Machine knit the stocking stitch middle
Hand knitted the garter edging.

Machine fine gauge cast on 160sts on waste yarn with gauge set to 10 making a loose fabric of about 5.5sts per inch after blocking. Similar to the hearts lace one.
Knit 260rows to make it slightly longer than square.

With 3.25mm needles I picked up live stitches from the ends then 3 out of ever 4 stitches down each side. Totalling about 710sts. Picked up and knit with right side facing.
Place marker at each corner.
Round 1: purl
Round 2: * k1, yo, k to 1st from marker, yo, k1, slip marker, * repeat to end of round.
Round 3: purl (purl yarn overs twisted to close the whole, twisting in opposite directions on either side of the corner)

Repeat rounds 2&3 for a total of 10garter ridges, cast off loosely on a knit row.

Washed and then pinned and steam blocked to 32” x 34”. The steam helps to set the acrylic yarn but not kill it completely, resulting in a soft drapey blanket that holds its shape after washing.

Lex and Athena loved the hearts blanket, so much so that getting it washed was causing stress. Making another would have taken a huge amount of time, so I offered to machine knit a simpler one in the same yarn.