Petey's Blanket

Petey is our 12 year old dog. We got him when he was almost one year old. He was a stray and my mother-in-law and her friend found him on a morning walk. No one responded to posted pictures but several in both families wanted Petey but couldn't take him for various reasons. We were 5th on the list but we ended up with a new puppy. That was September 1997. That was back when we had ostriches and the second day we had him, he got away from Leah and was running after the ostriches in the pen, having a ball. Leah was very upset but we finally caught him, unharmed.

Petey is an old man now. He has aching joints, does a lot of sleeping and does not want to play with Pixie at all. After putting in a dog door (for the cat - Keith got tired of letting him in a 2am in the winter), we fenced in a little yard using an 18 inch fence and it keeps him contained because he just can't jump over it.

He is a good old boy. So, I can't let little Pixie come in and steal the show. Since Pixie got a blanket, so does Petey.

Pattern Details:
Needles: size 8
Gauge: 3 3/4 sts and 7 1/4 rows per inch, worked in pattern (I knit seed stich looser than stockinette)
Overall size: approx 18 in by 18 in.
Yarn: Bernat Cottontots scrap yarn. I used Blue Berry as my main color (MC) and Sweet Aqua and Sunshine as secondary colors. You'll need close to 1 skein for the main color and any where between 1/2 to 3/4 skein for the seconary colors. Since this is a perfect de-stash project, if you can't find enough of one color, pick two and alternate which ones are used.

MC = main color
A = secondary color
B = secondary color

Seed Stitch:

Even number of stitches Row 1: K1, P1 across row Row 2: P1, K1 across row

Odd number of sts Row 1: K1, P1 across row to last st, K1 Row 2: repeat Row 1

Cast on 70 stitches with MC.
»
Rows 1-3: With MC, work seed stitch for 3 rows (solid color band made)
Row 4: Switch to A, work seed stitch
Row 5: Switch to B, work seed stitch
Row 6: Switch to MC, work seed stitch
Repeat rows 4-6 until work measures 3 inches, ending with a row using MC. This has created one section: a solid band of the MC and then a mixture of colored rows. Each solid band will be 4 rows.
«
Continue repeating from » to « until piece measures 18 inches or the desired length.
With MC, work seed stitch for 3 rows. Bind of in pattern with MC. Cut yarn and weave in the ends.

Edge of Blanket and Pattern Details

Tips:

1. When switching between two colors, keep the previous color of yarn 'on top' of the new yarn. This is especially important when knitting the solid color band so that the other colors are not left hanging at the edge and be caught by dog claws or baby toes.
   

   rows starting with purl stitch

   rows starting with knit stitch

2. If you have a few colors of yarn in small amounts, you can use a different color as color C in each section.
3. If you don't have enough to pick one color as the main color, then switch which color will be used as the solid color band at the beginning of each section.
4. When weaving in the ends of yarn, follow the seed stitch and the end will disapear.
   

Notes: This pattern is really a versatile pattern, especially when using cotton. Made as above, it can be a blanket for a small pet or used as a special car-wubbie: a baby blanket that is kept/used in the car. You can quadruple the amount of yarn and make a 36 x 36 baby blanket. It could also be used to make placemats and dish-cloths:

Baby Blanket: cast on 140 sts. Work rest of blanket as above. You'll need 4 skeins of the main color, and 3 skeins for each of the secondary colors. Buy extra, just in case it takes more.

Horizontal Stripe Place Mat: measures approx. 18 x 12 inches. Cast on 70 stitches. Work rest of mat as above. Work until piece is just shy of 12 inches and finish with the final color band.

Vertical Stripe Place Mat: measures approx. 17 x 11 inches. Cast on 44 sts. Knit 2 rows in seed stitch. Continue with pattern above, except use only 3 rows in each color band instead of 4. Work until piece is just about 17 inches long and and finish with the final color band.

Dish Cloth: measures approx 10 x 10 inches. Cast on 40 sts. Knit 2 rows in seed stitch. Continue with pattern above, except use only 3 rows in each color band instead of 4. Work until piece is just about 10 inches long and and finish with the final color band.

I only post patterns that I have personally created. By all means, use them to make anything for yourself, your bff, your Aunt Clara (she did make you that nice bunny suit), the neighbor's dog or to line the bottom of your bird's cage. That's why I posted them. And since it never hurts to ask first, please shoot me an email, leave me a comment, or mail me a nice letter (bonus points will be awarded for pretty stationary, unique-yet-readable fonts, and complements of my children or pets) before using of any of my patterns for professional use. All this really means: don't use my work to make money without first asking me. I don't bite and I'm up-to-date with my rabies shots, so send that email on over and ask already.

Copyright 2008

I understand that you little guys start out with your wubbies and you think they're great... and they are, they are terrific. But pretty soon, a wubbie isn't enough. You're out on the street trying to score an electric blanket, or maybe a quilt. And the next thing you know, you're strung out on bedspreads Ken. That's serious.
~from Mr. Mom, found at wikiquote