by Janet Rollins
CuddleHug is a reversible, snuggly, striped blanket knit in broken rib stitch that does not require blocking maintain its shape after washing. The inspiration for this pattern came when I was trying to find a simple baby blanket that would be easy care for gifts but would still be beautiful and comforting to the touch. This pattern can very easily be adapted for any type or amount of yarn. The inspiration blanket was made with superwash wool/nylon sock yarn for a lightweight snuggly feel, but almost immediately I designed a second with bulky thick-and-thin cotton yarn to be used as a couch throw. Whatever type or amount of yarn you choose, it is easiest to use yarn amounts that can easily be divided down to eighths by either weight or length if you use either of the original striping patterns. Gauge is not important other than in determining how many stitches to cast on to create the dimensions that you want; you can adapt the pattern based on your yarn choice and gauge preference. Below are listed PREWASHED gauges @. baby blanket (sock weight yarn) 24 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches couch throw (bulky yarn) 12 stitches and 16 to 17 rows = 4 inches
Baby Blarket Materials:
4 skeins total of Knit Picks Stroll Tonal yarn (426 yds/100g) --1 skein each in contrasting colors (Yarn A & Yarn B) --2 skeins in neutral shade (Yarn C) Size 5 circular needle (at least 24" long) Crochet hook approximately size F
Couch Throw Materials:
8 skeins total of Knit Picks Billow yarn (120 yds/100g) --1 skein each of 2 colors in same family (yarn a & yarn b) --2 skeins in contrasting color (yarn c) --4 skeins in neutral shade (yarn d) Size 10.5 circular needle (at least 24" long) Crochet hook approximately size K
Finished Dimensions:
Baby Blanket—36"x 42"Couch Throw-36"x72"
Pattern Instructions:
Cast on 216 stitches (baby blanket) or 90 stitches (couch throw) or whatever multiple of 3 gives you desired width of blanket using a crocheted cast-on method. You can find an excellent video tutorial of this method here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi 1S54hbPY Set Up (Row 1): (K2, P1) repeat this pattern to the end of the row Body (Row 2): Slip first stitch knitwise, k1, p1, (k2, p1) repeat to the end of the row Repeat Row 2 for the remainder of the blanket (this is broken rib stitch). The only change is on the rows immediately before and immediately during the color change. Color changes are based on percentage of each color used. See the striping pattern charts for more details, and written instructions below for directions at the point of changing color. Bind off loosely using the crochet hook to mimic the cast on edge. Color chage: Follow pattern as established until the final 5 stitches of the row before the color change. You will join the new color yarn using the back join method. You can find an excellent, detailed explanation with diagrams here: http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2007/07/back-to-back-join.html (last 5 stitches prior to color change) Overlap the 2 colors of yarn as shown in the back join method. Knit the next 4 stitches in pattern using a double thickness of the old color (k1, p1, k2). Purl the last stich with a double thickness of the new color (the color change should happen between these two stitches). (next row—first row in new color) Slip the double thickness stitch as usual (knitwise), then knit the next 3 stitches in pattern using the double thickness of the new yarn (k1, p1, k1). Drop the tail end of the new yarn and complete this row in pattern. Make sure when you are knitting into the double thickness stitches in the following row that you knit each double thickness stitch as one stitch rather than splitting them into two.
Striping patten chart:
ing my original colors, but remember that you can use whatever colors you choose!
