NMCRS Basketweave Blanket V.2-updated 11/13/08

I knit a lot of charity items for various projects. When I taught at my daughter's office, this was a pattern that I brought in so excited new knitters could be off and running.

NMCRS Basketweave Blanket V.2

4 skeins Red Heart TLC Lustre 5oz skeins [Solids: 5 oz (141 g) - Approx. 253 yd (231 m)] / 700 yards(640 m) of worsted weight yarn.
(US) 9 (5.5mm) needles (suggest 32-40” circulars)
Finished size: ~ 36” square

*sl 1 = slip one stitch as if to knit

C/O 136 sts
Rows 1-16: sl 1st stitch of each row, k across
R 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27: sl 1, k across
R 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28: sl 1, k7(edge stitches), p8, (k8 , p8 ) 7 times, k 8 (edge stitches)
R 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39: sl 1, k across
R 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40: sl 1, k7, k8, (p8, k8) 7 times, k8
R 41-208: repeat rows 17-40, 7 more times for a total of 8 pattern repeats.
R 209-224: sl 1, knit across
R 225: B/O in K.

Weave in ends.

*Note: if you wish to make this blanket a bit longer, you’ll need 6 skeins of TLC Lustre ultra soft yarn, and repeat the center pattern section (rows 17-40) for a total of 10 times rather than 8. The length should come to ~47". Or knit to desired length, allowing for extra yarn as needed.

© Cathy Waldie, April 24, 2005, revised

Update: 10/15/08

I'm going to update this pattern with the additional information I got when making the Red Blanket with Lion Brand Cotton Ease. Adding it here might make it easier for everyone to find.

There are a few things I noticed with this different fiber content starting with the way it knitted up 'shorter' than my previous blankets. I'm assuming that is due to the cotton content. To combat that effect, I extended the pattern repeats once more for a total of nine, rather than the original pattern of eight.

Knitting Stats:

9 pattern repeats to allow for cotton shrinkage

5 skeins of yarn - Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, in Cherry Red, [label: 17 sts/24 rows=4"/10 cm, with (US)8 (5.0 mm), 50% cotton, 50% acrylic, 3.5 oz (100 g), 207 yds, 188 m]
size (US) 8 (5.0 mm) Addi Turbo needles

Pre-dryer blocking:36" x 38.5" slightly stretched...(smoothed out on the bed)gauge preblock: 16 sts x 24 rows = 4"/10 cm in stockinette st.

Post-dryer blocking:33 3/4" x 38 1/2"15 sts x 23.5 rows = 4"/ 10 cm in st. st.

Update 11/13/08

Pink blanket particulars:
NMCRS Basketweave Baby Blanket, ver. 2
5 skeins of Bernat Softee Baby in Rumba Rose (actually about 4 1/2 or so) Used the yarn double stranded.
(US) 8 (5.0mm) for the top and bottom borders and (US) 10 (6.0mm) circular needles for the body of the pattern.
Knit pattern from rows 1-208 as written, then repeat rows 17-28 once more, before knitting rows 209-225 to finish the blanket.