How To Knit A Blanket For Beginners

If you are a beginner knitter, the perfect way to start is to learn how to knit a blanket.

If you would like to know how to knit a blanket or think that it may take too long to do, think again. Knitting a blanket for beginners couldn’t be simpler, and here is how you can get started.

How To Knit A Blanket For Beginners

If it is the first time you are knitting a blanket, then it is best to knit squares that you can join together at a later stage. In this way, you can make the blanket as big or small as you would like it to be.

It is also easy to knit squares, and you can do this at night while you are watching television. That way you will feel that you are achieving something while you are sitting in essence and doing nothing useful anyway. Knitting plain garter stitch or stocking stitch is quick and easy and you get to practise your skills without having to think too much.

This book is a very creative way to create cuddly creatures from squares if you want another use for those knitted squares, besides a blanket.

There are wise owls, feisty fighting fish, and delightful turtles, and these are just a few of the 25 cute critters that knitters will enjoy constructing from this collection of addictive projects.

If you want to make a baby blanket, a good size to knit would be 10cm x 10cm squares. For bigger blankets, I would recommend knitting squares that are at least 20 cm by 20 cm. If you want a thicker blanket you could sew the squares together back to back. This will give you a stronger and cosier blanket but will take double the time to knit.

You would need to first make a gauge swatch with the wool and needles of your choice so you can work out how many stitches you would need to cast on to get your desired measurements.

The easiest way of knitting squares if you don’t want to make a gauge swatch is to start by casting on one stitch, then each row thereafter you cast on a stitch at the end of each row. Once the edge of the work is the desired length, then you start to cast off a stitch at the end of each row that you knit until you have one stitch left on your needle, which you can just cast off. It will feel almost like you are knitting a diamond or a triangle.

If you are totally new to knitting, you may want to read the article How To Knit For Beginners.

To knit a square with 3.5mm needles, a rough estimate would be to cast on 44 stitches and knit until your work is 20 cm’s long before casting off.

The great thing about knitting squares is that you can make different colours, and even different patterns to join together for a more interesting throw, like the one I made for our couch to use in winter.

You could even try mixing knitting and crochet. Some squares can be knitted and other crocheted for interesting variety.

Online Resources

There are some wonderful pattern books that you can purchase online and download instantly to your computer at a fraction of the cost of a book bought in a store.

Click on the book below that tickles your fancy to find out how to go about ordering one.

Here is a great video which goes step by step on how to knit a chunky blanket, and the wool and needles used here are so big and thick that you will have your blanket done in no time at all.

Some Ideas For Patterns On How To Knit A Blanket

Here are some interesting ideas to try when knitting your squares for your blanket:

• Do some squares in garter stitch and other in purl stitch.
• Try knitting some of your squares with bobbles.
• Make stripey squares by changing colours every two or three rows.
• Do your square in a block pattern.
• Try a simple cross stitch embroidery pattern on one or two of your squares.
• Try a square in moss stitch.
• An eyelet lace square can also look really pretty.
• Try knitting with different types of wool and different needles to add more texture to your blanket.
• Knit bobbles to sew onto your squares.
• Try knitting a square in bramble stitch to add interest to your blanket.

There is nothing more satisfying than creating something useful in your spare time. It is also a great stress reliever at it get your mind off your current problems and onto the task at hand.