BUTTERFLY

BUTTERFLY Baby Blanket/Shawl Knitting Pattern

Project Overview

The BUTTERFLY is an intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by SUSAN J WARD for creating a versatile baby blanket or shawl. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a finished piece measuring approximately 30x30 inches (77x77 centimeters), making it an ideal size for a baby blanket or decorative throw.

Construction Method

This blanket employs a strategic two-stage construction technique that simplifies the building process. The pattern begins with knitting a central square as the foundation, followed by picking up stitches along all four sides to add the surrounding sections. This modular approach reduces complexity and allows crafters to work methodically from the center outward, making it particularly suitable for intermediate knitters looking to expand their skills.

Stitches and Techniques

The BUTTERFLY pattern incorporates several fundamental and decorative knitting stitches and techniques:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches form the foundational fabric
• Slip stitch (SL) for manipulating stitches without working through them
• Yarn round needle (YRN) creates eyelets and decorative loops, particularly at the beginning of rows. These serve the dual purpose of adding visual interest while functioning as practical guides for sewing the sides together
• Bubble Stitch (K4B) provides textural interest and dimension to the blanket. This stitch involves knitting 4 below, creating a distinctive bumpy texture. While it may appear intimidating to knitters unfamiliar with the technique, the pattern emphasizes that it is straightforward to master when following the detailed instructions carefully
• Working across right side (RS) and wrong side (WS) to create structured rows
• Repeat (REP) sequences to establish pattern consistency
• Stitches together (TOG) for decreasing and shaping

Materials Required

The BUTTERFLY pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the intended drape and softness appropriate for a baby blanket:

• Yarn: 350 grams of baby soft double knit (DK) weight yarn or equivalent. The DK weight provides a balanced fabric that is neither too heavy nor too delicate for a functional baby blanket
• Needles: One pair of 5mm needles for the majority of the work, including casting on and knitting the central square, plus one 6mm knitting needle for specific sections requiring slightly larger gauge

Skill Level

Classified as intermediate difficulty, this pattern assumes knitters have mastered basic knitting fundamentals including casting on, knit and purl stitches, and picking up stitches. The introduction of the Bubble Stitch and the multi-stage construction process provide appropriate challenges for advancing knitters without requiring advanced techniques such as cable work or complex colorwork.