15 Best Free Blanket Knitting Patterns for Beginners
Introduction
Looking for the best free knitting blanket patterns? Good news, we’ve got you covered! From baby blanket knitting patterns to throw sized knitting blanket patterns, there’s a wide variety here and you’re sure to find the perfect project.
This list of simple knit baby blankets are all ideal options for beginner knitters. Most of them use only knit and purl stitches making them great Knitflix and Chill projects too. All free knitting patterns here provide written instructions and several have photo and/or video tutorials for more visual learners. Find your favorite pattern, grab your yarn and circular needles, curl up in your favorite chair and get to knitting!
Materials Needed for Knitting Blankets
- Yarn (duh!) – The patterns here use a variety of different yarns. There are endless options that are great for making blankets. It all just depends on your desired end result. Choosing the right yarn is important for knitting blankets. You want to choose a yarn that’s going to be soft and, typically speaking, easy to wash. Be sure to check the type of yarn used and often times the designer will recommend yarn substitutions.
- Knitting Needles – Each pattern will specify what size needles you need. If you’re concerned with getting the same gauge as the designer so your blanket comes out the same size, you’ll need to make a gauge swatch first. If your stitches are too small, you’ll need to go up in needle size. If your stitches are too big, you’ll need to go down in needle size. Most, if not all, knitting blanket patterns call for circular needles. This is not because they’re knit in the round, but because you need the long cord to accommodate the large number of stitches. I prefer longer cords than are actually needed. This gives me some wiggle room as far as not having to worry about stitches falling off while I’m not working on it and you can really show it off in progress photos.
- Stitch Markers – Most of the patterns listed here don’t call for stitch markers. However, they can be useful in counting rows. Simply place a stitch marker every so many rows to keep track of how many rows you’ve knit.
Skill Level Needed
All of the free knitting blanket patterns listed here are considered beginner-friendly. That being said, there are some that are easier than others. If you have a basic knowledge of knitting stitches, you can make most of these blankets. Some are a little more adventurous than others, though. I’ve included my thoughts on each and I recommend reading about the pattern (including all pattern notes) and reading through the free pattern before deciding if you’re ready to make it. I’ve been knitting and crocheting for years and I still do this. There’s nothing worse than being completely ‘prepared’ for a project to find out that you underestimated the pattern or it’s simply not a pattern that you truly enjoy.
Looking for easy crochet blankets instead? Check out my Beginner Baby Blanket Crochet Patterns Roundup for some beautiful crochet blanket inspiration.
Billowy Quilted Throw Blanket
Designer: Mama in a Stitch
About the Pattern: I particularly love chunky knit blankets! This gorgeous blanket may look intricate, but I promise it’s easy! The stitch pattern is an 8 row repeat and it uses only knit and purl stitches. It’s beautiful in a solid color and would look amazing in self-striping yarn too. I could see this knit blanket being an amazing wedding gift.
Chunky Knit Throw Blanket
Designer: Handy Little Me
About the Pattern: This blanket uses the broken rib stitch, which is made using only knit and purl stitches. It’s also worked with giant 25mm knitting needles and double strands of super bulky weight yarn, with a total of 12 skeins of yarn. Talk about a cozy blanket!
Classic Seed Stitch Blanket
Designer: Brome Fields
About the Pattern: The Seed Stitch is one of the easiest stitches to learn and it creates a beautiful texture. Learn how to knit the Seed Stitch and make this gorgeous, chunky throw, even if you’re a complete beginner! Pattern is written in 6 blanket sizes and is a full tutorial tailored towards beginner knitters.
Color Block Bias Blanket
Designer: Purl Soho
About the Pattern: This garter stitch blanket pattern is made, drumroll please, on the bias! It starts with 5 stitches and increases to the widest point, then you decrease until you’ve completed a square. This is a good project for customizing to whatever size you’d like, say if you’d like a smaller blanket, and would look great in a multitude of colors.
Diagonal Seed Stitch Blanket
Designer: Lee Lee Knits
About the Pattern: I love diagonal seed stitch blankets and there are many versions out there to choose from. I love the simplicity of diagonal seed stripes and stockinette section of this one paired with the tweed yarn. This free knit blanket pattern uses worsted weight yarn and is an all-around lovely baby blanket pattern.
Get the FREE handmade blanket pattern here!
Easy Striped Baby Blanket
Designer: Dabbles and Babbles
About the Pattern: This baby blanket knitting pattern is actually Jamey’s first written knitting pattern so it’s perfect for beginner knitters! This Easy Striped Baby Blanket features a simple garter stitch border surrounding a stockinette stitch body. It uses only knit stitches and purl stitches and the different colored stripes make it very visually appealing.
Giant Knit Blanket
Designer: B.Hooked
About the Pattern: This giant knit blanket looks so cozy. It’s made using jumbo yarn and huge 25mm needles and I can imagine how real the squish is. This would be a great project for practicing the very basics and creating and practicing the stockinette stitch.
Get the FREE printable version of this pattern here!
Harvest Throw
Designer: Two of Wands
About the Pattern: This is another one of those blankets that looks much more complicated than it actually is. It uses only knit and purl stitches with an 8 row repeating pattern to create the beautiful chevron texture. Alexandra used Lion Brand Hue + Me and you could use any bulky or Aran weight yarn to get a similar result. I would consider this an adventurous beginner knitting pattern. It uses simple stitches but you have to pay attention to the repeat to make sure the pattern comes out as intended.
Mr. Yarnique’s Chunky Knit Blanket
Designer: Yarnique
About the Pattern: This giant chunky knit blanket is the coziest thing you’ll knit for yourself or a special someone. It features a Seed Stitch border with striped of Seed Stitch and stockinette stitch running the length of the body of the blanket. Using only knit and purl stitches and super bulky yarn with large needles, this blanket is beginner friendly and works up quick!
Get the FREE chunky knit blanket pattern here!
Super Easy Lap Blanket
Designer: Purl Soho
About the Pattern: I love the color palette on this blanket! This is a super easy free knitting pattern using only knit stitches throughout the entire pattern making it perfect for beginners. Get creative with the colors you use and make something truly original each time.
Stormy Weather Blanket
Designer: Bernat Design Team for yarnspirations.com
About the Pattern: This is another blanket that uses only knit stitches throughout. The yarn is the star of the show here. It uses very big needles with double strands of Bernat Blanket yarn. This blanket has got to be one of the squishiest you’ll make!
Teddy Bear Blanket
Designer: Yarnique
About the Pattern: This is an easy knit blanket perfect for beginners. Using a simple 4 row repeat and only knit and purl stitches, you’ll have a squishy, snuggly, cuddly blanket in no time. Pattern is written with double strands of bulky weight yarn (or substitute a single strand of super bulky yarn) and in 5 blanket sizes.
Terra Blanket
Designer: 1 Dog Woof
About the Pattern: If you love the look of buffalo plaid but don’t care for seaming, this blanket would be perfect for you! It uses double strands of only 2 colors to create the beautiful plaid effect. This blanket would look good in SO many different color options! There is some light colorwork involved with this pattern but ChiWei does a great job explaining how to do it with lots of photos. I’d say this is probably an advanced beginner pattern simply because of the colorwork.
The Arctic Throw
Designer: Sew Homey
About the Pattern: This is the pinnacle of easy knit blankets. It includes step-by-step instructions plus video tutorials for brand new knitters. Made with super bulky weight yarn, this blanket is a quick knit. Plus, it’s completely reversible! I love the twisted fringe as an added finishing touch.
The Parker Throw
Designer: Meghan Makes Do
About the Pattern: Although I love the gorgeous color of this blanket with the stitch pattern that’s used, it would look amazing in so many different colors. This is another pattern that looks complicated but is super easy to make. This pattern uses worsted weight yarn so will take you a little longer if you’re new to knitting but will be well worth the time and effort. The textured section of this blanket is *chef’s kiss*.
Get the FREE knit blanket pattern here!
Final Thoughts on Blanket Knitting Patterns for Beginners
If you don’t already love knitting blankets, you’re sure to after working up one of these gorgeous blankets. Blankets are big projects and can be a bit of hard work but they are well worth the time and effort! I’ve loved making blankets since I picked up my crochet hook consistently about 15 years ago. When I taught myself to knit about 5 years ago, I fell in love with knitting blankets too! I love being able to make my own blankets and it’s so much fun gifting others a beautiful hand knit blanket.
Happy knitting!
