In this post, you will see a Christmas blanket knitting pattern.
The blanket is really huge and squishy, perfect for snuggling over Christmas.
Knit with a soft alpaca wool blend, this really is a blanket that you will want to make!
Read below for the details or scroll down for the free pattern.
Christmas Throw Blanket
This super chunky knit blanket is really cuddly and squishy, perfect for cuddling up on those cold afternoons.
The throw is large enough to lounge around with on the sofa, watching Christmas movies.
It would also make a really lovely soft pet blanket, that your fur baby will enjoy getting cosy on.
Fair Isle Explained
The blanket is knit using two colours which are known as fair Isle knitting, which also known more accurately as stranded knitting.
This is a technique for working two (or more) colours of yarn in the same row.
The colour changes in Fair Isle are close together, as this allows you to simply carry the yarn you aren’t knitting with across the back of the piece as you go.
You will pick up each strand as you need it and this leaves a strand of yarn on the inside of the work.
The Terms You Need To Know
Fair Isle knitting is pretty easy to do and in this case, makes a nice warm knitted blanket because all those strands of yarn add extra bulk and warmth.
Stranded knitting is often worked in the round, but of course, you can do this easily knit flat.
This Is A Quick Knit Blanket
The Christmas blanket is easy to make, with advanced beginner knitters in mind.
Using knit and purl stitches, you will create the stockinette stitch.
It uses big needles and super bulky yarn to create a blanket that’s quicker than most.
The Needles
- I used 25 mm (US 50) circular knitting needles for this pattern.
- You will knit back and forth on the needles – you are not knitting in the round.
- They are huge needles and easy to work with.
- Fantastic for making throw blankets and scarves.
The Yarn
- I used Yarn Art Alpine Alpaca in the colours red (434) and cream (433) for the blanket.
- This yarn is an alpaca/wool/acrylic blend and very soft to touch.
- This yarn is super bulky/super chunky/14 ply and I knit with two strands together for the blanket.
- If you use jumbo weight yarn then you should knit with a single strand only.
Yarn Substitutes
You can substitute this yarn with any yarn that is super bulky/super chunky/14 ply.
You can find a full list of yarn substitutes here.
Here are some examples:
- Lion Brand – Wool-Ease Thick and Quick.
- Novita – Folk
- Stylecraft – Swift Knit
- Grundl – Alaska
- Big Twist Yarns – Natural Blend
- Buttercream – Luxe Craft Alpaca Solid
- Mary Maxim – Starlette Chunky
- Yarn Bee – Effortless Super Bulky
- Lion Brand – Hometown USA
- Patons (Australia) – Super Quick
- Bergere De France – Recyclaine
More Blanket Patterns
This blanket pattern is great for any advanced beginners who are learning how to knit fair isle.
For more free blanket patterns please take a look at these posts:
- Easy Squishy Knit Throw Blanket Pattern
- Chunky Cable Blanket Knitting Pattern
- Free Blanket Knitting Patterns
- Free Christmas Knitting Patterns
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern:
- You should be comfortable casting on and casting off, as well as knitting in garter stitch.
- You should also know how to purl – as this is a commonly used stitch.
- You should be comfortable knitting with two strands of yarn together.
- You should also be comfortable reading knitting patterns.
- And understanding knitting abbreviations and terms.
Christmas Blanket Pattern
Get the inexpensive ad-free, printable PDF pattern HERE.
Notes
- Please do not copy, sell, redistribute or republish this pattern.
- If you wish to share this pattern, link to the pattern page only.
- You may sell items produced using this pattern.
- Do NOT use the copyrighted photos for your product listing.
- For the copyright T&C’s please read my Terms of Use.
Skill Level – Easy
The Supplies You Need
Yarn
Super Bulky/Super Chunky/14 Ply (Yarn Weight Guide)
Yarn Art Alpine Alpaca (150g/5,28oz/120m/131,23 yds) in the following colours:
- Red 434 x 10 skeins
- Cream 433 x 2 skeins
Substitute yarn suggestion: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick
For more yarn substitutes please see the info further up in this post.
If you use jumbo weight yarn then you should knit with a single strand only.
Needles
You will work back and forth on the needles to make the blanket, you will not join in the round.
The circular needles help to take the weight of the blanket.
Notions
Gauge
10 x 10 cm /4 x 4 inches = 4 sts and 6 rows
Size
Length = 70 inches / 178 cm
Width = 66 inches / 168 cm
Abbreviations
- CC – Coordinating Colour
- CO – Cast on
- Cont – Continue
- K = Knit
- MC – Main Colour
- P – Purl
- Rep = Repeat
- RS – Right side
- St(s) = Stitch(es)
- WS – Wrong side
Pattern
Yarn A (MC) – Red
Yarn B (CC) – White
With two strands held together – In Yarn A Cast on 62 sts (do not join in the round)
Rows 1-3: Knit to the end of the row.
Row 4: K2, Purl to the last 2 sts, K2.
Row 5: (RS) *K2 Yarn A, (join in Yarn B) K1 Yarn B* rep from * to * to the end of the row.
*Please note – You will have to work with two balls of Yarn A at each end of the work – this will make it easier when you are knitting that colour across each row.
Alternatively you may have to cut Yarn A after row 5 and then re-join every time it is needed.
This creates lots of ends to sew in when finished.*
Row 6: (WS) In Yarn A – K2, P to last 2 sts, K2.
Row 7: (RS) In Yarn A – Knit all stitches to the end of the row.
Row 8: (WS) In Yarn A – K2, P to last 2 sts, K2.
Rows 5 to 8 form the pattern, cont to work those 4 rows until your blanket measures = 64 inches
Or as long as you want it to be.
When you have your blanket to your required length, K3 rows in Yarn A.
Cast off in Yarn A.
Weave in all loose ends.
*You may want to add pom poms to the corners or tassels to give your blanket extra flair!*
I added one large pom-pom in Yarn B to each corner of the blanket.
I love seeing your finished projects!
If you enjoyed making the blanket, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @handylittleme.
If you are on Facebook, stop over to the handylittleme Facebook page and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
JESSICA SLOCOMB says
hi louise thanks to you i have actually been able to complete a few projects i have started and believe me i have started many . i just started knitting and crocheting but love love your knit things I have complete 2 different kinds of your hats. And at the moment trying to do this Christmas blanket for my daughters bday /Christmas gift since we just bought her a big bed for her room. I was wondering how many stiches i would of casted on to make it at least a full or queen size blanket. And also im a little confused on do i cut the white yarn after or do i just drag/hold it behind the main color ? Sorry if i made that confusing but any tips would be helpful.
Thanks so much for sharing your love of knit and creativity..
Merry Christmas
Jess
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Jessica, thank you so much for your kind words, I’m so happy you like the patterns and have been knitting away! For a queen-size bed – I would cast on 72sts or more – perhaps even 82sts. I cast on 78sts for the cable knit blanket and it spread out over my bed and we have a king. So if you cast on 82sts (or more) you will have a little overhang on the sides. I would also suggest making it a bit longer too, 90 or 100 inches.
When knitting the blanket – you can either cut the white yarn and rejoin when you need to or work with it behind the blanket – this may be difficult because you knit a row of red after one row with the stranded knitting. You could also have one skein at one end and one at the other end. I didn’t do this because I only had one skein of white left, so I cut and rejoined, but it meant I had many ends to weave in. If you have two skeins, you could try having one at each end of the blanket. I hope that helps, happy knitting and Merry Christmas 🙂
Amanda says
Hi! I love this pattern, thanks for posting! One question, I’m beginning row 5 and ready to join in yarn B. Am I supposed to use 1 strand of B or 2 like we do for yarn A?
Thanks!!
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Amanda, you use two strands of yarn held together for all of the colours, so yes Yarn B would also be knit with to strands held together. I am so happy you are enjoying the pattern! 🙂