One of the most popular hand knitted items is a baby blanket. While pregnant, moms often find themselves thinking of ways to make use of their time. Since pregnant women cannot carry out heavy and strenuous tasks, knitting is a perfect hobby.

Knitting baby blankets can be a very productive way of spending this free time, and be a loving gesture that will cradle their child in their love and tender care. Making baby blankets is not very difficult.

You can start by learning the basic stitches and reading knitting patterns. You can choose from a wide variety of designs for your baby blankets. These blankets will  be warm and soft for your baby. Some of the most common colors for baby blankets are pastel colors that are light and easy on the eyes like pink, yellow, mint green, lilac and white.

Some knitted baby blankets feature an eyelet pattern and are secured with a trimmed one-inch border. Some baby blankets use lace and are ideal for little girls. Some blankets boast of open patterns with crocheted borders. Some have a unique diamond pattern.

There are also blankets that feature open work patterns and open work designs that are often presented in deep colors like navy blue, dark violet and lavender. You might find yourself spending much time choosing from a number of cute and bright designs of baby blankets.

Before you start knitting your baby blanket, it is important that you select materials that will be mild on your baby’s delicate skin. Some yarns are made from materials that can be too thick or rough for your baby. Make sure you choose materials that are soft and light on your baby. You can also pick out fabrics that are machine washable.

Next, select your needle size. You can opt to knit with two different needle sizes and experiment. It is advisable that you try the needles out and take a good test on the needles to give you some insight as to the comfort or difficulty of using them. Using different needle sizes will not affect the quality of your final knitted products but can help you achieve the desired patterns with ease.

You can also make use of knitting markers, so that you can keep track of your knitting progress and prevent wasting time because you are unable to find your last stitches.

You should choose patterns that are appropriate for newborns and infants. If you are knitting a blanket for a newborn baby, ideal patterns are those that are tightly woven with open work. These designs feature continuous works that prevent your baby’s toes or fingers from getting caught in the blanket and the tightly woven design will provide much needed comfort.

For infants, you can choose more complex designs but keep in mind that these designs must still provide the warmth and ease for your baby.

In addition, knitting baby blankets also requires you to define the size and purpose of the blanket. You can choose from crib blankets, swaddling blankets and a receiving blanket. Knitted blankets are perfect for all your baby’s needs.

Enjoy your knitting!

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