One of the first things I knit was a basket weave baby blanket. I forget where but it was suggested to do this blanket because it only has two types of stitches. This is a great project to start and do. It is easy to do but looks elegant.Cast on as many stitches as you'd like for your blanket but make sure it's a multiple of 5. This one had 125 stitches and was 36" long. Place a marker after the first 5 stiches and then every 5 stitches after that. This will provide the framework for when to switch stitches.
The first 5 and last 5 stiches will be the boarder- Knit them always.
When you get to the first stitch marker, move it from the left needle to the right needle, and start by knitting until the next marker (5 stitches). When you get to the second marker, move it from the left to the right needle, and SWITCH to purling. Purl 5 stitches to the next marker- slip the marker (SLM) is how it's typically abbreviated, and then go back to knitting.
Continue in this manner for 6 rows. Yes, I know the blocks are of 5 stitches, but you need to do 6 rows for them to look square.
Once you've finished the block of first rows, begin the second block of rows by alternating. You started by knitting, now this block should start with purling.
Continue for how long you'd like the blanket to be and then bind off.
I started and completed this blanket for a co-worker who was expecting her first child. She didn't know the gender of the baby so I picked a pretty light green. While I was doing this blanket, I kept thinking about babies and how blessed I was to have had my child, which was pretty amazing considering she as 12 when I did this blanket and not all 12 year olds are fun~!
I also remembered the baby blanket I had that my grandma made~ it was dark yellow satin-y material, but it wasn't satin, it was probably rayon- but it felt silky and I loved it. My grandma had then embroidered with blue thread the outline of Winey the Pooh. I loved that blanket- it was my B- and I couldn't sleep without it for years. There are many stories of the trauma my B caused to babysitters who didn't know what it was. But it was important to me and I wanted this baby to have something important too.
