UPDATE: THIS PATTERN IS NOW AVAILABLE AS AN EASY TO PRINT PDF AT THE KNITTING PATTERNS LINK, ABOVE.
It’s finished and about to be mailed to the target recipient, so I can post my final pattern for this simple knit/purl texture, quick knit, lap size baby blanket.
RED DIAMONDS BABY BLANKET
Finished dimensions:
About 26.6″ x 36″
Materials:
Approximately 550 yards (about 500 meters) of a lofty wool/acrylic blend super bulky weight yarn, with a native gauge of 12 stitches and 18 rows to four inches. Washable is better.
One US size 10.5 circular needle at least 24 inches long.
Four stitch markers.
Tapestry needle for darning in ends.
Project Gauge:
Just over 2 stitches per inch in stockinette. (Approximate gauge is good enough on a blanket).
Method:
Cast on 77 total stitches but to make life easier when knitting the repeats cast on 5, place marker, cast on 22, place marker, cast on 22 place marker, cast on 23 place marker, cast on 5.
Slip the first stitch purlwise, then continue across the row in K1, P1 seed stitch; knit the last stitch of the row the back of the loop (In seed stitch you make a bumpy texture. If knitting in the flat, you knit every stitch that presents as a purl, and purl every stitch that presents as a knit. If you get ribbing you need to rip out your offending row and begin it again using a knit if you started with a purl or a purl if you started with a knit). Repeat this start-up row 7 times for a total of 8 rows of seed stitch. This will make a nice no-curl lower edge with a neat slip stitch selvedge.
Continuing in seed stitch pattern and making sure to continue the slip stitch selvedge, work seed stitch until you reach marker #1. Then work the white stitches in Row #1 of the following chart. On the final repeat just before the final marker, work the blue stitch in Row #1, then finish with seed stitch, continuing the established pattern of the lower edge.
Flip the work over. Remember that you’re going to be working the wrong side of the blanket and on this row (Row #2 of the chart) and all even side rows thereafter, you need to follow the WRONG SIDE directions for the chart. Again slip that first stitch, work seed to the first marker, now work the blue stitch on the chart (wrong side version), and continue across the chart Row #2. After the last marker finish the row out in seed stitch, knitting the final stitch of the row through the back of the loop.
Click on pix above for a larger version of the chart.)
Continue in this manner until you have worked four full vertical repeats of the chart.
Finish off the blanket with another 8 rows of seed stitch with slip stitch edges, and bind off loosely. Darn in all ends.
String-Or-Nothing 
I really love the idea of using red for babies; the blanket should be well-used and well-loved.
However, I’m pretty sure you mean 12 stitches to *4* inches, not to *one* inch…
Do you have this pattern in a simple instructions, like K1, P1, etc?
I really want to knit this for a friend’s baby but I’m so confused by the chart and instructions.
Sorry, much as I’d like to, I really don’t have the time to do it. However, if you go to the Barbara Walker source cited in the pattern, you will find the basic design I adapted written out in prose. That book is widely available, in both PDF and hard copy. It’s also around on the used book market, and in all probability is in your local public library, if you don’t know someone who owns a copy.
If you are looking for an explanation of how to create and read charts, there’s a tutorial right here on this website – go to the top tab and select “Tutorials.” Read up from the bottom, starting with the post named “Charting 101” for an introduction to how to use charts.
Thank you! I sat and wrote it all out. I think it did it correctly. When reading row 1, you read right to left and the then row 2 is left to right, correct?
Yup, that’s correct. Think of it as going back and forth, like you are mowing a lawn. 🙂
Remember that a – on an odd numbered (right side) row is a purl, and a blank space is a knit. But when you are headed back in the other direction, that’s reversed – on even numbered (wrong side rows) the – is a knit, and the blank box is a purl.
BUT if you are working in the round you can use the same chart, interpreting EVERY row as a right side row. That’s one of the beauties of working from charts instead of prose. Prose directions can be difficult to translate for knitting in the round, but the same chart can be used for both flat and circular knitting.
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I really love this blanket, it is too cute! If i make it i will let you know, i have bookmarked your page ❤ =D