Sampler Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern: Crayon Box Sampler Afghan

Are you looking for a sampler baby blanket knitting pattern that is easy to knit but also has different textures and colors to brighten a baby’s room? Then you’ll love the Crayon Box Sampler Afghan! This vibrant sampler baby blanket knitting pattern is worked in strips that are later seamed. This makes the project portable while also allowing you to work just one color each row.

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation (at no added cost to you) if you make a purchase using these links. Yarn for this project was generously provided by Knit Picks.

This pattern was originally published in my favorite digital knitting magazine, I Like Knitting. (I may be a little biased since they have published 7 of my knitting patterns… but I don’t think so!) It actually made the cover!

I used Knit Picks Comfy Worsted, a cotton acrylic blend yarn available in dozens of colors. It’s machine washable and dryable and very soft, which makes it great for baby blankets.

These days, physicians recommend letting babies sleep under blankets, but they still make great projects for decorating a nursery and I know that several of my mommy friends use baby blankets for “tummy time.”

I love to gift baby blankets and sampler patterns keep me a big more entertained than miles and miles of one stitch. I used five colors in my version, but you could use as many as 21 if you decided to make each block and the borders in a different color.

If you make your own Crayon Box Sampler Afghan project, I’d love to see it! Share your progress and questions by tagging me on Facebook as @Underground Crafter, Instragram as @ucrafter, or Twitter as @ucrafter. You can also share a picture in the Underground Crafters Facebook groupSign up for my weekly newsletter and get a coupon code for your choice of one of my premium patterns and other subscriber goodies. Plus, you’ll never miss one of my free patterns again!

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Crayon Box Sampler Afghan

Sampler Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern by Underground Crafter

Experiment with stitches and color while creating this vibrant baby blanket! This blanket is knit in strips, making it a great portable project. The construction allows you to create a multicolor blanket while using just one color in each row for a bright and fun patchwork babyghan.

Finished Size

  • Baby Blanket: 30.5” (77.5 cm) long x 29” (73.5 cm) wide after blocking.

Materials

  • Knit Picks Comfy Worsted yarn (75% Pima cotton, 25% acrylic, 1.75 oz/50 g, 109 yd/100 m) – 3 skeins in 5167 Marina (CA) and 2 skeins each in 8990 Crème Brulee (CB), 6315 Peapod (CC), 8126 Vinca (CD), and 3287 Zinnia (CE), or approximately 230 yd (210.5) in CA and 175 yd (160 m) each in CB, CC, CD, and CE in any medium weight yarn.
  • US Size 6/4 mm straight knitting needles, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
  • Yarn needle.

Gauge

  • 17 sts x 24 rows in stockinette stitch = 4” (10 cm) before blocking. Exact gauge is not critical for this project.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

  • BO – bind off
  • CA – Color A
  • CB – Color B
  • CC – Color C
  • CD – Color D
  • CE – Color E
  • CO – cast on
  • k – knit
  • p – purl
  • rep – repeat
  • sl – slip stitch knitwise
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • *Repeat instructions after asterisk as indicated.

Pattern Notes

Special Stitch Patterns

Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern (worked over a multiple of 5 sts)

  • Row 1: *P1, k4; rep from * across.
  • Row 2: *P3, k1, p1; rep from * across.
  • Row 3: *K2, p1, k2; rep from * across.
  • Row 4: *P1, k1, p3; rep from * across.
  • Row 5: *K4, p1; rep from * across.
  • Row 6: *P4, k1; rep from * across.
  • Row 7: *K1, p1, k3; rep from * across.
  • Row 8: *P2, k1, p2; rep from * across.
  • Row 9: *K3, p1, k1; rep from * across.
  • Row 10: *K1, p4; rep from * across. 

Double Moss Stitch Pattern (worked over a multiple of 4 sts, + 2 sts)

  • Row 1: *P2, k2; rep from * across to last 2 sts, p2.
  • Row 2: *K2, p2; rep from * across to last 2 sts, k2.
  • Row 3: Rep Row 2.
  • Row 4: Rep Row 1.

Seed Stitch Pattern (worked over an even number of sts)

  • Row 1: *K1, p1; rep from * across.
  • Row 2: *P1, k1; rep from * across.

Pattern Instructions

Right Edge Strip

Lower Border

  • With CA, CO 35 sts.
  • Row 1 (Right Side): Sl 1, k to last st, p1.
  • Rows 2-4: Rep Row 1, 3 more times. Fasten off CA.

Seed Stitch Square

  • Row 5: With CB, sl 1, k3, work Row 1 of Seed Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Row 6: Sl 1, work Row 2 of Seed Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Rows 7-44: Rep Rows 5-6, 19 more times. Fasten off CB.

Garter Stitch Square

  • Row 45-84: With CC, rep Row 1, 40 times. Fasten off CC.

Double Moss Stitch Square

  • Row 85: With CA, sl 1, k3, work Row 1 of Double Moss Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Row 86: Sl 1, work Row 2 of Double Moss Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Row 87: Sl 1, k3, work Row 3 of Double Moss Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Row 88: Sl 1, work Row 4 of Double Moss Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Rows 89-124: Rep Rows 85-88, 9 more times. Fasten off CA.

Stockinette Stitch Square

  • Row 125: With CD, sl 1, k to last st, p1.
  • Row 126: Sl 1, p to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Rows 127-164: Rep Rows 1-2, 19 more times. Fasten off CD.

Diagonal Purl Square

  • Row 165: With CE, sl 1, k3, work Row 1 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Row 166: Sl 1, work Row 2 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Row 167: S1, k3, work Row 3 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Row 168: Sl 1, work Row 4 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Row 169: Sl 1, k3, work Row 5 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Row 170: Sl 1, work Row 6 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Row 171: Sl 1, k3, work Row 7 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Row 172: Sl 1, work Row 8 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Row 173: Sl 1, k3, work Row 9 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Row 174: Sl 1, work Row 10 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Rows 175-204: Rep Rows 165-174, 3 more times. Fasten off CE.

Upper Border

  • Rows 205-208: With CA, rep Row 1, 4 times.
  • BO in pattern for Row 1. Fasten off CA, leaving long yarn tail (approximately 2 yd/2 m long) for joining.

First Center Strip

Lower Border

  • With CA, CO 32 sts.
  • Row 1: (Right Side) Sl 1, k to last st, p1.
  • Rows 2-4: Rep Row 1, 3 more times. Fasten off CA.

Diagonal Purl Square

  • Rows 5-14: With CE, sl 1, work next row of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Rows 15-44: Rep Rows 5-14, 3 more times. Fasten off CE.

Seed Stitch Square

  • Row 45-46: With CB, sl 1, work next row of Seed Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Rows 47-84: Rep Rows 45-46, 19 more times. Fasten off CB.

Garter Stitch Square

  • Row 85: With CC, rep Row 1.
  • Rows 86-124: Rep Row 1, 39 more times. Fasten off CC.

Double Moss Stitch Square

  • Row 125-128: With CA, sl 1, work next row of Double Moss Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Rows 129-164: Rep Rows 125-128, 9 more times. Fasten off CA.

Stockinette Stitch Square

  • Row 165: With CD, sl 1, k to last st, p1.
  • Row 166: Sl 1, p across.
  • Rows 167-204: Rep Rows 165-166, 19 more times. Fasten off CD.

Upper Border

  • Rows 205-208: With CA, rep Row 1, 4 times.
  • BO in pattern for Row 1. Fasten off CA with long yarn tail (approximately 2 yd/2 m long) for joining.

Second Center Strip

  • CO and work as for First Center Strip through Lower Border. Then work as follows:
  • Rows 5-44: Work as for Stockinette Stitch Square in First Center Strip.
  • Rows 45-84: Work as for Diagonal Purls Square in First Center Strip.
  • Rows 85-124: Work as for Seed Stitch Square in First Center Strip.
  • Rows 125-164: Work as for Garter Stitch Square in First Center Strip.
  • Rows 165-204: Work as for Double Moss Stitch Square in First Center Strip.
  • Rows 205-208: With CA, rep Row 1, 4 times.
  • BO in pattern for Row 1. Fasten off CA, leaving long yarn tail (approximately 2 yards long) for joining.

Left Edge Strip

Lower Border

  • With CA, CO 35 sts.
  • Row 1: (RS) Sl 1, k to last st, p1.
  • Rows 2-4: Rep Row 1, 3 more times.

Double Moss Stitch Square

  • Row 5: Sl 1, work Row 1 of Double Moss Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Row 6: Sl 1, k3, work Row 2 of Double Moss Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Rows 7-44: Rep Rows 5-6, 19 more times. Fasten off CA.

Stockinette Stitch Square

  • Row 45: With CD, sl 1, k to last st, p1.
  • Row 46: Sl 1, k3, p across.
  • Rows 47-84: Rep Rows 45-46, 19 more times. Fasten off CD.

Diagonal Purl Square

  • Row 85: With CE, sl 1, work Row 1 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Row 86: Sl 1, k3, work Row 2 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Row 87: S1, work Row 3 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Row 88: Sl 1, k3, work Row 4 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Row 89: Sl 1, work Row 5 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Row 90: Sl 1, k3, work Row 6 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Row 91: Sl 1, work Row 7 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Row 92: Sl 1, k3, work Row 8 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Row 93: Sl 1, work Row 9 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Row 94: Sl 1, k3, work Row 10 of Diagonal Purl Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Rows 95-124: Rep Rows 85-94, 3 more times. Fasten off CE.

Seed Stitch Square

  • Row 125: With CB, sl 1, work Row 1 of Seed Stitch Pattern across to last 4 sts, k3, p1.
  • Row 126: Sl 1, k3, work Row 2 of Seed Stitch Pattern across to last st, p1.
  • Rows 127-164: Rep Rows 125-126, 19 more times. Fasten off CB.

Garter Stitch Square

  • Row 165-204: With CC, rep Row 1, 40 times. Fasten off CC.

Upper Border

  • Rows 205-208: With CA, rep Row 1, 4 times.
  • BO in pattern for Row 1. Fasten off CA. 

Assembly Diagram

Assembly and Finishing

  • Spray block strips to shape before assembly.
  • When dry and with Right Side facing, connect strips using long yarn tail and yarn needle with mattress stitch seam (see Pattern Notes) as follows. Join Right Edge Strip to First Center Strip; join First Center Strip to Second Center Strip; join Second Center Strip to Left Edge Strip following Assembly Diagram above. 
  • With yarn needle, weave in ends.
© 2015, 2019 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use the pattern to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: https://undergroundcrafter.com/2019/12/30/sampler-baby-blanket-knitting-pattern-crayon-box-afghan/. Thanks for supporting indie designers!

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