The softest, squishiest blanket you'll ever make — and it's easier than you think. Here's my method, tried and tested!
Step 1: Choose Your Blanket Size
First, decide what size blanket you want to make. Here are some guides — but please measure according to your own project and tension!
- Baby: 30 x 40"
- Lap / Toddler: 40 x 60"
- Throw: 50 x 60"
- Twin: 50 x 90"
- Queen: 70 x 90"
- King: 90 x 100"
Use our Yarn Calculator to work out how many skeins you'll need for your chosen size. 🧶
Step 2: Work Out Your Starting Chain
Everyone's technique is a little different, but I recommend allowing 2–3 finger widths per stitch as a guide. Here's a rough stitch count for each size:
- Baby: 18 stitches
- Lap / Toddler: 23 stitches
- Throw: 28 stitches
- Twin: 30 stitches
- Queen: 38 stitches
- King: 48 stitches
These are rough guides only — I always suggest getting a tape measure to account for your own tension. You'll find your feet the more you practice!
Step 3: Make Your Foundation Chain
Make a slip knot and chain your correct number of stitches for your project. Keep your tension loose on this foundation chain — if it's too tight you'll end up with a curled or misshapen edge.
One tip I've learned along the way: when you reach the last 2 stitches of your foundation chain, tighten your tension slightly to about 1–2 finger widths. This prevents that dreaded saggy corner look! 😄
Step 4: Start Your First Row
Now you're ready to knit! Skip the last loop in your foundation chain, then pull up loops through the foundation chain moving towards the left, using the very top loop of each stitch.
Work your way across the full width of your blanket. These loops should be roughly 1–2 finger widths — but don't worry too much about that at first. You'll naturally find your rhythm the more you practice.
When you reach the end, miss the end loop again — stitch it as normal but skip it when returning to stitch back towards your right hand. This is called knit stitch and it creates a beautiful, even texture.
Step 5: Keep Going!
Continue following this method — working across, missing the end loops each time — until you reach your desired blanket size. You're doing great! 💜
Step 6: Joining a New Skein
When you come to the end of a skein and need to attach the next one, here's my method — please do this carefully, in a well-ventilated room, and ideally on a flame-resistant mat especially when you're first learning.
- Find the core of the yarn on the end of each skein — it's a small, slightly harder piece that runs through the centre.
- Briefly burn this core on both pieces of yarn you want to fuse together.
- Press the two pieces together and rub firmly between your hands to create a good bond.
- Give it a gentle tug to check it's secure. If it's not, trim both ends and try again.
I'd recommend practising this technique before you start your project so you feel confident when the time comes. Once mastered, it creates a completely seamless, invisible join — no knots, no ends to weave in! ✨
Step 7: Casting Off
When you've reached your desired size, it's time to finish off your blanket. Make your last row loose, just like your foundation chain.
When you reach the end of that final row, place your right loop over the left and pull the left loop through. Take that new loop, place it over the left loop and pull through again. Continue this all the way across your blanket — this creates a really neat, professional-looking edge. 😊
(I'll be creating a video tutorial to show this part visually — watch this space!)
When you reach the very end, leave a tail of about 5 inches and trim. Pull the tail through the last loop nice and tight, tie a knot, and thread it through the side edge of the blanket to hide it. You can either fuse it using the lighter technique or simply tuck it in securely.
Ta-daa! 🎉 You've completed your first chunky chenille blanket. Well done you!
Ready to Get Started?
All you need is some gorgeous chunky chenille yarn and your hands. Browse our full yarn range here and pick your perfect colour. 🧶
Made by Knit Me Harder Co. — the UK's boldest chunky chenille yarn supplier. For makers who like it chunky. 💜