Reversible Cabled Baby Blanket and Coordinating Pillow

A friend recently had a baby and I wanted to make something special, so I thought “why not make a custom baby blanket?” I’ve wanted to try something reversible with a bit of a challenge – hence the cables. This is really easy so here’s what I did:

Step 1: Getting Started

Start with the worsted weight (4) yarn of your choice, a size 9 (US) circular needle at least 29” long, and one double-point or cable needle. I used 3 skeins of Red Heart with Love yarn in Papaya – 6 oz. (315 yds. / 288 m.)

I cast on 154 stitches because I wanted the blanket to be about 36” by 36” square. The gauge is supposed be 16 stitches and 22 rows = 4”. After blocking, my blanket ended up about 34” by 34”.

The border I chose is a simple garter stitch. The only trick I use to get a neat edge is to slip the first stitch as if to knit – starting with the second row and every row thereafter.

Step 2: The Process

Border:

Row 1: Knit all stitches across.

Row 2: Slip the first stitch as if to knit then knit all the remaining stitches.

Repeat Row 2 until you have the size border you prefer; I made my border 2” wide so that came out to 15 rows.

Pattern:

Row 1: Slip the first stitch as if to knit, knit 10 stitches, *P6, K6,* repeat *,* to the last 11 stitches. Knit the last 11 stitches.

Row 2 thru 4: Repeat Row 1.

Row 5: Slip the first stitch as if to knit, knit 10 stitches, *P6, put the next 3 stitches onto your double-point or cable needle, knit the next 3 stitches and then knit the 3 stitches from your “cable” needle,* repeat to the last 11 stitches. Knit the last 11 stitches.

Row 6 thru 9: Repeat Row 1.

Row 10: Repeat Row 5.

There are only two pattern rows – one with a cable stitch and one without. If you just remember to repeat the cable every fifth row it works out to be 9 rows between cables on the opposite sides of the blanket. Repeat these 10 rows until you get to approximately 32”. Finish by knitting Row 1 four times then adding a garter stitch top border the same size as the bottom border.

Cast off all stitches and weave in any ends you might have. I like to use the Russian join when starting a new skein, so I only end up with a starting and ending tail to weave into my work.

Step 3: The Pillow & One Page PDF

When I finished the blanket I still had quite a bit of the last skein left, and not wanting to add to my stash, I decided to make a coordinating pillow. I cast on 48 stitches and proceeded as follows:

Pillow:

Row 1: RS – K9, P30, K9.

Row 2: WS – Slip the first stitch as if to knit, K2, P6, K30, P6, K3.

Row 3: RS – Slip the first stitch as if to knit, K8, P30, K9.

Rows 4, 6, 8, 10: Repeat Row 2.

Rows 5, 7, 9: Repeat Row 3.

Row 11: RS – Slip the first stitch as if to knit, K2, put the next 3 stitches onto your double-point or cable needle, knit the next 3 stitches and then knit the 3 stitches from your “cable” needle, P30, cable over the next 6 stitches, K3.

Row 12: WS – repeat Row 2.

Repeat rows 3 thru 12 twelve times. You should end up with 132 rows. Cast off all stitches. My piece measured 11” x 22” and filled it with fiberfill. Sewing all the edges closed my pillow is roughly 10” square.