Whit's Knits: Chevron Baby Blanket

Whit's Knits: Chevron Baby Blanket

If you lived through the 60s and 70s perhaps you have vivid memories of a chevron afghan. Perhaps you appreciated it at the time; were indifferent to it in the 80s; despised it in the 90s; and have developed a deep affection for it over the past decade, itchy acrylic, zany colors and all!
This knitted Chevron Baby Blanket makes some accommodations both for modernity and for babies. Instead of hard-to-cuddle acrylic, this 100% cotton blanket is as deep and soft and cozy as a cloud. And instead of fast food orange and kitchen appliance avocado, this version is a delicate spectrum of natural colors just right for babies!

The next generation of chevron blankets starts with Blue Sky Cotton. Loosely spun into a uniquely cozy cotton, this is one of our very favorite baby blanket yarns. For delicate skin, it's non-allergenic cotton, and for busy parents, it's machine washable (yay!).

The Materials

• 7 skeins of Blue Sky Cotton, 100% Cotton. These colors, from the top, are: Lemongrass, Lemonade, Bone, Tulip, Drift, Sleet, and Graphite.

• A US #11, 24 or 32 inch circular needle.

The Pattern

Gauge

3 stitches = 1 inch in garter stitch with yarn doubled

Finished Size

26 x 33 inches

Notes

For this pattern you'll use the Blue Sky Cotton doubled. The best way to double yarn is to pull one strand from the inside of the ball and one strand from the outside. If you don't have a swift and ball winder to wind a center-pull ball, never fear, you can do it by hand! Clickhere for a great video that shows you how!
If you want to change the sizing or use this stitch pattern for a different project, just cast on a multiple of 14 plus 2 stitches.

Begin

With the Lemongrass (doubled!), cast on 100 stitches. (Try not to leave too long a tail when you cast on. You'll probably need the entire skein to finish the first stripe. If you end up one row short, don't worry! No one will notice!)
**Row 1 (right side): K1, ssk, *k10, k2tog, ssk, repeat from * to last 13 stitches, k10, k2tog, k1. (86 stitches)
Row 2 (wrong side): K6, *knit into front and back (kfb) 2 times, k10, repeat from * to last 8 stitches, kfb 2 times, k6. (100 stitches)
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 nine more times***
Change to the Lemonade color and repeat from ** to ***.
Change to the Bone color and repeat from ** to ***.
Continue in this pattern for the next three colors, changing colors at the end of each 20 row section. The next color will be Tulip, followed by Drift, and then Sleet.
For the final color (Graphite), repeat Rows 1 and 2 nine times. Work Row 1 one more time.
Bind Off Row: Bind off 5 stitches, *(knit into the next stitch and leave the stitch on the left needle, bind off 1 stitch, knit into the back of the stitch, let the stitch off the left needle, bind off 1 stitch) 2 times, bind off 10 stitches, repeat from * to last 8 stitches, (knit into the next stitch and leave the stitch on the left needle, bind off 1 stitch, knit into the back of the stitch, let the stitch off the left needle, bind off 1 stitch) 2 times, bind off 6 stitches, pull the yarn through the last stitch.
Weave in the ends and you're all done!