INTRODUCTION

Sailboat and Waves

by Sian Brown

This blanket is a fun nautical-themed project inspired by living on the coast. It is in stocking stitch with simple one colour intarsia sections, good for knitters new to the technique. The edging is in Seed stitch, and the birds are added in chain stitch embroidery. The yarn used is chunky weight.

As the motifs are repeated across the blanket, you could easily size this blanket up, or use the motifs on other projects such as cushion covers.

photos: Sian Brown

SIZE

One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Width: 21.5 inches/55 cm
Depths: 25.5 inches/65 cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Yarnsmiths Create Chunky [100% acrylic, 164 yd/ 150 m per 100gm ball]
[MC] Cream (5050): 2 balls
[CC1] Navy Blue (5310): 1 ball
[CC2] Teal (5230): 1 ball

[CC3] Scheepjes Chunky Monkey [100% acrylic, 127 yd/ 116 m per 100 gm ball]; Powder Blue (1019): 1 ball

Yarn Characteristics
The sample uses a chunky-weight acrylic yarn which is soft and easy to wash. Any chunky weight yarn that is both soft and easy to wash would be suitable for a baby blanket.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US# 10/ 6mm needles for working flatHERE

Notions
yarn needle

GAUGE

14 sts/22 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Construction method: This blanket is worked flat, in one piece.

Intarsia:This method is used for the contrast edges, and the charts. When you start the main section, attach a separate ball of MC for the center of the blanket, and a second ball of CC2 for the far side edge. 

When you start the Sailboats, attach a strand of CC1 for each boat. It is not required, but it is recommend that you use separate balls of MC for the plain sections between the sailboat motifs, to reduce the number of floats. 

In the same way, we recommend using Intarsia for the Waves section. Work with separate balls of CC2 and MC for each of the separate color sections, for rows 1-4 and 8-11 of the Waves pattern. 

For additional tips, see Kate Atherley's Wiseknit™ DF24 column.

Although you could work the Waves chart using the stranded colorwork/Fair Isle method, it’s not recommended, as baby can easily catch fingers and toes on the floats. If you do use stranded colorwork/Fair Isle method for this chart, trap your floats frequently.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

Lower Edging
Using CC2, cast on 84 sts.
Row 1 [RS]: (K1, p1) to end of row.
Row 2 [WS]: (P1, k1) to end of row.
Rep these 2 rows until 7 rows have been worked, ending with Row 1. WS is facing for next row.

Note: Please see Pattern Notes for helpful tips about Intarsia yarn management specific to this pattern.

Main Section
Next row [WS]: With CC2, (P1, k1) 3 times, k1; with MC, p to last 7 sts; with CC2, k1, (p1, k1) 3 times.
Note: You may find it helpful to place stitch markers 7 stitches in from the edges, to help you keep track.
Next row, establish the side edgings: [RS]: With CC2, (K1, p1) 3 times, k1; with MC, k to last 7 sts; with CC2, p1, (k1, p1) to end.
Following row: [WS]: With CC2, (P1, k1) 3 times, p1; with MC, p to last 7 sts; with CC2, k1, (p1, k1) to end
Rep these last 2 rows once more.

From here, you will work the first and last 7 stitches of the row in Seed stitch as set, and work the central stitches in stockinette stitch as set, working the color patterns in the centre.

Boat Pattern Section
Row 1 [RS]: With CC2, work 7 sts in Seed st as set; with MC, k6, [work 16 sts according to chart row 1, with MC, k5] twice, with MC, k6; with CC2 work 7 sts in Seed st as set.
Row 2 [WS]: With CC2, work 7 sts in Seed st as set; with MC, p6, [work 16 sts according to chart row 2, with MC, p5] twice, with MC, p6; with CC2 work 7 sts in Seed st as set.

Continue in pattern as set until you have worked all 24 rows of the chart.

Plain section
Next row [RS]: With CC2, work 7 sts in Seed st as set; with MC, k to last 7 sts; with CC2 work 7 sts in Seed st as set.
Following row [WS]: With CC2, work 7 sts in Seed st as set; with MC, p to last 7 sts; with CC2 work 7 sts in Seed st as set.

Repeat the last 2 rows until you have worked 14 rows, ending with a WS row.

Waves chart
Note: Join CC3 at the start of the central 70 sts for working the Waves chart; you will work with both MC and CC3 for Rows 1-4 of the chart and 8-11. Rows 5, 6 and 7 are worked only with CC3; after Row 4 is complete, leave MC at the end of the row and pick it up again when you need it.

Row 1 [RS]: With CC2, work 7 sts in Seed st as set; using MC and CC3, work Waves chart 5 times across; with CC2 work 7 sts in Seed st as set.
Row 2 [WS]: With CC2, work 7 sts in Seed st as set; using MC and CC3, work Waves chart 5 times across; with CC2 work 7 sts in Seed st as set.
Continue in pattern as set until all 11 rows of the Waves chart have been worked.

Work 3 Plain rows, as per the Plain section above, starting and ending with a WS row.
Work the Waves Chart again, as before.
Repeat the last 14 rows – 3 plain plus Waves chart – again.
Work 44 rows plain, starting with a RS row and ending with a WS row.

Cut MC.

Next row [RS]: With CC2, (K1, p1) 3 times, k1, p to last 7 sts; (p1, k1). to last st, p1.

Upper Edging

Row 1 [WS]: (P1, k1) to end of row.
Row 2 [RS]: (K1, p1) to end of row.

Repeat Rows 1-2 until you have worked 7 rows total, ending with Row 1.

Bind off.

FINISHING

Wash blanket according to washing instructions, and lay flat to dry. Do not stretch or pin. Weave in ends.

Using CC1, embroider birds in chain stitch, using the photo as a guide.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

While studying for a fashion and textiles degree, a project set by a visiting tutor sparked an interest in knitwear design. After graduating and spending a few years doing various jobs, Sian started working for suppliers to the high-street stores designing factory machine knits produced both in Europe and the Far East, firstly as a full-time designer then as a freelancer. Sian then changed to designing commercially produced handknits, and started designing for magazines as well as swatch companies selling to the US.

Sian now works with a pattern writer for garments and a team of experienced knitters to produce samples for magazines and publishers. She has also done some books in her own name and have contributed to several others.

Find Sian on Weebly, Ravelry and Lovecrafts.

Pattern & images © 2024 Sian Brown