baby blanket pattern suggestions

[hopinghopefullyagain]

I knitted the bernat giggles afghan blanket for my dd who was sadly stillborn last year. I'm now pregnant again and knitting the same blanket for our rainbow baby (God willing). As well as the obvious emotional links, this blanket works for me as a knitter because it's easy and I find finishing small squares often much more motivating than doing a whole blanket in one go. My dsis is also pregnant and I'd like to knit a different blanket for her baby. I'm looking for a pattern which will motivate me in the same way so maybe squares or stripes. Any ideas gratefully received.

Forgot to say I'm also teaching myself to crochet and can do the very basics

I'm very sorry about your dd I think it's lovely your lo will have a matching blanket.

Google says the bernat giggles blanket is made from mitred squares. If you want something similar you could do squares knitted diagonally:
Cast on three
k1 kfb k to end of row - repeat until square is almost as big as you want it
4 rows k
k1 k2tog k to end of row - repeat until 3 stitches remaining
cast off

Or if you'd like to crochet then granny squares are great and very simple. You can do join as you go to save on sewing up if you like.

This is my favourite blanket book - loads to choose from, from really simple garter stitch ones to more intricate lace ones. I'll try and find a pic of the one I knitted for my DTs

Actually if you look on the second picture on that Amazon link you will see some of the blankets in the book - I did the last one in the middle row. It's a lot more straightforward than it looks and is knitted in squares which then get sewn together.

I have recently crocheted this which is lovely. It is made in one piece but looks like squares.

It is just chains and trebles too.

Congratulations

Are you on Ravelry? It's well worth signing up to if you knit, crochet or weave. There are tons of patterns on there and people post up projects that they have made so you can see how a pattern makes up with different colours and variations. If you do an advanced pattern search you can look for knitted blankets.

I have made a few baby blankets, but they were crocheted so not much help to you.

Lots of great suggestions here, thank you so much. Now to make a decision.