The Harlan Blanket-Free Knitting Pattern

Put on your favorite TV show and get ready for the most relaxing knit project ever! This gorgeous knit blanket is made using garter stitch on the bias so you can sit back and just enjoy the process without too much thinking. Find the free pattern below, a digital PDF pattern in my shop or grab the complete kit from Lion Brand Yarn.

Recently I’d been feeling the desire to have a really mindless project to work on in-between all my other designs. Sometimes my brain just needs a break from all the more complex designs or stitches. I knew garter stitch would be a the easiest and you already know that I LOVE blankets so when I saw that you could do garter stitch on the bias I knew it would be perfect!

The Harlan Blanket is my new favorite thing to snuggle up with and creating it was such a joy. Garter stitch is gorgeous on it’s own, but I wanted to play up the stripping details of it a bit more. The Harlan is made in four panels, which are then seamed together so that the lines of the garter stitch create a diamond shape in the center. It’s like a more subtle version of my Madigan Crochet Blanket.

This project is great for confident beginners. You’ll need to know how to knit, increase by making one front and back, and decrease by knitting two stitches together. I’ve included a full video tutorial so if you are newer to knitting you’ll be able to see exactly how to do each part. Plus, there is no cast on required!

The clean lines and unique construction make this blanket the perfect modern accessory to add to your home. Grab three skeins of your favorite color of Lion Brand Pound of Love and get started today!

The Harlan Blanket Knitting Pattern

Materials:

3,060 yards (3 skeins) of Lion Brand Pound of Love in the color Maize[550-178] or similar worsted weight yarn

32” circular knitting needles size 10.5 (6.5mm)

Tapestry needle

Scissors

Tassel maker or 4-5” tall piece of cardboard

Abbreviations:

K- knit

K1fb- knit one front and back

K2tog- knit two together

st(s)- stitch(es)

Notes:

1.Pattern is worked in four panels. The panels are then seamed together

2.Each panel is made in garter stitch on the bias. You’ll start with a increase section where you will work an increase at the beginning of each row. Then a straight section where you will increase on one side decrease on the other. You will then finish with a decrease section where you will decrease at the beginning of each row.

3.Increases and decreases are only worked at the beginning of rows.

Gauge:

13 sts and 29 rows in garter stitch = 4” square.

Size: one size

Finished blanket will measure approx. 63” X 75.5

Video Tutorial:

Pattern:

Bias Panel: (make four)

Place a slip knot on your needle.

Increase section

Row 1: K1fb, turn. (2)

Row 2: K1fb, K across, turn. (3)

Rows 3-144 : K1fb, K across, turn. (last row will have 145 sts)

Straight section

Row 145: K1, K2tog, K across, turn. (144)

Row 146: K1fb, K across, turn. (145)

Rows 147-174: repeat Rows 145 & 146

(30 rows total)

Decrease section

Rows 175-316: K1, K2tog, K across, turn. (last row will have 3 sts)

Row 317: K1, K2tog, turn. (2)

Row 318: K2tog.

Fasten off and leave a long tail for seaming.

Seaming:

Lay panels together so that the garter stitches create a diamond pattern in the center of the blanket. Seam the panels together using your preferred seaming method as shown below (blue lines are seams).

Weave in all ends.

Tassels: (make four)

Using a tassel maker or 4-5” piece of cardboard make four tassels for the corners of the blanket.

Wrap yarn around cardboard 12-14 times, then cut. Slide an 8” piece of yarn under the wrapped yarn and tie a knot. Cut the bottom of the wrapped yarn to create the tassel.

Tie a 14” piece of yarn around the tassel about 1” from the top. Lay one strand of the tied yarn down along the tassel and wrap the other end around the knot 3-4 times. Pull the end through the wrapped section to secure. Trim ends.

Tie a tassel to each corner of the blanket and then weave the ends into the blanket to secure.

I hope you love your new Harlan Blanket. If you make one, I’d love to see it. Make sure to tag me @meghanmakesdo and use #theharlanblanket on social media.

As always you can also find a print friendly PDF in my shop, Etsy or Ravelry. Or grab a complete kit with all the yarn you’ll need, in the color of your choice, as well as a digital copy of the pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

Happy Knitting!
Meghan