If you're searching for a homemade gift to make for an upcoming baby shower, you'll love this collection of free baby patterns.  Traditionally, people love to make baby booties and hats, but have you considered knitting baby blankets?  Unlike hats and booties — which babies will outgrow relatively quickly — knit baby blankets are tangible memories that will last even after the baby has grown up.  If you make the baby blanket slightly bigger, and in muted tones, it can easily be used as a decorative feature in sunrooms, bedrooms or on sofas.  Knit baby blankets may take a little more time than a pair of booties, but so do all great things.  As the saying goes "Rome wasn't built in a day."

3 Classic Knit Baby Blankets

If you like the blankets below, then you won't want to miss our entire collection of charming baby afghans in our free eBook: Knitting for Baby: 6 Knit Baby Blankets.

Eyelet Blanket - Although I've always been a fan of traditional blankets, there's definitely something special about lacy baby blanket knitting patterns.  This Eyelet Baby Blanket (pictured to the left) is perfect for parents expecting a little girl.  Knit with five balls of fluffy, worsted weight yarn, this baby blanket knit pattern is visually striking enough to make its permanent home on the sofa, right in the living room.  Drape this exquisite blanket over the crib to add an instant touch of elegance to the nursery.  Think you need to be a crocheter to achieve that fine, scalloped edge?  Think again!  That's actually a knit pattern that's used to mimic the ease and grace a crocheted edge provides.  And if this lacy pattern isn't enough to satiate your appetite for feminine baby afghans, there are plenty more where this came from inside our free eBook.

Ten Row Baby Afghan - For knitters searching for simple designs to work on while watching television, try this intriguing Ten Row Baby Afghan; there are only ten rows to keep track of.  After all, who said knitting patterns for baby blankets had to be complicated!  Once you get in the swing of things, you'll be able to knit this blanket as you watch your favorite film.  Before you know it, you'll have an adorable piece that makes a great gift for babies and adults alike.  Personally, I think this pattern would make an excellent lap throw for chilly legs on leather sofas.  With plenty of bright colors to keep you interested throughout the pattern, this makes it easy to see why knitting baby patterns can be so rewarding and super fun! 

Summer Fence Baby Blanket - Knitting a baby blanket, but don't know whether the baby will be a boy or a girl?  No problem, just pick up a gender-neutral design like this stylish Summer Fence Baby Blanket.  Made with overlapping, fence-like cables, this striking design will bring back fond memories of late-night barbecues and hours spent on the fenced-in patio during hot summer afternoons.  If you're not comfortable knitting cables just yet, try a more basic design like the simple Baby Giggles Afghan below.  Even lacy knit baby blanket patterns can work for baby boys if you choose the right colors.  Instead of knitting up an afghan in pink, why not true yellow or green?  Both colors could easily be used for both little boys and girls.