I have developed any number of fairly simple patterns for blankets. The one I am sharing with you this Christmas starts with a large square in stockinette, and then a wide border is added in bands of stockinette, garter, and mosaic stitch. It is quite attractive, and the only part requiring much attention is the mosaic section.
Materials:
Worsted weight yarn; 4 skeins (14 oz) speckled or variegated yarn in
baby colors (MC); 2 skeins (7 oz) compatible plain color (color A)
No. 10 straight and circular needles
Gauge:
Not critical; mine generally work out at 4 st = 1 inch, 5 rows = 1
inch in stockinette st
Pattern:
Center Piece
With No. 10 straight needles (or use circular needle and work back
and forth in rows), cast on 80 sts in variegated (MC) yarn; work in stockinette
stitch (k one row, p 1 row) for 150 rows.
Borders
With No. 10 circular needle, knit side facing and using MC; knit the
80 sts on the needle; place a marker on needle; pick up 104 sts evenly
spaced along one side of center piece; marker; pick up 80 sts from cast-on
sts; marker; pick up 104 sts along other side of center piece; place a
marker on needle to indicate end of a round. Join and work in bands, beginning
with a garter stitch band.
Garter Stitch Band
Round 1: purl
Round 2: *at corner, increase 1 st (my method: make a backwards loop on right-hand needle point; abbreviated m 1); slip marker, k 1, m 1, k to next corner; repeat from * three times to complete round.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 for 1 inch, ending with round 2. Now work stockinette stitch band.
Stockinette Stitch Band
Round 1: knit
Round 2: at corner, increase 1 st by placing a backwards loop on right-hand needle point (M 1); slip marker, k 1, M 1, k to next corner; repeat from * three times to complete round.
Repeat these two rounds until 2 1/2 inches of stockinette stitch have
been
worked.
Repeat garter stitch band for 1 inch, then stockinette stitch band for 1 inch.
Your stitch count between markers should be a multiple of 14 +1 extra
Attach color A and work mosaic stitch band, which also is a color
change band, since it ends in color A, with which blanket is completed.
Mosaic Stitch Band
White = Main color
Blue = Color A
Each row represents 2 rows of knitting, unless otherwise stated (see
row numbers on the left of the chart)
Chart is worked between increases. See "in words" for corner increases.
Rows are worked with the colour stated on the right hand side of the
chart
In words:
Round 1: with MC, purl
Round 2: with color A, starting at first corner marker: inc 1, slip marker, k 1, inc 1, k 1; mark next stitch for beginning of pattern repeat; *sl 1, k 13, repeat from * to next corner marker, being sure to end with at least 1 k st**; inc 1, slip marker, k 1, inc 1, k 1; work pattern in reverse from ** to beginning of next pattern repeat, then repeat from * to next corner marker, being sure to end with a k st; repeat from ** two more times.
Rounds 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13: purl the knit sts and sl the slip stitches as they face you. Be sure to slip sts with yarn on wrong side. Use the same color as on the preceding row.
Round 4: with color MC , inc 1, slip marker, k 1, inc 1, k to stitch marked for beginning of pattern repeat; *k 1, sl 1, k 5, sl 1, k 5, sl 1; repeat from * to next corner marker, being sure to end with a k st**; inc 1, slip marker, k 1, inc 1, k 1; work pattern in reverse from ** to beginning of next pattern repeat, then repeat from * to next corner marker, being sure to end with a k st; repeat from ** two more times.
Round 6: with color A, inc 1, slip marker, k 1, inc 1, k to stitch marked for beginning of pattern repeat; *(sl 1, k 1, sl 1, k 3) two times, sl 1, k 1; repeat from * to next corner marker, being sure to end with a k st**; inc 1, slip marker, k 1, inc 1, k 1; work pattern in reverse from ** to beginning of next pattern repeat, then repeat from * to next corner marker, being sure to end with a k st; repeat from ** two more times.
Round 8: with color MC, inc 1, slip marker, k 1, inc 1, k to stitch marked for beginning of pattern repeat; *k 1, sl 1, k 3, (sl 1, k 1) two times, sl 1, k 3, sl 1; repeat from * to next corner marker, being sure to end with a k st**; inc 1, slip marker, k 1, inc 1, k 1; work pattern in reverse from ** to beginning of next pattern repeat, then repeat from * to next corner marker, being sure to end with a k st; repeat from ** two more times.
Round 10: with color A, inc 1, slip marker, k 1, inc 1, k to stitch marked for beginning of pattern repeat; *sl 1, k 5, sl 1, k 1, sl 1, k 5; repeat from * to next corner marker, being sure to end with a k st**; inc 1, slip marker, k 1, inc 1, k 1; work pattern in reverse from ** to beginning of next pattern repeat, then repeat from * to next corner marker, being sure to end with a k st; repeat from ** two more times.
Round 12: with color MC, inc 1, slip marker, k 1, inc 1, k to stitch marked for beginning of pattern repeat; *k 7, sl 1, k 6; repeat from * to next corner marker, being sure to end with a k st**; inc 1, slip marker, k 1, inc 1, k 1; work pattern in reverse from ** to beginning of next pattern repeat, then repeat from * to next corner marker, being sure to end with a k st; repeat from ** two more times.
Round 14: with color A, *inc 1, slip marker, k 1, inc 1, k to next corner marker; repeat from * to end of round
Round 15: purl
This completes mosaic band. Continue in color A. Work a band of 1 1/2 inches in stockinette stitch and a band of two or more ridges in garter stitch. Bind off loosely and block.