Round Ruffled Baby Afghan in Lion Brand Ice Cream - L60357 - Downloadable PDF

Round Ruffled Baby Afghan in Lion Brand Ice Cream – Free Knitting Pattern L60357

This free downloadable knitting pattern, Lion Brand Ice Cream Round Ruffled Baby Afghan (Pattern Number L60357), was designed by Heather Lodinsky and published by Lion Brand Yarn Company. It produces a charming circular baby blanket with a decorative ruffled edge, worked entirely in the round from the center outward. The finished afghan measures approximately 32 inches (81.5 cm) in diameter, making it a generous and cozy size for a newborn or infant. The pattern is rated Easy+ and is well suited to knitters who are comfortable with basic techniques but ready to explore circular and double-pointed needle construction.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a round, ruffled baby afghan — a circular knitted blanket intended for infants. Its eye-catching shape sets it apart from traditional rectangular baby blankets. The blanket is worked in multiple soft pastel colorways, giving it a playful, ice-cream-inspired palette that makes it an ideal handmade gift for a baby shower or newborn. The ruffled border adds a decorative flourish that frames the circular body beautifully.

Colorwork and Design Details

The pattern calls for four distinct colors of Lion Brand Ice Cream (Art. #923), each used as a separate color block or stripe as the blanket grows outward from the center:

• Color A – 204 Banana Split (1 ball)
• Color B – 208 Mint (1 ball)
• Color C – 206 Tutti Frutti (1 ball)
• Color D – 207 Strawberry (1 ball)

The combination of these cheerful, dessert-inspired shades creates a vibrant, multi-colored blanket that is visually engaging without requiring complex colorwork techniques such as stranded knitting or intarsia.

Materials Required

The pattern uses Lion Brand Ice Cream yarn, a sport weight yarn, which produces a fine, lightweight fabric that is soft and appropriate for baby items. The following needles and tools are required:

• Lion Brand double pointed knitting needles, size 5 (3.75 mm) – used for the initial center cast-on and early rounds when the stitch count is too small for a circular needle
• Circular knitting needle, size 5 (3.75 mm), 24 inches (61 cm) long – used as the stitch count grows to a manageable size for a shorter circular
• Circular knitting needle, size 5 (3.75 mm), 40 inches (101.5 cm) long – used for the outer rounds and the ruffled border, where the stitch count becomes very large
• Lion Brand stitch markers – essential for tracking increase points around the circular construction
• Lion Brand large-eyed blunt needle – for weaving in ends and finishing

The gauge for this pattern is 72 stitches in the round equal approximately 7.5 inches (19 cm) in diameter, and knitters are encouraged to check their gauge carefully to ensure the blanket reaches the intended finished size.

Techniques and Construction Method

The Round Ruffled Baby Afghan is knitted entirely in the round, beginning at the center of the blanket and expanding outward through regular increases. This top-down circular construction is a satisfying technique that allows the knitter to watch the blanket grow with each round. Working in the round eliminates the need for seaming and produces a smooth, seamless fabric on the right side.

The transition from double pointed needles to progressively longer circular needles is a key skill practiced in this pattern. Beginners to circular knitting will find this a valuable introduction to the technique, while intermediate knitters will appreciate the structured progression through needle types as the diameter of the blanket increases.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques Used

The pattern employs a focused set of stitches and techniques that are clearly explained within the pattern instructions:

• Knit stitch – the primary stitch used throughout the body of the blanket, creating a smooth stockinette-like