Blue Bell Baby Blanket

Large Picture of Blue Bell Baby Blanket
Close Up Picture of Pattern Stitch

I named this pattern for the pretty boarder pattern which reminds me of blue bell flowers. The baby blanket knits up fast. It can be worked as written with a pattern boarder and st st center, or the entire blanket can be knit in the boarder pattern. Either way it makes a lovely baby gift.

Ann V. Gallentine

Size: 42 inches square

Materials: #10.5 U.S. knitting needles, 5½ 3.5 ounce skeins worsted weight yarn (the original was made with 50% nylon, 50% acrylic Berroco Comfort yarn), 2 stitch markers, large eye sewing needle

Gauge: 4 sts, 6 rows = 1 inch in st st

Notes:

Blanket has a shell pattern border with a st st center. It can be made entirely with the shell stitch, thus eliminating the st st center. This will require more yarn.

The blanket size can be changed by increasing or decreasing the number of stitches cast on in multiples of 9.

Special abbreviations

Ssssk: {slip, slip, slip, slip, knit} Slip 4 sts from left to right needle, one at a time. Insert left needle into front of sts and knit. (Similar to ssk, but with 3 sts decreased instead of 1 st decreased)

Lucina Shell Pattern (adapted from Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker, page 226

Multiple 9 plus 3

Row 1: (RS) k2, *yo, k8, yo, k1, rep from * to last st, k1

Row 2: k3, *p8, k3, rep from *

Row 3: k3, *yo, k8, yo, k3, rep from *

Row 4: k4, *p8, k5, rep from *, ending with k4

Row 5: k4, *yo, k8, yo, k5, rep from *, ending with k4

Row 6: k5, *p8, k7, rep from *, ending with k5

Row 7: k5, *ssssk, k4tog, k7, rep from * ending with k5

Row 8: knit

Rep rows 1-8 for pattern

Bottom border

CO 147 sts. Knit 4 rows

Work 23 rows of Lucina Shell pattern.

Row 24: Purl 20. pm, purl to last 20 sts, pm, purl to end

Middle

Row 1: Work Row 1 of Lucina Shell pattern over first 20 sts. sm, knit to next marker. Sm. Work Row 1 of established Lucina Shell Pattern over last 20 sts.

Row 2: Work Row 2 of Lucina Shell pattern over first 20 sts, sm, purl to next marker. Sm, Work Row 2 of established Lucina Shell Pattern over last 20 sts.

Keeping the first and last 20 sts in Lucina Shell Pattern border, work the center 107 sts in st st for 32 inches or desired length of blanket minus 5 inches for top border. End with Row 7 of Shell pattern.

Top border

With WS facing, knit across, removing markers.

Work Lucina Shell Pattern for 24 rows. Knit 3 rows. BO in pattern. Weave in ends.