Premature babies usually need lots of help to keep themselves warm, and a smaller-sized blanket is a great choice for wrapping a baby or covering up an isolet. I chose this size based on a discussion I had with Cheryl Morrissette, About.com's Guide to Preemies.
Materials:
- three skeins of Red Heart Collage, or about 525 yards of a medium weight yarn of your choice
- One pair size 9 US (5.5 mm) knitting needles (or a circular needle for ease of working with the large number of stitches)
- tape measure, scissors and yarn needle
Gauge:
15 stitches and 23 rows per 4 inches (3.75 stitches and 5.75 rows per inch) in Horizontal Dash Stitch. Gauge is not incredibly critical, but you don't want a really open fabric.
Size:
Finished blanket is 30 inches square.
Instructions for Knitting the Blanket:
- Cast on 118 stitches.
- Work in Garter Stitch for 6 rows.
- Keeping the first 6 and last 6 stitches of each row in Garter Stitch, work the middle 106 stitches in Horizontal Dash Stitch (see below) until piece measures about 29 inches from cast on edge.
- Work 6 more rows in Garter Stitch.
- Bind off, cut yarn and weave in ends.
Horizontal Dash Stitch:
Works on multiples of 10 plus 6 stitches.
Row one: Purl 6, *knit 4, purl 6. Repeat from * across row.
Row two: Purl.
Row three: Knit.
Row four: Purl.
Row five: Purl 1, *knit 4, purl 6. Repeat from * across until five stitches remain, knit 4, purl 1.
Row six: Purl.
Row seven: Knit.
Row eight: Purl.
Repeat these 8 rows for pattern.
