Little Tern blanket

Little Tern Blanket by Tin Can Knits

Project Overview

The Little Tern blanket is an intermediate-level knitting project designed by Tin Can Knits. This downloadable PDF pattern offers four versatile sizing options to suit different needs: Stroller (23" wide by 38" long), Crib (27" wide by 41" long), Lap (30" wide by 43" long), and Throw (34" wide by 48" long), all measurements taken after blocking. The blanket features a sophisticated construction combining a central patterned body with an elegant lace edging worked perpendicular to the main fabric.

What Is Being Made

This is a rectangular blanket suitable for multiple purposes depending on the size selected. The Stroller and Crib sizes work well for infant bedding, the Lap size provides a cozy cover for personal use, and the Throw size creates a substantial blanket for larger applications. The finished dimensions include the decorative lace edging, which adds 5.5 inches to each end of the blanket for a total of 11 inches additional length beyond the core body measurements.

Knitting Techniques

The Little Tern blanket employs an advanced construction method where the lace edging is worked at a 90-degree angle to the blanket body. This perpendicular approach requires a distinctive technique: as you work successive rows of the lace edging on the right side, you simultaneously decrease stitches from the blanket body, effectively binding off one or two stitches with each right-side row of the lace panel. This integrated finishing method eliminates the need for a separate binding-off process and creates a seamlessly finished edge.

The pattern allows for customization of blanket length by working additional or fewer rows in the main stitch pattern, provided you end with a wrong-side row numbered 4, 8, or 12. This flexibility accommodates personal preferences while maintaining the proportional balance of the finished piece.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The blanket features charted stitch patterns for both the body and edging. The main blanket body is worked using either Chart A or Chart B, both of which are stitch patterns suitable for DK weight yarn. The lace edging consists of a 26-stitch-wide panel worked from Charts C and D, which create the decorative 5.5-inch-wide lace border that frames the blanket after washing and blocking.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

• Yarn Weight: DK weight yarn
• Yardage: 750 yards (Stroller), 900 yards (Crib), 1,000 yards (Lap), or 1,250 yards (Throw)
• Sample Yarn: Fyberspates Vivacious DK in the colorway 'pebble beach'
• Gauge: 18 stitches and 27 rows per 4 inches over the blanket body stitch pattern

Finishing and Blocking

The pattern specifies that all measurements are taken after blocking, which is an essential step for achieving the intended finished dimensions and allowing the lace edging to fully develop its characteristic drape and definition. The 26-stitch lace panel measures 5.5 inches wide after washing and blocking, demonstrating the importance of this finishing process in achieving the design's intended appearance.