Tree of Life Throw
Create a beautiful and unique knit baby blanket with this Tree of Life Throw pattern. The distinctive cabled tree pattern gives this blanket a whimsical look that makes it a perfect addition to a nursery. This is a great project for an intermediate knitter. You should have some idea of how to cable before you begin this baby blanket pattern, but a quick learner should be able to master this project without a problem. Though it might look complex initially, once you get going on this knit blanket, it is a cinch and will quickly become one of your favorite free knitting patterns for babies.
Knitting Needle Size7 or 4.5 mm
Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)
Size:
About 26 x 34 in. (66 x 86.5 cm), including border
Materials:
-
Lion Brand POUND OF LOVE (Art. #550)
- #099 Antique White 1 ball
- or color of your choice
- Lion Brand knitting needles size 7 (4.5 mm)
- Lion Brand cable needle
- Lion Brand large-eyed blunt needle
Gauge:
8 sts + 28 rows = 4 in. (10 cm).
BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE.
Throw Instructions:
Cast on 92 sts.
Knit 1 row. Purl 1 row.
Row 1 (WS): *K4, work Row 1 of Twin Trees pattern or follow Twin Trees Chart Row 1 for 40 sts; rep from * once more, k4.
Row 2: *P4, work Row 2 of Twin Trees pattern or follow Twin Trees Chart Row 2 for 40 sts; rep from * once more, p4.
Continue in established pattern following row-by-row instructions or consecutive rows of Twin Trees Chart for 50 rows, ending with a RS row.
Purl 1 row.
Work Rows 1-14 of Dividing Pattern.
Work Rows 1-36 of Flower Garden pattern (or follow Flower Garden Chart).
Work Rows 1-14 of Dividing Pattern.
Knit 1 row.
Work Rows 1-50 of Twin Trees pattern (or follow Twin Trees Chart).
Bind off all sts.
Stitch Explanations:
2/2 PLC (2 over 2 purl left cross) Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, p2, then k2 from cable needle.
2/2 PRC (2 over 2 purl right cross) Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, then p2 from cable needle.
2/1 PLC (2 over 1 purl left cross) Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, p1, then k2 from cable needle.
2/1 PRC (2 over 1 purl right cross) Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in back, k2, then p1 from cable needle.
1/1 PLC (1 over 1 purl left cross) Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in front, p1, then k1 from cable needle.
1/1 PRC (1 over 1 purl right cross) Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold in back, k1, then p1 from cable needle.
2/2 LC (2 over 2 left cross) Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k2, then k2 from cable needle.
2/2 RC (2 over 2 right cross) Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k2, then k2 from cable needle.
M1 (make 1) An increase worked by lifting horizontal thread lying between needles and placing it onto left needle. Knit this new stitch through the back loop –1 st increased.
ssk (slip, slip, knit) Slip next 2 sts as if to knit, one at a time, to right needle; insert left needle into fronts of these 2 sts and knit them tog –1 st decreased.
sk2p Slip 1 as if to knit, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over–2 sts decreased.
Charts:
PATTERN STITCHES
Twin Trees:
Row 1 (WS): K12, p4, k8, p4, k12 – 40 sts.
Rows 2-7: K the k sts and p the p sts as they appear.
Row 8: P12, M1, k4, p8, k4, M1, p12 – 42 sts.
Row 9 and all remaining WS rows: K the knit sts and p the purl sts as they appear.
Row 10: P12, k1, M1, k4, p8, k4, M1, k1, p12 – 44 sts.
Row 12: P10, 2/2 PRC, k4, M1, p8, M1, k4, 2/2, PLC, p10 – 46 sts.
Row 14: P8, 2/2 PRC, p2, k4, M1, k1, p8, k1, M1, k4, p2, 2/2 PLC, p8 – 48 sts.
Row 16: P6, 2/2 PRC, p4, k4, 2/2 PLC, p4, 2/2 PRC, k4, p4, 2/2 PLC, p6.
Row 18: P5, 2/1 PRC, p5, 2/1 PRC, k2, p2, 2/2 PLC, 2/2 PRC, p2, k2, 2/1 PLC, p5, 2/1 PLC, p5.
Row 20: P5, k2, p5, 2/1 PRC, p1, 2/1 PLC, p3, 2/2 RC, p3, 2/1 PRC, p1, 2/1 PLC, p5, k2, p5.
Row 22: P4, 1/1 PRC, 1/1 PLC, p3, 2/1 PRC, p3, 2/1 PLC, 2/2 PRC, 2/2 PLC, 2/1 PRC, p3, 2/1 PLC, p3, 1/1 PRC, 1/1 PLC, p4.
Row 24: P3, 1/1 PRC, p2, k1b, p3, k2, p5, 2/2 LC, p4, 2/2 LC, p5, k2, p3, k1b, p2, 1/1 PLC, p3.
Row 26: (P2, 1/1 PRC) 3 times, 1/1 PLC, p3, 2/1 PRC, 2/1 PLC, p2, 2/1 PRC, 2/1 PLC, p3, 1/1 PRC, (1/1 PLC, p2) 3 times.
Row 28: P5, (1/1 PRC, p2) twice, k1b, p3, k2, p2, 2/1 PLC, 2/1 PRC, p2, k2, p3, k1b, (p2, 1/1 PLC) twice, p5.
Row 30: P4, (1/1 PRC, p2) 3 times, 1/1 PRC, 1/1 PLC, p2, 2/2 RC, p2, 1/1 PRC, (1/1 PLC, p2) 3 times, 1/1 PLC, p4.
Row 32: P3, 1/1 PRC, p6, (1/1 PRC, p2) twice, k1b, p2, k4, p2, k1b, (p2, 1/1 PLC) twice, p6, 1/1 PLC, p3.
Row 34: P2, p2tog, p6, (1/1 PRC, p2) 3 times, 2/2 RC, (p2, 1/1 PLC) 3 times, p6, p2togb, p2 – 46 sts.
Row 36: P8, 1/1 PRC, p6, 1/1 PRC, p1, 2/2 PRC, 2/2 PLC, p1, 1/1 PLC, p6, 1/1 PLC, p8.
Row 38: P7, p2tog, p6, 1/1 PRC, p1, 1/1 PRC, 1/1 PLC, p2, 1/1 PRC, 1/1 PLC, p1, 1/1 PLC, p6, p2togb, p7 – 44 sts.
Row 40: P13, 1/1 PRC, p1, 1/1 PRC, p2, k1b, p2, k1b, p2, 1/1 PLC, p1, 1/1 PLC, p13.
Row 42: P12, p2tog, p1, (1/1 PRC, p2) twice, 1/1 PLC, p2, 1/1 PLC, p1, p2togb, p12 – 42 sts.
Row 44: P17, 1/1 PRC, p4, 1/1 PLC, p17.
Row 46: P17, k1b, p6, k1b, p17.
Row 48: P16, p2tog, p6, p2togb, p16 – 40 sts.
Row 50: P40.
Dividing Pattern
Row 1 (RS): Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Rows 3 and 4: Rep Rows 1 and 2.
Rows 5-10: Purl.
Rows 11-14: Rep Rows 1-4.
Flower Garden
Row 1 (RS): Inc 1 in first st, p8, *k1b (twisted knit st), p11; rep from * to last 11 sts, k1b, p10.
Rows 2, 4, 6 and 8: K10, *p1b, k11; rep from *, to last 11 sts, p1b, k10.
Rows 3 and 5: P10, *k1b, p11; rep from *, to last 11 sts, k1b, p10.
Row 7: P6, *insert a crochet hook (or point of right needle) from front through the fabric at right of the twisted knit st in first row, catch yarn and draw up a long, loose loop; sl this loop onto right needle, knit next st and pass the loop over st, p3, k1b, p3, draw up another loop from left of same st in first row, sl the loop onto right needle, knit next st and pass loop over it, p3; rep from * 6 more times, end p3.
Row 9: P10, *((k1, yo) 3 times, k1) all in same st making 7 sts from one, p11; rep from * to last 11 sts, ((k1, yo) 3 times, k1) all in same st making 7 sts from one, p10.
Row 10: K10, *p7, k11; rep from * to last 17 sts, p7, k10.
Row 11: P10, *k2togb, k3togb, k2togb, p11; rep from * to last 17 sts, k2togb, k3togb, k2togb, p10.
Row 12: K10, *p3tog, k11; rep from * to last 13 sts, p3tog, k10.
Rows 13, 15 and 17: P4, *k1b (twisted knit st), p11; rep from * to last 5 sts, k1b, p4.
Rows 14, 16, 18 and 20: K4, *p1b, k11; rep from * to last 5 sts, p1b, k4.
Row 19: *Draw up a loop from right of twisted knit st in Row 13 and pass loop over next st as before, p3, k1b, p3, draw up another loop from left of same st and pass loop over next st as before, p3; rep from * to last 9 sts, draw up a loop from right of twisted knit st in Row 13 and pass loop over next st as before, p3, k1b, p3, draw up another loop from left of same st and pass loop over next st as before.
Row 21: P4, *((k1, yo) 3 times, k1) all in same st, p11; rep from * to last 5 sts, ((k1, yo) 3 times, k1) all in same st, p4.
Row 22: K4, *p7, k11; rep from * to last 11 sts, p7, k4.
Row 23: P4, *k2togb, k3togb, k2togb, p11; rep from * to last 11 sts, k2togb, k3togb, k2togb, p4.
Row 24: K4, *p3tog, k11; rep from * to last 7 sts, p3tog, k4.
Row 25: P10, *k1b (twisted knit st), p11; rep from * to last 11 sts, k1b, p10.
Rows 26-36: Rep Rows 2-12 once more, decrease 1 st at end of Row 36.
Tulip-Bud Border
Cast on 8 sts.
Row 1 (RS): K5, yo, k1, yo, k2 – 10 sts.
Row 2: P6, k into front and back of next st (inc made), k3 – 11 sts.
Row 3: K4, p1, k2, yo, k1, yo, k3 – 13 sts.
Row 4: P8, inc in next st, k4 – 14 sts.
Row 5: K4, p2, k3, yo, k1, yo, k4 – 16 sts.
Row 6: P10, inc in next st, k5 – 17 sts.
Row 7: K4, p3, k4, yo, k1, yo, k5 – 19 sts.
Row 8: P12, inc in next st, k6 – 20 sts.
Row 9: K4, p4, ssk, k7, k2tog, k1 – 18 sts.
Row 10: P10, inc in next st, k7 – 19 sts.
Row 11: K4, p5, ssk, k5, k2tog, k1 – 17 sts.
Row 12: P8, inc in next st, k2, p1, k5 – 18 sts.
Row 13: K4, p1, k1, p4, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1 – 16 sts.
Row 14: P6, inc in next st, k3, p1, k5 – 17 sts.
Row 15: K4, p1, k1, p5, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1 – 15 sts.
Row 16: P4, inc in next st, k4, p1, k5 – 16 sts.
Row 17: K4, p1, k1, p6, sk2p, k1 – 14 sts.
Row 18: P2tog, bind off next 5 sts using p2tog st to bind off first st, p3, k4 – 8 sts.
Rep Rows 1-18 until border fits around Throw (approximately 96 in. (244 cm)). Note: It is helpful to sew border in place as you knit.
Bind off. Finish sewing border in place around Throw. Weave in ends.
Abbreviations:
inc = increas(e)(ing)(s)
k = knit
k1b = knit 1 through back loop
p1b = purl 1 through back loop
k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
k2togb = knit 2 stitches together through back loops
k3tog = knit 3 stitches together
k3togb = knit 3 stitches together through back loops
p = purl
p2togb = purl 2 stitches together through back loops
p3tog = purl 3 stitches together
rep = repeat(s)
RS = right side
sl = slip
st(s) = stitch(es)
WS = wrong side
yo = yarn over
If you liked the Tree of Life Throw, be sure to check out the rest of the Lion Brand collection of the most popular knit and crochet afghan patterns here!