Christmas Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern – Santa Penguin | Textured Stitch | Beginner | PDF Download

✓ 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, French or Italian? A free translation is available on request — just message me! (Deutsche, französische oder italienische Übersetzung auf Anfrage. Traduction en allemand, français ou italien sur demande. Traduzione in tedesco, francese o italiano su richiesta.)

A cheerful little penguin in a Santa hat, worked entirely in one color using texture alone — a cozy make for baby's first Christmas. Just simple knit and purl stitches build the whole design, so it looks impressive and feels wonderfully soft under little hands. A sweet, gender-neutral keepsake for a holiday baby shower, a Christmas gift, or a new winter 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 Santa penguin-and-stars motif is created in raised garter-stitch texture on a stockinette background, giving the design a bold, 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 motif is a raised relief made with knit and purl stitches only — no colorwork. This pattern uses garter-stitch texture on a smooth stockinette background, so the penguin, hat and stars stand out in soft, ridged relief and catch the light beautifully. Both the written rows and the chart show you exactly what to do.

💡 Tip: solid, smooth yarns show the textured design best — a soft red, sage green, cream, or dove gray give lovely festive contrast, while gentle mid-tones look beautiful too. Just avoid very dark or variegated yarns, where the fine detail — the little stars and the hat — 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
Full resizing guidance is included in the Knitter's Guide (part of your download).

🎁 A handmade gift to treasure
Nothing says "welcome, little one" like a handmade Christmas blanket. With its gender-neutral design, this makes a heartfelt gift for a holiday baby shower or baby's first Christmas — and because you knit it yourself, there's plenty of time to start early and have it ready well before the big day. The kind of keepsake that comes out every December 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 — RS rows written out, with the simple WS rule
• 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: Machine wash 40°C / Dry flat — full care instructions included in the PDF
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.