Stroller Blanket in Cascade Anthem Rondo - W801 - Downloadable PDF

Stroller Blanket in Cascade Anthem Rondo – Pattern W801 by Linda Medina

This free downloadable knitting pattern (W801) by designer Linda Medina for Cascade Yarns produces a beautifully textured stroller blanket sized at a practical 24 inches wide by 28 inches long — perfectly proportioned for keeping little ones cozy in a pram or stroller. Rated intermediate in skill level, this project is an excellent next step for knitters who are comfortable with basic stitches and ready to explore slip-stitch texture patterns and structured border construction.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Cascade Yarns® Anthem Rondo — 100% Acrylic, sold in 200 g (7.05 oz) / 340 m (372 yd) skeins
• Color: 2 skeins of color #02 (Pastille)
• Needles: US 8 (5.0 mm) 24-inch circular knitting needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Notions: Yarn needle for finishing

Cascade Yarns Anthem Rondo is a worsted weight acrylic yarn, making this blanket durable, machine-washable, and ideal for everyday baby and toddler use. The 100% acrylic fiber content ensures the finished blanket is soft against delicate skin while holding up to frequent laundering — a practical choice for any caregiver.

Gauge

The pattern requires a gauge of 21 stitches by 36 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in the main pattern stitch. Achieving correct gauge is important for hitting the intended finished dimensions, so swatching before beginning is strongly recommended.

Construction and Techniques

The blanket is worked flat, back and forth on circular needles, which accommodates the full stitch count comfortably without the need for a long straight needle. The circular needle is used purely for capacity — the piece is not worked in the round. This is a common and practical technique for wider flat projects such as blankets and shawls.

Construction begins with a knitted cast-on of 112 stitches. The blanket is then structured in three distinct sections:

• Ribbing border: A 7-row rib section worked in a 2x2 rib pattern (knit 2, purl 2) creates a neat, slightly elastic edge at the cast-on end of the blanket.
• Garter stitch border: A short garter stitch section transitions from the ribbing into the main body, with a subtle increase row that brings the stitch count to 113 stitches — the correct multiple for the main pattern stitch.
• Main body: The central field of the blanket is worked in a slip-stitch texture pattern repeated across the full width.

Stitch Pattern Detail

The signature texture of this blanket comes from a 4-row slip-stitch pattern worked over multiples of 4 stitches plus 3, with 2 dedicated edge stitches. Slip-stitch patterns are a hallmark of intermediate knitting: they create visual depth and a woven or mosaic-like texture without requiring the knitter to manage multiple yarn colors simultaneously. In this pattern, all slip stitches in the main body are slipped purlwise, which keeps them elongated and smooth on the fabric surface.

Two important construction details give this blanket its polished finish:

• The first stitch of every row is always slipped knitwise, and the last stitch is always purled. This technique creates a double-looped selvedge edge that is neat, stable, and easy to pick up stitches along if desired.
• On wrong-side rows, the yarn is carefully brought forward (yf) and back (yb) around each slip stitch to maintain correct yarn position and prevent the carried yarn from showing on the right side of the fabric.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Knit (K)