***You can purchase an INEXPENSIVE AD-FREE PDF of this pattern on Etsy HERE and on LoveKnitting HERE! This beautifully formatted PDF includes BOTH the Simple Garter Stitch Blanket Pattern and the Chunky Ribbed Knit Blanket Pattern, as well as the step-by-step pictures. It is a total of 7 pages including the cover page! You can also find both patterns in my Easy & Modern Knits Pattern Bundle found HERE (includes over 10 of my knit patterns at a discounted price)! You can also purchase a convenient kit HERE on the Lion Brand Yarn website (currently 20% OFF) that includes the pattern and all the luxurious Wool-Ease Thick & Quick and Homespun yarn needed to make this beautiful blanket!
It’s been such a joy rediscovering my love of knitting and sharing my knit projects with you all! Whenever I post a knitted project, I always get comments from readers stating that they wished that they knew how to knit, or that they’ve been meaning to learn! Thus, I created my Simple Knit Series to walk readers through three basic stitches (garter, stockinette and seed stitch) with accompanying picture and video tutorials so that complete beginners can create modern projects. The first project of my Simple Knit Series is the “Simple Garter Stitch Scarf” which is a gorgeous chunky design that is knit by holding two strands of yarn together (Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn and Homespun Yarn) with large 15 mm needles. I actually taught my sister how to knit recently, and I am so proud to say that she knit her very own Simple Garter Stitch Scarf within a weekend! She felt so accomplished being able to finish such a luxurious project within a short period of time, and she declared that knitting the garter stitch was “strangely addictive”!
The texture created by holding these two beautiful yarns together is stunning, and I wanted to try knitting a blanket using this same technique! Choosing color combinations is very fun, and Wool-Ease Thick & Quick comes in some gorgeous shades. As you know, I adore neutrals, so the “Fossil” colourway (Fisherman base with subtle stripes of camel, taupe, oxford and silver) is right up my alley! I used “Fossil” paired with Homespun in “Hepplewhite” (a true white) with my long 15 mm circular needles to knit this blanket.
It is such a relaxing and mindless knit as it only requires the garter stitch! This project is perfect to work on as you are relaxing at night while watching television. Another perk of knitting blankets is that they drape over you and keep you warm as you work on them! Blankets are such delightful and practical fall and winter projects when you are curled up and cozy at home as the temperatures drop.
To create smoother edges, I slipped the first stitch of each row purlwise with the yarn in front. I made sure to move the yarn to the back immediately after so that I could kn t the rest of the stitches. This step is optional but gives a cleaner edge!
When I was done knitting my blanket, I wanted to try adding some luxurious embellishments: tassels! I wrapped some Wool-Ease Thick & Quick around a DVD of a suitable size.
I then threaded a strand of yarn through the tops of the loops and tied a double knot.
Next, I used another strand of yarn and tied some knots about 2″ below the top. I then cut the bottom loops to create individual strands of yarn.
After creating four tassels, I attached them to each corner of the blanket!
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Here is the free pattern for my Simple Garter Stitch Blanket:
Materials:
- 6 skeins of Lion Brand Yarn’s Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Fossil (super bulky, level 6 yarn)
- 3 skeins of Lion Brand Yarn’s Homespun Yarn (bulky, level 5 yarn) in “Hepplewhite” (true white) or “Deco” (soft cream) – pictured in this pattern is Hepplewhite
- 15 mm 40″ long Chiaogoo Circular Needles (size 19)
- Clover Felting Needle Tool (optional for felting Wool-Ease Thick & Quick yarn ends together)
Notes:
- Hold both strands of yarn together at the same time and treat them as one when knitting.
- To create smoother edges, slip the first stitch of each row purlwise with the yarn in front. Then move the yarn to the back and knit the rest of the stitches.
- You can also simply knit all the stitches without slipping the first stitch if you do not want the smoother edge.
- When adding a new ball of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, you can felt the yarn ends together with a felting needle tool since it contains wool. You will need to tie knots when adding a new skein of Homespun since this yarn cannot be felted.
- If you would like to add tassels with Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, leave about 10 grams of yarn for each tassel (the pattern as written below leaves about 60 grams of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn). Homespun yarn tends to fuzz up and fray if left as a single strand, so it is recommended that you use Wool-Ease Thick & Quick for the tassels.
- If you are completely new to knitting and would love to learn how to knit the garter stitch, check out Part 1 of my Simple Knit Series HERE entitled “How to Knit the Garter Stitch” (contains picture and video tutorials)!
Gauge: 6 sts and 11 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in garter stitch
Pattern:
Cast on 53 stitches using long tail cast-on (leave 100″ tail).
Row 1: Slip first stitch purlwise with yarn in front. Move yarn to back. Knit all stitches.
Row 2-135: Repeat R2
Cast off stitches.
Add tassels:
Using Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, wrap yarn around book of desired length (mine was 5.75″/14.5 cm) 15 times and cut yarn. Cut 12″ strand of yarn and thread through top of loops. Cut another 12″ strand of yarn and tie knots about 2″ below top- hide ends with rest of fringe. Use scissors to cut through bottom of loops. Attach tassel to corner of blanket using first 12″ strand of yarn attached to top of tassel. Repeat for all four corners of blanket. Each tassels is about 10 grams of yarn.
Final Measurements: 35″/89 cm wide x 48″/122 cm long (without tassels or fringe)
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The Simple Garter Stitch Blanket works up very quickly and is such a relaxing knit! The blend of colours is so beautiful, and the tassels add such a luxurious touch!
It is amazing adding some handmade to your home, and if you have always been wanting to knit a simple blanket for your space, give my Simple Garter Stitch Blanket a try! You will be so proud completing such a large and practical project that you can use throughout the year. We love having throw blankets around our home when we want to cuddle on the sofa or on the bed.
For those of you who want a bit more of a challenge, you can try my “Chunky Ribbed Knit Blanket” in which you use both knit and purl stitches to create some beautiful ribbing. You can find the free pattern for the ribbed blanket HERE! If you are interested in purchasing the concise PDF in my Etsy shop HERE, it includes BOTH patterns for the Simple Garter Stitch Blanket and the Chunky Ribbed Knit Blanket! Lion Brand Yarn is also offering a kit to make this blanket at 20% off, and it includes ALL the yarn you need to knit your own blanket (either the garter stitch or ribbed version)- you can grab it HERE. Happy knitting, everyone!
{This post is sponsored by Lion Brand Yarn! I’ve loved working with their yarn throughout the years and I’m thrilled that I get to collaborate with them every month!}
This pattern is an original pattern by Stephanie Lau of All About Ami. Please do not claim this pattern as your own. If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint it on your site. You may keep a copy for your own personal use but please DO NOT sell the pattern or distribute it.
You may sell products made from this pattern but please clearly credit the design to me, Stephanie Lau of All About Ami, and provide a link to my blog www.AllAboutAmi.com. Permission is NOT granted for mass production or factory manufacturing of any kind. Thank you for being respectful and for your understanding!
