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Giveaway- 35 Knitted Baby Blankets: For the Nursery, stroller, and playtime

November 16, 2016 by Stefanie Girard

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Giveaway- 35 Knitted Baby Blankets: For the Nursery, stroller, and playtime

Leave a comment in today’s post by November 25, 2016 and you are in the running for this adorable knitting book.

Open to U. S. residents only please.

News of a new arrival brings about a flurry of activity. In reality there is very little a newborn needs other than warmth and love and what better way to show that you care than to hand-knit a beautiful baby blanket.

From the first car journey to an outing in a stroller, a knitted blanket will accompany baby wherever they go. Laura Strutt has designed a teddy bear travel blanket that cleverly folds away into a pillow and a hooded wrap for keeping cozy in a sling. For the nursery there is a soft crib cover and a dungaree-style sleeping sack in breathable merino yarn perfect for a peaceful night’s rest. For playtime, there’s a cotton-backed blanket that can double up as a rug to take out and about and a tiny comforter blanket guaranteed to become baby’s closest companion.

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Comments

  1. Bonney says

    November 16, 2016 at 4:46 pm

    Baby blankets are my most favorite thing to knit!! This book was made for me!

  2. knittingdancer says

    November 16, 2016 at 5:36 pm

    Baby blankets makes great gifts for new parents. This would be a great addition to any knitter’s library.

  3. Cynthia Escamilla says

    November 16, 2016 at 8:44 pm

    You can also expand them into full size blankets/afghans.

  4. Caroline Jacobson says

    November 16, 2016 at 9:10 pm

    I would love this.

  5. Karen Wilson says

    November 16, 2016 at 9:31 pm

    Would love to win!

  6. Sarah G says

    November 16, 2016 at 11:04 pm

    This would be wonderful!

  7. Kitten With A Whiplash says

    November 17, 2016 at 2:22 am

    I bet a lot of these patterns could be adapted to everything from doll blankets to full sized adult afghans!

  8. Gloria Burdin says

    November 17, 2016 at 4:51 am

    Would love to win this!

  9. Marian says

    November 17, 2016 at 9:21 am

    The most fun is trying new stitches. In the evenings it keeps me from eating!

  10. geri actor says

    November 18, 2016 at 7:48 pm

    I make 1-3 baby blankets each year, can use this book ;-).

  11. lucinda craig says

    November 27, 2016 at 10:27 am

    this would be a great gift for my niece or a great give-away to one of the Navy families in the area.

  12. lelia says

    December 26, 2016 at 9:23 am

    Charming book cover ; ) Always a delight to knit with good thoughts and vibes for a new baby

Have you read?

Why Do Your Kids Play with the Box? An Interview with Child Psychologist Dr. Lucy Harper

I was at a recent blogger’s meetup—chatting, sipping lukewarm coffee, and exchanging parenting war stories—when the conversation turned to toys. More specifically, the boxes toys come in.

“You know,” I laughed, “my kid unwrapped a fancy, interactive toy last Christmas, and five minutes later, the box had become a spaceship… the toy? Completely abandoned.”

That’s when Dr. Lucy Harper, a warm and wise child psychologist with a mischievous grin, chimed in: “Oh, the box wins every time. And there’s a very good reason for that.”

Naturally, I had to ask her more. What followed was one of the most fascinating, reassuring conversations I’ve had as a parent.

Me: So, Lucy—why do kids love playing with the box more than the actual toy?

Dr. Harper: Honestly, it’s one of the most developmentally beautiful things kids can do. When a child chooses the box, they’re choosing imagination over instruction. A toy often has one purpose—it sings, it moves, it lights up. But a box? A box can be anything. Kids see endless potential in something we adults might just toss in the recycling.

Me: So you’re saying it’s not just them being weird or ungrateful?

Dr. Harper: [Laughs] Not at all. It’s actually a wonderful sign of creativity and cognitive flexibility. Think of it like this—boxes offer what we call “open-ended play.” There’s no one way to use a box. That freedom gives children the chance to invent, experiment, and take charge of their own playtime. It helps their brains build problem-solving skills, storytelling ability, spatial reasoning… the list goes on.

Me: Okay, but does it really help with development? Or are we just romanticizing cardboard?

Dr. Harper: Oh, it absolutely helps. When your child turns a box into a rocket or a cave, they’re engaging multiple areas of their brain. They’re building narratives (language skills), exploring size and shape (early math concepts), using fine and gross motor skills (tape, scissors, crawling inside), and even practicing emotional regulation. That “I made this myself” feeling is powerful for confidence.

Me: You mentioned emotional regulation—how does box play support that?

Dr. Harper: Great question. Sometimes, boxes become cozy hideaways—reading nooks, forts, quiet spots. For many kids, that’s self-soothing. It’s their way of saying, “I need a break from all the noise.” And giving them space to retreat into a world they’ve created can be incredibly comforting.

Me: I’ve definitely seen that. So how can parents support more of this kind of play?

Dr. Harper: Start saving boxes! Seriously. Don’t rush to recycle them. Offer markers, tape, scissors, scrap paper, fabric—just let kids take the lead. You’d be amazed what they come up with. And here’s the secret: you don’t need a Pinterest-perfect play setup. The messier and more imaginative, the better.

Dr. Harper’s Favorite “Box Play” Ideas
Before we wrapped up (pun intended), I asked Lucy for some of her go-to box play setups that parents can try at home. Here’s what she shared:

The Spaceship Command Center
“Flip a large box over, cut a few windows, and hand over some foil and paper plates for the ‘control panels.’ Bonus points if your child names the spaceship and creates a mission.”

The DIY Café or Bakery
“Boxes make great shop counters. Set one up with play food or paper treats, and let your child take orders and serve customers. This builds storytelling and social skills.”

Wearable Cardboard Costumes
“Kids love making robot bodies, animal masks, or even cardboard wings. It blends creative expression with physical movement.”

The Crawl Tunnel or Maze
“Especially fun for toddlers—just tape boxes together to make a crawling path. It feels like a mini adventure.”

The Giant Art Canvas
“Flatten a box and let them draw a city, a racetrack, a jungle… whatever they dream up. Then use toy figures or cars to play out scenes.”

Me: Last question—what would you say to the parent who feels bad that their expensive toy got ignored?

Dr. Harper: I’d say: it’s okay. Your child didn’t reject your gift—they just found a different way to explore joy. Playing with the box isn’t a failure of the toy—it’s a success of their imagination.

And sometimes, the best toy is the one that didn’t cost a thing.

So next time your child dives headfirst into a cardboard box, don’t worry—embrace it. You might just be watching their creativity take flight.

Want to turn this into a printable resource or social media share? I can help with that too!

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