triangles assembled into a single square blanket. The blanket is designed with textured stitch patterns and decorative bobbles that create visual interest and dimension across the finished piece.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Make Bobble (MB): A three-dimensional textured stitch created by working multiple yarn overs and knit stitches into a single stitch, then decreasing them back down. The bobble technique involves knitting 1, yarn over, knit 1, yarn over, knit 1 all into the next stitch, turning the work, purling 5 stitches, turning again, then slipping 4 stitches and knitting 1 stitch before passing the slipped stitches over the knit stitch to complete the bobble.
• Yarn Over (YO/YRN): Creating loops and eyelets by wrapping yarn around the needle at the start of rows. This technique both increases stitch count by one on every row and creates decorative openwork that serves a functional purpose in the construction method.
• Seaming: Four separate triangular pieces are sewn together using the eyelet loops created by yarn overs, which creates a pretty seam and helps align different stitch patterns seamlessly.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K): The fundamental knit stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl (P): Used to create texture and pattern variation
• Make Bobble (MB): Decorative three-dimensional bobble stitch for textured embellishment
• Yarn Over (YO/YRN): Creates eyelets and increases stitches for construction and seaming purposes
• Knit Two Together (K2tog): A decrease stitch used as an alternative to bobbles for those seeking a simpler variation

Materials Required

This project requires 1 pair of 5mm knitting needles and 300-350 grams of baby soft double knit (DK) yarn. Susan J Ward used Woolcraft Baby Pebbles DK yarn for the original design, which is noted for its soft texture and slightly thicker feel compared to standard DK yarns, making it particularly pleasant to work with while knitting.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate difficulty, this project is suitable for knitters with some experience who are comfortable with basic stitches and ready to tackle textured techniques like bobbles and yarn overs. The pattern does offer a simplified alternative for the bobble rows, making it adaptable for those who find bobbles challenging.