The Reach for the Stars blanket is knitted from the bottom up, with a moss stitch border that is knitted at the same time as the central panel; the rocket motif is incorporated using intarsia. The blanket is knitted in chunky weight yarn, making it a quick knit, suitable for intermediate level knitters. The blanket measures 89.5 x 95 cm (35.25 x 37.5 in) and is the perfect first blanket, suitable for use as a playmat, cot blanket, in a moses basket or on a car seat.

The Reach for the Stars baby blanket is the first item in the Reach for the Stars collection. Each item in the collection features a brightly coloured space rocket with a fiery trail, inspired by one of my children’s favourite toys. The other patterns in this collection will be relased by the end of 2018; for updates, please join my Ravelry group or sign up to my newsletter.

Materials
6 mm (US 10) circular needle at least 80 cm (32 in) in length
Chunky (bulky) weight yarn (ideally a plied acrylic, wool or wool/acrylic blend) in each of the following colours: MC (Navy): 605 m/660 yds; CC1 (Yellow): 130 m/145 yds; CC2 (Orange): 55 m/60 yds; CC3 (Red): 140 m/155 yds
Stitch markers × 4
Tapestry needle
Bobbins for holding the different yarn colours during colourwork
Chart row marker

The sample is knitted in Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky 100% acrylic: 136 m (149 yds) to 100 g in MC: Midnight Blue, 337; CC1: Buttercup Yellow, 322; CC2: Blood Orange, 319; CC3: Pillar Red, 314.

This blanket is knitted flat on a long circular needle to accommodate the large number of sts required.