A new easy blanket knitting pattern, the Dovetail Sampler Blanket, is now a free knit blanket pattern here on the blog! Read all about the easy construction and yarn or scroll down for the free pattern.
No time right now? Pin this beginner blanket knitting pattern for later!
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A cozy, cute blanket with extra weight WITHOUT feeling overly hot? Sign me up. I can’t tell you how much I love cozying up to avoid the cold and find the ultimate level of comfort. What I don’t love? Starting to sweat after 10 minutes.
The Dovetail free beginner blanket knitting pattern is a wonderful beginner knitting project. It samples different beginner level stitches in peices and sewed together at the end—one of the simplest ways for a beginner to learn the knitting process.
It’s chunky weight 5 yarn makes for a quick project that will give you the confidence to work up to more complicated patterns. Explore the easy knitting blanket pattern here and happy knitting!
The Yarn
The Dovetail easy knitting blanket pattern is worked in bulky weight cotton yarn Katia Easy Knit Cotton. Using bulky cotton yarn for a blanket might not be your usual go-to but it has several advantages:
- The bulky weight means you can fly through those stitches and get your blanket done in no time
- Cotton is heavier than most other fibers. Having the reassuring weight of a heavy blanket is very cozy and comforting. At the same time cotton isn’t too hot so you don’t overheat as you could under a bulky wool blanket.
- It has amazing drape!
- The dovetail beginner knitting blanket pattern features a few very beginner knit stitches: stockinette stitch, garter stitch and seed stitch. The yarn is very neat which gives it great stitch definition highlighting those different stitches and making them shine.

Downloadable Dovetail Easy Knitting Blanket Pattern
More Blanket Knitting Patterns View All
Before you Start your beginner blanket knitting pattern
Materials
- 5 mm/ US 8 knitting needles
- 5.5 mm/ US 9 knitting needles
- Katia Easy Knit Cotton (bulky weight (5), 100% cotton, 100 g / 3.5 oz, 100 m / 109 yd) in following colors and amounts:
- 7 skeins in Off white (3)
- 6 skeins in Light rose (6)
- 5 skeins in Dark Rose (17)
- 5 skeins in Light Grey (9)
- 2 skeins in Olive green (12)
- Tapestry needle to weave in the ends. I love this set as it has different eye sizes for different yarn thicknesses and it comes in a small tube which is very convenient so I don’t lose them.
Blanket Size
The beginner blanket knitting pattern is 180 cm / 71” long and 140 cm / 55” wide.
Gauge
The gauge for this pattern, in garter stitch with your 5.5 mm / US 9, is 13.5 st by 25 rows for a 10 cm by 10 cm square (4” by 4”).
Need help figuring out your gauge and how to adjust it? Find out all you need to know about knitting gauge here.
Note: the stitch count gauge is important for the pieces to get the right dimensions while lengths are given in measurements.
Abbreviations & Instructions
- st = stitch
- k = knit
- p = purl
Repeat instructions between [] the indicated number of times or until the end of the round/row.
The final number of stitches is indicated at the end of the round/row between < >.
Special Stitches and Techniques
- Garter stitch = knit on both sides of the project.
- Stockinette stitch = knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side of the project.
Seed stitch = alternate knit and purl stitches within a row and between rows.
- Even number of stitches:
- Row 1: [k1, p1] across.
- Row 2: [p1, k] across.
- Repeat Row 1 and 2.
- Odd number of stitches:
- Row 1: [k1, p1] across.
- Repeat Row 1.
Construction
The easy blanket knitting pattern is worked in pieces which are then sewed together.

The Actual Sampler Blanket Knitting Pattern
Dark Pink Center
With your 5.5 mm / US 9 needles cast on 81 st.
Knit in stockinette stitch until you reach 100 cm / 39.5”.
Cast off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Olive Square
Make 4.
With your 5.5 mm / US 9 needles cast on 27 st.
Knit in garter st until you reach 20 cm / 7.75”.
Cast off and leave a long tail for sewing.
White Corner Piece
Make 4.
With your 5.5 mm / US 9 needles cast on 81 st.
Knit in garter stitch until you reach 20 cm / 7.75”.
Cast off 54 st.
Knit remaining st in garter stitch for another 20 cm / 7.75”.
Cast off all remaining stitches and leave a long tail for sewing.
Light Pink Strips
Long Strips
Make 2.
With your 5.5 mm / US 9 needles cast on 27 st
Knit in garter stitch until you reach 100 cm / 39.5”.
Cast off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Short Strips
Make 2.
With your 5.5 mm / US 9 needles cast on 27 st
Knit in garter stitch until you reach 60 cm 23.5”.
Cast off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Grey Corner Piece
Make 4
With your 5 mm / US 8 needles, cast on 58 st.
Knit in seed stitch until you reach 20 cm / 7.75”.
Cast off 29 st.
Knit remaining st in seed stitch for another 20 cm / 7.75”.
Cast off all remaining stitches and leave a long tail for sewing.
Assembly
Sew the pieces together following the blanket schematic below (each square is 10 cm / 4”).

Lay all the pieces flat on a big surface (a bed for example). Start by attaching the corners of the different pieces at the right place with stitch markers. This ensures your pieces will remain aligned correctly while sewing. Use the tails to sew the different pieces together.
Weave in all your ends.
Blocking
You are done with the knitting part. Make sure to weave in all the ends.
To make your blanket even prettier, help even your stitches and highlight the stitches, block your project.
Don’t skip this step as it can make a huge difference. Read my detailed tutorial on why block, how-to, and all my tips and tricks if you need help.