Free Pattern | Easy Knit Baby or Lap Blanket

Let me show you how to make the Easy Knit Baby or Lap Blanket – a cosy mat or snuggle throw featuring a bold, geometric chevron stitch.

Watch the video tutorial for a walk-through of how to make your own baby or lap blanket!

Finished Dimensions

The Easy Knit Baby or Lap Blanket knits up to approximately 28” / 72cm wide and 40” / 100cm long, relaxed after blocking.

Yarn

Aran weight yarn

Sample used approximately 1000yds / 915m in total (90yds / 83m for each first and last stripe, 82yds / 75m for each stripe in-between) of Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 10ply (100% superwash wool, 328yds / 300m per 200g), in 4 colours

Colour A = Moonflower (light grey)

Colour B = Cream (cream)

Colour C = Slate (dark grey)

Colour D = Curry (yellow)

FIRE WARNING: Regardless of the yarn recommended in this pattern as suitable for the item, for the safety of children, do not make blankets from yarns which burn readily. Care must be taken in a potential fire environment if your child’s handknit is loose fitting. This blanket is not designed to be used as sleepwear.

Needles

US size 10 / 6mm needles, OR size to obtain gauge

A 32” / 80cm length circular needle is recommended to comfortably accommodate the large number of stitches in this project.

Notions

– Ruler

– Scissors

– Tapestry Needle

– Optional: Stitch Markers

Gauge

Approximate width of each chevron = 3.3” / 8.5cm, measured from peak to peak.

24 rows = 4” / 10cm, in Chevron Stitch Pattern (below), knit flat and relaxed after blocking.

Abbreviations

k: knit

k2tog: knit 2 together (1 stitch decreased)

kfb: knit front back (knit into front leg of next stitch, then knit into back leg of same stitch before slipping worked stitch from the left-hand needle) (1 stitch increased)

* *: repeat from * to *

Chevron Stitch Pattern

Worked over a multiple of 16 stitches + 7

Every Row: K11, *k2tog, k6, kfb, k7* to last 12 stitches, k2tog, k6, kfb, k3.

Easy Knit Baby or Lap Blanket

Directions

With Colour A and long tail cast on method, cast on 135 stitches.

Using Chevron Stitch Pattern instructions (above), work the following number of rows with each colour:

Colour A = 21 rows

Colour B = 20 rows

Colour C = 20 rows

Colour D = 20 rows

Colour A = 20 rows

Colour B = 20 rows

Colour C = 20 rows

Colour D = 20 rows

Colour A = 20 rows

Colour B = 20 rows

Colour C = 20 rows

Colour D = 20 rows

Bind off all stitches. Break yarn and draw through final stitch to secure. Weave in loose ends of yarn. Check care instructions for your yarn and, if suitable, soak blanket in lukewarm water with wool wash added for 15–20 minutes. Squeeze out excess water and roll blanket up in-between two towels so you can further press any water out, then unroll blanket and lay it to dry on a flat surface.

Make sure you don’t leave any long yarn tails on your project, as these can pose a strangulation hazard to babies. Once I had securely woven in my ends and blocked the blanket, I trimmed the excess yarn so the remaining length was nice and short. Take care to regularly remove any pills that may appear on your blanket, as these may pose a choking hazard if they are picked off by little ones.

WARNING: DO NOT use this blanket without adult supervision, or leave this blanket within a baby’s reach, as blankets can pose a suffocation hazard to babies. This blanket is NOT recommended for cot/crib use. Always seek expert advice regarding when and where, in what size and weight, and at what age a blanket is safe for your child!

Share your projects with us on social media using #TheSweaterCollective, and enjoy your new blanket!