How to Knit a Blanket with Straight Needles

How to Knit a Blanket with Straight Needles

Learning how to knit a blanket is straightforward. With a detailed guide and the right materials, you’ll hack the process in no time and become a pro.

While knitting a blanket is one of the big projects you can handle as a beginner, it should not scare you. Once you understand the pattern when starting to knit, the other part will be simple since you keep repeating the pattern to the end, as shown in this video. 

You can also follow the steps below on how to knit a blanket with straight needles for beginners.

How to Knit a Blanket with Straight Needles for Beginners

A well-knit blanket shows your prowess and knitting skills, although it takes time to complete a single project when you’re a beginner. When learning how to start knitting, straight needles are your best companion.

Since knitting a blanket is a huge undertaking, you’ll require good planning to ensure that you pull the pattern as it is in the instructions. You can use three ways to knit a blanket: Patches, striped, and a one-color blanket. 

In our guide, we shall knit a single color blanket on straight needles, and below are the materials you’ll require.

Materials Needed

• • Straight knitting needles( long size between 7 and 10)
  • Yarn
  • Scissors
  • Stitch marker
  • Ruler

Step 1: Cast on enough stitches as they will determine the size of your blanket width. Whether you are using English or continental style, the pattern should be consistent.

Note: You can knit a long or short blanket depending on your preference, but you cannot change the width once you start knitting since cast on stitches determines the width.

Step 2: Hold the empty needle with your right hand and place it on the last stitch you made on the left needle. 

Insert the RH needle on the first stitch on the LH needle, wrap it anticlockwise with the knitting yarn, and pull the needle to the front through the loop on the LH needle.

Slide the RH needle to create a new stitch on the RH needle. Repeat the process until the end of the row.

Step 3: Repeat the knitting process by moving your RH needle back and forth over the working yarn until you finish knitting your blanket.

Don’t worry when your best yarn for blankets gets finished—you can always take a break while you add more yarn. Again, knitting a blanket is not a one-day project!

Step 4: When you reach the end of your project, use the skills on how to cast off knitting to finish. Hold your RH needle and put it under the last stitch you made on the LH needle.

 Make two stitches, then slide the first loop on the RH needle over the second loop using your LH needle. Repeat the interchange loops until there are none left on the left-hand needle.

You may insert hang tags to help keep the blanket neat when not in use and woven labels to advertise your brand name.

Step 5: Pull a long tail the size of your arm length through the last loop. After casting off all the stitches on the right-hand needle, ensure you pull the end tail and make a knot to secure your stitches and prevent your blanket from unraveling.

Step 6: Stitch your tail end on the outer side of the blanket using the skills you learned earlier on how to weave in ends knitting. You can use your knitting needles or a crotchet to ensure the ends are seamless. Snip off the remaining yarn after you have completely secured the tail.

How to Knit a Blanket with Circular Needles Step by Step

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Sometimes, beginners view circular knitting needles as complicated. But they are not! They are as easy as straight knitting needles. When learning how to knit a huge project like a blanket, circular needles are the best considering the length and width of your blanket, as you can see on this video tutorial.

Again, these needles will save your wrist from aches due to handling a long project for days. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to use circular knitting needles for a blanket.

Materials you’ll Need

• • Yarn
  • Long circular needles
  • Knitting pattern
  • Ruler for measuring yarn gauge
  • Knitting Stitch marker

Step 1: Cast on stitches

Cast on stitches on your left-hand circular knitting needle. As you knit, the stitches will move to the cable part of your needle,

Step 2: Begin knitting the first row

While maintaining the needle with the cast-on stitches on the left hand, hold the knitting needle with your right hand and start knitting the first row to the end.

Exchange the needles and continue knitting the second row while you maintain the pattern requirement. Repeat the process by marking the stitches until you reach the required number of rows before checking the gauge.

Note: Remember to maintain the pattern to avoid different results.

Step 3: Confirm the Pattern Gauge

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After knitting a few rows, you’ll now have a sample of how it will look when complete. Take a ruler and confirm whether the gauge matches with the one on the pattern. In case you’re getting confused, the indicator is the number of stitches on each inch.

If the gauge is smaller than the one on your pattern, you’ll have to unravel the rows and start again. On the other hand, if the gauge is larger, you’ll need to change the size of your knitting needles and go for smaller ones.

Where you strictly follow a blanket knitting pattern, checking the gauge is crucial as it can mess you up big time!

Step 4: Continue Knitting

After confirming the gauge is right, repeat step two to the end of your project.

Step 5: Bind off the Blanket

Image Source: 10 Rows a Day

It’s time to bind off after reaching your best blanket length, also known as cast-off knitting. Choose a stretched bind-off pattern to ensure your project doesn’t unravel and the edges will be similar to the body of the blanket.

Leave a long tail to help weave in ends without stretching your blanket, then cut off the remaining part to avoid loose ends hanging.

What Size Knitting Needles for a Blanket

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There is no “one size fits all” knitting needle for a blanket. This is because there are varieties of needle sizes that you can use for great results. Choosing a needle size depends on the pattern, yarn weight, and the type of blanket you are knitting.

Larger yarn weights are best knit with larger knitting needles. The best way to check your needle size is to read your pattern requirement before purchasing.

Note: Change in needle size will give different results.

When knitting a standard blanket, size eight circular needles are the best as they are two needles joined by a long cord. This cord helps carry the blanket weight as you knit and prevents the stitches from falling off the needle.

All you need is to make sure the length of the cord matches the width of your blanket. Below are the factors to consider when choosing what size needles for knitting a blanket are the best.

Factors to Consider When Choosing What Size Needles for Knitting a Blanket are the Best

Choosing what needles to use to knit a blanket can be tricky if you don’t have a pattern or guide. However, for any basic knitting to succeed, you need to consider the below factors when choosing the best size needle for your project.

1. 1. Yarn Type

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Different types of yarn work well with varying sizes of needles. The type of yarn that you’ll use for your project is always indicated on the knitting pattern. Some patterns are so complicated and require a specific yarn size and a matching needle.

If you have a fine yarn for your project, you’ll work with knitting needles with a small diameter. On the other hand, chunky yarn type goes well with thick needles.

      2. Knitting Needle Diameter

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The required gauge size by your pattern dictates the size of needle diameter you will work with. A small gauge calls for a needle with a small diameter and vice versa.

      3. Blanket Size

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When knitting large blankets, you’ll use large circular knitting needles for your comfort. However, straight needles would be best when knitting a smaller blanket or learning how to knit a scarf.

Again, when knitting a large blanket, you’ll need to be mindful of your tension by using the right knitting needles. The blanket size will help you choose the best knitting needle.

Blanket type	Needle size(US)
Lighter weight knit blanket	3-4
Medium weight blanket, easy knitting	5-8
Thicker blankets	9-11
Thicker, loose blanket	11
Thick and chunky, very loose-knit blanket	17

How to Knit a Circle Blanket

Image Source: Ravelry

A circle or round blanket has a unique look and is easy to knit than you thought. If you know how to change colors in knitting, you should try this type of blanket. Its circular shape gives you more chances of playing with colors to match your taste and preference.

These circular blankets are good for a baby bed or even couch wrap as you switch to relaxing mode after a long day. This video explains the best and simple method for knitting a circle blanket.

However, you can also follow the below guide for a step-by-step guide on knitting the pattern.

Materials Needed

• • Stitch marker
  • Size eight double pointed needle (DPN)
  • Circular needles
  • Worsted Weight Yarn

Step 1: Cast on five stitches using a double-pointed needle and place a stitch marker at the middle. You can also knit the first row before inserting the stitch marker.

Step 2: Spread your stitches on two more needles to continue knitting using three DPN. Ensure you place stitch markers every time you finish a round, as it will help you know when to yarn over (YO).

Even if you’re a beginner, using stitch markers will help you realize when getting closer to YO point.

Step 3: After knitting enough base stitches, add another DPN and spread the stitches equally among the four needles. Continue knitting until the blanket takes shape.

Step 4: After some stitches, the blanket will be too heavy for the four DPNs when you reach around 100 stitches. The trick here is to switch to a long circular needle, probably size 12(or appropriate length).

Insert the circular needle as if it’s the fifth needle, then transfer all the stitches while ensuring they don’t slide on the other side of the needle.

Step 5: As the blanket gets longer, the more crowded it looks on your knitting needles. When you get here, it’s time to transfer your work on a longer circular needle that will hold the blanket without too much crumbling.

You will use the same method as step four above to transfer the stitches to the new circular needed. You can also use needle caps to prevent losing any stitches when transferring. Expect the project to look flatter and showcase your pattern progress.

Note: Depending on the size of your blanket, you‘ll keep changing needles as you progress.

Step 6: After knitting enough stitches, it’s time to bind off. This type of blanket has different ways to bind it off. You can use I-cord bind off or knit a few rounds of garter stitch to ensure the ends lie straight and flat, then cast off as usual.

Alternatively, you may knit one plain stitch around the blanket as you fix care labels to give it nice trimmed edges before weaving in ends.

Initials	Meaning
RH	Right hand
LH	Left hand
DPN	Double Pointed Needle
YO	Yarn over

What Size Knitting Needles for a Throw Blanket is the Best for Beginners?

Image Source: Dwell

Throw blankets are small in size compared to standard blankets. Their base stitches range from 96 stitches for the small size to 166 stitches for the large size.

Apart from the difference in size, all other materials needed for knitting the throw blankets remain the same. This includes the needles, which vary depending on the pattern and the type of yarn you intend to use.

The size of your knitting needles affects the experience you’ll have when working on your project. The best needle for beginners knitting throw blankets is the medium size. Their width range from sizes six to eight and a length of 10 inches. This, however, changes when the project size increases.

So the best size knitting needles for throw blankets are circular knitting needles as they are flexible and easy to use.

Conclusion

Learning how to knit a blanket with straight needles is one of the first large projects for beginners. It usually comes with a pattern that is easy to follow since you keep repeating it throughout the project.

If you are not comfortable with how to knit a blanket on straight needles, you can use circular needles, which is a better option considering the size of your project. Although the circular needles help reduce the load on your wrist, you’ll need to keep changing them as the blanket gets bigger. This will reduce crumbling on the edges.

Have you finished knitting your blanket?