This cable blanket knitting pattern is designed for use with worsted or Aran weight yarn. The pattern includes instructions for four sizes: Small (baby blanket), Medium (Crib/Lap blanket), Large Throw, and XL Afghan.
Purchase the Childhood Wishes blanket knitting pattern on FiftyFourTenStudio.com, Ravelry, Etsy, and LoveKnitting.
 |
| Childhood Wishes - cable blanket knitting pattern |
CHILDHOOD WISHES
When we are children...our wishes seem so simple. We hope for a new toy, a visit to the ice cream store, an afternoon playing at the neighborhood park, a big snow storm (so school will be cancelled for days), and candy on Halloween.
When we are adults....our wishes for our children and grandchildren...are so much bigger. We hope they are healthy and safe...and happy. We want to provide all those fun opportunities our children dream of...but we know that what is really most important is the bigger picture...that they are safe, healthy and loved.
I know that my customers enjoy knitting blankets for their children and grandchildren (of all ages!) and in doing so they create a lasting gift...and a visual reminder of their good wishes and love for the children in their lives.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOUR SIZES:
Approximate blanket sizes after blocking...
Small (4 cables): 29.25" wide x 32.5" long
Medium (5 cables): 35" wide x 36" long
Large (6 cables): 40.75" wide x 46.5" long
XL (7 cables): 46.5" wide x 53.5" long
All dimensions are after blocking...using blocking mats and pins...and allowing the blanket to relax a bit after it is dry and pins are removed. Blocking is essential for the best appearance of this blanket pattern!
Any of the blanket sizes may be made longer by adding additional cable pattern sequences. Each additional cable pattern sequence will add about 3.5" to the length (after blocking).
 |
| Cable knitting with Lion Brand New Basic 175 in 'Ice'. |
Amount of yarn needed for each size....
Small: 620 - 650 yards
Medium: 820 - 850 yards
Large: 1250 - 1300 yards
XL: 1650 - 1750 yards
OCT 2021 UPDATE: The yarn I used for this project has been discontinued. However, the pattern will work well with many worsted, heavy worsted or Aran weight yarns. A couple of options include:
Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling (100% Acrylic) - This is not your grandmother’s 1970’s acrylic yarn! It’s very soft to the touch… not scratchy or ‘sticky’. Great stitch definition and nice texture. Available in a large selection of colorways from LionBrand.com or on Amazon.
KNITTING NEEDLES & GAUGE:
I used US size 9 knitting needles and had a gauge in stockinette stitch (after blocking) of approximately 14 stitches x 22 rows = 4".
Pick the needle size that works best for your yarn and knitting tension. Exact gauge is not essential but if your gauge is significantly different it will alter the finished blanket dimensions and could result in needing more or less yarn than indicated above.
The yarn listed above are 'cushioned' to allow for variations in gauge, etc.....but, it never hurts to buy a little extra yarn just in case.
STITCH MARKERS:
When I was working on my River of Dreams cable bed runner blanket pattern a couple of knitters asked me what the clip on stitch marker is for when I'm knitting cables. Great question!
I clip a stitch marker to the first stitch of the first cable in the row when I work the cable pattern.
When I was knitting my Childhood Wishes blanket...I worked 20 rows and then knit another cable row. Instead of marking on the printed pattern each time I complete a row...it's easy to look at the stitch marker and know exactly where to start counting the 20 rows. The stitch with the marker is on row 1.
In the photo below....I have worked 14 rows. When I completed 20 rows I worked another cable sequence row.
These clip on 'lock ring' style markers are made by Clover and available on the Lion Brand Yarn website...and so are the little ring markers on my knitting needles. These ring markers are very durable...and extremely helpful with many knitting projects!
SKILLS NEEDED:
Experience with cable knitting is highly recommended. This is a very easy cable design but it's important to have some experience with cable knitting before diving into a blanket project. Other skills needed: cast on, knit and purl confidently (changing back and forth from knit to purl), cast off, weave in ends....and blocking!
BLOCKING HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Blocking of this blanket is essential for the best appearance of your finished project.
Blocking trains your knitting to be the shape that you want it to be. It's a process that might sound challenging but it's actually very easy.
Click here to see my blog post for lots of tips on blocking your blanket.
Due to the nature of the cable pattern...the blanket has a strong tendency to bunch together in the center. See the before and after photos below...
Here's another view of my Childhood Wishes blanket before I blocked it....honestly...it didn't look great!
Blocking mats and pins are essential to block this blanket. I used rust resistant T-Pins but you can also use sewing pins.
It's important to pin all the edges in place...and make sure the edges are straight. Remember you are training your knitting to be the shape you want it to be!
Notice how the shape of this blanket changed dramatically! Before blocking it was long and narrow...after blocking it was almost a perfect square....and looked a lot more attractive.
KEEPING WARM THIS WINTER!
We've had some cold days in Kansas City this winter so my collection of chunky hand knit blankets has been put to use. We keep our house pretty cold by most standards so we keep several throw blankets handy in all rooms to cozy up and keep warm!
Here's a photo of me holding a few of our favorite chunky blankets. I talked my daughter into taking this photo a couple weeks ago when we had a few snowflakes one afternoon. Unfortunately the snowflakes didn't show up in the photo! I much prefer being behind the camera...or a stack of blankets!
All of these blankets were made with super bulky yarn. Here's a list of the blanket patterns from the top of the stack down...click on links to read more about each pattern on my blog:
Over the Rooftops Blanket (gray)
Belleview Blanket (light blue)
Winter Dance Blanket (dark blue)
Westport Blanket (gray)
State Line Blanket (ivory)
WHERE TO GET THE CHILDHOOD WISHES PATTERN
Childhood Wishes cable blanket knitting pattern is available on Ravelry, Etsy, and LoveKnitting.
Hopefully spring is right around the corner....maybe wishful thinking?!
Happy knitting!
Mary Lee
Fifty Four Ten Studio
Lion Brand Heartland (100% Acrylic) - Very soft with nice stitch definition. Pretty heathered and tweedy colorways named for American landmarks including U.S. National Parks. See the full selection on LionBrand.com.
See lots more yarn suggestions on my blog post about more than 25 worsted weight yarns for blanket knitting.
KNITTING NEEDLES & GAUGE:
I used US size 9 knitting needles and had a gauge in stockinette stitch (after blocking) of approximately 14 stitches x 22 rows = 4".
Pick the needle size that works best for your yarn and knitting tension. Exact gauge is not essential but if your gauge is significantly different it will alter the finished blanket dimensions and could result in needing more or less yarn than indicated above.
The yarn listed above are 'cushioned' to allow for variations in gauge, etc.....but, it never hurts to buy a little extra yarn just in case.
 |
| Childhood Wishes - cable blanket knitting pattern by Fifty Four Ten Studio |
When I was working on my River of Dreams cable bed runner blanket pattern a couple of knitters asked me what the clip on stitch marker is for when I'm knitting cables. Great question!
I clip a stitch marker to the first stitch of the first cable in the row when I work the cable pattern.
When I was knitting my Childhood Wishes blanket...I worked 20 rows and then knit another cable row. Instead of marking on the printed pattern each time I complete a row...it's easy to look at the stitch marker and know exactly where to start counting the 20 rows. The stitch with the marker is on row 1.
In the photo below....I have worked 14 rows. When I completed 20 rows I worked another cable sequence row.
 |
| I use clip on stitch markers when working a cable pattern. |
SKILLS NEEDED:
Experience with cable knitting is highly recommended. This is a very easy cable design but it's important to have some experience with cable knitting before diving into a blanket project. Other skills needed: cast on, knit and purl confidently (changing back and forth from knit to purl), cast off, weave in ends....and blocking!
BLOCKING HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Blocking of this blanket is essential for the best appearance of your finished project.
Blocking trains your knitting to be the shape that you want it to be. It's a process that might sound challenging but it's actually very easy.
Click here to see my blog post for lots of tips on blocking your blanket.
Due to the nature of the cable pattern...the blanket has a strong tendency to bunch together in the center. See the before and after photos below...
 |
| Childhood Wishes cable blanket - before & after blocking. |
 |
| Cable Blanket - BEFORE BLOCKING! |
It's important to pin all the edges in place...and make sure the edges are straight. Remember you are training your knitting to be the shape you want it to be!
Notice how the shape of this blanket changed dramatically! Before blocking it was long and narrow...after blocking it was almost a perfect square....and looked a lot more attractive.
 |
| Blocking my cable blanket. |
We've had some cold days in Kansas City this winter so my collection of chunky hand knit blankets has been put to use. We keep our house pretty cold by most standards so we keep several throw blankets handy in all rooms to cozy up and keep warm!
Here's a photo of me holding a few of our favorite chunky blankets. I talked my daughter into taking this photo a couple weeks ago when we had a few snowflakes one afternoon. Unfortunately the snowflakes didn't show up in the photo! I much prefer being behind the camera...or a stack of blankets!
 |
| A few of my hand knit blankets I've designed. |
Over the Rooftops Blanket (gray)
Belleview Blanket (light blue)
Winter Dance Blanket (dark blue)
Westport Blanket (gray)
State Line Blanket (ivory)
WHERE TO GET THE CHILDHOOD WISHES PATTERN
Childhood Wishes cable blanket knitting pattern is available on Ravelry, Etsy, and LoveKnitting.
Hopefully spring is right around the corner....maybe wishful thinking?!
Happy knitting!
Mary Lee
Fifty Four Ten Studio
 |
| Childhood Wishes cable blanket knitting pattern. |
This is so pretty. Thank you for sharing. And your tip on the stitch marker is priceless I love learning new stuff
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Glad to hear that you found the stitch marker tip helpful! :)
DeleteMary Lee