Free Pattern: Cactus Baby Blanket
When one of my friends was pregnant with her second baby, I knew that I wanted to design the baby blanket for this one, rather than finding a pattern to follow! She has loved cacti for a very long time and since there were no knit cactus baby blankets on Ravelry it was time for me to make one. And it turned out he was named Austin, a good hot climate name, appropriate for a cactus.
I used Excel to help me design the pattern. I tried doing a different design and testing it before doing a full blanket, but it just frustrated me so I decided to dive right in, using Excel as my guide. It turned out that wasn’t a foolproof plan as 2 rows into my cactus I screwed up and put the blanket in time out for MONTHS.
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Check out my other cactus knitting patterns:
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Since this was baby #2 for my friend, it was important to me that the blanket be the same size and same kind of yarn as the first, especially since it had turned out that Loops & Threads Snuggly Wuggly from Michael’s washes well. Luckily I had my pattern and stitch counts from the first baby blanket to help me get the size close, just in case these siblings were comparing their blankets down the road, since that’s something I would do (apparently I was a petty child).
Scroll down for the free pattern, or get the ad-free printable PDF for $5 CDN.
Like my washcloth patterns, this blanket is also reversible! I’m not sure which side I like better, but you can decide for yourself!
Scroll down for the free pattern, or get the ad-free printable PDF for $5 CDN.
Pattern
Gauge: 4″ x 4″ (10 cm x 10 cm) = 28 rows x 22 stitches in stockinette (blocked)
Finished measurements: 36″ x 32″ (91 cm x 81 cm)
Materials:
- 4 mm needles (US 6)
- ~253 g / 9 oz (~737 m / 807 yds) of light category 3 yarn (I used Loops & Threads Snuggly Wuggly. This is less than 1 ball of Snuggly Wuggly Big from Michael’s, you could also use Lion Brand Pound of Love, I definitely recommend using acrylic so that it’s easily washed!)
- Blocking mat
- Blocking pins
Abbreviations used:
– k: knit
– p: purl
Scroll down for the free pattern, or get the ad-free printable PDF for $5 CDN.
Pattern:
– Cast on 149 stitches (I prefer the long tail cast on)
– R1-20: *k1 p1* repeat to end of row
– R21: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, k to last 15 stitches, *k1 p1* to end of row
– R22: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, p to last 15 stitches, *k1 p1* to end of row
– R23-60: repeat rows 21 & 22
Start your cactus:
– R61: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, k52, p15, k52, *k1 p1* to end of row
– R62: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, p51, k17, p51, *k1 p1* to end of row
– R63: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, k50, p19, k50, *k1 p1* to end of row
– R64: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, p49, k21, p49, *k1 p1* to end of row
– R65: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, k49, p21, k49, *k1 p1* to end of row
– R66-106: repeat rows 64 & 65
Start the first arm of your cactus:
– R107: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, k49, p49, k21, *k1 p1* to end of row
– R108: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, p20, k50, p49, *k1 p1* to end of row
– R109: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, k49, p51, k19, *k1 p1* to end of row
– R110: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, p18, k52, p49, *k1 p1* to end of row
– R111: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, k49, p53, k17, *k1 p1* to end of row
– R112: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, p17, k53, p49, *k1 p1* to end of row
– R113-129: repeat rows 111 & 112
Scroll down for the rest of the free pattern, or get the ad-free printable PDF for $5 CDN.
Start the second cactus arm:
– R130: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, p17, k19, p13, k21, p49, *k1 p1* to end
– R131: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, k19, p51, k13, p19, k17, *k1 p1* to end
– R132: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, p17, k19, p13, k52, p18, *k1 p1* to end
– R133: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, k17, p53, k13, p19, k17, *k1 p1* to end
– R134: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, p17, k19, p13, k54, p16, *k1 p1* to end
– R135: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, k15, p55, k13, p19, k17, *k1 p1* to end
– R136: *k1 p1* for 15 stitches, p17, k19, p13, k55, p15, *k1 p1* to end (R134-136 updated September 8, 2019)
– R137-153: repeat rows 135 & 136
Now continue with the upwards sections of both arms:
– R154: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, p17, k19, p13, k21, p15, k19, p15, *k1 p1* to end
– R155: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, k15, p19, k15, p21, k13, p19, k17, *k1 p1* to end
– R156-178: repeat rows 154 & 155
Scroll down for the rest of the free pattern, or get the ad-free printable PDF for $5 CDN.
Finish off the arms:
– R179: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, k15, p19, k15, p21, k14, p17, k18, *k1 p1* to end
– R180: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, p19, k15, p15, k21, p15, k19, p15, *k1 p1* to end
– R181: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, k15, p19, k15, p21, k16, p13, k21, *k1 p1* to end
– R182: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, p21, k11, p17, k21, p15, k19, p15, *k1 p1* to end
– R183: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, k15, p19, k15, p21, k49, *k1 p1* to end
– R184: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, p49, k21, p15, k19, p15, *k1 p1* to end
– R185-186: repeat rows 183 & 184
– R187: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, k16, p17, k16, p21, k49, *k1 p1* to end
– R188: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, p49, k21, p17, k15, p17, *k1 p1* to end
– R189: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, k18, p13, k18, p21, k49, *k1 p1* to end
– R190: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, p49, k21, p19, k11, p19, *k1 p1* to end
– R191: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, k49, p21, k49, *k1 p1* to end
– R192: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, p49, k21, p49, *k1 p1* to end
– R193-197: repeat rows 191 & 192
Scroll down for the rest of the free pattern, or get the ad-free printable PDF for $5 CDN.
Finish the cactus:
– R198: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, p50, k19, p50, *k1 p1* to end
– R199: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, k51, p17, k51, *k1 p1* to end
– R200: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, p52, k15, p52, *k1 p1* to end
– R201: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, k53, p13, k53, *k1 p1* to end
– R202: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, p54, k11, p54, *k1 p1* to end
– R203: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, k55, p9, k55, *k1 p1* to end
Almost done:
– R204: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, p to last 15 stitches, *k1 p1* to end
– R205: *k1 p1* 15 stitches, k to last 15 stitches, *k1 p1* to end
– R206-243: repeat rows 204 & 205
– R244-263: *k1 p1* to end of row
– R264: Bind off in pattern
Congratulations you did it! I know, it was a labour of love, but that little one and their parents will love this blanket! Now before you gift it, or use it, I strongly recommend that you block it. Whenever you switch between stitch textures things tend to pucker, so blocking will smooth things out. I used the wet blocking method, soaking it and then pinning it to dry. Share your wips and finished blankets with me on Instagram using #knitcactusblanket
