Entrelac Baby Blanket

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I believe I’m on a major entrelac kick. Actually, what I’m really obsessed with are self-striping yarns, and nothing highlights the fabulousness of said yarns like entrelac.

I bought six balls of Patons SWS on a whim. My boyfriend’s sister was going to have a baby girl sometime mid-January, so I needed a baby gift. I was going to come up with something more elaborate, but then I realized how fun entrelac was and how easy making a baby blanket out of entrelac would be.

Here’s the blanket about 3 1/2 balls in:

Baby Blanket in Progress

I was going to stop at 4 skeins, but my mom voted against it and said “bigger is better”. She’s a pediatrician, hence she’s dealt with a lot of babies, so I took her advice.

Meanwhile, the January 15 due date was usurped by a December 28th delivery. Whoops. Mom and baby were both healthy, but the blanket wasn’t finished. I ramped up my effort and knit furiously. For the last skein, I decided to try a knit backwards so I wouldn’t have to turn every six stitches.

EUREKA! Knitting backwards is brilliant, and a lot easier than previously reported. I wish I had tried it earlier — it certainly makes entrelac a whole lot faster. Here’s how to knit backwards.

I finally finished last night. Here’s the blanket before blocking:

Blanket Before blocking

Before blocking, the blanket measured about 30″ x 21″. Here’s the blanket while blocking:

Blocking the Blanket

Blocking made the blanket measure 37″ x 33″. Definitely big enough for my mom’s tastes.

Now that I can knit backwards, I’m really tempted to make another entrelac project. However, I really have to focus on some other knitting right now, so it’ll be a while before I indulge my entrelac itch again.

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19 Comments

  • mrspinchy says:
    January 10, 2007 at 5:34 am

    That is so pretty! What a lucky baby! How do you knit backwards? Please explain!

  • Emily says:
    January 11, 2007 at 12:23 am

    Gorgeous!

  • Auntie Amanda says:
    January 12, 2007 at 2:40 am

    That blanket is simply georgous! The more I see entrelac, the itchier my fingers get to try it.

  • Sylvia says:
    January 12, 2007 at 5:43 am

    its beautiful! im so itching to try sws.

    is it machine washable? i always thought acrylic was the way to go for babies.

  • Purlygirly says:
    February 23, 2007 at 11:38 am

    That is absolutely gorgeous. I’m working on a Lady E, and a friend is considering making it into a blanket. I’m sending her a link to yours for inspiration!

  • Jackie Lee says:
    July 16, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    I was surfing the net today and found your blog. WOW. That baby blanket is beautiful. I don’t knit, but I’ve never seen one like that ~ it’s amazing.

    I have a site where I provide baby blanket gift ideas. I thought it might be mutually beneficial if we swapped blogroll links.

    Please take a look at my site and see if it’s something you might be interested in. http://babyblanketgiftguide.com If you are at all interested please shoot me an email and let me know the text you want me to use in your link. I’ll get it up right away and then send you the text for my link.

    Look forward to hearing from you.

    Jackie

  • Emma says:
    July 28, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    I will be trying to knit an entrelac baby blanket as well and wanted to know how to knit backwards. I tried your link, but it’s not working. Can you fix it or send me the instructions please? Thanks!

  • MJ says:
    August 8, 2011 at 6:30 am

    Can someone share tips on “blocking” the blanket once it is completed?

  • Colethia says:
    August 31, 2011 at 9:34 am

    Hi..I just started entrelac and working on my first scarf.. your blanket is beautiful.. Do you have the pattern available? thanks

    • Laura says:
      August 31, 2011 at 9:52 am

      Thanks, Colethia! I don’t have the pattern for this blanket, but I believe it was just a 7-stitch entrelac pattern that was 10 repeats wide… it’s kinda hard to go wrong with entrelac! Good luck with your scarf 🙂

  • Jyothy says:
    October 25, 2011 at 5:27 am

    Beautiful. I could not find the pattern. Can you please point me in the direction of the pattern. How long does it to finish the blanket.
    Thanks,
    Jyothy

    • Laura says:
      October 25, 2011 at 9:19 am

      Hi Jyothy — Unfortunately, I never had time to properly write up this pattern. I believe it was just a 7-stitch entrelac pattern that was 10 repeats wide. You can do a search online for entrelac tutorials and that should be enough to get you started! Good luck! -Laura

  • jen says:
    June 5, 2012 at 5:48 pm

    Once you have blocked the blanket, does it hold that blocked shape after washing and drying it in a dryer? Thanks! Jen

    • Laura says:
      June 7, 2012 at 2:41 pm

      Hi Jen — you’ll need to somewhat re-block the blanket every time it’s washed, but not necessarily with pins and the whole shebang. You should be able to just dry flat and it’ll be okay!

  • kate smit says:
    January 27, 2014 at 10:03 pm

    I would like to make this entrelac blanket but battling with the corners .Please can you advise where I could get help> live in Durban South Africa

  • Connie says:
    October 16, 2014 at 4:40 am

    I had made baby blanket with the enterlac patteren. But I knit left handed. I still love the patteren.

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