bias for baby

a friend of mine just welcomed her third baby.  of course, a gift was to be made.

not just any gift.  no, we can't have that.  this little one will surely inherit big brother's or big sister's hand-me-downs of most everything else, so something special was in order - a blanket knit on the bias.

the entire pregnancy, my friend resisted the urge to find out baby's gender until the big day last week, though all along she has had "that feeling" that it was a boy.  and so i went with it - in its essence, this blanket is neutral, though it does definitely speak of "boy" to me.  and he is - welcome Max!

it is simple and modern and get this - i knit it with Cotton Ease (gasp!)  have i lost you?  well, grab your smelling salts and listen up :: i have never used this yarn before and admit to being hesitant at first - call me a yarn snob, whatever. these amazing colors are what made me buy it and i must say, it worked out great.  especially for a little boy, whose mama is sure to appreciate a piece that can go into the machine wash+dry.  most likely often.  but in case baby had been a girl, you know i was prepared for that as well.  something a bit more delicate.  with some pink.  because.

and so this bundle of mirasol cotanani remains in lovely skeins.  maybe i'll use it for my friend after all - a cozy something for baby's mama.  i think she deserves a reward for a job well done.  xoxo

* * * * * * * * * *
- EDITED TO ADD -
many of you have contacted me about this project, expressing interest in making one for yourself.
AWESOME!  a few items of note, in response to questions that frequently appear in my inbox:

• the finished piece is a rhombus/kite shape, not a true square.  this is because the piece is knit corner to corner, and my stitches are taller than they are wide.  babies aren't square, so i think this shape works out great!
• there was no rhyme or reason to my color changes - i knit with one ball of yarn, then when it ran out, i switched to the next, etc.  simple as that :)
• when i was about halfway through the 2nd ball of yarn is when i started to decrease.  this is because i had three balls of yarn, and wanted to be sure that i would have enough left to finish.  you can make yours any size, just start to decrease when you are halfway through however much yarn you are using.
• that cotton ease worked out GREAT!
• i am sorry, but i do not have a piece of the finished blanket to share because it was gifted years ago.  there are lots of images of finished bias blankets on ravelry - check them out for ideas and inspiration! 

ready to knit?  cool!

:: BIAS BLANKET ::  (see it on RAVELRY)

use any yarn + needles you wish, although i would recommend you not go above worsted as we don't want little baby fingers or toes getting caught in the stitches.
[the one above was knit with 3 balls of cotton ease on US 7 needles.]

* CO 3 st and K 1st row.
* K1, Kf+b, K to end of row. repeat this until you have 6 st on your needles.
* RS = K1, Kf+b, K to end of row.
* WS = K1, Kf+b, P until 3 st remain, K3.
* repeat the RS + WS sequence - you are making an upside-down triangle working form the tip upwards, so once you have reached your desired width/height, that's when you start to decrease.
* RS = K until 5 st remain, K2tog, K3.
* WS = K3, P until 5 st remain, P2tog, K3.
* repeat the RS + WS sequence until 6 st remain.
* K1, K2tog, K3. (5 st)
* K1, K2tog, K2. (4 st)
* K1, K2tog, K1. (3 st)
* K3tog, cut yarn and pull through the loop.  sew in ends, wash + block and give to baby.

have fun!  xoxo