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How to Knit a Blanket

I used to think that a blanket was a lot of knitting. But it's not necessarily that much more knitting than a scarf, and the finishing is easy, unlike a sweater. A blanket is not a bad knitting project for any level of knitter. You can choose to knit an elaborate king size blanket, or a simple garter stitch rectangle for a doll. It's also a good project for kids learning to knit who want to make something, but who don't want to make a washcloth or a scarf. I think a knitted blanket was my very first project, even if I didn't plan it that way; I was six years old, and my knitting tension went from very very loose on the first few rows, to very very tight on the last. It was a garter stitch triangle of many colours that became a doll's blanket.

Super Easy Baby Blanket from the Purl Bee Tree of Life Knitted Afghan Knitted Baby Blanket

Super Easy Baby Blanket

from Purl Bee

Tree of Life Knitted Afghan

from Lion Brand yarns

Basketweave Baby Blanket

from Classic Elite

 

Recipe 1: a simple garter stitch blanket

Step 1: Calculate your knitting gauge in stitches per inch. If the finished size of your blanket isn't crucial, use the gauge suggested on the yarn's label.

Step 2: Decide on the width of blanket you want to knit.

Step 3: Multiple your gauge by width. Cast on this many stitches.

Step 4: Knit every row until the blanket is the desired length.

Example: Doll Blanket, 10 inches wide, with a gauge of 4 stitches per inch. 4 sts per inch x 10 inches wide = Cast on 40 sts.

Sample dimensions (These are only intended as a rough guide. If you're planning on making anything larger than a baby blanket, I recommend reading a few patterns first for more guidance.)

Type of blanket Width (inches) Length (inches)
Very small doll blanket 10 12
Barbie-type doll blanket 14 18
Doll blanket 24 24
Baby blanket 30 40
Swaddling Blanket 36 36
Nursery blanket 45 55
Small lap blanket or wrap 24 48
Medium lap blanket 30 50
Large lap blanket 50 60
Twin size blanket 68 86


Recipe 2: a more challenging blanket

Garter stitch is easy, but can get boring to knit. Here are some other non-curling, simple, knitting stitch patterns that would work well in a blanket:

 

You will have to take the pattern repeat into account when calculating your cast on. 

Step 1: width in inches x stitches per inch = approx cast on

Step 2: approx cast on ÷ pattern multiple = approx number of pattern repeats that fit (if result is a whole number, skip to step 4)

Step 3: round off number of pattern reps to nearest whole number

Step 4: (rounded number of pattern reps x pattern mult) + plus sts = cast on

 

Eg, for a 25 inch blanket at 4 sts per inch in Dewdrop Stitch, which has a multiple of 6 sts plus 1:

Step 1: 25 x 4 = 100 sts (approx cast on)

Step 2: 100 ÷ 6 = 16.66...

Step 3: round up 16.66... to 17

Step 4: (17 x 6) + 1 = (102) + 1 = Cast on 103 stitches.

 

Sample Patterns to get you started

The Super Easy Baby Blanket pattern, free from the Purl Bee. They also sell yarn kits with gorgeous colours for the blanket.

A free basketweave blanket from Classic Elite yarns

A simple doll blanket

The popular Tree of Life knitted afghan by Nicky Epstein, a free knitting pattern from Lion Brand Yarns



Comments

By Guest on Dec 7, 2012 at 9:07 PM
Thank you!!!!
By Guest on Jul 2, 2012 at 8:09 AM
how to do you knit do you knit a blanket
By Guest on Jan 11, 2012 at 6:43 AM
Thanks so much for recipe one! I made a blanket for my niece by seeing knitted squares together and it came out awful, now with the help of recipe one I'm in the process of making her a much better blanket.
By Guest on Oct 22, 2011 at 12:17 AM
Thank you for recipe 1! I'm trying to make a blanket and everywhere I look it says "Measure how long you want and cast your stitches". How many stitches? It never says. And now I know why!
By Guest on Oct 4, 2011 at 11:45 PM
"Recipe 1" is great! I struggled with working out how many stitches I needed to cast on, just ended up tying myself in knots (quite literally!) So many thanks from a knitting novice for this simple way of working it out! :)
knit a doll blanket By Guest on Sep 30, 2011 at 8:24 PM
you have to tell me how to like show directins with hands not like youtube thow

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