purlJam

# Silly Goose with a Sun Hat — Garter Stitch Baby Blanket

A cuddly, beginner-friendly baby blanket worked entirely in garter stitch, featuring a cheerful goose in a floppy sun hat at the center. The colorwork is provided via the **attached stitch chart**, and you can choose to work it as simple intarsia or add it later as duplicate stitch — whichever feels easier!

---

## Skill Level
Beginner

## Finished Measurements
- Width: 30 inches (76 cm)
- Length: 36 inches (91.5 cm)

## Materials

### Yarn (Worsted Weight / CYC #4)
- **MC (Main Color – Cream/Off-White):** approx. 700 yards (640 m)
- **CC1 (Goose – Soft Yellow):** approx. 80 yards (75 m)
- **CC2 (Sun Hat – Pastel Pink or Coral):** approx. 40 yards (37 m)
- **CC3 (Beak & Feet – Orange):** approx. 15 yards (14 m)
- **CC4 (Eye – Black, small amount):** approx. 5 yards (5 m)

A soft, machine-washable worsted such as superwash merino, cotton blend, or baby acrylic is recommended.

### Needles & Notions
- US 8 / 5 mm straight or 32-inch circular needles (used flat)
- Tapestry/yarn needle for weaving in ends and (optional) duplicate stitch
- Stitch markers (optional)
- Scissors
- Small bobbins (if working intarsia)

## Gauge
- 16 sts × 32 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in garter stitch (knit every row), blocked.
- Take time to check your gauge — it affects the final size and the look of the goose!

## Abbreviations (US Terms)
- **k** — knit
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **MC** — main color
- **CC** — contrast color
- **RS / WS** — right side / wrong side

---

## Note on Stitch Pattern
This is a simple garter stitch pattern. For **intarsia, Honeycomb, Overlapping Leaves, cables, lace, or other complex stitch patterns**, request an intermediate or advanced difficulty blanket for full stitch pattern support with charts and detailed instructions. The goose motif here is designed to be added with **basic two-color knitting (intarsia) OR embroidered on afterward using duplicate stitch**, both of which are manageable for confident beginners.

---

## Attached Stitch Chart

The visual grid for the **Silly Goose with a Sun Hat** motif is provided as a **separate attached chart panel** with this pattern. Please refer to that chart panel — it is **not reproduced inside this text** to avoid confusion.

**Where the chart is placed in the pattern:**
- The chart is worked over the **center 60 stitches** (sts 31–90 of each row) and over **96 rows** (Rows 97–192 of the blanket body).
- Outside of those center stitches and rows, you continue working plain garter stitch in MC.

**How to read the chart (knitting, worked flat):**
- Each square = 1 stitch; each row of squares = 1 row of knitting.
- **Read RS rows (odd-numbered chart rows) from RIGHT to LEFT.**
- **Read WS rows (even-numbered chart rows) from LEFT to RIGHT.**
- The chart key on the attached panel shows which symbol/color corresponds to MC, CC1 (goose body), CC2 (sun hat), CC3 (beak/feet), and CC4 (eye).
- Every row is **knit** (garter stitch) — there are no purl stitches, even on WS rows.

**Color management notes:**
- **Option A — Intarsia (recommended for the main goose body and hat):** Use a separate small bobbin or length of yarn for each color block. When changing colors, bring the new color **up and over** the old color on the WS to twist the yarns and prevent holes.
- **Option B — Duplicate stitch (easiest for beginners):** Knit the entire blanket in MC only, then embroider the goose, hat, beak, feet, and eye on top using duplicate stitch with a tapestry needle, following the same attached chart as your guide.
- Tiny details (eye, beak) are **always easier as duplicate stitch** — even if you do the rest as intarsia.
- Carry no color more than 3–4 stitches behind the work; for longer spans, cut and rejoin.

**Stitch-count integration:**
- Total blanket width = **120 sts**.
- Border/background each side of chart = **30 sts** of MC.
- Chart section = **60 sts**.
- Check: 30 + 60 + 30 = **120 sts** ✓

---

## Pattern Instructions

### Cast On
With MC, cast on **120 stitches**.

### Body
- **Rows 1–96:** Knit every stitch, every row, in MC. (This forms the bottom border and lower background.)

- **Rows 97–192 (Chart Section, 96 rows):**
  - K30 in MC, work the next 60 sts following the **attached Silly Goose with a Sun Hat chart** (every stitch is a knit stitch, color changes per chart), k30 in MC.
  - Repeat for all 96 chart rows, reading RS rows right-to-left and WS rows left-to-right.
  - **Stitch count check each row:** 30 + 60 + 30 = 120 sts ✓

  *If using duplicate stitch instead of intarsia: simply knit all 96 rows in MC and add the goose later.*

- **Rows 193–288:** Knit every stitch, every row, in MC. (This forms the upper background and top border.)

**Total rows worked:** 96 + 96 + 96 = **288 rows** ✓
**Length check:** 288 rows ÷ 32 rows per 4 in = 9 × 4 in = **36 in** ✓
**Width check:** 120 sts ÷ 16 sts per 4 in = 7.5 × 4 in = **30 in** ✓

### Bind Off
Bind off all 120 stitches knitwise, loosely. Cut yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail, and pull through the last stitch.

---

## Finishing

1. **Weave in all ends** on the wrong side using a tapestry needle. Take extra care around color-change areas.
2. **Duplicate stitch (if chosen):** Using the attached chart as your guide, embroider the goose, sun hat, beak, feet, and eye onto the cream background. Each duplicate stitch covers one knit "V."
3. **Block the blanket:** Soak in cool water with a gentle wool wash for 15–20 minutes. Squeeze out excess water (do not wring), roll in a towel, then lay flat on a blocking mat. Pin to **30 in × 36 in** and allow to dry completely. Blocking evens out the garter stitch and makes the goose nice and tidy.

---

## Care Instructions
Machine wash cool on a gentle cycle, lay flat to dry. Always follow the care instructions on your specific yarn label.

---

## Designer's Notes
- The "silly goose" expression comes from the eye placement and the tilt of the sun hat — feel free to give your goose a tiny embroidered smile or eyebrows for extra personality!
- For a gift, add a coordinating satin ribbon bow near the brim of the sun hat after blocking.
- This blanket makes a wonderful first colorwork project because garter stitch hides small tension irregularities beautifully.

Enjoy your silly goose, and happy knitting! 🦢☀️