» photos: Brandy Fortune » model: Graham

XOXO

By Carey Huffman

My spring baby was not due to arrive until the summer and one of the first items his tiny body touched was a hand made blanket knit by a kind stranger. That simple garter stitch blanket worked on the diagonal became a fixture in our lives as it followed us from NICU, to car seat to stroller. I was inspired and wanted to make a pattern that would be the perfect gift to celebrate a new life just like we received. X's and O's add interest for the knitter and literally cover the baby with hugs and kisses. Because that is what everyone wants to do, right?

Sizes

approximately 30 inches square

Materials

Knit Picks Simply Cotton Worsted [100% Organic Cotton; 164 yards/150 meters per 3.53 ounce/100 gram skein];

24762 Malted Milk; 6 skeins

Recommended needle sizes

US #8/5 mm 40 inch circular needle or longer

Notions

12 stitch markers
Yarn needle

Gauge

18 sts = 4 inches in St st after washing per finishing instructions

Pattern Notes

Increase Rows

Right Side Row: K1, M1, knit across.
Wrong Side Row: K1, M1, k18, purl to last 20 sts, knit across.

Decrease Rows

Right Side Row: K1, k2tog, knit across.
Wrong Side Row: K1, k2tog, k18, purl to last 20 sts, knit across.

INSTRUCTIONS

BODY

Cast on 5 sts.
Row 1: Knit across.
Row 2: K1, M1, knit across: 6 sts.
Repeat Row 2 until you have 40 sts.
Next Row (WS): K1, M1, k18, p1, k20.
Work Increase Rows until you have 55 sts.
K1, M1, k20, pm, start working X chart across next 12 sts, pm, knit across.
Continue working increase rows as before, continuing to work chart between markers until complete. Remove markers: 67 sts.
Work Increase Rows until you have 75 sts.

XOXO

K1, M1, k24, pm, start working O chart, pm, start working X chart, pm, knit across.
K1, M1, k18, p to first marker, continue working charts between markers, purl to last 20 sts, knit across.
Continue working increase rows as before, continuing to work chart between markers until complete. Remove markers: 87 sts.
Work Increase Rows until you have 95 sts.

K1, M1, k28, pm, start working X, O, & X charts placing a marker after each chart, knit across.

XOXO

Continue working increase rows as before, continuing to work chart between markers until complete. Remove markers: 107 sts.
Work Increase Rows until you have 115 sts.

K1, M1, k20, pm, start working O, X, O, X, O & X charts placing a marker after each chart, knit across.
Continue working increase rows as before, continuing to work chart between markers until complete. Remove markers: 127 sts.
Work Increase Rows until you have 135 sts.

K1, M1, k24, pm, start working X, O, X, O, X, O & X charts placing a marker after each chart, knit across.
Continue working increase rows as before, continuing to work chart between markers until complete. Remove markers: 147 sts.
Work Increase Rows until you have 155 sts.

K1, M1, k28, pm, start working O, X, O, X, O, X, O & X charts placing a marker after each chart, knit across.
Continue working Increase Rows as before, continuing to work chart between markers until complete. Remove markers: 167 sts.
Work Increase Rows until you have 175 sts.

K1, M1, k20, pm, start working X, O, X, O, X, O, X, O, X, O & X charts placing a marker after each chart, knit across.
K1, M1, k18, p to first marker, continue working charts between markers, purl to last 20 sts, knit across.
Continue working Increase Rows as before, continuing to work chart between markers until you have 180 sts.
K20, p to first marker, work charts between markers, p to last 20 sts, knit across.
Knit to first marker, work charts between markers, knit across.
K20, p to first marker, work charts between markers, p to last 20 sts.

XOXO Start working Decrease Rows, continuing to work chart between markers until you have 176 sts. Remove markers.
Work Decrease Rows until you have 168 sts.

K1, k2tog, k33, pm, start working X, O, X, O, X, O, X & O charts placing a marker after each chart, knit across.
Continue working Decrease Rows as before, continuing to work chart between markers until complete. Remove markers: 156 sts.
Work Decrease Rows until you have 148 sts.

K1, k2tog, k29, pm, start working O, X, O, X, O, X & O charts placing a marker after each chart, knit across.
Continue working Decrease Rows as before, continuing to work chart between markers until complete. Remove markers: 136 sts.
Work Decrease Rows until you have 128 sts.

K1, k2tog, k25, pm, start working X, O, X, O, X, & O charts placing a marker after each chart. knit across.
Continue working Decrease Rows as before, continuing to work chart between markers until complete. Remove markers: 116 sts.
Work Decrease Rows until you have 108 sts.

K1, k2tog, k33, pm, start working O, X, & O charts placing a marker after each chart, knit across.
Continue working Decrease Rows as before, continuing to work chart between markers until complete. Remove markers: 96 sts.
Work Decrease Rows until you have 88 sts.

K1, k2tog, k29, pm, start working X & O charts placing a marker after each chart, knit across.
Continue working Decrease Rows as before, continuing to work chart between markers until complete. Remove markers: 76 sts.
Work Decrease Rows until you have 68 sts.

K1, k2tog, k25, pm, start working O chart, pm, knit across.
Continue working Decrease Rows as before, continuing to work chart between markers until complete. Remove markers: 56 sts.
Work Decrease Rows until you have 41 sts.

K1, k2tog, knit across.
Repeat the last row until you have 5 sts.
Bind off remaining sts.

XOXO

FINISHING

Weave in all ends. Machine wash in hot water and dry hot to shrink St st to make the blanket more square. If substituting yarn with wool or acrylic, block or "kill" the blanket to 30 inches square.

Carey Huffman is obsessed with making fun things. Toys are her passion and she has participated in several plush art exhibits. Recently becoming a mother has inspired her to make fun and practical children's clothing. You can read more about her crafting and her family life on her blog.