enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Knitblanket7

Very early on in my pregnancy…. maybe 7 weeks? I decided I was going to stop into our local yarn store to "just feel and look at the yarn" which sounds odd, until you do it and
then you finally get why people always walk out of pet stores or
shelters with a new puppy.

Yarn

I walked out with four skeins of thick, (machine washable!) gray and white yarn and size 15 circular needles. The brand is Plymouth Encore Mega and is truly some of the softest (but still easy to care for) yarn I've felt. The baby was going to get his or her first blanket. When I walked out the lady said, "your baby will love it!" which I thought was crazy because I hadn't told her it was yarn for my baby's blanket and certainly wasn't showing yet. I took it as a good sign.

Knitblanket5

This blanket came together in 48 hours. Knitting with mega yarn and huge needles is a dream come true.

Knitblanket

I cast on about 70 stitches to start and then knitted two full rows (so back and forth – not sure if that should be called four rows?) of gray before alternating to white. And then of course continuing to alternate back and forth.

Knitblanket6

I ended up buying another four skeins to finish it off (so much for my "not too expensive impulse project") and the finished dimensions are about 40×40 inches.

Knitblanket2

I LOVE it. It's super thick and soft and I just know it will photograph so much better with a baby laying on it. 😉

Knitblanket4

Next up for the tiny one, I am recovering rocking chair cushions and then, once we know gender (mid-January), I'll be starting the baby's first quilt. I am more excited for this baby quilt than any other project I've attempted.

Posted in ,

76 responses to “baby’s first blanket.”

  1. jennifer kolakowski Avatar
    jennifer kolakowski

    Lovely Elise! You are a dynamo girlie!! Can’t wait to see the quilt also. Have LOVED all the knitting posts! So inspiring!

    Like

  2. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    Elise! I’m pregnant with our first child, too, about five weeks behind you, I think. I found out I was pregnant on Christmas Day! Isn’t this such an exciting time? : ) I, too, am so, so, so excited to make Baby a quilt. And a mobile. And fabric shoes…But like you, I’m waiting to find out the gender first. Thanks for sharing your pregnancy projects with us; I’m sure I’ll get inspired lots along the way! Best wishes with carrying your little one.

    Like

  3. elise blaha Avatar

    Congrats!! So exciting!

    Like

  4. Kristi L Avatar

    Elise – I used your quilt tutorial for our baby’s first blanket/quilt. It came out pretty good for someone like me {who never finishes projects EVER}. I’ve been reading your blog for about six months and I’ve been so very inspired by the way you take on projects and FINISH them! Thanks so much for being an inspiration!

    Like

  5. Latrice Avatar
    Latrice

    This blanket pretty much rocks. Boy or girl it will be so much fun to photograph on and I’m sure baby C will be the cutest little thing ever.
    I need to learn to quilt and knit this year. Thanks for the constant inspiration.

    Like

  6. Cate Avatar
    Cate

    You’re going to love wrapping baby in that blanket!
    And I got my Seafoam stuff today (I’m in Canada). I love it so much! It’s a fabulous kit!!!

    Like

  7. Jaque Avatar

    It is wonderful! And made by yourself! Love it! Congrats!

    Like

  8. Carrie Avatar
    Carrie

    Love that you learned from your Grandma. I’m going to call mine tomorrow. She crotchets, but I’m not sure she knits. I’d love to know (and learn, if so). It’s funny because any paper craft type item I’ve made for her, she’s fascinated by, and then I see the stuff she crotchets (and how she cooks, her handwriting, etc, etc) and I see so much elegance. Perspective is such a lovely thing.
    So excited for your little one to snuggle in this. Maybe after you wash it you can sleep with it for a bit. Is that true that babies will recognize your scent?
    As always, another AMAZE post / project.
    Happy Friday :).

    Like

  9. Lisa @ SoTeaBeeZa Avatar

    I haven’t done much knitting in recent years, but I loved working with big needles. You’re so right about the speed of the project.
    I often think one reason people don’t knit or crochet is due to the length of time it takes to complete a project.
    I love your color combination, especially created in the winter time. You’re created a memory just with the colors. 🙂

    Like

  10. Lucy Avatar
    Lucy

    It’s adorable! And it looks so so snuggly. Every time I go to a craft store, I can’t help but linger over those big chunky yarns, but I have to finish my first knitting project (a cowl, inspired by you!) before I can move on to my own “not too expensive impulse project.”

    Like

  11. Stefani Avatar

    I love the stripes! Garter stitch is so squishy too. I just finished making a garter stitch baby blanket and I think it has been my favorite project so far. Soft, squishy and simple. 🙂

    Like

  12. Brianna Avatar
    Brianna

    I love the gray/white combo. It stands out really nicely.

    Like

  13. J3SS1C4 Avatar

    This looks amazing! I love the stripes and the colours you chose… Great for either a girl or boy! Although I don’t have a bub on the way, this sort of size would make a cool throw blanket as well, so that something to thing about. What sort of thickness is the wool you use? In Aus, the thickness is called ply, I’m not sure if it’s any different there, but I’ve only knitted with 8 ply. Something like this might be fun for my cousins baby though!

    Like

  14. Angie Avatar
    Angie

    Those were four rows.
    Right side and wrong side.
    Cool blanket, btw.
    I would recommend Ravelry.com if you like knitting. you can find all sorts of patterns there! I’m a hard core knitter but I would just be an amateur if it wasn’t for that site.
    Congratulations on the pregnancy. babies rock.

    Like

  15. elise blaha Avatar

    thank you. I just checked the label and there is no ply size on the yarn. It is just called MEGA… hope that can help a bit. 🙂

    Like

  16. Janice P Avatar
    Janice P

    Can you share the pattern? Is the side we’re seeing all purl stitches..or are you alternating with knit? Love the blanket and your blog!

    Like

  17. elise blaha Avatar

    no pattern, it is just ALL knit stitches. Every single row. 🙂

    Like

  18. J3SS1C4 Avatar

    What sort of thickness is the wool you’ve been using? I’ve usually knit in 8ply (not sure if it’s ply over there like it is in Aust or not), but I’ve been interested in trying something thicker. This looks like lots of fun… It would be a great project for a baby shower I have coming up soon!

    Like

  19. elise blaha Avatar

    hey! I think I already responded to this … I do not know the ply of the yarn. It is called MEGA here. It is the thickest stuff I could find. 🙂

    Like

  20. Keshet.starr@gmail.com Avatar

    So sweet! Savor the excitement, it’s such a lovely time:)

    Like

  21. Amber Lee Avatar

    I love simple knits like this. I made a baby blanket for my first (almost four) out of sock yarn. I started in the middle of the blanket and increased at four points (which would eventually be the corners). I don’t know if that makes sense to you, here is my Ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/squeekie23/copy-cat-blanket
    I loved it for pictures. Sock yarn is great for baby things, lots of modern color choices with washability. Knit as much as you can for the first baby, you won’t have as much time for the second. And if you use good wool and careful washing you’ll have many happy babies all dressed in wool!

    Like

  22. J3SS1C4 Avatar

    Thanks for the reply, Elise! I didn’t realise I had commented twice, the first comment didn’t show the post button hightlighted, so I refreshed and tried again. I didn’t realise it had still posted though… Sorry!

    Like

  23. B.H. Avatar
    B.H.

    The blanket looks lovely!
    I bought size 10 circular needles (the australian equivalent to your size 15, I think) and picked up some old wool just to trial this pattern. However, because the needles are so thick and then the stitches slide down onto the wire (hanging in big loose rounds) the rows are looking really “gapey” and loose. I wonder what I am doing wrong. Do you think my wool might not be the right ply?
    Do you mind telling me what ply you used?
    I would love to be able to make this rug!

    Like

  24. elise blaha Avatar

    I am not sure what the ply was, but my yarn packaging told me what size needles to use. I would take the wool you have to a yarn shop to see what they recommend or purchase yarn that is meant for your size 10s. Sorry I cannot be more help!

    Like

  25. choofieblankets Avatar

    It’s beautiful, what a great blanket. So sweet. Thank you. Good knitting weather Christmas is fast approaching!
    Julia
    Choofie – Onwer
    http://www.choofie.com.au/

    Like

  26. Shaylin Brunson Avatar
    Shaylin Brunson

    You said you used a size 15 circular needle, but do you know the length? I’m hoping to make one for my little boy and know absolutely nothing about knitting! Thanks!

    Like

Leave a comment