987A Peregrine Blanket - Knitting Pattern for Babies in Valley Yarns Montague

987A Peregrine Blanket – Knitting Pattern for Babies in Valley Yarns Montague

The 987A Peregrine Blanket, designed by Julie Turjoman, is a beautifully simple and practical knitted baby blanket pattern published by Valley Yarns. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is an ideal choice for knitters who want to create a thoughtful, handmade gift for a new arrival. Whether destined for a stroller ride or a cozy lap, this blanket combines everyday functionality with a satisfying, textured aesthetic.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a knitted baby blanket in two size options: a Baby Blanket and a Lap Blanket. The Baby Blanket finishes at 40" x 36½", making it perfectly proportioned for a stroller or pram, while the larger Lap Blanket measures 51¼" x 72" for more generous coverage. Both sizes are described as excellent choices for a baby shower gift, offering a finished project that looks impressive while remaining accessible to newer knitters.

Difficulty and Skill Level

The Peregrine Blanket is rated Beginner in difficulty, making it a welcoming project for those who are relatively new to knitting. Despite its beginner-friendly classification, the finished blanket has a polished, professional appearance thanks to its structured stitch pattern and neat garter stitch borders. The repetitive nature of the main stitch pattern means that once the sequence is established, the knitting flows quickly and rhythmically.

Techniques Used

• Worked flat: The blanket is knitted back and forth in rows rather than in the round, keeping the construction straightforward and accessible for beginners.
• Bottom-up construction: The blanket is worked from the cast-on edge upward, following a logical, easy-to-follow progression.
• Seamless construction: No seaming is required, meaning the blanket is completed as a single, continuous piece — ideal for those who prefer to avoid finishing seams.
• Stitch markers: Markers are used to separate the garter stitch border sections from the central pattern repeat, helping knitters maintain accurate placement of the 17-stitch Grid Stitch pattern repeat.
• Blocking: Gauge is measured after blocking, which is particularly important when working with cotton yarn. Blocking evens out stitches and allows the textured grid pattern to open up and display fully.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch: Used for the borders at the hem and along the edges of the blanket. Garter stitch — created by knitting every row — produces a squishy, reversible fabric with natural elasticity, making it an ideal border treatment that lies flat without curling.
• Grid Stitch: The primary allover stitch pattern that covers the main body of the blanket. This textured stitch creates a subtle grid-like surface that adds visual interest and dimension without requiring complex techniques. The pattern repeat is 17 stitches, worked a total of 8 times across the Baby Blanket size and 10 times across the Lap Blanket size.

Materials – Yarn

The pattern is written specifically for Valley Yarns Montague, a worsted weight yarn made from 100% Organic Cotton. Each hank contains 50 g / 110 yards of yarn. The sample shown in the pattern uses the colorway Charcoal, lending the blanket a modern, gender-neutral look. The Baby Blanket size requires 9 hanks, while the larger Lap Blanket requires 24 hanks.

Organic cotton is a particularly appealing fiber choice for baby items. It is naturally soft and gentle against delicate skin, free from harsh chemical treatments, breathable in warm weather, and easy to care for — all qualities that make it well-suited to everyday use by infants. The worsted weight of Montague also contributes to the blanket's satisfying speed of construction.

Materials – Needles and Notions

• Needles: US size 7 (4.50 mm) needles,