Chickie Blanket

INSTRUCTIONS

Stripe section (knit 3)

Cast on 28 sts in Stockinette with (G) yarn. Lay anchor yarn of thicker yarn. It will be removed. Stripe design is alternating green, (2) rows and blue (2) rows.
Work (2) rows in (G) green yarn.
Tie on (B) blue yarn at 2nd peg between the rows of pegs. No need to cut the (G) yarn, just lay it out at end of loom.

Work (2) rows in (B) yarn. Lay it out at end of loom. Pick up the green, ready for the next stripe. Continue working with the 2 colors until you have completed a total of 19 color stripes ending with 2 rows of green. This will be a total of 38 total rows or 8.5 inches.
Bind off with 2-loop crochet method. Set aside all (3) stripe sections.

Block Letter section-knit (1) A, (1) B, (1) C
Cast On 28 sts in Stockinette with (B) yarn. Lay anchor yarn. Work (13) rows.

Refer to A graph for the next 14 rows to create the letter.
After completing the 14 rows of design, cut and knot the white yarn. Lay the yarn tail between the pegs. Continue working the square with the main (B) yarn for another (12) rows. Total of rows for these squares=39 rows.
Do same color work for (B) square and (C) square. Set these 3 squares aside.

Chickie Design (knit 3)

Cast On 28 sts in Stockinette with (B) yarn. Lay anchor yarn.
Work (12) rows.
Refer to ‘Chickie’ graph for the next 14 rows to create the design. You will be using (Y) yellow yarn with (1) st in brown for the eye. This accent can also be added after completing the blan- ket as embroidery, if preferred.
After completing the design, pick up main (B) yarn and work (12) additional rows.
Bind off with 2-loop crochet method. Once all 3 of these squares are complete, bind off of all squares at anchor yarns and remove the anchor yarn.

Outside Rib border

Border around the blanket is one long knitted piece done in rib stitch in the (G) green yarn. Cast on 8 stitches in rib stitch. Lay anchor yarn.
Work in rib stitch for 440 rows. Note: you may want to place a scrap of yarn after each 10 or 20 rows in order to keep track of where you are. You can also use the row counter.

When complete, connect the two short ends to make a complete circular border.
To do this, transfer the sts on one board to other so that each peg has 2 loops. Hook over. Now, slip the 8 sts from the loom onto a stitch holder. Transfer the 8 sts from anchor yarn to another stitch holder. With darning needle and yarn, work the loops together so that the 2 edges merge smoothly. Be sure to catch both loops from anchor yarn. Be sure that the border is not twisted, but lays flat.

Finishing:

Lay out the 9 squares arranged as you like them. We suggest that the A,B,C squares are in center with the stripes and Chickie squares alternating. That would be a chickie, a stripe, and a chickie square across the top, the ABC across the center, and a stripe, a chickie, a stripe across the bottom. However, the arrangement is up to the knitter. Match the corners of the squares and sew them together with invisible stitch. Make sure there is no puckering in the sewing and the squares lay nice and flat together. Once the squares are sewn, place the border around the blanket. Place some pins or toothpicks at the corners and center of each side so that the border eases onto the blanket. Once arranged, sew with matching yarn. What a nice finish to your handiwork, and what a lovely gift for your baby or your favorite child.