Parker's Blanket

Parker's Blanket by Heather DiFabio

What is Being Made

Parker's Blanket is a beginner-friendly knit baby blanket designed by Heather DiFabio of Spinning Sheep Designs. This finished blanket measures 32 inches by 32 inches, making it an ideal size for a crib blanket or decorative throw. The blanket features a distinctive rippled houndstooth pattern that creates visual texture and interest while remaining accessible to knitters new to patterned work.

Techniques and Construction

This knitting project uses fundamental techniques suitable for beginners while incorporating pattern complexity through stitch combination. The blanket begins with a cast-on of 160 stitches and features a structured beginning border worked in ribbed stitches. The construction method uses circular needles despite the flat blanket format, which is a common technique for managing the large number of stitches required for a 32-inch-wide blanket.

The rippled houndstooth pattern is created through the strategic alternation of knit and purl stitches, which are the two most fundamental knitting stitches. This combination creates the visual houndstooth effect while the rippling occurs through the directional changes in the stitch pattern. Markers are used during construction to help organize pattern repeats and maintain consistency throughout the blanket.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k) – the primary stitch forming the fabric base
• Purl stitch (p) – used in alternation with knit stitches to create the houndstooth texture
• Ribbing (k1, p1) – used for the beginning border to create an elastic, structured edge

Materials and Specifications

Parker's Blanket requires 14 ounces of worsted weight yarn. The pattern specifies size 8 (5.0mm) knitting needles in a 24-inch circular configuration. The example blanket shown in the pattern was created using 2 skeins of Bernat Super Value in Soft Gray, which is a 100% acrylic yarn. Each skein of this yarn contains 197 grams (7 ounces) and 389 meters (426 yards), providing ample yardage for the project.

The gauge for this pattern is 22 rows and 17 stitches per 4 inches when worked in the pattern stitch, which is an important measurement for achieving the intended finished size of 32 inches by 32 inches. Worsted weight yarn is a medium-weight option that knits quickly and creates a fabric with good drape suitable for baby blankets.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner project, Parker's Blanket is designed for knitters who are comfortable with basic cast-on techniques, knit and purl stitches, and simple stitch pattern repetition. The pattern does not require advanced techniques such as decreases, increases, or complex colorwork, making it an excellent choice for developing fundamental knitting skills while creating a practical, finished item.