X's and O's Baby Blanket

It's called X's and O's Baby Blanket. It is uber cute when it's done and I worked it in two strands of Lion Softee Baby throughout so it's ultra soft and creamy too!

X's and O's Baby Blanket
Skill: Easy

X's and O's Baby Blanket copyright © 3/9/06 Elizabeth Mareno

Supplies: J hook
MC- Sport yarn- approx 10 oz
CC #1- Sport yarn- approx 6-8 oz
CC #2- Sport yarn- approx 3 oz
(Amounts are estimated. Sample uses Bernat Softee Baby in "Baby Denims" for MC, Bernat Softee Baby in "Lemon" for CC #2 and Caron Simply Soft in "White" for CC #1)
Blunt Needle

**Note** Afghan is worked holding two strands of yarn together at all times.
**Specialty Stitches**
X-Stitch: worked over 2 st. Skip first st, tr in next st. Working behind tr just made, work tr in skipped st.
Bobble: (YO, insert hook in designated st, YO, pull through, YO, pull through 2 loops)3 times. YO, pull through 4 loops left on the hook. One bobble made.
Ch 3 counts as dc throughout
Ch 4 counts as tr throughout

With MC & CC #1,ch 78
Row 1: dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch across. (76)
Row 2(RS): ch 4, work X-stitch across, tr in top ch of ch 3. (76)
Row 3: ch 3, dc in each tr across, dc in top ch of ch 4. (76)
Row 4: ch 3, dc in each dc across, dc in top ch of ch 3.
Rows 5-7: Repeat row 4
Row 8: Repeat row 2
Row 9: Repeat row 3. Change CC #1 to CC #2
Row 10: ch 1, sc in each dc across. (76)
Row 11: ch 2, hdc in next sc, (create bobble in next sc, hdc in next 4 sc) 14 times, bobble, hdc in last 3 sc. (76)
Row 12: Repeat row 10. Change CC#2 to CC #1
Rows 13-36: Repeat rows 1-12 three times.
Rows 37-45: Repeat rows 1-9 once. Finish off.

Edging:
Row 1: Attach MC/CC#2 in top right dc with a ch 1. Sc in same st, sc evenly around afghan, putting 3 sc in each corner, ending with 2 sc in same st as first sc. join with sl st.
Row 2: ch 2, turn. Hdc in next 2 sc, work bobble, * (hdc in next 4 sc, work bobble st) to next corner, 3 hdc in corner sc*, work from * to * 2 more times. (hdc in next 4 sc, work bobble st) to next corner, 2 hdc in same st as first hdc. join with sl st.
Row 3: ch 1, turn. sc in same st, sc in each hdc around, putting 3 sc in corners, ending with 2 sc in same st as first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.