DIY Network

Nine-Block Baby Blanket or "Lapghan" This sampler of stitches works equally well as a pillow or a small afghan. From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-601

Knit a nine-block baby blanket that's as beautiful on the back as it is on the front.

advertisement

Lily Chin's nine-block design is perfectly proportioned for a baby blanket or a lap-sized afghan.

Knitting guru Lily Chin couples two of her signature blocks—the reversibly cabled braid block and bi-colored brioche rib block—with a diamond brocade block to create a nine-block baby blanket. Here's how it's done.

Materials:
Lily Chin Signature Collection yarn
   3 skeins of Tribeca in tan (#1283 - yarn A)
   4 skeins of Gramercy in tan (#5099 - yarn B)
   1 skein of Greenwich Village in ecru (#5557 - yarn C) and 1 skein tan (#5576 - yarn D)
needles - 1 pair each #5 circular and #9 regular needles (or sizes to obtain gauge), plus regular needles #7 (or two sizes smaller than the larger one)
crochet hook sizes E and H
stitch markers
darning or tapestry needle
optional - poster board for blocking, blocking pins or blocking wires

Alternative Yarn Color Combinations
  "Tribeca" in lt. pink (#1268), "Gramercy" in lt. pink (#7849), "Greenwich Village" in lilac (#5861) and hot pink (#5566)
OR
  "Tribeca" in soot (#1266), "Gramercy" in cranberry (#8644), "Greenwich Village" in cranberry (#5565) and black (#5575)
OR
  "Tribeca" in sage (#1272), "Gramercy" in absinthe (#5627), "Greenwich Village" in royal blue (#5579) and lime (#5554)

Gauge
Ribbed cables square - each 12-st braid = 2"
Bi-colored brioche rib square - 14 sts = 4"
Diamond brocade square - 8-st diamond = 1.5"

PDF Figure A - Click to download

Ribbed, Reversibly Cabled Braid Block (block X) - make 5
See chart (figure A)

1. With size H crochet hook and yarn A, cast on 68 stitches using the chain method over the #7 needle.
   
2. Slipping the first stitches at the beginning of every row as if to knit, work in (p1, k1) ribbing, ending with a p st, for 3/4".
   
3. Change to larger needles and begin braid pattern as follows:

• [slip first st, p1, k1, p1] for the side edge
  

  Figure B

• * work 4-st over 4-st right cross cable by placing next 4 stitches onto a cable needle and hold them to back of work (figure B)
  
• [k1, p1, k1, p1] the next 4 stitches off the regular needle, then [k1, p1, k1, p1] the 4 stitches off the cable needle
  
• [k1, p1, k1, p1] the next 4 stitches; repeat from * 4 more times, [k1, p1, k1, p1] the last 4 stitches for the side edge (refer to stitch chart)

4. Work 3 rows in established ribbing.
   
5. Continue braid pattern as follows:

• [slip first st, p1, k1, p1] for the side edge
  
• * [k1, p1, k1, p1] the next 4 stitches
  

  Figure C

• work 4-st over 4-st left cross cable by placing next 4 stitches onto a cable needle and hold them to front of work (figure C)
  
• [k1, p1, k1, p1] the next 4 stitches off the regular needle, then [k1, p1, k1, p1] the 4 stitches off the cable needle; repeat from * 4 more times
  
• [k1, p1, k1, p1] the last 4 stitches for the side edge

6. Work 3 rows in established ribbing.
   
7. Repeat steps 3 through 6 until piece measures 11-1/4".
   
8. Change to size 7 needle and work in established ribbing for 3/4", bind off.

PDF Figure D - Click to download

Diamond Brocade Block (block Y) - make 2
See chart (figure D)

1. With size E crochet hook and yarn B, cast on 61 stitches using the chain method over the #5 needles.
   
2. Slip the first stitch at the beginning of row as if to purl with yarn in front, knit 1, * p1, k7; rep from * 6 more times, end with p1, knit last 2 stitches (refer to stitch chart).
   
3. Slip the first stitch at the beginning of row as if to purl with yarn in front, knit 1, k2, * p5, k3; rep from * 6 more times, ending with knit last stitch.
   
4. Slip the first stitch at the beginning of row as if to purl with yarn in front, knit 1, * p3, k3, p2; rep from * 6 more times, end with p1, knit last 2 stitches (refer to stitch chart).
   
5. Slip the first stitch at the beginning of row as if to purl with yarn in front, knit 1, * k4, p1, k3; rep from * 6 more times, ending with knit last 3 stitches.
   
6. Slip the first stitch at the beginning of row as if to purl with yarn in front, knit 1, purl across to within last 2 stitches, knit last 2 stitches
   
7. Repeat 5.
   
8. Repeat 4.
   
9. Repeat 3.
   
10. Repeat 2.
    
11. Repeat 6.
    
12. Repeat steps 2 through 11 until piece measures 12", bind off.

PDF Figure E - Click to download

Bi-Colored Brioche Rib Block (block Z) - make 2
See chart (figure E)

Note: Must use circ or dpn ndls in order to slide back to the beg of row. Notice how it takes two rows to complete one full one! Notice also how row 1B = row 2A but in different colors and how row 2B = row 3A but again in different colors.

Figure F

1. With size H crochet hook and yarn C, cast on 44 stitches using the chain method over the #5 needle (figure F).
   
2. Row 1A - Change to yarn D, k3, place marker, [k1, p1] across to within last 3 stitches, place marker, k last 3 stitches. Do not turn work. Slide sts to beginning of row again.
   
3. Row 1B - With yarn C, p3, * k1, purl in row below next st; repeat from *, end p3. Turn.
   
4. Row 2A - With yarn D, p3, * k1, purl in row below next stitch; repeat from *, end p3. Do not turn work. Slide sts to beginning of row again.
   
5. Row 2B - With yarn C, k3, * knit in row below next stitch, p 1; repeat from *, end k3. Turn.
   
6. Row 3A - With yarn D, k3, * knit in row below next st, p1; repeat from *, end k3. Do not turn work. Slide sts to beginning of row again.
   
7. Rep rows 1B through 3A (or steps 3 through 6) until the piece measures 12".
   
8. Bind off very, very loosely keeping first and last 3 stitches in established garter pattern and the remaining center stitches in established rib pattern.

Finishing

1. Block all pieces to measurement—use foam board or poster board template.
   
2. With appropriate crochet hook and yarn B, single-crochet evenly around all blocks with same stitch numbers.

3. Arrange blocks as shown in figure G. Seam blocks together by going through front loop on right side, then back loop on left side along single-crochets ( figure H).
   
4. Block piece again.

Figure G

Figure H

____________________________________________________

Host Vickie Howell talks about the Warm Up America! Foundation, an organization of volunteers who create afghan blankets, clothing and accessories to help those in need. Visit warmupamerica.org to learn more.

RESOURCES :
Lily Chin Signature Collection yarn
Lily Chin books - Knit and Crochet with Beads (Interweave Press, 2004); The Urban Knitter (Berkley Books, 2002); Mosaic Magic, Afghans Made Easy (Oxmoor House, 1999)

Lily Chin Signature Collection
Website: www.lilychinsignaturecollection.com

GUESTS :

Lily Chin
Author, knitting expert
Website: www.lilychinsignaturecollection.com