Finished Object: Cotton Pinwheel
Pattern: Pinwheel Blanket by Genia Planck with a seed stitch ruffle (described below)
Yarn: Pakucho organic cotton worsted weight, 6 skeins of 88 yards each in vanilla
Needle: size 8
Gauge: 4 sts. per inch, which is loose for this yarn, to make a floppy blanket
Measurements: 37″ across before and 35″ across after wash and tumble dry to shrink, in a relaxed state
Started: ages ago and set aside
Finished: 4/14/06 after a few days of hurried knitting because the baby was born already
Thoughts:
This was a pleasure to knit, as pinwheels always are, but would have been improved by the use of wool yarn. I just can’t get enough of wool yarn. The cotton will be appreciated by baby all summer, I’m sure, so it was a good choice.
For the edge, I wanted something simple that would prevent curling, so went with a seed stitch ruffle. To make one, knit into the front and back of every stitch, doubling your stitch count and providing a base for seed stitch with the k1, p1 look of the kfb. On the next row, knit the purls and purl the knits. Continue until you’ve got enough ruffle to please you. I bound off all in knit stitches because I like the look of the chain of stitches around the edge. 1.25″ of border used up 1.5 skeins (25%) of yarn and two evenings!
With a wash and tumble dry, this yarn was supposed to shrink 10-15% and the blanket lost two inches in diameter. I think if I’d stretched the blanket out when measuring it first, it would have been a lot larger. That puts it pretty much on target for shrinkage. The yarn can be washed by hand and air dried to prevent shrinkage.
Won’t it be adorable wrapped around a little red-headed sprog?
Want to see more Pinwheels? Check out the knit-along and flickr photo set.
beth wrote:
Very pretty! Cotton is a good choice too in case baby spits up or anything else happens **grin**
Posted on 14-Apr-06 at 1:07 pm | Permalink
Jenna wrote:
Oh it looks lovely! I have 13 skeins of that Pakucho in the chocolate brown shade (meant for a sweater for Brian, but my ribbing and cabling looked awful and I didn’t like working with it too much) and a friend in New York with a new baby! If I can stand working with the cotton again, this could be a future project.
Posted on 14-Apr-06 at 1:08 pm | Permalink
Noelle wrote:
That looks so sweet and comfy in the cotton!! I’ve got to try that pinwheel pattern sometime.
Posted on 14-Apr-06 at 1:19 pm | Permalink
Elli wrote:
I love the blanket and the look of the natural colored cotton! It’s very serene. I wish I’d known about the seed stitch ruffle when I made one a while back!
Posted on 14-Apr-06 at 1:22 pm | Permalink
Caryn wrote:
Awh…Just lovely!! It makes me want to knit one…and maybe I should! It’s so pretty and vintage-ey!
Posted on 14-Apr-06 at 1:48 pm | Permalink
maryse wrote:
i love the pinwheel. i made one last summer, white edged in purple.
your pinewheel album is so cool looking.
Posted on 14-Apr-06 at 3:46 pm | Permalink
anne wrote:
how sweet! i really like the ruffle edging.
Posted on 14-Apr-06 at 3:51 pm | Permalink
Sooz wrote:
So lovely!
I need to make one of these!
Posted on 14-Apr-06 at 7:10 pm | Permalink
Carey wrote:
That blanket looks great! I think I’m going to have to give that pattern a look-at.
Question, though… shouldn’t the second row of the ruffle pattern be “knit the purls, and purl the knits”?
Posted on 15-Apr-06 at 7:22 am | Permalink
delia wrote:
De-lurking after admiring your wonderful website for ages. Your pinwheel blanket is lovely. I love the seed stitch edge. This will definitely be a project for my as step daughter is in the process of adopting a baby and I know she would love it. Thank you for sharing your beautiful site.
Posted on 15-Apr-06 at 8:40 am | Permalink
amanda wrote:
Very pretty! And I do admire that seed stitch border. I love the look of seed st but find I use too many expletives while knitting it :o)
Posted on 15-Apr-06 at 9:42 am | Permalink
Kelly Sue wrote:
You are so fast!
Posted on 15-Apr-06 at 12:50 pm | Permalink
Kelly Sue wrote:
(It’s very pretty, btw. You’re making me wish I’d seen this before I started the baby blanket I’m working on. Wah wah. Oh, well, I’m sure there’ll be another occasion.)
Posted on 15-Apr-06 at 12:51 pm | Permalink
knitteriam wrote:
red headed sprog indeed! I do love that description and the pinwheel blanket! My daughter, who is now 8, still sleeps with her Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece blanket I made for her at birth. The cotton makes it SOOOO nice all year long.
Posted on 15-Apr-06 at 2:43 pm | Permalink
diana wrote:
My goodness, what a lovely blanket! The seed stitch ruffle is the perfect touch.
Posted on 15-Apr-06 at 3:25 pm | Permalink
Arleta wrote:
It looks very sweet. Too bad I just finished the baby set I made for a baby shower! You’ve really tempted me to do the pinwheel for the next baby that comes along.
Posted on 15-Apr-06 at 11:51 pm | Permalink
Vicki wrote:
It’s beautiful! The ruffle is just so perfect.
Posted on 16-Apr-06 at 10:14 am | Permalink
Amy Boogie wrote:
okok - you’ve finally got me to start one of these. It’s gorgeous.
Posted on 16-Apr-06 at 9:04 pm | Permalink
Banditgirl wrote:
I’m a stealth reader and don’t usually comment, but I just have to say you are the most amazing knitter!! Maybe I’m too new a knitter yet , but seeing how you figure out your own patterns, changes, etc … wow it’s just mind boggling. It’s definately inspiring and I sure hope I get that good one day!!
Posted on 17-Apr-06 at 12:31 am | Permalink
Genia Planck wrote:
A beautiful blanket! Seed stitch border! Hadn’t thought of that one. I’ve really enjoyed what everyone had done with this pattern.
Posted on 17-Apr-06 at 6:22 pm | Permalink
Ruth wrote:
That blanket has been on my to-knit list for a long time, and yours makes me want to rush out and cast one one.
I love the ruffly border.
Posted on 19-Apr-06 at 8:53 am | Permalink
E to the M wrote:
I love the ruffle seed stitch border. I just ordered some cotton that was on sale at Webs so I can make one before a baby shower on the 29th. Maybe not the best plan when I’m also working on my finals (and work and parenting) but I think I work well under pressure.
Posted on 19-Apr-06 at 12:52 pm | Permalink