i bought this yarn. because i thought it was a good idea. to knit a little blanket for the little one. but then i got home and remembered that i only have knit two things in my life. i taught myself while in japan. from a photocopy from a martha stewart baby magazine. i knit a basic little baby sweater. and it turned out okay. then i thought i should knit a baby blanket for another friend's baby. and it took forever. i definitely was not born with a lot of patience. so i have not knit anything in the last 5 years.
but lately i spend a couple of hours on the couch. every night. i used to do some work on my lap top in the evenings. but i am trying to slow down. and am still struggling with not multi-tasking. not sure adding knitting to my evening activity list is slowing down. but we will see.
i was inspired by this lovely blanket. but that edge looks a little complicated for me. does anyone have any simple blanket ideas for an amateur knitter?
I learned to knit when I was pregnant with my son a few years ago, and I made the "Big Bad Baby Blanket" from Stitch and Bitch for him - it was really easy, and he used it a lot. It's a nice simple pattern, so easy to change to different yarns and needle sizes.
Good luck!
Posted by: suzy | July 11, 2010 at 10:12 PM
i, too, am very amateur, and have saved this pattern for the garter rib baby blanket from the orange flower: sketchbook blog. it looks like a pattern i can handle!
Posted by: painted fish studio | July 12, 2010 at 04:38 AM
There is a simple blanket in Knitting for Baby (Melanie Falick) which can also be a washcloth if made smaller. It has a border but is not difficult to achieve...
Enjoy!
Posted by: annri | July 12, 2010 at 05:06 AM
I made a blanket for my first baby using the seed stitch. Knit 1, Purl 1 all the way across, every row. A little tedious, but good brain exercise! :) And it makes a gorgeous pattern.
Posted by: Marisa | July 12, 2010 at 05:26 AM
Definitely check out Ravelry.com if you want to look for more knitting patterns and encouragement. Take a look at the pattern for the blanket you like because it may not be as complicated as you think once you get a look and a feel for it! But also here are some others that are definitely more straight-forward than the bias-knit blanket but still have some texture: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/free-knitting-patterns-for-baby-blankets2.htm
http://wishingiwasknitting.blogspot.com/2007_02_17_archive.html
Also, congrats on the little one!!
Posted by: Katherine | July 12, 2010 at 05:43 AM
Honestly, all garter stitch makes a perfectly lovely baby blanket if what you want is lots of hand activity but less brain involvement -- and it's ultra squishy soft too.
Posted by: Christina | July 12, 2010 at 06:53 AM
I knit a a cute blanket which was in relief - from a book called And so To Bed by Lucinda Guy.....so it's straight-forward knit and purl.....it's called Sweet Dreams BLanket and you can find it on Ravelry - at least to look at - it's a clever idea even if you decide to do another graphic - you just need some graph paper to draw your own pattern!
Posted by: Di | July 12, 2010 at 03:09 PM
Don't be intimidated by that blanket edge. If it's what it looks like it is just like the dishcloth pattern I use (but way, way bigger). The edging is knit right in by making a yarn over at the beginning of each row.
You start with just two stitches on your needles. Knit into the front and back of each stitch for the first row (now you've got four stitches). Next row you knit 2 stitches, make a yarn over, and knit to the end of the row. When your blanket is half the size you want you add a knit-two-together on each side of the yarn over to start shrinking again. When you're down to two stitches you cast off, weave in your ends and you're done!
The blanket in the picture is garter stitch on the edges but stocking stitch in the middle. The only difference from my directions above is that you'll purl all the stitches (except the first two and the last three) of every second row.
Everyone above is right - Ravelry is awesome when you are looking for a project. It's great to see what other people have made and what they have to say about the pattern.
(just checked the pattern your the blanket in the picture - it leaves out the yarn overs but is basically the same as my dishcloth :)
Posted by: peanut | July 12, 2010 at 06:49 PM
What a gorgeous color you chose! I'm sure whatever you set out to accomplish will be just lovely, I can't wait to see pictures!
Posted by: Liz | July 12, 2010 at 09:23 PM
Just stopping by to say hello and ask if you did try in the meantime.
It looks as if you'll be having a few quilts for your girl... still planning on knitting a blanket?
The yarn would make lovely cardigans as well ;)
Posted by: Alex | September 22, 2010 at 04:01 PM