A Great Gift for Baby:
If you want to knit something for a new baby (or even a toddler) that will get more use than a cute little sweater baby will quickly grow out of, consider a set of these easy to knit baby blocks.
You can knit a bunch up in different colors, use a different color on each side of the square, or even work them in Stockinette instead of Garter Stitch and decorate the sides with embroidery or duplicate stitch.
This is a project parents are sure to appreciate, too, since they're a lot quieter when knocked over or thrown than wooden or plastic blocks.
Materials:
- About 100 yards of your favorite wool, superwash wool, cotton or acrylic yarn (I used almost a whole ball of KnitPicks Swish, a superwash wool, in color Dublin)
- one pair size 8 US knitting needles
- scissors and yarn needle
- material for stuffing (I used cut up strips of an old T-shirt, but batting or fiberfill is fine, too)
Gauge:
18 stitches per 4 inches (4.5 stitches per inch) in Garter Stitch. Gauge is not critical, but you want a somewhat firm fabric.
Size:
Finished block is 4 inches on all sides.
Instructions:
- Cast on 18 stitches.
- Work in Garter Stitch 4 inches (for me, this took 18 ridges or 32 rows).
- Purl 1 row.
- Continue in Garter Stitch 4 more inches.
- Purl 1 row, on the same side of the work as before.
- Repeat the last two steps two more times for a total of four blocks separated by turning rows, all on the same side.
- Bind off.
- On the side of one of the squares (I chose the second to last), pick up and knit 18 stitches along one edge. Work in Garter Stitch 4 inches, then bind off.
- Repeat on the other side.
Finishing the Block:
At this point you have what looks sort of like a funky T. With the side that has the flat side of the purl rows on it facing in, fold up the squares so that the long piece makes a box and the two extra squares fold in to make the top and bottom.
Sew the seams together in this fashion, leaving a gap on one side for stuffing.
Fill the block loosely (it's good for it to have lots of squish) and sew up the rest of the seam.
