Baby Blanket Pattern

I adapted a pattern in the "I Taught Myself Knitting" book that comes with a kit to help a beginner learn the ways of knitting. It's a great, straight-forward pattern to learn the basic stitches and make something easy.

I'm using a size 8 (5.0mm) knitting needle (the one that came in the kit). I would recommend getting one that is longer than the one the kit provides you, but it's manageable without the extra expense. The book recommends getting a 29" needle. The yarn should be a worsted weight yarn. I'm using the Red Heart Super Saver white worsted/medium weight yarn, but you should go with something softer yarn of the same weight if you plan on wrapping a baby up in the finished product.

Start by casting on 110 stitches. Don't join them, but work back and forth:
First, Knit (K) 6 rows (110 stitches each) for the bottom border, then start the pattern:
Row 1: (wrong side) K 3, Perl (P) 8, *K 8, P 8, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K 3
Row 2: (right side) knit 110 stitches
Row 3 - 10: Repeat rows 1 and 2, 4 more times.

Row 11: K 11, P 8, *K 8, P 8, repeat from * to last 11 stitches, K 11
Row 12: knit 110 stitches
Rows 13 - 20: Repeat rows 11 and 12, 4 more times

Then repeat rows 1 - 20 until it's about a square. (the book says 38")

Finally K 5 rows for the border and bind off. Weave in the ends and voila! Baby blanket!