purlJam

# Simple Garter Stitch Baby Blanket

A cosy, classic baby blanket worked entirely in garter stitch — the perfect first blanket project. Garter stitch lies beautifully flat, so no separate border is required, and there is no "wrong side" to worry about. Just knit every row until it's the size you want!

---

## Skill Level
**Beginner** — if you can cast on, knit, and cast (bind) off, you can make this blanket.

## Finished Measurements
- **Width:** 76 cm (30 in)
- **Length:** 91 cm (36 in)
- Standard pram/cot baby blanket size.

---

## Materials

### Yarn
- **Weight:** Worsted / Aran (medium, #4)
- **Quantity:** Approximately 800–900 m (875–985 yds) total
- **Suggested fibre:** A soft, machine-washable wool, cotton, or wool/acrylic blend in your favourite colour
- **Example:** 4–5 × 100 g balls (approx. 200 m / 218 yds per 100 g)

### Needles
- **5 mm (UK 6 / US 8)** straight or circular needles
  - *A long circular needle (80 cm / 32 in) is recommended to comfortably hold all the stitches — you will still work back and forth in rows.*

### Notions
- Tapestry/darning needle (for weaving in ends)
- Scissors
- Tape measure

---

## Tension (Gauge)

**18 sts × 36 rows = 10 cm (4 in)** measured over garter stitch on 5 mm needles, after gentle blocking.

> **Tip:** Always knit a tension swatch first. If your swatch has more stitches per 10 cm, go up a needle size; if fewer, go down a needle size. Matching tension ensures your blanket comes out the correct size.

---

## Abbreviations (UK Terminology)

| Abbr. | Meaning |
|-------|---------|
| k | knit |
| st(s) | stitch(es) |
| RS | right side |
| WS | wrong side (in garter stitch, both sides look the same) |
| cm | centimetres |
| g | grams |

---

## Stitch Pattern Used

**Garter Stitch:** Knit every stitch of every row.

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

---

## Pattern Instructions

### Cast On
Using 5 mm needles and a long-tail cast on (or your preferred stretchy cast on), **cast on 137 sts**.

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

### Main Body

**Every row:** Knit every stitch to the end of the row.

Continue working in garter stitch (knit every row) until the blanket measures **91 cm (36 in)** from the cast-on edge, ending after a completed row.

> **Maths check:** 91 cm × 36 rows per 10 cm = approx. **328 rows** total ✓

> **Beginner tip (optional):** For a tidier edge, you may slip the first stitch of every row purlwise with the yarn held in front, then bring the yarn to the back and knit to the end. This is entirely optional — a regular knit-every-stitch edge is perfectly fine.

> **Keeping track:** Place a removable stitch marker every 50 rows, or pop a tally on a sticky note each time you finish a row. Measuring every few centimetres also works well.

### Cast (Bind) Off
Knit 2 sts. *Pass the first st over the second st and off the needle. Knit 1 more st.* Repeat from * to * until 1 st remains. Cut the yarn leaving a 15 cm (6 in) tail and pull through the last loop to fasten off.

> **Tip:** Cast off loosely so the bottom edge has the same stretch as the cast-on edge. If your cast-off feels tight, use a needle one size larger for this step.

---

## Finishing

1. **Weave in ends:** Using the tapestry needle, weave the yarn tails neatly along the edges of the garter ridges on the wrong side for about 5–6 cm. Trim any excess.
2. **Block the blanket (recommended):**
   - Soak the blanket in lukewarm water with a little wool wash for 15–20 minutes.
   - Gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring) and roll in a clean towel to remove more moisture.
   - Lay flat on a clean towel or blocking mat, gently pat into a 76 × 91 cm rectangle, and allow to dry completely.
3. Once fully dry, your blanket is ready to gift or use!

---

## Customisation Notes

- **Want a bigger blanket?** Add stitches in multiples of about 18 per extra 10 cm of width, and simply knit longer for more length.
  - Example: 155 sts ≈ 86 cm wide (cot blanket).
  - Example: 173 sts ≈ 96 cm wide (larger lap/toddler blanket).
- **Stripes:** Change colour at the start of any row for easy stripes — just carry or cut the yarn at the edge and weave in the extra ends at the end.
- **Yarn quantity for larger sizes:** Allow roughly 25–30 % more yarn for each 10 cm added in either direction.

---

## Care Instructions

Follow the ball band of your chosen yarn. For most machine-washable worsted yarns: machine wash on a gentle/wool cycle at 30 °C, reshape while damp, and dry flat.

---

**Enjoy your knitting!** This blanket is a wonderful project for practising even tension and is endlessly giftable. 🧶