Crocheted Picot Border on Tiny Dancer Oddball Baby Blanket

Who doesn't love a quick project every now and then to provide that much needed sense of accomplishment? That's one of the reasons I love working on the oddball baby blankets. A package comes in the mail, I pick out yarn that I think will go well with the project, I knit a few inches of the pattern of my choice, I crochet a pretty border also of my choosing, and I mail it back. No long term commitments, no huge financial or time investment. The perfect fast finish! Of course the real satisfaction comes when we read on the knittinghelp.com charity forum that the blankets have been delivered and appreciated.

Here's the latest one I worked on, and my second finished project for September...


It's called Tiny Dancer, and is made with sweet colors and dainty patterns.


It really is quite tiny too, since it is for a premature baby, only about 21 x 22 inches including the border. It has been worked with sport weight yarns in colors or variegated of each knitter's choosing.


After I knitted the last section in a pretty pink using the farrow rib stitch, I worked 6 rows of garter stitch before binding off. Then using a soft yellow and this method for crocheting around a knitted piece, I worked 3 rounds of single crochet to provide a substantial base for the decorative border. The pattern I chose for the border is just a little picot every 3 stitches, and it is very easy to do.

Crocheted Picot Border

* sl st in each of next 3 st, ch 3, sl st in same st as last sl st *

Repeat from * to * around. When you reach the beginning again, end with a sl st. Cut yarn, draw tail through loop and pull tight. Weave in ends.

If you are interested in working on an oddball baby blanket, just go to the Knittinghelp.com Charity forum and pick the thread that matches your location. Join in the conversation and let them know that you are interested in working on a blanket. They'll be glad to have you! Make sure you tell them that Mary Grace sent you!

Happy Stitching!

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Sherbet Knitted Oddball Blanket Complete with Pretty Crocheted Border

Here's one more Knitted Oddball Baby Blanket finished. This one is worsted weight and it was named Sherbet. Doesn't it look good enough to eat?


My knitted section is the pink one at the top of the picture. I used Bernat Satin yarn in a color called Sea Shell. It was so soft and lovely, I just couldn't resist! I worked my section using the Farrow Rib Stitch which is pretty popular for these blankets.


Here you can see the detail of the knit stitch, and the border I crocheted around the edge. For this border, I crocheted only two rounds of single crochet, then for the third round I worked a simple pattern of (2hdc, skip 1) along the edges and 4hdc in the corner stitches. For the final round, I worked 2 single crochet in each of the spaces between the half double crochet pairs of the previous round, and 3 single crochet between the 2nd and 3rd single crochet in each corner.

I think I'm on the list for just one more oddball blanket, and then I must take a break from working on them for a while. I was just contacted by our local library and asked to do a 4 session quilting class for children this summer, so I must prepare for that. I also have a few other things on my to-do list for Hooked On Needles, plus quite a bit of maintenance work I need to do on it. And I found out recently that the memorial golf tournament for which I am making an afghan to be used as a raffle prize is actually the beginning of August, when I thought it was sometime in the fall! Yikes! I better get on my horse here and get busy!

Next up will be the tutorial on beading in crochet, since so many of you have requested that!

Happy Stitching!

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Learn to Knit -- Farrow Rib Stitch

Here's another fun and easy knit stitch to add to your collection. It's called Farrow Rib and I used it recently on another Oddball Baby Blanket named Cotton Candy. When I show you the completed blanket, you'll see how it got that name. But that will have to wait until I give you the crocheted border pattern!


Here's what Farrow Rib looks like. Pretty, isn't it? It forms a very soft fabric that is the same on both sides, which is one reason I like it for a blanket.

I knitted the last section of Cotton Candy in the same Bernat Softee Baby Soft Lilac yarn with which I had crocheted the scallop border of Tutti Frutti. You've all seen purple cotton candy, haven't you?

Here is the pattern for the Farrow Rib Stitch so you can try it yourself in your next knitting project.

Farrow Rib Stitch

Works on multiples of three plus one stitches.

Row 1: (K2, P1) across the row to the last stitch, K1.
Row 2: P1, (K2, P1) across.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for pattern.

I'll show you the completed Cotton Candy blanket soon along with close-ups of the border pattern I made up for it. Of course I'll share the pattern too so you can use it if you want to. I have begun knitting the last section of another blanket called Citrus Sunshine and I'll share that with you when it is complete. Then I will be taking a break from the oddball blankets for a little while so I can focus on finishing up some of my own projects like the wedding gift afghan and my Pay It Forward gifts. And of course I will be bringing you more Tunisian Crochet stitches shortly and a fun pattern for a dishcloth that you will be whipping up for yourself and for gifts all year long!

Happy Stitching!

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