These cute animal mini blankets from Colour Block Knits are all the rage in the baby world. One ball of Bernat Softee Baby Stripes makes three blankies and three heads, but only just—you'll use up every scrap of yarn. If you run out of yarn the heads can easily be made using small amounts from your yarn stash.
SKILL RATING •••
MATERIALS:
Bernat Softee Baby Stripes (100% acrylic, approx. 286yds/262m per 4¼ oz/120g ball) light worsted (DK) weight yarn
1 ball of 53018 Wildfl owers Stripe
Scrap of black yarn for embroidered face details
US size 6 (4mm) knitting needles
Set of 4 US size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles
Stitch marker
Yarn sewing needle
Toy stuffing
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Approx. 8½ x 8½ in (21.5 x 21.5cm)
GAUGE (TENSION)
Approx. 22 sts x 30 rows over a 4in (10cm) square in stockinette (stocking) stitch, using US size 6 (4mm) needles.
FOR THE BLANKIES
(make 3)
Using US size 6 (4mm) needles, cast on 3 sts.
Row 1 (inc): Sl1, kfb in next st, k to end.
Rep Row 1 until there are 60 sts on needle.
Next row (dec): Sl1, k2tog, k to end.
Rep this row until 3 sts rem.
Sl1 k2tog psso.
Bind (cast) off.
FOR THE PUPPY HEAD
Work from back of head to front.
Using US size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles and leaving a long tail, cast on 5 sts.
Round 1: Kfb in each st to end, join into round, place marker.
10 sts.
Round 2: K.
Round 3: Kfb in each st to end. 20 sts.
Round 4: K.
Round 5: [K1, kfb] to end. 30 sts.
Rounds 6–8: K.
Round 9: [K2, kfb] to end. 40 sts.
Rounds 10–14: K.
Round 15: K10, [k2tog] 10 times, k10. 30 sts.
Rounds 16–19: K to end, on Round 19 place marker between sts 15 and 16 to mark center of face.
Round 20: K.
Cut separate strand of yarn, approx. 18in (46cm) long in same color, thread through each st of round at back of work, leaving 2 long ends for gathering later.
Rounds 21–24: K.
Round 25: [K1, k2tog] to end. 20 sts.
Round 26: K.
Round 27: [K2tog] around. 10 sts.
Stuff muzzle.
Cut yarn leaving long tail, thread yarn tail onto yarn sewing needle and thread through rem 10 sts. Pull tight to gather and sew in end. Thread cast-on end onto yarn sewing needle, sew around cast-on sts, pull tight and sew in end.
Pull the two ends prev threaded round stitches of Round 20, make a knot to secure, and sew in ends. This gathers in to form muzzle shape.
FOR THE PUPPY EARS
(make 2)
Using US size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles and leaving a long tail, cast on 8 sts.
Join into round, place marker.
Rounds 1–2: K.
Round 3: K1, [M1, k1] twice, k2, [k1, M1] twice, k1.
12 sts.
Round 4: K.
Round 5: K1, [M1, k1] 3 times, k4, [k1, M1] 3 times, k1.
18 sts.
Rounds 6–13: K.
Round 14: K1, [k2tog] 3 times, k4, [k2tog] 3 times, k1.
12 sts.
Round 15: [K2tog] 6 times. 6 sts.
Cut yarn leaving long tail, thread yarn tail onto yarn sewing needle and thread through rem 6 sts. Pull tight and sew in end.
Tip
Make the heads in between making the mini blankets, when the yarn colors finish on either pale pink (rabbit), bright pink (teddy), or lilac (puppy). Use either the outside end or the inside end of the yarn, depending on the colors preferred.
FOR THE TEDDY HEAD
Work from back of head to front.
Using US size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles and leaving a long tail, cast on 5 sts.
Round 1: Kfb in each st to end, join round, place marker. 10 sts.
Round 2: K.
Round 3: Kfb in each st to end. 20 sts.
Round 4: K.
Round 5: [K1, kfb] to end. 30 sts.
Rounds 6–8: K.
Round 9: [K2, kfb] to end. 40 sts.
Rounds 10–12: K.
Round 13: K10, [k2tog] 10 times, k10. 30 sts.
Rounds 14–15: K to end, on Round 15 place marker between sts 15 and 16 to mark center of face.
Round 16: K.
Cut separate strand of yarn, approx. 18in (46cm) long in same color, thread through each st of round at back of work, leaving 2 long ends for gathering later.
Rounds 17–20: K.
Round 21: [K1, k2tog] to end. 20 sts.
Round 22: K.
Round 23: [K2tog] around. 10 sts.
Stuff muzzle.
Cut yarn leaving long tail, thread yarn tail onto yarn sewing needle and thread through rem 10 sts. Pull tight to gather and sew in end.
Thread cast-on end onto yarn sewing needle, sew around cast-on stitches, pull tight and sew in end.
Pull the two ends prev threaded round stitches of Round 15, make a knot to secure, and sew in ends. This gathers in to form the muzzle shape.
FOR THE TEDDY EARS
(make 2)
Using US size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles, cast on 6 sts, join round, place marker.
Round 1: Kfb in each st around. 12 sts.
Rounds 2–5: K.
Bind (cast) off, leaving a long tail.
FOR THE BUNNY HEAD
Starting at back of head.
Using US size 6 (4mm) needles, cast on 7 sts.
Row 1: K1, [kfb, k1] 3 times. 10 sts.
Row 2: P.
Row 3: K2, [kfb, k1] 4 times. 14 sts.
Row 4: P.
Row 5: K2, [kfb, k2] 4 times. 18 sts.
Row 6: P.
Row 7: K2, [kfb, k1] 8 times. 26 sts.
Starting with a p row, work st st for 10 rows.
Row 18: P3, [p2tog, p1] 6 times, p2tog, p3. 19 sts.
Row 19: K.
Row 20: P4, [p2tog, p1] 3 times, p2tog, p4. 15 sts.
Row 21: K.
Row 22: P4, p2tog, p3, p2tog, p4. 13 sts.
Row 23: K.
Row 24: P.
Row 25: K.
Row 26: [P2tog] 6 times, p1. 7 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving long end. Stuff head. Thread yarn end onto yarn sewing needle, thread through rem sts, gather tightly and sew in end.
With RS together, sew along bottom seam, leaving gap for stuffing. Turn RS out and stuff firmly. Sew up gap.
FOR THE BUNNY EARS
(make 2)
Starting at base of ear.
Using US size 6 (4mm) needles, cast on 5 sts.
Rows 1 and 2: K.
Row 3: K1, [kfb] 3 times, k1. 8 sts.
Rows 4–16: K.
Row 17: K1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1. 6 sts.
Row 18: K.
Row 19: K1, [k2tog] twice, k1. 4 sts.
Row 20: K.
Row 21: K2tog, k1. 3 sts.
Cut yarn, thread through rem sts, gather tightly and sew in end.
FINISHING
Block blankies and sew in any yarn ends.
Embroider the face details on each head.
Sew the matching ears to each head.
Sew each animal head to the RS of one corner of a blankie, by attaching the tip of the corner to the back of the animal head that matches the color of the blankie.
This project is from Colour Block Knits by Nicki Trench. To get more free projects like this one - direct to your inbox - sign up to our mailing list here.