Inspired by the book Knitting Counterpanes by Mary Walker Phillips and a knitting pamphlet from 1897 called Fancy and Practical Knitting, Ava Coleman designed the Cottage Baby Blanket for a friend’s new baby. Ava says, “Just like many of today’s patterns that claim to be original work, this is the sum of stitch motifs that were knitted, perfected, and recorded over a span of many years, perhaps even generations. Rather like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, the ‘designer’ put these motifs together to create something different. This particular counterpane is a variation on a popular pre–Civil War pattern called Grandmother Anderson’s Pattern. Similar patterns can also be found in European examples dating from as early as the 1800s. This one begins with a single leaf on a stockinette ground, includes simple yarnover/k2tog eyelets, panels of stockinette and reverse stockinette stitches, and an expanded panel of leaf repeats on a reverse stockinette ground.”

Finished Size 46” square.

Yarn Stitch Sprouts Yellowstone (80% merino wool, 20% silk; 285 yd 261 m/3 ½ oz 100 g): SSY000 snow, 6 skeins.

Needles Size 7 (4.5 mm).

Notions Markers (m); tapestry needle.

Gauge 20 sts and 30 rows = 4” in St st.