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| Bricklayer's Lace Baby Blanket |
The story behind this project is simple: I've reached the age where my friends are starting to have babies, so I've started to knit baby blankets. Therefore, as soon as I knew a friend was pregnant, I began looking for the right fiber at my local yarn store. And I passed this one by for months and months before I finally saw it knit up, and loved the way the stitches looked like rain drops. So I brought it home and found this lovely stitch pattern, which shows off both the yarn and the pattern. And it's a quick knit, since it's chunky and all!
Yarn: James C. Brett Flutterby (100% Supersoft Polyester; 192 yards [175 meters]/100 grams); #B3 Blue - 3 skeins
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| The pattern. For all the bricklaying babies out there. |
Notions: Tapestry needle
Gauge: 11 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette
Okay dudes, are you ready to make a baby blanket? Then let's get started! First, cast on 96 stitches loosely. And then we'll knit the following set-up rows:
Set-up Row 1 (wrong side): knit
Set-up Row 2: knit
Set-up Row 3: knit
Set-up Row 4: knit
And now that that's done, let's get on to our main pattern, which incorporates Bricklayer's Lace from page 214 of Barbara G. Walker's A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and goes as follows:
Row 1 and all odd rows (wrong side): k4, purl until you have four stitches left in row, k4
Row 2: k6, * k2, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k3; rep from * until you have 6 stitches left in row, k6
Row 4: k6, * k3, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * until you have 6 stitches left in row, k6
Row 6: k6, * k4, yo, slip 1-k2tog-psso, yo, k3, yo, ssk; rep from * until you have 6 stitches left in row, k6
Row 8: k5, yo, * ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k5, yo; rep from * until you have 7 stitches left in row, ssk, k5
Row 10: k6, * yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * until you have 6 stitches left in row, yo, ssk, k4
Row 12: k6, * k1, yo, slip 1-k2tog-psso, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, k2; rep from * until you have 6 stitches left in row, k6
Knit rows 1 - 12 until piece measures roughly 32" - 36" and you've just finished row 1 of the pattern. Then we'll knit the following edging rows, which mirror those on the other side:
Edging Row 1 (right side): knit
Edging Row 2: knit
Edging Row 3: knit
Edging Row 4: knit
Bind off loosely and tuck in ends. Give to the sweetest baby you can find, and try not to feel too bad when they try to eat it/pull it/twist it/snot on it/do worse things we shouldn't discuss on a knitting website to it.
This is the perfect quick knit, chunky yarn and a size 10. Great pattern for a baby blanket.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary Lynn! I liked this stitch pattern for the heavier weight, because I thought it still looked reasonably delicate for a baby item. :) Glad you like it too!
DeleteIt's really lovely Gretchen. I am however going to forgo the knitted edges for something else. I have a pattern for a sort of pointy edge, like upband down waves. Just going to sit down and write it out. I only need to do top and bottom. Xx
DeletePretty! Let me know if you post a picture anywhere when you're done. :)
DeleteBeautiful! What are the finished dimensions in inches, please?
ReplyDeleteThe blanket ended up being about 38" wide. As far as the length goes - I stopped mine at about 32", but I had plenty of yarn for more inches. :)
DeleteHi! Was it 38" wide only casting on 96?
DeleteYup, as long as your gauge is correct! :)
DeleteMy calculation comes up with 104.50 stitches for 38" wide?
DeleteThe lace pattern spreads a bit more than stockinette. :)
Delete96 stitches / 11 stitches x 4 inches = 34.9 inches
DeleteWhat did you use as multiple repeats? I have just worsted yarn and it gets a different guage.
ReplyDeleteHi there! It's a 12-stitch repeat, so as long as you cast on an extra multiple of 12 you should be good to go. :) Please let me know if you have any other questions!
DeleteOn rows 8 and 10 the instructions state from from * instead of rep from* . What is the
ReplyDeletedifference? Thank you for your help.
Hi there!
DeleteIt's just a typo - I'll fix it. :)
Could you use pointed needles please?
ReplyDeleteDo you mean straight needles? The only trouble is that the blanket it quite big to hold on the relatively short length of straights. Of course that doesn't mean you can't try, since it is knit back and forth either way! :)
DeleteHave you ever tried using something called Flexible Knitting Needles? They are straight needles that have a long cable at the end. I use it for all of my blankets, as I find circular needles for a straight project confusing.
DeleteGreat tip, thanks! :)
DeleteThank you so much. I just finished making this pattern for my grandson. It is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it!!! I gave this one to a friend who had a baby and am secretly pleased every time I see pictures of him using it in her Facebook feed... so it's functional, too!!! :)
DeleteHi Gretchen, I like this blanket but have a couple of questions. Is it knitting in the round on the circular needle? I ask because in a previous comment about straight needles you mentioned going back and forth for both types of needles. Are the set-up rows all knitting on a circular needle? Haven't knit much so a bit confused. Thanks, Valerie
ReplyDeleteHi Valerie!
DeleteI knit this on back and forth on circular needles simply because it's much easier to hold a full blanket on a long cord than it is to hold it on a shorter needle. Or in other words - it's not knit in the round, just on circulars! Let me know if you have any other questions. :)
Thanks Gretchen, I didn't realize this could be done! Just watched a video on you-tube and will get started right away. And thank you far all the patterns you post, I am so enjoying them! Valerie
DeleteThat's what's fun about knitting - you can always learn new techniques! :) And I'm glad to hear you're enjoying my patterns - just let me know if you have any more questions!
DeleteHello, I'm a fairly new knitter, and I'm wondering if the slipped stitch is knitwise or purlwise?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Hi Tessa!
DeleteIn the slip 1-k2tog-psso it's slipped knitwise. Let me know if you have any other questions! :)
Hi this might be a silly question but to increase the size of the pattern do I just add another 12 stitches? 96to 108 to 120 etc
ReplyDeleteYes, that's exactly right! Let me know if you have any other questions. :)
DeleteHmm. I thought that might have been my problem. The pattern works fine on one side but then is all messed up on the other. Have you got any tips on how to figure out where I messed up the pattern��
DeleteOh man, that sucks! I'm sorry to hear it!!! And while I don't have any foolproof advice, my best tip for lacework patterns like this is to place stitch markers between every pattern repeat. Then you can count your stitches very easily after every row to see if you've missed a yarn over or whatnot, and problems are more immediately apparent! :)
DeleteHey Gretchen this is exactly what I gave recently started to do because I kept getting distracted. So now I feel vilified (hope that's the correct word) and a little bit clever.
DeleteIt's a great technique! :)
DeleteThank you so much Im new to this and the help is very appreciated! Where exactly would I place the stich markers in row 2 for example?Row 2: k6, * k2, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k3; rep from * until you have 6 stitches left in row, k6 Would it be after the last k3? Just want to get it right, have never used stich marker before =)
ReplyDeleteHi! Yes, I would go ahead and knit the first 6 as well as the first iteration of the pattern and then place the first marker (so, like you said, after the k3). Then place another one after the next k3, etc. You may have to mess with the markers again eventually if they end up in the middle of a decrease (I don't remember with this pattern), but by then you'll have the hang of it. And it really is a good way to keep track!
DeleteHi great gretchen, What am I doing wrong? In row 2 I knit from*to* and it takes me to ssk , when I should really be knitting the last 6,if I don't do Ssk then I've got 7 stitches to knit?
ReplyDeleteHi there! If you're ending up at the ssk stitch when you have 6 stitches left in the row then my best guess is that something went wrong earlier in the stitch pattern, and you got off track. My next guess is that something went awry either after a yo or a k3 earlier in the row, since those two instructions are repeated in the 12-stitch pattern and it's really easy to get mixed up on where you are. I hate to say this, but my best advice is to rip back the row, and then place stitch markers to give you guidance as to where you are in the pattern - place the first one after you work your first 3 stitches (since that's the border), and then every 12 stitches after that, until you have just 3 stitches left in the row (the other border!). That way you'll be sure that you've completed the full 12-stitch pattern before you begin it again, and it should help you keep track! :)
DeleteHello Gretchen
ReplyDeleteI have read through this pattern and I am not familiar with the abbreviations you have used. I think there is a difference in patterns between the USA & Australia (which is where I am!)
Could you please provide the guide to the abbreviations. Thanks.
Denise
Hi Denise!
DeleteYou can find my abbreviations in the glossary page - there's a link at the top, or here: http://www.ballstothewallsknits.com/p/glossary-of-knitting-terms.html
Let me know if you have any other questions! :)
Hi, I have trouble with written out patterns so I created a chart. I would be happy to email it to you if you would like. I absolutely love this pattern.
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks, that would be great! :) ballstothewallsknits@gmail.com
DeleteI appreciate it!
I recently knit this blanket for my niece and made a little hat in matching color. It was so loved by all that I have requests for more blankets exactly like this. Thanks for the pattern - it makes a gorgeous baby blanket!
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I'm so happy to hear it. :)
DeleteHi, I'm confused with the term "set up rows". Is this just a straight knit, after knitting the set up rows, just continue on with the rest of the pattern, or is it something different. Are we going back and adding to the set up rows? Sorry, confused.
ReplyDeleteHi Dawn!
DeleteThe set-up rows are just the garter edging; you should simply complete set-up rows 1-4 and then move on to the pattern rows. Does that help? :)
Is there a video tutorial for this? I am new to knitting and having a hard time figuring out the abbreviations... It looks so beautiful and I am so excited to try it!
ReplyDeleteHi!
DeleteNo, I'm sorry, I don't have a video tutorial at this point. But you can find information about the abbreviations on my glossary page (link above or here: http://www.ballstothewallsknits.com/p/glossary-of-knitting-terms.html). There are also video tutorials out there for virtually every knitting thing under the sun, and I can point you in the right direction for any specific questions, if you'd like! :)
The blanket is beautiful, but the baby - now, she is something else... gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI can tell you have discerning taste!!! :)
DeleteHi! Should I be concerned with baby fingers and toes getting caught in the holes if I use thicker yarn?
ReplyDeleteHi there!
DeleteI think the type of yarn is probably a bigger concern for this than the yarn size - as long as you're using a baby yarn (and not, like, rope, or something else without any stretch) you should be fine! :)
Thank you, this is gorgeous. Is the lace stitch considered a 12+4 stitch repeat, with an additional 8 stitches for the border? Thank you
ReplyDeleteYes, that's exactly right! :) Let me know if you have any other questions.
DeleteThanks so much
DeleteThis pattern is beautiful, but it's apparently just not meant to be for me... I tried this pattern about a month ago and had to rip it all out and give up because I couldn't get the lace to come out right, and came back to it tonight. I've spent about 2 hours now knitting and ripping out Row 8, unable to figure out why I keep coming up a stitch short at the end. I have the correct number at the beginning of the row, but by the time I get to the end I have 6 stitches left instead of 7 to do the ssk and edging. Somewhere along the way, my yarn-overs get offset and breaks the lace. I think this pattern is just not meant to be for me, since it doesn't seem to be happening to anyone else. :)
ReplyDeleteHi there!
DeleteFirst off - ack, I totally understand your frustration - sometimes it seems like a lace pattern will just never come together! That being said, if you're really interested in being able to do this, I suggest a couple of things. First off, before you being row 8, make sure that you still have 96 stitches on your needles, and that you're not missing a yo from row 6. Then, either place markers after every pattern repeat from row 6 (you can tie scraps of yarn onto your needle, or use those opening plastic ring things if you have them) or place them as you're working row 8 to help you find the problem. Just place one marker every time you get to the end of the directions between the *s and make sure you continue to have 12 stitches between each of the markers. This should help you find any missed yo's or pattern goof-ups with less frustration. Good luck! :)
I had the same problem in the past on a shawl pattern and had to rip it out and give it up. I checked each pattern repeat and it was correct on the knit row but when I turned to go the other direction on the purl row,it was never correct. I could not figure out the problem and gave up on it. I have been knitting since I was a preteen and today is my 70th birthday so I was surprised to be so stumped by a lace pattern.
DeleteFor me, it's almost always the yarn overs! :)
DeleteHowdy,
ReplyDeleteJust a quick question, at the end of every row for the 1-12, should you always have 96 stitches?
ie: At the beginning of row 6 I should have 96 stitches. At the end of row 6 I should have 96 stitches.
Yes, that is correct - you always want 96! :)
DeleteLove the pattern. With 'smaller' yarns in my stash, I wonder how this pattern would look if done with worsted or less - with much smaller needles.
ReplyDeleteOh, just what I need - yet another project on my Wish List.
Hi there!
DeletePersonally, I think this stitch pattern is charming in all sizes of yarn. :) In order to modify it for different gauges, just cast on extra stitches in multiples of 12. And I know all about that wish list problem!!!
I would love to make this in sport weight and get the same dimensions using a 4mm US size 6 needle can you assist me with this?
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to help! However, I'm not exactly sure of your question. Are you getting the same gauge? If so, you can make the blanket as written. If not, please let me know your stockinette gauge and I will give you a recommendation of how many stitches to cast on. :)
DeleteHi. I loved this pattern. I'm stuck at row 2. Pattern says * repeat. It starts with K2 and ends with K3. So we have 5 knit stitches together. I'm making a mistake somewhere. As I don't end with K6 in the end. I start with 108 stitches.
ReplyDeleteHi there!
Delete108 stitches should work, as it's a 12 stitch repeat. My guess is that you're missing yarn overs (since that's always what I'm missing!). This pattern does shift with time, but since you're struggling with row 2 I suggest the following:
Knit the first six, place a marker, and then place a marker after every pattern repeat. That will help you count your stitches as you go, and you should figure out where you're going wrong soon! :) Hope that helps!!!
Is there a Row 3 ? I did the set up and Rows 1 and 2 but where is 3. Or can I go on to row 4
DeleteHi there! Row 1 is used for all wrong side rows. :) Let me know if you have any other questions!
DeleteThere are no guidelines for the abbreviations? Is there a reason for this?
ReplyDeleteHi there! Here's a link to the glossary, let me know if you have any other questions. :)
Deletehttp://www.ballstothewallsknits.com/p/glossary-of-knitting-terms.html?m=1
Hi Gretchen Tracy,
ReplyDeleteLove the pattern and I am really looking forward to knitting it. I have a couple of questions that I'm hoping you can clarify for me please. In row 8, at the end it mentions work to the last 7 sts, then ssk, k5. The glossary says Slip, slip, knit (3 sts) then k5 (5 sts) this adds up to 8 sts. It's similar at the end of row 10 - last 6 sts - YO, ssk, k4. (ssk, k4 = 7 sts) or am I reading this completely wrong? I hope this makes sense.
Hi there! You're correct that the slip, slip, knit has three components, but it's actually a two-to-one decrease so it takes two stitches and turns them into one. You slip one stitch knitwise, the second stitch knitwise, and then you reinsert your needle and knit those two stitches together, so the math works! Here's a link with more detail on the stitch: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/slip-knit-ssk-2116155
DeleteThank you so much for explaining that for me!:)
ReplyDeleteAnytime, let me know if you have any more questions!
Delete