PurlsAndPixels

Rice Stitch Baby Blanket Free Knitting Pattern

Free Rice Stitch Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern by Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels.

Rice Stitch Baby Blanket

A Free Knitting Pattern from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

This rice stitch baby blanket is a great way to practice your knitting and purling skills. The rice stitch makes a fabric with two lovely textures on either side. This will make a soft and cuddly blanket that would make an excellent baby shower gift. It is also a great way for a new or expecting mother just learning to make something for her little one. Make this with a solid color yarn for a classic minimalist heirloom blanket. Or you can spice it up with a variegated version of worsted weight yarn like Simply Soft Paints.

How this Simple Baby Blanket is Made

Below, I will give you instructions for making the same blanket in two ways. Beginners can make this blanket with the Broken Rib Stitch, since it is all knits and purls. You can also knit it in rice stitch, to help you learn how to knit through the back loop. This can be good practice; as you “ktbl” and twist stitches intentionally, you will learn to spot twisted stitches more easily. This will help you spot mistakes in your other projects.

As you can see, the Rice Stitch has slightly more twist in the fabric. It also tends to curl a tiny bit less than the Broken Rib Stitch, but not noticeably. Either pattern you follow will result in the nearly the exact same blanket, so choose what is best for you.

Neaten knitted edges with slipped stitches

To neaten the edges of the blanket, you’ll slip the first stitch off your needle as if to purl, without actually working the stitch. On the knit rows, you’ll hold your yarn in back of your work when you do this. I’ll abbreviate this as “sl1pwyib.” On the purl rows, you will hold the yarn in the front of your work when you slip the first stitch; this will be abbreviated “sl1pwyif.” You can find a full tutorial (with a video), which shows you how to neaten your edges with slipped stitches at this link.

The most difficult part of making this baby blanket is keeping tack of the pattern. It can be easy to accidentally knit two stitches and lose your pattern in the knit, purl rows. Make sure you watch your stitch rows and columns and compare them with the pictures to make sure your pattern is developing properly. If you spot a knitting mistake, you can go back and fix it if you need to.

Free knitting lessons, learn to knit online with Liz @PurlsAndPixels

Materials

AbbreviationsFree baby blanket knitting pattern from Liz @PurlsAndPixels

Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rows in stockinette stitch = 4 inches by 4 inches square

Instructions: Rice Stitch Baby Blanket

(40 inches x 40 inches)

Row 1: Cast on 163 stitches. Turn.

Row 2: sl1pwyif, *k1tbl, p* x 81 (163stitches). Turn.

Row 3: sl1pwyib, k 162 (163 stitches). Turn.

Repeat Rows 2 & 3 x 119 (240 rows total).

Row 241: Bind off with the same tension as the rest of the piece (do not bind of loosely like most other patterns call for). Cut yarn leaving an 8-inch tail and pull through.

Weave in ends.

Instructions: Broken Rib Stitch Baby Blanket

(40 inches x 40 inches)

Row 1: Cast on 163 stitches. Turn.

Row 2: sl1pwyif, *k, p* x 81 (163 stitches). Turn.

Row 3: sl1pwyib, k 162 (163 stitches). Turn.

Repeat Rows 2 & 3 x 119 (240 rows total).

Row 241: Bind off with the same tension as the rest of the piece (do not bind of loosely like most other patterns call for). Cut yarn leaving an 8-inch tail and pull through.

Weave in ends.

Printable version of this free knitting pattern

Printable rice stitch baby blanket knitting pattern PDF by Liz @PurlsAndPixels

 

Size Notes

This blanket will be a 40-inch by 40-inch square.

Care

If you use the materials called for in the pattern, your final product will be machine washable. To keep your baby blanket looking its best, hand wash or machine wash separately on delicate cycle in cold water. You may tumble dry on low heat or lay flat to dry.

Tip:

Keep this away from Velcro! Yarn and Velcro are never friends. Your blanket will absolutely snag if you lay it on a Velcro jacket or a toy with a Velcro seam. Other than that, these little blankets last for years if you make sure to wash them gently.

Free baby blanket knitting pattern, Rice stitch blanket from PurlsAndPixels

©2017, Liz Chandler of PurlsAndPixels. Revised 2018.

This pattern is for personal use, gifting, and charitable donation of completed items. You may also sell handmade items created using this pattern. Do not copy this pattern and distribute it. If you’d like to share the pattern, refer your friends to my website, purlsandpixels.com so they may obtain a copy.

If you find any errors or have any questions, email purlsandpixels@gmail.com and I will do my best to help.

I’d love to see your finished work! Tag your photos with @PurlsAndPixels on Twitter or Instagram.

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