Astrophil Blanket

A densely textured baby blanket given in multiple yarn weights.

Chicory Sticks

Astrophil is a free baby blanket pattern suitable for beginning knitters which uses a traditional
Aran cable motif. The body and borders are knit seamlessly as one piece, creating a blanket
which is perfectly sized for strollers and car seats but can easily be modified into larger sizes.
The stitch pattern is made with two basic cables and every wrong-side row is simply “purl all”!
Instructions are given for 3 different yarn weights with more to be added in the future.

Yarn requirements and gauge: Finished Measurement:

Gauge is given as # of st and # of rows per 4in / 10cm, in the approx. 22” x 31”
“Body Stitch Pattern”. Gauge is not crucial for this piece but (56 cm x 79 cm)
it will affect the final size and amount of yarn used. Circular
needles should be at least 24in / 60cm long.
Notions:
DK: 870yd / 795m 29 st, 31 rows US 5 / 3.75mm
• 2 stitch markers
Worsted: 810yd / 740m 27 st, 28 rows US 7 / 4.5 mm • (optional) cable needle
Bulky: 670yd / 610m 22 st, 24 rows US 9 / 5.5 mm • (optional) a needle two
sizes larger than your
chosen needle size for
binding off

All images, text, and charts copyright Chicory Sticks 2019. www.chicorysticks.com
Sizes: DK (Worsted, Bulky). Astrophil Blanket
Bottom Border Top Border
CO 186 (176, 146) stitches. Row 1 and all WS rows: Sl1pw wyif, purl to end.
Row 2 (RS, decrease): Sl1kw wyib, [p1, k1] to
Row 1 and all (WS) rows: Sl1pw wyif, purl to end.
marker, SM, p1, [k1, p1, k1, p1, k2tog, p1, k1, p1,
Row 2 (RS): Sl1kw wyib, [p1, k1] to last stitch, k1.
k1, p2tog] 17 (16, 13) times, k1, SM, [p1, k1] to last
Row 4: Sl1kw wyib, [k1, p1] to last stitch, k1.
stitch, k1. (186, 176, 146 st total).
Repeat Rows 1-4.
Rows 4 and 8: Sl1kw wyib, [k1, p1] to last stitch, k1.
Next row (WS): Sl1pw wyif, purl to end.
Row 6: Sl1kw wyib, [p1, k1] to last stitch, k1.
Next row (RS, increase): Sl1kw wyib, [p1, k1] 3
Row 9: Sl1pw wyif, purl to marker.
times, PM, k1, [k5, M1] 34 (32, 26) times, k1, PM,
BO on RS in pattern (knit the knits and purl the
[p1, k1] 3 times, k1. (220, 208, 172 st total).
purls) with larger size needle.
Next row (WS): Sl1pw wyif, purl to end.
Next work the ‘Body’ section, beginning with Row 4.

Body

Row 1 and all WS rows: Sl1pw wyif, purl to end.

Rows 2 and 6 (RS): Sl1kw wyib, [p1, k1] to marker,
SM, knit to marker, SM, [p1, k1] to last stitch, k1.
Row 4: Sl1kw wyib, [k1, p1] to marker, SM, K3, [LC,
RC, k4] to marker - ending with k3, SM, [k1, p1] to
last stitch, k1.
To create a super simple edging
Row 8: Sl1kw wyib, [k1, p1] to marker, SM, k1, [RC,
and reduce color differences
k4, LC] to one stitch before marker, k1, SM, [k1, p1]
between skeins, see my tutorial for
to last stitch, k1. Double Edging.
Work Body Rounds 1-8: 23 (18, 16) more times.

All images, text, and charts copyright Chicory Sticks 2019. Chicory Sticks
Abbreviations:
Astrophil Blanket
[ ] repeat stitches within brackets
BO / CO bind off / cast on
k2tog knit two together (decrease 1 st)
LC 2/2 left cable (aka ‘front cross’ or ‘C4F’)
M1 make 1 (see below)
p2tog purl two together (decrease 1 st)
PM / SM place marker / slip marker
RC 2/2 right cable (aka ‘back cross’ or ‘C4B’)
RS / WS right-side / wrong-side
Sl1kw wyib slip 1 stitch knitwise, with yarn held in back
Sl1pw wyif slip 1 stitch purlwise, with yarn held in front This blanket was designed to match
(photos are available for these the Astrophil Hat - a worsted weight
slipped stitches - click here) hat in toddler, child, and adult sizes.

Sizing and Tips for Modification:

The stitch pattern of Astrophil looks it’s best (most textured and star-like) when worked in a slightly tighter gauge,
therefore try using a needle one size smaller than normal for the particular yarn you’re using. The repeats are
defined as follows - you can add or reduce their number as needed to change the final size of the blanket:

Horizontal repeat: 12 stitches (columns 5-16 of the chart). Each repeat adds approx. 2in/5cm.

Vertical repeat: 8 rows (rows 1-8 of the chart). Each repeat adds approx. 1in/2.5cm.

Sizes given in this pattern: horizontal repeats / vertical repeats

DK: 17/24 Worsted: 16/19 Bulky: 13/17

M1 with Lifted Increases:

Any method may be used to increase the stitch count in the bottom border section. However, to create
inconspicuous increases I suggest using lifted increases (aka raised increases).
Step-by-step photos are available in the Tutorials section of the Chicory Sticks website - click here

Creating 2/2 cables without a cable needle:

This pattern and the matching hat can be worked very quickly without using a cable needle.
To see step-by-step photos for this handy technique - click here - or visit the Tutorials section of the website.

Sample info:
Yellow (DK): Madelinetosh - DK Twist - “Foundry” - 863yds / 789m
Light Pink (Worsted): Malabrigo - Rios - “Valentina” - shorter size: 20”x33.5” - 758yds / 693m
Blue (Bulky): Madelinetosh - Tosh Chunky - “Moonglow” - 661yds / 604m

All images, text, and charts copyright Chicory Sticks 2019. Chicory Sticks
 Also available:
Patterns:
Chicory Sticks

KiYO
Baby Blanket with
instructions in 7 yarn
weights.

Sérac
Hat & blanket set.
The hat features a
perfect star-shaped
crown while the
matching blanket
comes in 6 weights.

Tutorials:
RT/LT - Twisted Stitches Perfect Cast On for Ribbing

All images, text, and charts copyright Chicory Sticks 2019. www.chicorysticks.com