Blankets in Hayfield Baby Sparkle DK - 4658- Downloadable PDF

Blankets in Hayfield Baby Sparkle DK – Pattern 4658

This downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Hayfield includes instructions for two beautiful baby blankets, both worked in Hayfield Baby Sparkle DK yarn. Each blanket measures approximately 92 x 92 cm (36¼ x 36¼ inches), making them a generous and practical size for a cot, pram, or nursery throw. Rated as intermediate in difficulty, these designs are ideal for knitters who are comfortable with basic stitch patterns and ready to explore decorative lace-style techniques. The sparkle yarn adds a subtle shimmer that makes either blanket a wonderful handmade gift for a new baby.

Design 1: Fan, Feather and Leaf Blanket

Overview

The Fan, Feather and Leaf Blanket measures approximately 92 x 90 cm (36¼ x 35½ inches) and is worked in a classic, flowing lace pattern. The fan, feather, and leaf motif is a timeless traditional knitting design that creates elegant wave-like ripples across the fabric, giving the finished blanket a soft, textured appearance with a delicate, heirloom quality.

Techniques and Stitches Used

• Fan, feather and leaf stitch – a traditional lace-style pattern combining increases and decreases to create rippling, fan-shaped motifs
• Garter stitch (g-st) – knit every row, used to create a firm, non-curling border or background texture
• Decreases – including pass slipped stitch over (psso) and pass 2 slipped stitches over (p2sso) to shape the lace motifs
• Increases – paired with decreases to maintain stitch count and form the characteristic leaf and fan shapes
• Slip stitch techniques – used within the lace pattern to create clean, defined stitch lines

Materials

• Yarn: Hayfield Baby Sparkle DK, shade 603 – 5 x 100g balls
• Needles: 1 pair of 4mm (UK8 / USA6) knitting needles, or a 4mm 80cm circular needle if preferred

Design 2: Eyelet Pattern Blanket

Overview

The Eyelet Pattern Blanket measures approximately 91 x 92 cm (36 x 36¼ inches) and features a pretty, all-over eyelet design. Eyelet patterns are a popular choice for baby knits because they create a lightweight, airy fabric with small decorative holes arranged in a regular repeat. The result is a soft, breathable blanket with a refined, delicate look that is perfectly suited to a baby's sensitive skin.

Techniques and Stitches Used

• Eyelet pattern – a repetitive lace technique using yarn-over increases paired with decreases to form small, evenly spaced holes across the fabric
• Knit (k) and purl (p) stitches – the foundational stitches used to build the eyelet pattern repeat
• Garter stitch (g-st) – knit every row, typically used for borders to keep edges flat and tidy
• Decrease techniques – used in combination with yarn-overs to maintain stitch count throughout the eyelet repeat
• Pattern repeats (rep) – the eyelet motif is worked across set stitch multiples, requiring careful counting and consistency

Materials

• Yarn: Hayfield Baby Sparkle DK, shade 607 – 4 x 100g balls
• Needles: 1 pair of 4mm (UK8 / USA6) knitting needles, or a 4mm 80cm circular needle if preferred