Nature’s Way is a baby blanket with a difference, featuring brightly coloured, nature-inspired intarsia motifs interspersed with plain squares.

This blanket is designed to last beyond the newborn days: Nature’s Way can be used folded in half as a blanket for a Moses basket or crib; thrown on the floor to be used as a play mat or picnic blanket; used in a cot or cot bed; or can be snuggled up in for stories on the sofa. The fun motifs on the blanket are designed to appeal to both genders, and the blanket is sure to be loved by any baby, toddler or child.

All the squares included in the design are 10 inches in size and are knitted in stocking stitch with a moss stitch border. The whole blanket then has a moss stitch border.

The blanket is worked from clear, numbered charts, both coloured and symbols.

Note that the pattern has 37 pages, however, it is not necessary to print every page if you wish to work from paper. You can choose whether to work from colour or black and white charts, in each case it would only be necessary to print your preferred charts.

Other crafts required: Small amount of swiss darning (optional); mattress stitched seams

Tools: 4 mm (US 6) straight, single-pointed needles; One or two 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needles, 80–100 cm (31–39 in) in length; Tapestry needle; Bobbins for holding the different yarn colours during intarsia knitting; Chart row marker (optional)

Materials: Stylecraft Special DK, 1 ball in each of the following colours: 1001 White (205 m/220 yds), 1002 Black (40 m/40 yds), 1010 Matador (270 m/295 yds), 1019 Cloud blue (260 m/280 yds), 1029 Copper (40 m/45 yds), 1065 Meadow (240 m/ 265 yds), 1084 Magenta (195 m/215 yds), 1116 Green (200 m/220 yds), 1256 Jaffa (155 m/170 yds), 1263 Citron (300 m/330 yds), 1390 Clematis (185 m/205 m). Sirdar Snuggly DK, 1 ball in 414 Elf (110 m/120 yds) Note that since this pattern was written this yarn has been discontinued; although not a direct colour match, I would recommend using Stylecraft Special DK in Green (1116).

Difficulty: Advanced (knit, purl, more intricate intarsia)

Pattern Style: Chart, with both written instructions and charts for the plain squares