Knitted Chessboard Baby Blanket
The Knitted Chessboard Baby Blanket is the perfect combination of style and comfort for your little one. This charming blanket features a classic chessboard pattern that adds a touch of elegance to your nursery while keeping your baby snug and warm. Its soft and cozy material is gentle against delicate skin, making it ideal for cuddling or tummy time. Whether as a thoughtful gift or a special addition to your own baby's collection, this blanket is sure to be loved and cherished for years to come.
Knitting materials and tools:
32” or 47” circular needles 4.5 mm (US 7/UK 7).
Wendy, Peter Pan (4 PLY): 60% acrylic, 40% nylon. 50 grams -206 m per skein; Knit with 2 strands of yarn.
Weight Category – If you have difficulty to find aforementioned brand of yarn, use something else that will have about 170-200 m per 100 grams skein.
Common abbreviations of knit stitches:
k – knit
st(s) – stitch(es)
sel s – selvage stitch: always slip the first stitch knitwise, work to the last stitch, purl the last stitch
WS – wrong side
RS – right side
p – purl
Knit baby blanket measurements:
Baby blanket width: 73 cm (28.5 in)
Baby blanket length: 120 cm (47 in)
Gauge: 17-18 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette
Chessboard baby blanket knitting pattern:
Using the long tail cast-on method, cast on 132 sts. The central part of the blanket is multiple of 10. If you want your blanket even wider, add 10, 20, 30…. stitches.
132 stitches = 120 sts (central part) + 5 sts (right border) + 5 sts (left border) + 2 selvage sts.
Knitting the edge:
Rows 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 (WS): sel s, knit all stitches, sel s.
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 (RS): sel s, knit all stitches, sel s.
Knitting chessboard-like middle part:
Row 1 (RS): sel s, knit all stitches, sel s.
Row 2 (WS): sel s, k5, p120, k5, sel s.
Row 3 (RS): sel s, k5, [k1, p8, k1] – repeat 12 times, k5, sel s.
Row 4 (WS): sel s, k5, [p1, k8, p1] – repeat 12 times, k5, sel s.
Row 5 (RS): sel s, k5, [k1, p2, k4, p2, k1] – repeat 12 times, k5, sel s.
Row 6 (WS): sel s, k5, [p1, k2, p4, k2, p1] – repeat 12 times, k5, sel s.
Row 7 (RS): Repeat Row 5
Row 8 (WS): Repeat Row 6
Row 9 (RS): Repeat Row 5
Row 10 (WS): Repeat Row 6
Row 11 (RS): sel s, k5, [k1, p8, k1] – repeat 12 times, k5, sel s.
Row 12 (WS): sel s, k5, [p1, k8, p1] – repeat 12 times, k5, sel s.
Repeat the last 12 rows until you reach the desired length of your blanket. I repeated the pattern 26 times.
Knitting the edge:
Rows 1-10: sel s, knit all stitches, sel s.
Bind of all stitches. Use any method you like or try the Scandinavian bind-off that works perfectly well for edges worked in garter stitch.
Scandinavian Bind-off: *insert the tip of the right-hand needles purlwise, holding it in front of the work, then insert the tip of the same needle knitwise into the second stitch, wrap the yarn and pull it through. Slip both stitches off the left-hand needle. Return the stitch from the right-hand needle to the left-hand needle. Repeat from * until you bind off all stitches.