Want to knit a beautiful baby blanket? It can take a while so choose your pattern wisely! Here’s my carefully curated list of free patterns to help you choose the perfect project for your precious one.
Table of Contents
My Top Tips for Knitting Baby Blankets
But first, if you’re new to knitting baby blankets, here’s what I’ve learned over the years:
- Choose Easy Care Yarns
You might want to splurge on some really special yarn, but as well as costing a fortune, practicality is paramount here. Hopefully your blanket will be much loved and much used, which means the easier to look after the better!
Stick to machine washable yarns and the holy grail is being able to machine dry your blanket instead of letting it air dry for DAYS! Here are my fave machine wash and dry yarns - Keep it Simple
Knitting a blanket takes TIME – lots of it depending on how big you go. So unless you love a challenge, stick to a simple design that you can easily do watching TV etc, to maximise your knitting time & minimise mistakes.
The patterns below show that simple does not need to be boring! It’s amazing what a difference just adding stripes or using a different colour palette can make. - One Piece vs Many Piece Blankets
Is portability important to you? Most blanket patterns are one piece, which means LOTS of stitches & your knitting gets pretty big to bring around.
So if you mainly knit on the go, knitting squares or long narrow strips might suit you much better. Plus psychologically you’ll see progress more quickly when you’re knitting smaller pieces.
But the tradeoff is that knitting blankets in pieces might drive you crazy seaming it all together at the end!
So think about which type of blanket construction will suit you best before you pick a pattern. - Don’t be Scared of Circular Needles!
If you only knit with 2 straight needles, you’re limiting yourself to a much smaller selection of blanket patterns. The majority of blanket patterns use a long circular needle, but that’s only because they can hold more stitches. There’s never any knitting in the round needed, I promise!
If you’ve never used a circular needle before, I know it looks completely different from your 2 straight needles, but you can knit back and forth in rows on a circular just like with straight needles. Watch my video to see how easy it is & then you can knit any blanket pattern you like!
Another advantage of knitting a blanket on a circular is that the weight of your knitting is mainly on the cable, rather than your straight needles – much easier on the wrists!
Baby Blankets Knit in Strips or Squares
Knitting a blanket in pieces makes the project more portable – you’re not having to cart a whole blanket around by the end! You can also use 2 straight needles to knit each piece because there’s fewer stitches.
Chevron Panel Blanket
- Default Size: 36 x 46 inches
- Panel Pieces: 7
- Yarn Weight: DK / Light
- Needles: 4mm (6 US)
I love the bold modern geometric style of this beautiful blanket pattern from Bernat.
Knit in 7 strips, you can easily change the blanket size by simply knitting more/less panels and/or knitting longer or shorter ones.
Easy Checker Baby Blanket
- Default Size: 32 x 38 inches
- Panel Pieces: 6
- Yarn Weight: Worsted / Aran / Medium
- Needles: 4.5mm (7 US)
For a simpler blanket suitable for beginner knitters, try this cute colourful checkerboard pattern also from Bernat. It’s all in garter stitch, so it’s reversible too.
By knitting 6 long striped strips, you get the look of a patchwork blanket without the extra time and hassle of having to seam lots of squares together – clever!
Dream Catcher Squares Blanket
- Default Size: 29 x 32 inches
- Squares: 25
- Yarn Weight: Worsted / Light Aran / Medium
- Needles: 4.5mm (7 US)
This beautiful blanket pattern mixes and matches different textured squares and colours. A great way to practise different stitch patterns and keep things interesting.
The end result is sure to become a treasured family heirloom. Designed by Susan B Anderson, she has 3 YouTube videos showing you how to seam and finish the blanket.
The best thing about knitting a blanket made up of individual squares is how portable it is. You can knit squares on the go anywhere and each square feels like real progress.
On the flip side, seaming all the squares at the end takes ages! I find seaming a few together as I go a big help.
If you’re new to this, I’d suggest watching Susan’s videos and seaming your first few squares together, to check you like the process and the end result before you spend forever knitting all the squares!
Heads up: the Spud & Chloe yarn used in the pattern is now rebranded as Blue Sky Fibers Sweater, a wool and cotton mix that comes in 30 colours.
But you could also use any worsted yarn instead, or indeed any weight yarn with its recommended needle size. Your blanket size would differ a bit, or you could add on more squares to make any size blanket you want.
Diagonal Baby Blanket Patterns (Corner to Corner, Any Size Square)
Knitting a blanket diagonally means you start knitting at one corner with just a few stitches, and keep increasing until you have knit a triangle as big as you want. Then you knit the other half of the square by decreasing until you have hardly any stitches left.
Because you start small, your blanket grows quickly which helps keep you motivated. Plus the big advantage of this method is that you can guarantee you won’t run out of yarn! Simply keep increasing your triangle until you have used half your yarn (or less). Then start decreasing and you will always have enough to finish – no more playing yarn chicken yay!
Southport Diagonal Stripes Blanket
- Default Size: 26 inches square
- Yarn Weight: DK / 8ply / Light
- Needle: 4mm (6 US) (32in/80cm+ circular due to large number of stitches)
An enjoyable easy knit, simple stripes make this baby blanket really shine. Plus because it’s all garter stitch, it’s reversible too.
You’ll need a free Lion Brand account to download this pattern, but it’s well worth having one as they’ve loads of lovely free patterns & you don’t get added to any mailing list by signing up.
Hug Me Eyelet Blanket
- Default Size: 32 inches square
- Yarn Weight: Bulky / Chunky / Medium
- Needle: 6mm (10 US) (32in/80cm+ circular due to large number of stitches)
This pattern was designed to use up a full cake of Red Heart Fleece Hugs fluffy yarn, which is now discontinued alas. But you can use any chunky/bulky yarn here for an easy knit that grows quickly.
And you don’t need to stick to bulky yarn either – you can knit this blanket with any weight yarn. If you use finer yarn with smaller needles, you will just take you longer to knit a lighter blanket.
But the beauty of corner to corner blanket knitting patterns, is that you can make any size square you like. Just make sure you stop increasing your triangle when you have used up half your yarn, so you have enough to get to the end!
Diagonal Eyelet Blanket
- Default Size: 27 inches square
- Yarn Weight: Worsted / Aran / Medium
- Needle: 5mm (8 US) (32in/80cm+ circular due to large number of stitches)
This pattern combines both the garter stitch and eyelet elements from the previous patterns for a slightly more challenging knit.
You alternate between knitting bands of plain garter stitch and eyelet lace with lots of yarn overs, to knit a timeless elegant blanket.
You’ll need a free Lion Brand account to download this pattern.
Easy Knit Baby Blanket Patterns (Adjustable Size)
Cartridge Rib Blanket
- Default Size: 30 inches
- Stitch Count: 108 +/- multiple of 10
- Yarn Weight: Worsted/Aran (or DK/8 ply held double)
- Needle: 5mm (8 US) (32in/80cm+ circular due to large number of stitches)
New for 2026 from indie designer Jacqueline Henderson, this free reversible blanket pattern uses a stitch pattern called cartridge rib which is a simple 2 row repeat.
There’s a wide seed stitch border on all sides to give the blanket a nice solid edge.
The pattern uses 2 strands of DK/8 ply yarn held together, but you could easily use a single strand of thicker worsted or aran yarn instead.
Indeed you’re free to use any weight yarn with its recommended needle size especially as the blanket size is fully adjustable – just add/remove any multiple of 10 stitches.
Jacqueline has even made a full pattern video tutorial so you can follow along step by step:
You’ll need a free Ravelry account to download this free PDF pattern.
Easiest Eyelet Baby Blanket
- Default Size: 38 x 44 inches
- Stitch Count: multiple of 3
- Yarn Weight: Super bulky / super chunky
- Needles: 8mm (11 US) (40in/100cm+ circular due to large number of stitches)
This reversible blanket knits up fast with super chunky yarn & a big 8mm needle.
Every row is the same: (knit 1, yarn over, knit 2 together) and repeat. That’s it!
Change the size by simply casting on any multiple of 3.
Sweet & Cosy Mock Cable Blanket
- Default Size: 30 x 38 inches
- Stitch Count: Multiple of 5
- Yarn Weight: Heavy Worsted / Aran
- Needles: 6mm (10 US) (32in/80cm+ circular due to large number of stitches)
If you love the look of cables, but don’t want the hassle of all the back and forth with cable needles, try this mock cable blanket.
Instead of making “proper” cables, you slip a stitch and then pass the slipped stitch over a couple of stitches instead – clever!
The blanket looks particularly eye catching in 3 colours but would look just as chic in a single shade for a timeless look. You can also easily adjust the blanket size by casting on any multiple of 5 stitches.
The original pattern yarn is discontinued but any worsted or aran yarn would work – a 5mm needle may work better with some instead of 6mm – swatch and see.
This pattern would also work well with finer yarn (say DK with a 4mm needle) – just know that it would take a fair while to knit!
Tic Tac Toe Blankie
- Default Size: 29 x 33 inches
- Stitch Count: 12 + multiple of 16
- Yarn Weight: Chunky / Bulky
- Needles: 6mm (10 US) (32in/80cm+ circular due to large number of stitches)
This reversible blanket looks fancy with its striking checkerboard pattern but it’s very easy to knit. Plus it works up quickly in bulky/chunky yarn.
You knit a seed/moss stitch border at the top and bottom and along each side for a nice decorative yet sturdy edging.
Then the rest is a simple knit 8 stitches, purl 8 stitches repeat for 10 rows at a time, to make little squares all over the blanket – easy peasy!
You’ll need a free Lion Brand account to download this pattern & oodles more.
Basketweave Blanket
- Default Size: 29 x 35 inches
- Stitch Count: Multiple of 8 + 3
- Yarn Weight: DK / 8ply / Light
- Needles: 4mm (6 US) (29in/80cm+ circular due to large number of stitches)
If you’ve got more time, this pattern also from Lion Brand makes a lovely lighter weight reversible textured baby blanket with a more intricate basketweave stitch pattern.
You start and end with 6 rows of garter stitch, and you start and end every row with garter stitch, to make a simple blanket border as you knit.
The rest is all the basketweave stitch pattern, which is an 8 row repeat, but soon becomes second nature once you’ve done a few repeats.
You’ll need a free Lion Brand account to download this pattern.
Intermediate Baby Blanket Knitting Patterns
Belle Coeur Blanket
- Size: 34 x 36 inches
- Stitch Count: each heart motif adds 48 stitches
- Yarn Weight: DK / 8 ply / light
- Needles: 4mm (6 US) (29in/80cm+ circular due to large number of stitches)
New for 2026 from Bernat, you’ll fall in love with this pretty heart motif blanket.
It looks so fancy, but the hearts are just made up of standard knit & purl stitches – no fancy techniques needed. Plus the pattern includes both written instructions row by row and a full chart you can follow as well or instead.
I’ve only included it in the intermediate list because it requires more time and concentration with all the heart motifs, but it’s still beginner friendly which I love: once you know how to knit & purl you can give this blanket a go!
The blanket width is less adjustable here than the other patterns, but you could add or remove multiples of 48 stitches to add or remove column(s) of heart motif(s) if you want.
Little Girl Baby Blanket
- Default Size: 35 x 46 inches
- Stitch Count: Multiple of 19 stitches
- Yarn Weight: Worsted / Aran / Medium
- Needles: 4.5mm (7 US) (29in/80cm+ circular due to large number of stitches)
Not just for girls, this gorgeous blanket would make a beautiful gift for any baby.
The pattern combines delicate lace v shapes with cable columns to create a precious heirloom blanket to treasure forever.
You can change the width by adding or removing multiples of 19 stitches, which is the number of stitches needed for each lace and cable panel repeat.
Designed for Caron’s popular Simply Soft, any worsted or aran yarn would work here. Or you could use lighter DK/8 ply yarn with 4mm needles instead for a slightly smaller and lighter blanket.
Alex’s Blanket
- Default Size: 29 x 34 inches
- Stitch Count: 17 + Multiple of 8 Stitches
- Yarn Weight: Worsted / Aran / Medium
- Needles: 4.5mm (7 US) (36in/100cm+ circular due to large number of stitches)
This beautiful lace baby blanket reminds me of the special blankets you see royal babies in. 🙂
Designed by Angie Jaszek, It has a simple moss stitch border on all sides and the rest of the blanket is knit in a tulip lace pattern, creating delicate little eyelet motifs all over the blanket.
There’s full row by row written instructions for the 16 row lace repeat, and a chart showing several motifs in a swatch which is especially handy for visual learners.
Plus you can easily change the blanket size by just adding multiples of 8 stitches to add more motif repeats.
Angie used just under half a ball of Lion Brand’s Pound of Love to make her blanket, but you can use any worsted or aran yarn (or DK yarn and 4mm needles should work well too).
You’ll need a free Ravelry account to download this pattern:
Arches Lace Baby Blanket (+ Hat & Mittens)
- Default Size: 33 x 28 inches (85 x 73 cm)
- Stitch Count: each motif repeat adds 16 stitches
- Yarn Weight: DK / 8 ply / Light
- Needles: 4mm (6 US) (32in/80cm circular due to large number of stitches)
Last but certainly not least, is this exquisite lace baby blanket designed by LJM Designs.
Even better you also get bonus free patterns for a newborn hat and mittens (with instructions for both straight needles and knit in the round) so you can knit a whole gift set!
There are written instructions for the 16 row repeat for the lace arches pattern, but note there is no chart.
Download this free pattern with a free Ravelry account:
I hope this round-up helps you find a beautiful blanket to knit for baby. Which is your fave? Got any questions? I’d love to hear from you – just leave a comment below.
