Dec 17

Dec 17 The Gemma Blanket- Free Knit Pattern

Get cozy with this modern geometric blanket. Made from individual knit squares, it’s the perfect project to take on the go. Find the free knit pattern below or grab a digital PDF in my shop.

The Gemma Blanket is also available as a complete kit from Lion Brand Yarn. The kit comes with all the yarn you need plus a digital copy of the pattern.

Can you tell I’m on a bit of knit kick lately? Since learning how to knit a few years ago, I’ve been wanting to try my hand at designing. The Gemma Blanket is my second knit pattern and I just love how it turned out.

The inspiration behind the Gemma was a photo of a tile back splash. I loved the plain white tiles and how they fit together so effortlessly to create a unique and modern geometric design. I knew right away I wanted to translate that into the fiber world.

With each knew knit design I learn so much. I tried to keep the Gemma as simple as possible so that even a beginner could feel confident tackling this project. The squares work up quickly and provide great practice for mastering the stockinette stitch. The minimal color changes and unique seaming method are perfect for crocheters who are just learning to knit. The blanket finishes with an i-cord edging that really makes the design pop. I was a bit nervous to try this technique at first, but it’s actually really easy and relaxing to do.

Special thanks to Lion Brand Yarn for providing the yarn for this project and it’s twin crochet blanket coming early 2021. Their Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling works up beautifully and creates a nice, soft light weight blanket. If you grab the kit, you can switch out the colors to match your décor. The color combos are endless!

I hope you love this blanket pattern as much as I do. I’ve also created two video tutorials for the seaming and border to make things extra clear. Find those and the free pattern below.

The Gemma Blanket Knit Pattern

Materials:

1800 yards (10 skeins) of Color A Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling in White [202-100]

425 yards (3 skeins) of Color B Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling in Black [202-153]

Size 9 (5.5mm) knitting needles (straight or circular)

Size 9 (5.5mm) double point needles (for icord edging)

Crochet Hook size 4.5mm (for seaming)

Tapestry needle

Scissors

Tape Measure

Gauge:

17 sts and 21 rows in stockinette = 4” square

Size:

Finished size approx. 55” X 60.5”

Notes:

1.Pattern is worked in individual stockinette squares. Each square should measure approx. 7.5” after blocking.

2.The squares are joined together with a slip stitch seaming technique using a crochet hook. Feel free to use a different seaming technique if preferred.

3. An i-cord border is added at the end using double point needles.

Abbreviations:

CO- cast on P- purl

st(s)- stitch(es) K2tog- knit two together

sl st- slip stitch BO- bind off

k- knit

Pattern:

Squares: (make 56)

Using Color A, CO 32

Row 1(WS): p all sts. (32)

Row 2(RS): k all sts. (32)

Rows 3-8: Repeat Rows 1 & 2. (32)

Change to color B

Row 9: p all sts. (32)

Change to color A

Row 10: k all sts. (32)

Row 11: p all sts. (32)

Rows 12-18: Repeat Rows 10 & 11. (32)

Change to color B

Row 19: p all sts. (32)

Change to color A

Row 20: k all sts. (32)

Row 21: p all sts. (32)

Rows 22-28: Repeat Rows 20 & 21. (32)

Change to color B

Row 29: p all sts. (32)

Change to color A

Row 30: k all sts. (32)

Row 31: p all sts. (32)

Rows 32-38: Repeat Rows 30 & 31. (32)

Bind off purlwise.

Weave in all ends of squares. Then block each square using your preferred method of blocking.

Seaming:

Using a 4.5mm crochet hook and color B, join squares using the slip stitch technique as shown below. Join all squares in columns first and then go back and join across each row as shown in the chart provided. Squares will alternate direction as you go.

Start by laying two squares side by side so the side of one square is in line with the CO or BO row of another. Then using the crochet hook, insert hook from front to back through one loop of the right square closest to the bottom. Then insert the hook front to back through one loop closet to the bottom of the square on the left. Draw color B yarn through both loops leaving a tail at the end.

Repeat the step above again, always inserting the hook from front to back through one loop on the right square and then front to back through one loop on the left square. Then draw color B yarn through all loops on the hook. Repeat all along the squares. Note you will need to skip a few loops on the square where you are working into the rows (or side) since there are fewer stitches than rows in each square. It’s helpful to continue to line up the squares as you go to make sure you are attaching them evenly.

After attaching the first two squares, do not fasten off yarn. Continue to add two squares at a time until that column is complete. Simply line up two more squares and repeat the process. Once you have a total of 16 squares attached (8 in each column), fasten off. Then repeat the process by adding squares along the right side of the blanket in the same manner as before. Once all columns are complete, turn your blanket and use the same technique to attach all rows.

Border:

Using color B yarn and size 9 (5.5mm) double point needles, work an i-cord edging along the outside of the blanket.

To add the i-cord edging, CO 3 sts. Then with WS of the blanket facing you, pick up a stitch along the edge of one of the sides. *Slide all sts to the other end of the needle, k 2 sts, then k2tog through the back. Pick up another stitch along the edge and repeat from * until you hit the first corner. In the corner you will repeat the process until you have picked up a total of 3 stitches in the corner. Then continue the process along the next edge. Once you have reached the starting point, BO and seam the i-cord edging together.