DIY: Chunky Knit Blanket — the little onion

On the first day of Craftsmas our DIY will be:

A warm, chunky knit blankie!

There are exactly zero things I do not love about chunky knit throw blankets. They are the epitome of cozy, look good thrown over anything, and are so quick and easy to work up. I gave 6 as Christmas gifts last year and they were big hits.

IF there is a downside to these beauts, it is very simply the price point- buying one already made will cost you the equivalent of a monthly car payment. Depending on the yarn you want to use, making your own can range from much cheaper to not much cheaper at all. If you’re happy with the look of this blanket, your all-in cost can be as low as $12 (if you use the 40% coupon at HobLob).

For today’s 12 Days of Craftsmas project, I’m showing you how to knit one of these awesome blankets, and all you need is yarn and 2 arms. You don’t even need to know how to knit! It’s a Craftsmas miracle.

I am using #BIG yarn in color warm cotton, bought at Hobby Lobby on 30% off yarn week ($14 after the discount). It’s the best price point I’ve found, but be warned: it sheds like a golden retriever. If you find something else, just be sure it’s extremely chunky and get about 120 yards of it.

How to make a Chunky Knit Throw Blanket

Note that this pattern will make a ~3 ft x 4 ft throw blanket. If you want it wider, you’ll need to cast on more stitches. If you want it longer, you’ll need more yarn. :) Here’s a little intro video with a few more details:

Cast on 30 stitches as shown in video below:

2. Knit back and forth between arms as follows until blanket is long enough or you only have enough yarn left for one more row (~20 ft). BE SURE TO SAVE ENOUGH YARN FOR ONE LAST ROW!

3. Bind off and hide ends as follows:

And that’s it! You have a snuggly blanket to love or gift.

I spent $14 on this blanket and it took about an hour to make from start to finish. These sell for $60-$100 online, so it’s definitely a bargain by comparison!

This method can work for other projects, too- imagine a chunky scarf! Or a table runner! or a make-shift Christmas tree skirt! Hope this helps- happy crafting!

Toodles, tlo