How to Knit a Raspberry Stitch Baby Blanket

The raspberry stitch results in a lumpy, bumpy fabric that resembles raspberries. Other names for the raspberry stitch include the bramble stitch and the trinity stitch. The raised texture of this stitch gives a blanket a thermal capability: Pockets of air become trapped in the “bumps” and hold in body heat. A baby blanket knit in raspberry stitch not only will look beautiful, but it will also keep its owner warm and cozy.

Cast on 90 stitches loosely. If you cast on stitches too tightly, the blanket’s edge will not be elastic enough and subsequent rows will pucker. The raspberry stitch requires a multiple of four plus two stitches. This blanket will have 88 stitches (a multiple of four) plus one stitch at the beginning of the row and one stitch at the end of the row.

Purl all 90 stitches in the first row. Throughout the blanket, all odd-numbered rows are purled. Turn your work.

Slip the first stitch from the left needle to the right needle. In the next stitch, knit one without dropping the stitch off the left needle. Purl one in that same stitch, keeping it on the needle. Knit once more into that stitch and drop it from the left needle. You have created three stitches within one foundation stitch. Purl the next three stitches together. Continue down the row alternating the knit-purl-knit into one stitch with purling three stitches together. When you reach the last stitch in the row, knit it and turn your work.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the blanket is either the dimensions you want or you have about 3 yards of yarn left.

Bind off all stitches loosely. Use the darning needle to weave in all loose ends.