Lion Brand Knitting Patterns

Free Lion Brand patterns and the yarns behind them

Lion Brand designs are written around practical, widely available yarns, and that shapes the patterns themselves. Expect straightforward constructions, machine-washable fibres, generous size ranges and a strong bias towards things people actually use every week: blankets, dishcloths, beanies, mittens, baby layettes and easy jumpers. Because the yarns are largely acrylic, acrylic blends and cotton, the finished pieces stand up to family life, which is why so many of these patterns end up as gifts for new babies, students and anyone whose laundry habits you cannot control.

Where to start if you are new

• Dishcloths and washcloths in cotton: a tension square with a purpose, and a complete project in an evening.
• Garter stitch scarves and simple cowls, which teach even tension over a long stretch of plain knitting.
• Ribbed beanies, your first taste of working in the round and decreasing to a crown.
• Baby booties, small, quick and forgiving, and the fastest way to learn shaping.
• Blanket squares, which can be joined into an afghan and abandoned without guilt if you change your mind.

Afghans and blankets

Blankets are the backbone of this collection. They fall into three broad camps: one-piece throws worked back and forth on a long circular needle, mitred or motif squares joined at the end, and strip blankets knitted in panels. Squares suit portable knitting and let you use several colours without carrying yarn; one-piece throws avoid the seaming and the ends. Whichever you choose, decide the finished size before you buy, because a lap blanket and a double-bed throw can differ by a factor of four in yarn.

Yarn weight and quantity

Most designs here are worked in worsted or aran weight, which knits at roughly 18 to 20 stitches over 10cm on 4.5mm to 5.5mm needles, with some chunky patterns for speed and a smaller number in DK and 4 ply for baby knits. Blankets need far more yarn than people expect, so buy to the metreage stated in the pattern and keep to a single dye lot for anything worked in one colour. If you are substituting, compare metres per 100g rather than trusting the weight name alone.

Substituting and adjusting

Acrylic and acrylic-wool blends behave differently from pure wool: they have less spring, they do not felt, and they will not block into a new shape permanently. Steam blocking with a hover of the iron relaxes the fabric, but do not press directly, as acrylic can flatten and go limp irreversibly. If you swap an acrylic for wool, expect the finished piece to be lighter and stretchier, so check the ribbing depth. Always swatch before committing to a garment size.

Finishing, gifting and care

Weave ends along the direction of the stitches and split the yarn where you can, so nothing works loose in the wash. For blankets made of squares, mattress stitch gives a flat join and a crochet slip stitch seam gives a visible ridge you can use as a design feature. The great advantage of these yarns for gifts is care: most can be machine washed on a cool cycle and tumble dried low, which makes them ideal for baby presents and student flats. Always pass on the ball band so the recipient knows.

Lion Brand pattern questions

Are Lion Brand knitting patterns free? The designs in this collection are free PDF downloads, ready to print or read on a tablet.

Do I have to use Lion Brand yarn? No, but the pattern's tension and quantities are calculated for it, so match tension carefully if you substitute.

What weight is worsted in UK terms? It sits between DK and aran; most UK knitters use an aran yarn and check tension.

What is the easiest first project here? A cotton dishcloth or a garter stitch scarf, both of which need only knit stitch.

Can I knit these on straight needles? Flat patterns, yes. Hats and seamless designs need a circular needle or double-pointed needles. Browse more knitting patterns to compare.