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# Simple Garter Stitch Baby Blanket

A wonderfully squishy, beginner-friendly baby blanket worked entirely in garter stitch (knit every row). Because garter stitch lies completely flat and doesn't curl, the edges form a tidy natural border with no extra work. This is the perfect first blanket project — relaxing, repetitive, and rewarding.

**Finished Size:** Approximately 76 cm wide × 91 cm long (30 × 36 in) — standard baby size.

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## Skill Level
**Beginner** — if you can knit, you can make this blanket.

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (medium / Aran-equivalent, weight category 4) in your favourite colour.
  - Approx. 700–800 m (765–875 yds) total. This is roughly 4–5 balls of a standard 100 g / 180 m worsted ball. Buy from a single dye lot to keep the colour consistent.
- **Needles:** 5 mm (UK metric) straight or circular needles.
  - A circular needle (60 cm or longer) is recommended simply to hold the many stitches comfortably — you will still knit back and forth in rows, not in the round.
- **Notions:** Tapestry/darning needle for weaving in ends, scissors.

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## Tension (Gauge)

- **18 sts and 36 rows = 10 cm (4 in)** in garter stitch, measured on 5 mm needles.

*Tip: Always knit a small tension swatch first. If you have more stitches than 18 per 10 cm, try a larger needle; if fewer, try a smaller needle. Matching tension keeps your finished size accurate.*

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## Abbreviations

- **k** = knit
- **st(s)** = stitch(es)
- **RS** = right side
- **WS** = wrong side

*(In garter stitch, both sides look the same, so don't worry about which is which.)*

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## Pattern Notes

- The entire blanket is knit every row — this is what creates garter stitch.
- Garter stitch forms horizontal ridges. Each ridge = 2 rows knitted.
- Keep your edge stitches snug but not tight for the neatest border.
- Count your stitches every so often to make sure you still have 137. It's easy for a beginner to accidentally add or drop a stitch at the edges.

> **Note:** This is a simple garter stitch pattern. For more advanced textures such as cables, lace, Honeycomb, or Overlapping Leaves, request an intermediate or advanced difficulty blanket for full stitch pattern support with charts and detailed instructions.

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## Instructions

### Cast On
Cast on **137 stitches** using your preferred cast-on method (long-tail cast-on works beautifully).

**Maths check:** 137 sts ÷ 18 sts per 10 cm × 10 = **76.1 cm wide ✓** (target 76 cm / 30 in).

### Knit the Body
**Every row:** Knit all 137 stitches.

Repeat this single row until your blanket measures approximately **91 cm (36 in)** from the cast-on edge. This will take roughly **328 rows** (about 164 garter ridges).

**Maths check:** 328 rows ÷ 36 rows per 10 cm × 10 = **91.1 cm long ✓** (target 91 cm / 36 in).

*Tip: Lay the blanket flat and measure with a tape measure rather than counting every row — knitting until you reach the length is the most reliable method.*

### Cast Off
When the blanket reaches the desired length, cast off all stitches knitwise. Cast off loosely so the top edge has the same stretch and width as the rest of the blanket.

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## Finishing

1. Cut the yarn, leaving a tail of about 15 cm.
2. Using the tapestry needle, weave the cast-on and cast-off tails (and any join tails) into the garter ridges for several centimetres. Garter stitch hides ends very well.
3. Trim excess yarn close to the work.
4. **Optional blocking:** Gently wet-block or steam-block to even out the stitches and emphasise the rectangular shape. Pin to 76 × 91 cm, allow to dry fully, then unpin.

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## Care Instructions

Check your yarn's ball band. Most worsted baby yarns are machine washable on a gentle/wool cycle — wash inside a mesh bag and dry flat to keep the blanket soft and in shape.

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## Optional Variations (Still Beginner-Friendly)

- **Stripes:** Change colour every 20 ridges for simple, cheerful stripes. Carry yarn loosely up the side or weave in ends as you go.
- **Larger blanket:** Cast on more stitches (in increments of any number — garter stitch is forgiving) and knit longer. For example, add 18 stitches per extra 10 cm of width.
- **Smaller "lovey" size:** Cast on 73 sts and knit to 40 cm for a small comfort blanket.

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**Enjoy your knitting — this blanket is a lovely gift and a perfect way to practise even, relaxed stitches.**