Bobo Bubble Stitch Blanket & Beanie - Free Baby Knitting Pattern in Paintbox Yarns Simply DK

Bobo Bubble Stitch Blanket & Beanie – Free Baby Knitting Pattern by Chloé Elizabeth Birch

The Bobo Bubble Stitch Blanket & Beanie is a free, downloadable baby knitting pattern designed by Chloé Elizabeth Birch and published by Paintbox Yarns. This charming intermediate-level pattern covers two coordinating baby projects: a generously sized knitted blanket and a matching beanie hat, both worked in a playful bubble stitch texture that gives the set its distinctive "Bobo" character. The pattern is written using US knitting terminology, with UK equivalents provided in italics, making it accessible to knitters on both sides of the Atlantic.

Projects Included

Bobo Bubble Stitch Baby Blanket

The blanket is a substantial, cosy piece finished at 27 inches (68.5 cm) wide and 31¼ inches (79 cm) long, making it a generous size suitable for use in a pram, cot, or as a play mat. The defining feature of this blanket is its bubble stitch texture, a classic knitting technique that creates raised, three-dimensional bobbles or clusters across the fabric. This kind of textural stitch adds visual interest and a soft, cushioned quality to the finished fabric — ideal for a baby item where tactile comfort matters as much as appearance.

The blanket is worked in a colourful palette using Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, with three shades used to create a cheerful, modern aesthetic. The combination of colours and the repeating bubble stitch motif gives the blanket a bold, graphic quality that works beautifully as a nursery accessory or a thoughtful handmade gift.

Bobo Bubble Stitch Baby Beanie

The matching beanie hat is sized to fit babies from 0–3 months through to 18–24 months, with six size options available across the pattern. Finished circumferences range from approximately 13 inches (33 cm) up to 17¼ inches (44 cm), ensuring a well-fitted hat at every stage of a baby's first two years. Like the blanket, the beanie features the same signature bubble stitch construction, creating a cohesive, coordinated look between the two pieces. The hat's textured surface adds warmth and structure, while the soft DK-weight yarn keeps it comfortable against delicate skin.

Techniques and Stitches Used

Both the blanket and the beanie are knitted projects, making this pattern suitable for knitters who are comfortable moving beyond basic knit-and-purl fabric and are ready to explore more expressive stitch patterns. The key techniques and stitches involved include:

• Bubble stitch – the signature technique of this pattern, creating raised, rounded clusters of stitches that stand proud of the background fabric. Bubble or bobble stitches typically involve working multiple times into a single stitch and then decreasing back, or slipping and working stitches in a specific sequence to build up a three-dimensional shape.
• Knit stitch – fundamental to both projects, forming the base fabric and the background against which the bubble texture reads clearly.
• Repeat sequences – the pattern uses bracketed repeat instructions, meaning knitters must be comfortable following stitch repeats accurately across rows or rounds.
• Working in the round – the beanie hat is likely worked in the round, a common construction method for seamless baby hats that produces a neat, professional finish without seaming.
• Shaping – the hat requires crown shaping through decreases to achieve a fitted, rounded top across all six sizes.
• Colour work – the use of three distinct yarn colours (Ocean Blue, Misty Grey, and Peach Orange) means knitters will need to manage yarn changes, whether working in stripes or colour blocks across the projects.

Materials

Yarn

The recommended yarn is Paintbox Yarns Simply DK, a smooth, DK-weight yarn available at lovecrafts.com and yarn.com. The pattern calls for 3¼ oz / 100 g balls in three specific colourways:

• Ocean Blue (A) – 1 ball
• Misty Grey (B) – 1 ball