How to Knit a Blanket

How to Knit a Blanket? Learning how to knit a blanket can be one of the most fulfilling activities you can engage in. Besides giving you fulfillment and satisfaction, it can be a source of income or an amazing way of gifting a person you love with something unique.

You can also add woven labels to the blanket to appeal to your clients. In this piece, we provide all the information you need to know to knit a blanket. 

Let’s get started! 

Blanket Knitting Patterns 

Image source: Pixabay

Some knitters prefer a flowery pattern, while others want simple and plain ones. Before you learn how to knit a blanket, you need to explore the different knitting patterns to choose one that suits you best. Below are the different blanket patterns you can choose,

1. 1. Get Fresh Throw

After learning how to knit a scarf as a beginner, you need a blanket pattern that is easy to follow. The Get Fresh Throw pattern is simple and versatile to meet different knitting needs. You can use distinct colors when making a blanket for boys or girls.

This pattern uses super chunky yarn and therefore takes less time, unlike when learning how to knit a blanket with thin yarn. It also has a garter stitch design that adds a flair to your project. You also get to learn a new skill; changing colors amid the knitting.

      2. Wonderful Big Stitch Throw

This pattern offers you a simpler pattern that allows you to knit fast, although it may not be fun since there is not much to learn. Its Stockinette stitch design blends with every item in your house, making it ideal for any space.

If you’ve made other blankets that curled up on edges, you are probably wondering how this pattern turns out. You don’t have to worry about that since it uses a nifty garter stitch to make your border sturdy. No curling up!

      3. Beach Sunrise Baby Blanket

Looking for the ideal handmade baby shower gift? The Beach Sunrise Baby Blanket can help you do that. It adapts the garter stitch all the way, so you don’t have to worry about the next change of stitch.

The pattern does not require increases and decreases, so if you are learning how to knit a blanket for the first time, it’s a comfortable template to start with. To end the project, you will also need to learn how to cast off knitting. You can apply simple bind-off techniques such as the standard or stretchy bind-offs, depending on the edge you want.

Blanket pattern	Stitches
Get Fresh Throw	Garter stitch
Beach Sunrise Baby Blanket	Garter stitch
Wonderful Big Stitch Throw	Stockinette stitch Nifty Garter stitch

What Do I Need to Knit a Blanket?

Before knitting a blanket, ensure you have adequate time, enough yarn, knitting passion and skills, the right stitching needle, and a clear idea of the knitting pattern. 

1. 1. Knitting Needle 

Image Source: Michael Guineys

You can use either circular or straight needles. If you are a beginner and would love to accommodate the whole width of the blanket without bunching, ensure you use straight needles that are long enough. 

For intermediate to veteran knitters, the best needles are the long circular ones as the length allows you to knit a blanket of any size without much hassle. You can choose needles made from bamboo or metals. 

If you are a novice knitter, bamboo ones are easier to use than metallic ones. Wooden or plastic needles are of lower quality and may pose unnecessary challenges. 

Bamboo needles are lightweight, keep your hands from fatigue, maintain a smooth flow, and minimize the chances of splitting yarns. With this, you can be sure of a seamless and enjoyable knitting process. 

If you have finer yarn, use a needle with a smaller diameter and if you’ve chunkier yarn, get thicker needles. In most cases, you’ll find the recommended needle size for the yarn you select. 

      2. Yarn 

Image Source: Alley Kat’s Quilt Shop

You are at liberty to choose the color and size of yarn you want. The number of balls of yarn depends on the size of the blanket. Also, thinner yarn means you’ll take longer. 

For the best outcome, visualize the final look of the blanket, acquire enough yarn and choose the colors of your fancy. To make quick blankets buy bulky yarn to learn how to make a chunky knit blanket.

When it comes to yarn material, think of what you want to get and its durability. Wool is warm but can scratch and is hard to take care of in the long run. Cotton and acrylic are easier to maintain but will not provide the required warmth. 

A wool blend is best for warmth and easy maintenance. To help your clients maintain the blanket, add care labels with precise instructions.

      3. Blanket Pattern 

Image Source: Pinterest 

To knit a blanket that pleases you, you’ll need to have a clear idea of the knitting pattern you’ll use. If you are not sure, do your research in advance to avoid confusion. 

      4. Knitting Skills 

Making an amazing blanket requires basic knitting skills of casting on and casting off the yarn. If you don’t have the skills, worry not because we will help you gain and master this skill. 

      5. Adequate Time 

If you want to know how to knit a blanket as a beginner, you’ll need to plan in enough time to learn the skills and use them to make a blanket you’ll love. The best time is when you are relaxed and motivated to try this out. 

Too little time may result in frustration because you will leave the activity before practicing enough to perfect it. When you complete the project, you can figure out how to knit a sweater.

Requirement	Factors to consider
Needle	Choose a needle that you can easily work with; bamboo or metallic.
Knitting skills	To knit a blanket, you will need basic skills such as casting on, knitting and binding off.
Time	Consider the period you have to complete the blanket; this will help you plan.
Pattern	When choosing a pattern, consider your skill level, the thickness, and the look you want to accomplish.
Yarn	For quick blankets, you can use super chunky or super bulky yarn. If you are learning how to knit a blanket with thin yarn, you can use Worsted yarn.

How to Knit a Blanket for Beginners

Most novice knitters will look forward to knitting a blanket after completing a scarf project. Whether you plan to gift someone or create one for the cold night, here is how to knit a blanket for beginners step by step.

• • Patch Blanket

Image source: Pinterest

Searching for how to knit a blanket with short needles? Patch blanket is the method to choose. This technique allows you to use all the colors you want and blend stitches as you like. Here is how to knit a simple blanket using patch knitting

Step 1. Picking the Patch Size

Depending on how small or big you want your blanket to be, pick a patch size to work with. For example, if you want a 3 by 4 ft. blanket, you can use 5 inches patches. For a 4 by 6ft., you can use 8 inches and so on.

Step 2. Cast on Stitches

Make a slip knot on your working needle then cast on stitches until you get the required length (one side of the patch). You can apply the single cast on or the long-tail technique. If you are having challenges executing this step, here is how to cast on knitting.

Step 3. Time to Knit

Take the needle with stitches and hold it with your left hand then start working into them. How do you knit a blanket?

• • Insert your right needle into the first stitch from up, then down.
  • Wrap the right needle’s tip with the working yarn in a clockwise direction.
  • Pull the wrap up and out using the right needle.
  • Slide the left needle off the first stitch to be left with one stitch on the working needle

Step 4. Repeat step three until you knit all stitches into the right needle

Step 5. Repeat step four to complete the patch length.

Step 6. Cast off the last row to leave your work intact and close the last stitch to avoid unraveling.

Step 7. Follow steps three to six to knit the 12 patches. Once you complete them, you can arrange them in your working space to get a glimpse of what the final project will look like.

Step 8. Joining the Patches

When knitting a blanket, you want to avoid bunching up seams since they can mess up your project. To avoid this here is how you can join the patches.

• • Position two of the patches adjacent to each other and align their edges
  • Thread a new yarn into the needle, then poke into one of the edges.
  • Pull the yarn through the first border using the needle
  •  Poke into the second edge and pull the yarn through again. Ensure you tighten them up to have a running stitch appearance.
  • Continue going back and forth until you sew the patches’ borders completely.

Step 9. Arrange one square at a time next to the patches you’ve sewn to join them too to get a complete blanket.

• • Solid Colored Blanket

Image source: Pinterest

Step 1. Cast On; How to start knitting a Plain Blanket

Start by casting on 200 stitches on your needle using a suitable technique. If you plan to make a smaller or bigger blanket size, you can reduce or increase the number of stitches. For instance, when you cast on 210 stitches, you will knit a 4ft blanket.

Step 2. Knit

Knit the second row using a basic stitch such as Garter, Stockinette, or Rib stitches. When you finish the first row, repeat the process to knit the number of rows that match the length of your blanket. Don’t feel pressured; you can always put your project down and pick up where you left later.  

Step 3. Cast off

So, you are excited you’ve just knit the last row? Don’t allow those live stitches to bring your hard work to nothing. Cast off the stitches and close the last stitch. You can use the Standard or the I-Cord bind off depending on the edge you want and your skill level.

Step 4. Weave in the Loose End

• •  Cut the working yarn leaving a loose end that measures five to six centimeters.
  •  Thread it through a D crochet or tapestry needle.
  • Using the crochet or needle, thread the tail end inside the border around five to seven centimeters to secure it. Snap the yarn using sharp scissors.

Now you can enjoy your cozy blanket when reading your novel or drinking some coffee as you binge-watch. If you don’t like working with needles, here is a guide on how to finger knit. 

Afghan Patterns: How to Knit an Afghan

An afghan differs from a blanket in that it’s crocheted or knit and can be of any size. It’s mostly popular with beginners. A blanket isn’t crocheted most of the time, though it can and is usually the size of a bed. Afghans are also popular with beginners mastering knitting skills. 

There are different types of Afghans such as: 

• • Mile-a-minute Afghan 

These are made in many separate strips and have a minimum number of stitches per strip. The strips are then joined together. 

Image Source: Pinterest

• • Single-Piece Afghans 

These are the simplest and most basic afghans and are popular among beginners. 

• • Join-as-you-go 

Image Source: Pinterest

As the name suggests, join as you go afghans are made of different pieces, such that a new one starts where the last one ends. 

• • Graph-Ghan 

Image Source: Crochet Crowd

This is the type of afghan that follows a flat chart. It’s usually a visual design with a grid of colored squares. There are three approaches to this afghan: the tapestry crotchet, corner to corner crotchet, and pixel crochet. 

• • Motif Afghans 

Image Source: Knitted Patterns 

These are made up of squares or blocks and small motifs. They can follow the same design or a different one. For an easier and smooth knitting process, the motifs are of the same size. Most knitting veterans like the motif designs as they are versatile and portable. 

This complex design for scarves or blankets is best when a border or edge is added as a smooth finish for the afghan. But it’s not necessary though it makes the final product outstanding. 

Tips for Blanket Knitting 

If you want to enjoy your knitting, it’s important to know the common mistakes beginners make and how to rectify and avoid them as you progress. 

Possible Mistakes when knitting and How to Avoid them 

Pausing Your Knitting at the Middle of the Row 

Fatigue may catch up with you, and you decide to leave the incomplete blanket mid-row. When you resume knitting, you may not know the direction your knitting was headed. 

If you must leave your knitting midway, remember right is always right. Your needle should be on your right hand and head right. 

Continuous Loose or Wider Edges 

If you are a beginner knitter, you may have noted that you seem to be increasing the rows as you progress. When you notice this, you can unravel the yarn to where the mistake was made and correct it. 

If you accidentally wrapped the yarn over the needle, you can unknit the yarn and unwrap it from the needle. 

Stitches that are too tight 

You can make stitches that are too tight when you use the tapered part of your needle, and to avoid this, ensure you push your stitches to the widest part of the needle every time you make a new stitch. 

Tightening may also happen after stitching when tugging on the yarn. To prevent it, always hold your yarn loosely and lift the needle gently when making a new stitch. 

Lastly, you could be holding your yarn tension too tight when you wrap it around your palm. Try loosening the yarn tension. You’ll have to be deliberate on this until it becomes part of your stitching routine. 

Uneven Fabric and Messy Knitting 

You might have discovered that your knitting doesn’t look even and smooth. The possible cause is having too loose and too tight stitches that create inconsistency in your fabric. 

As you learn how to knit a blanket as a beginner, this is likely to happen, and the only way of solving this is by practice and being deliberate in developing a consistent way of holding your yarn. 

Your Blanket has Holes that You Cannot Explain 

A hole may be caused by an extra wrap on the needle that went unnoticed. To undo this mistake, unknit and unwrap the yarn over. To avoid future occurrences, ensure when you knit a stitch, the yarn is at the back, and when purling a stitch, the yarn is in front. 

Stitches Crossing Over Others 

Cross stitches occur when you insert the needle into the stitch, wrap the yarn but forget to slip the old stitch off the left needle and pull it through, ending with the new and old stitch on the right needle. 

You can solve this by slipping back the stitches to the left needle or unknitting them to the left needle, knitting afresh, and ensuring a new and even stitch.

Twisted Stitches 

This mistake happens when you put a picked-up stitch the wrong way, maybe by putting the left hand first. To make sure the mistake does not escalate so far, assess your fabric after every one or two rows to see how the stitches are falling. 

To remove twisted stitches, pull the stitches above the twisted one and pick it up from there. 

Conclusion

Planning to make a gift blanket for a friend’s baby shower? You can choose from the numerous knitting patterns. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced knitter, you can find a guide that fits you like a glove. 

To complete the blanket quickly, choose simple patterns that use super chunky or bulky yarns. If you have much time, you can pick a complex template that will help you acquire more knitting skills. For instance, using thin yarn to make Shifting Blocks Baby Blankets.

You can learn how to knit a hat to compliment the blanket. Don’t forget to eliminate gaps, consider tension, and avoid twisted stitches as you knit to make a neat project. Which tip did you find helpful?