Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern PDF — Elephant Motif — Beginner, DK Weight, Baby Shower Gift

✓ Written row-by-row instructions ✓ Full stitch chart ✓ PDF instant download

📋 Includes BOTH full row-by-row written instructions AND a stitch chart — use whichever you prefer.

Language & Terminology: Pattern is written in English using US knitting conventions.
🇩🇪 🇫🇷 Prefer German or French? A free translation is available on request — just message me! (Deutsche oder französische Übersetzung auf Anfrage. Traduction en allemand ou en français sur demande.)

Meet your next favorite knitting project!
This heart-melting baby blanket features a sweet baby elephant surrounded by a scattering of little hearts — worked in one color using texture alone. With just simple knit and purl stitches, you'll create a soft, raised design that's easy to follow and lovely to make. The finished blanket looks impressive and feels wonderfully soft — a tender, gender-neutral keepsake for a baby shower, a nursery, or a new arrival.

Skill Level: Beginner / Easy
This pattern uses only knit and purl stitches, making it ideal for beginners while remaining a satisfying project for more experienced knitters.

Techniques Used:
• Cast-on (Long Tail Cast-On recommended)
• Bind-off
• Knit stitch (K)
• Purl stitch (P)

Design
The blanket is worked in smooth stockinette with a firm garter stitch border all around. The baby elephant and the scattered hearts are created in reverse stockinette on a stockinette background, giving the design a soft, tactile relief that's as lovely to touch as it is to look at. No colorwork, no fuss — just one color and stitch texture.

About the texture: The motifs are a raised relief made with knit and purl stitches only — no colorwork. This pattern is worked in reverse stockinette on a smooth stockinette background, so the little elephant and the hearts read as a soft, subtle tonal relief that's as lovely to touch as it is to look at.

💡 Tip: solid, smooth yarns show the textured design best — a soft grey, dove blue, sage, blush, or cream give lovely contrast, while gentle mid-tones look beautiful too. Just avoid very dark or variegated yarns, where the fine detail — the little trunk, ear and hearts — can get lost.

Size:
• 75 × 90 cm (29.5 × 35.5 in) — perfect for a stroller or newborn
Width: 156 sts; worked over 252 rows
Want a different size? Full resizing guidance is included in the Knitter's Guide (part of your download).

🎁 A handmade gift to treasure There's nothing quite like a handmade welcome for a new little one. With its tender, gender-neutral design, this blanket makes a heartfelt baby-shower or new-baby gift — and because you knit it yourself, there's plenty of room to start early and have it ready well before the due date. Whether it's for your own baby or someone special, it's the kind of keepsake that gets loved for years.

This pattern is perfect for you if:
• You know your knit from your purl
• You're ready to try your first textured motif
• You want a handmade gift that looks like it took serious skill (it didn't — promise!)

What's Included:
• Complete written instructions — every row written out (both RS and WS rows)
• Full stitch chart (252 rows — optional visual aid)
• Abbreviations guide
• KnitWithOlive Knitter's Guide — blocking, resizing, yarn substitution, care & FAQ

Yarn & Materials
Yarn: DROPS Merino Extra Fine (or any DK weight Superwash Merino)
US alternative: KnitPicks Swish DK

• Weight: DK / 8-ply
• Gauge: 21 sts × 28 rows = 10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in)
• Care: included in the Knitter's Guide
• Certification: Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Class I (safe for newborns)
• Yardage: 50 g = 105 m (115 yds)

Amount needed: approx. 400 g / 8 skeins
Note: Always buy one extra skein to account for gauge differences.
Needles: Circular needles 4 mm (EU) / size 8 (UK) / size 6 (US), 60 cm (24 in) cable length recommended

Additional Materials:
• Stitch markers × 4 (2 colors recommended — 2 for the borders, 2 for the motif)
• Tapestry needle (for weaving in ends)
• Scissors
• Row counter (recommended)

Copyright Notice
This pattern is © KnitWithOlive. All rights reserved.
This pattern is for personal use only. You may sell finished items made from this pattern, but please credit the designer. Do not reproduce, distribute, or sell this pattern in whole or in part without written permission.