Fan Lace Baby Blanket
This blanket is designed to coordinate with the fan lace hat of my Two Lace Baby Hats pattern. The blanket is knitted in the round, working from the outside in.
Sizes:
| Size | Width (Inches) | Length (Inches) | Ounces of yarn | Yards of yarn |
| Extra Small | 15.68 | 15.68 | 4.34 | 223.61 |
| Small | 20 | 20 | 7.06 | 364 |
| Medium | 24.32 | 24.32 | 10.44 | 538.42 |
| Large | 28.65 | 28.65 | 14.49 | 746.88 |
| Extra Large | 32.97 | 32.97 | 19.19 | 989.37 |
Gauge:
22 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette
Materials:
DK weight baby yarn
4 stitch markers, preferably 3 of one color and 1 of another
Size 6 (4 mm) 40″ circular needle (for magic loop)
(Optional) Set of size 6 (4 mm) double pointed needles if magic loop method not used for center of blanket
Yarn needle
Abbreviations:
k = knit
p = purl
k-b = knit through back loop – knit through the loop at the back of the needle instead of the front of the needle – produces a twisted stitch
k2tog = knit two together
ssk = slip one knitwise, slip one knitwise, insert left needle into front of both slipped stitches and knit.
sk2p = slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over the knit 2 together; 2 stitches have been decreased.
yo = yarn over
Pattern:
After each set is cast on, place one of the three like colored stitch markers.
Extra Small – Cast on 4 sets of 87.
Small – Cast on 4 sets of 111.
Medium – Cast on 4 sets of 135.
Large – Cast on 4 sets of 159.
Extra Large – Cast on 4 sets of 183.
Join to knit in the round being very careful not to twist. Place the different colored stitch marker to mark the changing of rounds.
There is also a chart available.
The directions for each round are to be worked between corner markers for each of the four sides.
Rnd 1: k2tog, k across to last 2 stitches before marker, ssk
Rnd 2: k2tog, k1, k3-b, k1, yo, k3-b, k2tog, p1, [ssk, k3-b, yo, k1, yo, k3-b, k2tog, p1] across to last 12 stitches before marker, ssk, k3-b, yo, k1, k3-b, k1, ssk
Rnd 3: k
Rnd 4: k2tog, k2-b, k1, yo, ssk, yo, k2-b, k2tog, p1, [ssk, k2-b, yo, k1, yo, ssk, yo, k2-b, k2tog, p1] across to last 11 stitches before marker, ssk, k2-b, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2-b, ssk
Rnd 5: k2tog, k across to last 2 stitches before marker, ssk
Rnd 6: k2tog, (yo, ssk) twice, yo, k1-b, k2tog, p1, [ssk, k1-b, yo, k1, (yo, ssk) twice, yo, k1-b, k2tog, p1] across to last 9 stitches before marker, ssk, k1-b, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, ssk
Rnd 7: k
Rnd 8: k2tog, (yo, ssk) two times, yo, k2tog, p1, [ssk, yo, k1, (yo, ssk) three times, yo, k2tog, p1] across to last 8 stitches before marker, ssk, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, ssk
Rnd 9: k2tog, k across to last 2 stitches before marker, ssk
Rnd 10: k2tog, k3-b, k1, p1, [ssk, k3-b, yo, k1, yo, k3-b, k2tog, p1] across to last 6 stitches before marker, k1, k3-b, ssk
Rnd 11: k
Rnd 12: k2tog, k2-b, k1, p1, [ssk, k2-b, yo, k1, yo, ssk, yo, k2-b, k2tog, p1] across to last 5 stitches before marker, k1, k2-b, ssk
Rnd 13: k2tog, k across to last 2 stitches before marker, ssk
Rnd 14: k2tog, k1, p1, [ssk, k1-b, yo, k1, (yo, ssk) twice, yo, k1-b, k2tog, p1] across to last 3 stitches before marker, k1, ssk
Rnd 15: k
Rnd 16: k2tog, p1, [ssk, yo, k1, (yo, ssk) three times, yo, k2tog, p1] across to last 2 stitches before marker, ssk
Repeat rounds 1 through 16 until there are 15 stitches between each marker.
Center:
Rnd 1: k2tog, k11, ssk
Rnd 2: k2tog, k1, k3-b, k1, k3-b, k1, ssk
Rnd 3: k11
Rnd 4: k2tog, k2-b, k1, yo, ssk, k2-b, ssk
Rnd 5: k2tog, k5, ssk
Rnd 6: k2tog, yo, ssk, k1, ssk
Rnd 7: k5
Rnd 8: k2tog, k1, ssk
Rnd 9: sk2p
Cut the yarn with several inches to work with. With a yarn needle, pull the yarn through all the remaining loops, secure and weave in end.
Edits:
4/7/2014 – added yarn requirements chart
12/17/2015 – replaced a broken link for Magic Loop method
How pretty!
excellent piece of work ! when the child grows up these blankets can be turned into cushion cover with little mending , it enhances sofas’ grace.
what a lovely baby blanket, i can’t wait to try this one, i have a couple projects started now i have to finish first….thank you for the pattern.
This is very pretty and I will definitely be giving it a go although I have never knitted in the round before. I just have to finish a baby coat that I have just started.
This looks beautiful. I am going to attempt to make it. What color did you choose to make this blanket? We are making pink and blue (separate) for new babies at our church. But, I was thinking of later use for the blanket and pink/blue probably wouldn’t work for that.
I made the example in a soft yellow. I think it would also be lovely in white, cream or a soft light green.
Beautiful. Has that vintage touch. Just what I’ve been looking for.
This pattern looks really pretty, but I have a little confusion,it says 4 sets of 183 sts.The total comes to 732 sts. In the magic loops it needs equal number of stitches. Could you please confirm this. I would like to knit this baby blanket.
Thank you.
You wouldn’t need to begin with the magic loop since this will be sufficiently large to fill almost any size circular needle and just joining and knitting in the round. You are correct about the 732 stitches.
When I made the blanket I started on a large circular needle. After a few inches I moved to a smaller circular. Once it was going to be too small for my smaller circular, I went back to my larger circular for a magic loop. I put two sides of the blanket on one side of the magic loop and the other two sides of the blanket on the other side. At that point I removed the markers for the corners that were at the breaks since I would always know that was a corner.
Hope that helps. It should make more sense when you get into making it and see how it takes shape.
My mother started a blanket with similar pattern but was not able to finish it. Now 70 years later I can finish it! Thank you for the pattern for the beautiful blanket and for the memories rekindled.
This is a beautiful pattern and I am having great difficulty with it. The decreasing has me stymied. I note that on the end of row 2 the corners are each beg. with 11sts and ending with 10sts. and progresses, 10&9, 9&8, 8&7, then Row 10 appears to be 6&5, and Row 12 5&4. Is this correct? When the 16th row is finished and starting again I am absolutely baffled by the decreasing sequence. Can you help please?
The fan is a 12 stitch repeat. To keep the blanket flat, I have decreases at each side of the corners for 3 rows then skip a row. After 16 rows, the decreases have moved in 12 stitches to the next fan repeat, which is why the pattern can repeat after 16 rows.
Please let me know if that doesn’t make sense and doesn’t help. I’m a math person, so I know all my calculations may not be so apparant to the non-nerds of the world. 🙂
i KNIT BLANKETS AND SWEATERS FOR CHARITY AND USED TO DO lINUS BUNDLES. wHEN i GET DONATIONS OF YARN OR FIND A GOOD YARD SALE i GET STARTED AND GO WILD. iN THE WINTER cHRISTMAS AT sEA HELPS WITH YARN AND i SEND COMPLETED PROJECTS FOR THE SAILORS IN nj. i DESIGN BURIAL OUTFIS AND CRHISTENING OUTFITS OFR NEWBORNS AND PREEMIES.
I am a little confused. What is a magic loop?
The magic loop is a method of knitting a small number of stitches in the round. It is an alternative to double pointed needles. Instead of using double pointed needles, you use a really long circular needle and have a loop at the halfway point of the work. I personally prefer the magic loop method to double pointed needles, but it is definitely not necessary. If you are interested in learning more about it, I recomment this site: http://weebleknits.net/mloop.html
Does k3-b mean knit three stitches AT ONCE through the back loop? Or does it just mean knit the next three stitches one at a time through the back loop? Thanks in advance!
Knit the next three stitches one at a time through the back loop.
Love it very pretty
DO YOU HAVE A CHART FOR THIS PATTERN? (FAN LACE PATTERN)
Here is a chart –
http://blogs.thetucker.com/knit/files/FanLaceChart.jpg
Would it be possible to make this blanket with striped fan rows? If so, how many rows does the medium sized blanket work out to be? Thanks–it’s a beautiful pattern.
I think it would look great. The medium has 89 rounds to the center.
This pattern is going fairly well, and looks pretty, but I am having trouble with the yarn over. On the next row it is tight and difficult, and it does not look as open as I thought it would. Should I be doing another manoeuvre, such as a wool round needle, and should it be from back over the top and then back to the back twice to achieve the open effect?
I just did a standard yarn over when I made this. If you knit tighter, that could effect it, and different yarns could behave differently.
Thank you for your comment. I experimented with knitting into the back of the stitch in the following row, and achieved the open effect I was looking for. In a cashmire, silk and mink mix, and an alpaca fine yarn for the last three patterns, I ended up with a little beauty I am proud of! Delicate, soft and warm for my little grandson expected to join us in May_June! Great pattern!
Beautiful pattern. I am trying to determine how much DK weight yarn I will need for a medium size blanket. I do not want to run out! Thank you.
I didn’t realize I hadn’t added a yarn requirement chart for this pattern. I added one now. The medium takes 10.44 oz/538.42 yrds.
After the first 16 rows, the pattern repeats from row 1. At the end of that second row 1, there are 157 sts in each section but the last, which has158. This doesn’t fit for the second row 2. There are 3 extra stitches. I’ve been careful that each row has come out evenly. What might I have missed?
Oops… Found it!
i love this blanket I have never seen a pattern worked this way from outside to middle.I would like to give it try . I note that the size is almost 33in square I want to make a shawl for a niece’s new baby but want to make it slightly bigger than your finished measurement is there any way to do this with this pattern would using bigger needles achieve this or would it throw the shape out I would appreciate your thoughts on this thank you
You can add sets of 24 stitches to each side’s cast on for increases of 4″ each.
thank you for your answer 8″ and 2 sets would give a finished measurement of 41″ square and more the size I was thinking of.. I think this is going to be my next project starting tomorrow
thank you for such a pretty pattern it will make a change from the feather and shell Shetland shawl I usually make
Kathy c
Is double knit baby the same as just regular double knit?
Yes. With the new weight labeling system it is a #3 Light.
I would like to make this baby blanket using a super fine yarn and 2.75mm circular needle. How many CO per side and how much yarn would I need for a large blanket (about 30×30).
Cast on 231 per side. It’s harder to estimate yarn needs when making yarn weight changes, but my guess-timate would be between 1,300 and 1,800 yards.
Hi
I love this pattern and am on my second lot of 16 rounds. I am a little concerned though as my stiches don’t seem to be decreasing in number and as your pattern says to continue until 15 stiches left I am afraid I will be knitting forever and end up with a king size blanket ;0) I wonder if you could offer my some guidance on this. I haven’t been knitting long and just wondered if I am doing something wrong ? Many thank
Annie
There are decrease and increase stitches in the repeated sections that cancel each other out, but on most rounds there are decreases at the beginning and end of each of the four sections so on those rounds the total stitches should be decreased by 8.
I found out last month that I’m going to be a grandmother for the first time. After surfing the net for patterns and searching through my stash,I was lucky to come across this pattern which I already had enough yarn for, enough to make the large blanket.
I just finished it this morning and it’s beautiful! It was quite an easy repeat pattern, the only difficulty being the large number of stitches to start with.
I would like to say THANK YOU Mama for making this pattern available for others to use. I know that a lot of time and energy goes into it.
I just saw this pattern and am very impressed with its beauty and process for knitting it. What do you think about doing the cast on split between two circular needles (I still don’t know how to do the magic loop technique)? This how I knit all my socks, and sleeves in sweaters.
Thanks – Sioux
Yes, that would also work. Whatever method you like most for knitting in the round.
Hi – I love this pattern – I kniited it for my grandson as an infant – he loves it, but its too small for him now – I love knitting in the round and have done some pretty big lace shawls – can this pattern be altered to an even larger size that you offer or can you suggest something that would result in a blanket larger than 33″ square? I will use DK and a 4.0 needle (I think). Hope you can help – many thanks!
If you have a way to handle as many cast on stitches as it takes to make this type of blanket larger, it can certainly be done. Here are some additional sizes and cast on amounts:
37.29 inches – Cast on 4 sets of 207
41.61 inches – Cast on 4 sets of 231
45.93 inches – Cast on 4 sets of 255
50.25 inches – Cast on 4 sets of 279
Hi there! Trying to knit this beauty in a size medium with the 135 stitches per side cast on. However, I have run into a problem on row 4 with 4 stitches in excess – have re-knit and still cannot complete the row properly! Can you help me? Thank you!
Hi there! Just figured out my error!