Forever Baby Blanket
I call this the Forever Baby Blanket because its design is so timeless and classic. You will never look at it and wonder, “What was I thinking?”, which is important when it comes to baby blankets because no one throws away a handknit baby blanket. It is, in fact, forever. It gets wrapped in tissue, surrounded by cedar, and tucked away until a new generation comes along and thanks you for having made such an enduringly beautiful blanket!
I was really excited to use Purl Soho’s latest addition to our line of Anzula yarn, For Better or Worsted. Like our beloved Squishy, For Better or Worsted is a superwash merino, cashmere and nylon blend in gorgeous hand dyed colors. It is the perfect baby blanket yarn, machine washable, super duper soft, and special enough for heirloom knitting.
Ever since making the Autumn Equinox Vest I’ve wanted to revisit the Cartridge Belt Rib. Its distinctive texture is characterized by deep valleys and high ridges, created by a simple slip stitch pattern. For a baby blanket, this rib is a wonderful choice because it provides a lofty coziness nothing short of what we want for our precious babies!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoForeverBabyBlanket. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 5 skeins of Anzula’s For Better or Worsted, 80% Superwash Merino Wool, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon. Approximately 1,000 yards required. This color is “Root Beer”.
- US 9 (5.5 mm), 32-inch circular needles
Gauge
30 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern, unstretched
Size
24 inches wide x 28 inches long
Pattern
NOTE: When this pattern says “sl 1 wyif”, it means to slip 1 with the yarn in front. So, bring your yarn forward as if to purl, slip the next stitch from the left needle to the right needle as if to purl, and then bring the yarn back into the knit position.
Cast on 179 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1: K3, *sl 1 wyif, k3, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2: K1, *sl 1 wyif, k3, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, sl 1 wyif, k1.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 28 inches from the cast on edge. End with Row 2, ready to knit Row 1.
Bind Off Row: Bind off in a k3, p1 rib. (Here’s how: K2, slip the first stitch over, k1, slip the first stitch over, *p1, slip the first stitch over, k1, slip the first stitch over, k1, slip the first stitch over, k1, slip the first stitch over, repeat from * to end of row.)
Cut the yarn and pull it through the remaining stitch.
Weave in the ends and you’re all done!
when asked how many stitches to make a 36″ x28″ you stat 271 stitches
Then when asked how many stitches to make a 30″ x 36″ you say 227 stitches
How come less for a larger blanket… signed confused new knitter
Hi, Jane!
Great question! The cast on edge is the width of the blanket not the length. So, the 36″x28″ has more stiches than the 30″x36″ because the width of the first (36″) is greater than the width of the second (30″). Does that make sense? Let me know! Thank you so much for writing in! Happy knitting.
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Hello,
I would like to know how you made the edges so pretty. Did you add an extra stitch for both ends & then slip either the first or last stitch? If so, do you slip the extra stitch knit wise or purl wise & do you do it at the beginning or end of the row?
wise
Hi Betty,
Thanks for writing in and our apologies for the greatly delayed response! There is not secret sauce for the edges of this blanket. We knit it as written in the pattern. If you are having difficulty getting a tidy edge, you could add 2 stitches (1 to each edge) to your cast on and slip the first stitch. If you do decide to do this, just remember to slip the first stitch and knit the last so that they do not interfere with the overall pattern.
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I’m hoping to make this for my soon to be great niece or nephew, but I like baby blankets that are larger, more like 40 x 45 range.
How many stitches would you suggest I cast on? Planning on using the Anzul yarn, but how much will I need for the larger blanket?
Thanks for the help!
Hi Beth,
Thanks for writing us! To make things easy, you should just double the pattern. I would double the cast on, buy double the yarn and knit for twice as long. According to the measurements given in the pattern, you will get a blanket that is roughly the size you are aiming for. This will turn out amazing, I know it! Good luck!
Best,
Adam
Thank you for this great pattern (no purl ribbed blanket). I have just taken up knitting again after about 30 years. This baby blanket is so easy and so beautiful, it has inspired me to continue with this great pastime.
Is it possible to turn the Forever Baby Blanket into a pattern using 3 colors , if so how?
Thanks so much, this is for my 1st Grandchild:)
Hi Cheryl,
What a great idea! I’m sure you grandchild will love it! I suggest doing a color block stripe. If you have six skeins of yarn, I would use two for the beginning, two for the middle and two for the end. I hope this inspires you!
Best,
Adam
I wonder what size needle one would recommend if you are using Cascade 128 super wash where label recommends size 10
Thank you
Hello Blue,
Thanks for writing us! I think that if the Anzula is knit on a US 9, then the Cascade 128 Superwash could be knit on a 13 for this stitch. I always like to do a small swatch of the stitch just to make sure that I like the stitch definition. It saves so much time!
All the best,
Adam
Hello,
I have five skeins of worsted, but they are different colors. They are all in soft blue, green, grey color families and look great together. Do you think this stitch would look nice using multiple colors and would you arrange them in wide stripes or change the color every other row? Every two rows? I guess I have some experimental swatching to do! Thanks for your beautiful designs and treasure chest of ideas.
I just read a comment above where you suggested a “color block stripe” for this pattern. Is that just a solid stripe, or could you please explain?
Best Wishes,
Mary
Hi Mary,
Great question! I think that this blanket could look great striped! When we mention color blocking, we mean large stripes of each color. If you have more of one color than the others, you could use this as the first and last stripe or alternate it with your other colors. I like to take out colored pencils and draw a little sketch to get the color order I like off the bat. You can also arrange your skeins in different orders until you find a color order that works for you.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I would like to use Plymouth Encore Chunky yarn. 143 yards.
How many skeins would I need?
Hi Susan,
Thanks for contacting us! I’m not familiar with this yarn, but from what I see online you’ll need 5 skeins. Since this yarn is thicker than the yarn used in our pattern, I’m comparing the yardage to a similar weight blanket we’ve done. All in all you’ll probably need around 600 yards total. I hope this helps!
Best of luck!
-Adam
Hello,
I want to make this into a throw because I love that stitch
how much yarn would I need using Anzula?
Do you also have other yarns that I can use if it is a lot?
Thanks
Robin
Hi Robin,
Great question! Throw sizes vary quite a lot. Most of my research shows measurements of between 50-60 x 60 inches. Looking at a 50×60 inch throw, you will need roughly 24 skeins of Anzula For Better or Worsted. If you would like to try an alternative yarn, you will need roughly 4800 yards of worsted weight. Our Worsted Twist would make a nice substitution, as would Manos Maxima or for a budget friendly option, Cascade 220.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I adore this pattern! It is super easy and very repetitive. Which is great for newer knitters. And it comes out beautifully! No matter what yarn you use! I’ve already completed this blanket and given it as a baby shower present. This will always be my tried and true favorite pattern!!
Hi Jennifer,
That makes my day! Thank you for the lovely comment!
-Adam
Hi! What a beautiful pattern! I am planning to make this with Malabrigo silky merino which is a DK and was wondering what size needles and cast on you would recommend.
Thank you!
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for your kind words! I don’t know the gauge you are working with, but I suggest casting on in multiples of 4 + 3. This means you can cast on 191 which is 188 (divisible by 4) + 3 = 191 stitches. The needle size also depends because some DK weights work best on a US5 and some on a US6. Best of luck!
-Adam
What size needle would I use for Plymouth Encore Chunky yarn?
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in! I am not really familiar with Plymouth Encore Chunky. It looks like the recommended needle size for that yarn is US 10. To make this blanket with a larger yarn, I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch and multiplying the number of stitches you get per inch times 24 inches. This pattern is worked over a multiple of 4 stitches plus 3 stitches. So long as your stitch count takes this formula into account, you should be good to go.
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
I was thinking about knitting this blanket holding the worsted weight yarn and Anzula Cloud together and knitting the same number of stitches, just to get a little more fluffiness and color into the blanket. How do you think that would look?
Hi Joanne,
I think that’s a great idea! I love mixing yarns — it adds so much texture and intrigue to the project. Good luck!
-Adam
Almost done. Blanket lovely. Thanks for the pattern.
I added 2 more stitches for the edge-slipped first stitch on each row.
How do I do the bind off?
K3, slip first stitch over, K1, slip first stitch over, K1, slip first stitch over *P1 etc. What do I do at the end of the row?
Hi Susan,
Thanks for the question. No matter your stitch order you will bind off the knits knit-wise and the s1wyif purl-wise. To bind off you never want to have three stitches on the right-hand needle. You are just doing the passover bind off techniques, so knit two, pass the first stitch over the second, etc. When you get to the s1wyif you’ll bind this off in purl. Hope this helps!
-Adam
I love this stich and would like to use it in a baby cap, knitting in the round. Could you please tell me how to create the pattern for knitting in the round? Thanks, C
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for writing in! Whitney did help out by giving this pattern in the round in an early comment on this pattern. To knit this stitch pattern in the round, you will:
Cast on a multiple of 4 stitches.
Round 1: *K3, sl 1 wyif, repeat from * to end of row.
Round 2: P1, *sl 1 with yarn in back, p3, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, sl 1 wyib, p2.
Figuring out the decreases for the top could be a bit of a challenge but if you are up for a bit of a challenge, you should be good to go!
Best,
Cassy
Whitney
I want to make this blanket smaller….about 24 X 24. How many stitches should I cast on? And I thought the pattern was multiples of 7 but that doesn’t divide out with 179 stitches. What am I doing wrong? Also, the yarn calls for a needle size 6-8 but the blanket says use a #9. Is that correct? Thanks.
Hello CJ,
Thank you for reaching out! If you would like your blanket to be 24×24 all you need to do is stop knitting when you reach 24 inches, so you can keep the cast on number the same! We knit this blanket on a size US9 to achieve a gauge of 7 1/2 stitches per inch in stitch pattern, unstretched.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hello! I was so excited to try this pattern, but I had trouble getting it to look like the picture. I tried slipping the stitch knitwise instead of purlwise with yarn in front and that seemed to give a better outcome, but I’m still wondering if that is correct. Or maybe I’m doing something else wrong?
The paragraph explaining about the slip stitches says to “bring the yarn front as if to purl, then move the stitch from the left needle to the right needle as if to purl”. Is that how it’s supposed to be written or is it a typo? Thanks so much! I love browsing your site!
Hi Danielle,
Thanks for reaching out! I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulties! The slipping the stitches purlwise with the yarn in the front is not a typo. You will want to slip these stitches purlwise as they will be knit on the return row. Slipping them purlwise sets them up in the correct orientation to be knit. If there were to be slipped knitwise, the stitch on the return row would be twisted.
We are always happy to look at an image of your work to try to help! If you would like, you can send an image into us at customerservice@purlsoho.com and we can try to be of more help!
Best,
Cassy
Thanks so much for responding so quickly! That makes sense; maybe I’ll try sending a picture. It could be too that I have the wrong texture of yarn so it doesn’t look as smooth. I got the Handspun Hope merino yarn, so that could be it!
Thanks again!
Hello! This pattern is so classic. Could I knit this using your ‘Cotton Pure on a Cone’? If so, would I follow the same pattern or does it need to be modified by adding a few more stitches? I would like to be able to use just one cone. Thank you!
Hi Sue,
Although Cotton Pure is quite a bit thinner than Anzula For Better or Worsted, you could certainly make a few modifications to the pattern to make it work! I would suggest knitting a gauge swatch in pattern using Cotton Pure on US 5 needles to determine your stitches per inch. You can then multiply that number by 24 inches and round to the nearest multiple of 4 plus 3 stitches to figure out how many stitches to cast on. Even though you will be casting on more stitches, since a cone of Cotton Pure has more than twice as much yardage as we used for the original blanket, you should have plenty of yarn with one cone!
Best,
Julianna
Do you have any tips for how to best weave in the ends? I can’t quite figure out what to do around the raised slip stitches.
Love your patterns. So modern yet classic! Thanks for offering so many free patterns.
Hello Diane,
Thank you for reaching out and for your kind words! I would recommend checking out our tutorial on weaving in your ends, particularly the ribbed portion!
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Regarding Anzula…..5 skeins @ $35 each= $175 !
Wish I could.
Alas,I cannot.
Acrylic make me shudder, however.
Suggestions ?
I am 77 on a fixed income; first great grandchild arriving in February.
I wish there were scholarships for knitters like me .
Thank you for the pattern for this Forever blanket.
I noticed a few knitters mentioning this blanket flared at the ends.
The fix could be a size smaller needles fir the first and last couple of inches.
Hi Mamasan,
We hear you! We totally understand that sometimes our yarn suggestions are more of an inspiration than a reality for many people. We are always happy to recommend less expensive (but still beautiful!) alternatives. In this case, we suggest that you try Blue Sky Worsted Cotton. It is still washable and just perfect for babies, but should be a bit more economical!
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hello – I am completing my first Cozy Corners Crib Blanket, about to begin a second, and just found out yet another niece/nephew is on the way. I absolutely love how the Cozy Corner turned out even with my beginner’s subtle signs, however, do you think that the Forever Blanket would knit up faster than the Cozy Corner if I used Blue Sky cotton & made it around 30″X36″? Also, if I go with a 30″x36″ Forever Blanket in Blue Sky, how many skeins would you suggest, – & same needle size as recommended on the instructions?
Thank you for your time & help!
Susan K.
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in, and what a busy blanket-knitting season you are in! The Cartridge Rib Belt stitch pattern in the Forever Baby Blanket doesn’t involve any purling, so if you knit faster than you purl, as many of us do, it probably will be a bit faster to knit overall! Although Anzula For Better or Worsted and Blue Sky Worsted Cotton knit up to the same gauge, Worsted Cotton has a thicker, sturdier feel, so I would recommend knitting a gauge swatch to make sure you are happy with the needle size and to get an accurate measurement for calculating how many stitches to cast on for your wider blanket. You will need 7 or 8 skeins for your desired blanket size.
I hope that helps, and happy knitting!
Julianna
Any sense of when the For Better or Worsted in Mauve will be back in stock? It’s gorgeous for a baby girl blanket!
Hi Jenna,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately we do not have an ETA for For Better or Worsted in Mauve, but we will be restocking it as soon as Anzula can dye it for us! If you enter your email address on the product page, we will let you know as soon as it is available.
Best,
Julianna
New to knitting. Followed pattern using your yarn, size 9 needle and width came out to 32 + inches. Ripped out almost entire finished blanket once I realized shape was so off. Bought 7 in needles and have cast on 179 and knit a few rows. Width is 30 inches. Why is my width so off from your finished product of 24 in? I am not a terribly loose knitter. Any suggestions? I really don’t want this to be more than 26-28 width. Please help! Frustrated and trying to get this done before baby is too big to use 😉
Hi Peggy,
Thanks for reaching out, and I’m so sorry you are having so much difficulty with this pattern! It may be that you need to pull the yarn tighter when transitioning back to knitting after slipping three stitches. If you take a look at our close-up picture, you can see that there aren’t any visible floats or gaps, despite the fact that you are carrying the yarn across three stitches at a time on every row. By keeping the yarn a little taught or snugging it up slightly every time you move it to the back of the work, the “ribs” of the stitch pattern should pull in more and result in a narrower blanket!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Hello,
The No Purl scarf is my favorite, and i have made 5 so far. I add 2 stitches for neater edges, so i can’t follow the pattern’s bind off exactly. How can i adjust it, please? It is very important that the cast on and bind off match very well.
Hi Ellen,
Thanks for reaching out! If you have adjusted the stitch count you can easily adjust the bind off based on the stitch sequence, as long as you are following the rib pattern based on what the previous stitch was you will be good to go!
All the best,
Gianna
Hi
My knitting doesn’t look right despite following your pattern exactly. I notice you mention 3 slipped stitches in a reply to someone. There are no three slipped stitches in the pattern I have.
Hi Patricia,
Thanks for reaching out! Please send our customer service team a photo of your work and the information above to customerservice@purlsoho.com and they can troubleshoot further what may be happening from there!
Warmly,
Gianna
Any tips for blocking this blanket? Im afraid to lose the dimensionality of the stitch. Thanks!
Hi Alexis,
Thanks for writing in! I would suggest wet blocking and gently shaping the blanket on your blocking surface to your desired final dimensions and letting it dry flat. You could skip using pins during this process to avoid stretching any part more than you’d like. Blocking helps the wool fibers bloom after they absorb the water, so the final project will have great stitch definition and be even sturdier than before. If you made the blanket in Anzula’s For Better or Worsted, this yarn is actually machine washable so you could also machine wash it on cold and gentle if the need for that ever arises. I would suggest laying it flat to dry as well if you go with that route. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Cat
I am 1/2 way through my first skein and it doesn’t seem as if the blanket is lengthening and seems to be rolling up. I noticed the slip stitches feel tight thought out the length of the blanket. Is it supposed to be that way. That might be why it is rolling and not lengthening.
Hi Theresa,
Thanks for reaching out! Please send our customer service team the information above along with a clear photo of your work to customerservice@purlsoho.com and they can help troubleshoot what may be happening from there!
Warmly,
Gianna