Despite not having a baby of my own I have found that I like knitting baby blankets, and if I continue to make posts about what I’m working on you’re liable to see more than a few pop up over the coming weeks / months / years. Pictured is one baby blanket that I have finished knitting and which I am currently adding a “sassy shell” edge to. I found the pattern for the edge in the book Crocheting on the Edge by Nicky Epstein, there were a lot of fun edges in the book but I decided that a simple edge would be better for the blanket.
I like knitting baby blankets for multiple reasons:
Reason 1: I will not keep them for long. I started knitting baby blankets years ago after whipping out a baby blanket in two weeks for a friend’s baby shower. After that stressful adventure I vowed to always have a baby blanket on hand. And what do you know, a lot of babies are being born all the time! This means I can always be certain that I’ll have someone to give the blanket to eventually and I’ll always be making a little room for more yarn.
Reason 2: I like making blankets, and baby blankets are a more manageable size. I have knit multiple blankets before and while I do like them there is a certain point where the monotony of knitting and purling for row on row makes you want to just toss what you have over your head and call it a night. Most baby blanket patterns have a manageable size that make them easy to bring on road trips or flights, which is something I can’t say about a queen size blanket.
Reason 3: I like the option to try new patterns and color combinations. Because of a baby blankets smaller size it’s an easier commitment when it comes to learning a new pattern, and the consistency helps you get a feel for it. Likewise, baby yarn comes in multiple shades that are fun to work with and pair up, but even better you don’t have to stop at baby yarn for baby blankets. So long as you have the right weight for your patterns gauge, you can use any yarn you like!
Finally the last reason I like baby blankets is because there’s not a lot of pressure if you miss a stitch or two, so long as it looks alright in the end. Whose going to judge? The baby sure won’t care. So long as the blanket is soft, comfy and durable it’ll be just fine.
