Neapolitan Swirl Knit Baby Blanket

Materials:

• RED HEART® Baby TLC™ 5930 Neapolitan (A) - 3 balls
• RED HEART® Baby TLC™ 5011 White (B) - 1 ball
• Susan Bates® Circular Knitting Needles: 5mm [US 8] 24” long
• Stitch markers
• Yarn needle

Measurements: 37” x 37” [94 x 37 cm]

Abbreviations:

bo = bind off
k = knit
Kf/b = knit into the front and back of the next stitch
k2tog = knit 2 sts. together
mm = millimeters
p = purl
RS = right side
st (s) = stitch(es)
yo = yarn over
* = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated
WS = wrong side.

Gauge: 16 sts = 4” [10 cm]; 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Stockinette Stitch. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needle to obtain the gauge.

Special Stitches:

Kf/b = Knit into the front and back of the next stitch.

Instructions

BLANKET

With A, cast on 8 sts.

Row 1 (Right Side): *YO, K1* 8 times – 16 sts. Turn.

Row 2 and all Wrong Side Rows: Purl all sts and YOs.

Row 3: *YO, K2* 8 times – 24 sts Turn.

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Row 5: *YO, K3* 8 times – 32 sts Turn.

Row 6: Repeat Row 2.

Continue pattern as established over 8 segments repeating last two rows and working 1 more st. between each YO until you have worked *YO, K11* around, do not turn work.

Place marker, join and knit around all sts, end at joining marker.

Next Round (Right Side): Work *YO, knit to next YO* across each of the 8 segments around.

Next Round: Knit all sts and YOs.

Next Round: Repeat last 2 rounds until there are 33 eyelets from beginning. Piece measures approximately 13” (33 cm) from beginning.

Continue pattern and work in stripe pattern as follows:

Next Rounds: *1 round B, 2 rounds A, twice, 1 round B, 6 rounds A*; repeat from ** once more. Work in A only until there are 49 sts in each segment, end at joining stitch marker.

Cut yarn.

Using separate pieces of scrap yarn for each segment, place 8 sets of 49 sts on hold.

CORNER SEGMENT(S)

With right side facing and A, knit across 49 sts of any segment.

Row 1 (Wrong Side): Knit.

Row 2 (Right Side): K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, K2tog.

Repeat last 2 rows until 7 sts remain, end on a wrong side row.

Next Rows: Bind off 2 sts at beginning of next 2 rows, always slipping the first st. at beginning of row. Bind off remaining sts.

Work corners in same manner on every other segment for a total of 4 corners.

BORDER(S)

Slip 49 sts of segment in between corners onto needle.

With right side facing, using same needle and A, begin at outer point of one corner, pick up and knit 24 sts along side edge of corner, knit 49 sts on needle, then pick up and knit 24 sts along side edge of 2nd corner—97 sts. Turn.

Row 1 (Wrong Side): With B, knit.

Row 2 (Right Side): With B, K2, Kf/b, knit across to last 3 sts, Kf/b, K2.

Rows 3-4: Repeat rows 1-2 with A.

Rows 5-6: Repeat rows 1-2 with B.

Ruffle (work with B only)

Rows 7, 9 and 11: With B, knit.

Row 8: *K1, YO* across, end K1.

Row 10: K1, *YO, K2* across row.

Row 12: Knit and bind off all sts loosely.

In same way, work border along remaining 3 sides.

FINISHING

Sew edges of center section together. Sew side edges of borders together.

With yarn needle, weave in ends.

Block piece very lightly.