Hooked on Needles

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Knitted Basketweave Stitch - Easy and Reversible

The Forest Greens baby blanket for the Northeast Oddball Baby Blanket group is finished and ready to be sent off for delivery. I was the last knitter on this blanket so today I thought I would share with you the stitch I used on it. It looks like a basketweave design and here it is...



Knitted Basketweave StitchThese blankets are knit with 110 stitches, give or take a few. The first and last 3 rows and the first and last 3 stitches on every row are knit to create a garter stitch border around the whole piece. Each knitter works about a 4 inch section and then mails it to the next knitter until six sections have been completed. Then a border is crocheted around the outside of the whole thing to finish it off.

So this is a corner of the section I knitted on this blanket, called Forest Greens because it is worked in each knitter's choice of shades of greens. This was a very easy design to knit, simply alternating between knit and purl stitches across the rows, and then switching after 5 or 6 rows. An entire blanket could easily be knit this way creating a unique and reversible design.

Here's the pattern:

Cast on desired number of stitches and knit 3 rows for garter stitch border, or continue working on an established piece.

Knit 3. *Knit 10 (or any number), purl 10 (or any number)*. Continue from * to * across until 3 stitches remain. Knit 3.

Knit 3. Knit or purl stitches as they face you across the row until 3 stitches remain. Knit 3.

Continue knitting or purling stitches as they face you, working first and last 3 stitches of each row in knit, until you have worked the number of rows desired for the first section of blocks.

**To change over to the next section of blocks, knit 3. Purl the knit stitches and knit the purl stitches as they face you across the row until 3 stitches remain. Knit 3.

Continue knitting or purling stitches as they face you, working first and last 3 stitches of each row in knit, until you have worked the number of rows desired for the second section of blocks.**

Continue from ** to ** until the blanket is the desired size. Knit 3 rows for garter stitch border. Bind off.


For a larger afghan, I would suggest knitting the first and last 8 or 10 rows, and knitting the same number of stitches at the beginning of each row, for a more substantial garter stitch border. Then divide the remaining number of stitches into the desired size and use that number for the rows and stitches of each block.

This pattern would work up very quickly on large needles using bulky or chunky weight yarn and would definitely make a cozy afghan for a cold winter day. What a wonderful gift for yourself or some other lucky person.

This basketweave knit design is similar to what I used on my friend Jane's baby blanket many years ago, except that I did not make that one reversible. I did knit and purl stitches on the front to make the design, then I purled across every wrong side row. I much prefer a design that is reversible though, so this current basketweave pattern would be my choice from now on. Live and learn!

I also crocheted the border on Forest Greens, so if you like how the border looks in the above picture, stay tuned for that pattern later this week.

Happy Stitching!


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