Neptune Baby Throw in Lion Brand Babysoft - Downloadable PDF

Neptune Baby Throw in Lion Brand Babysoft – Free Knitting Pattern Summary

The Neptune Baby Throw (Pattern Number 90286AD) is a free, beginner-friendly knitting pattern published by Lion Brand that produces a soft, square baby blanket measuring 30 x 30 inches (76 x 76 cm). Worked in a simple diagonal construction from corner to corner, this throw is an ideal project for new knitters looking to build confidence while creating a practical and beautiful gift for a baby or nursery.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a square baby throw blanket in a single size. The finished dimensions of 30 x 30 inches make it perfectly proportioned for swaddling, stroller use, or crib decoration. The two-tone color combination of Cream (color 920-099) and Bluebell (color 920-107) gives the throw its distinctive soft, oceanic feel — a fitting match for the Neptune name.

Construction Technique

The throw is worked using a diagonal, corner-to-corner construction. Knitting begins by casting on just 5 stitches and gradually increasing one stitch every row until 160 stitches are on the needle, forming the first triangular half of the blanket. The second half mirrors this by working a decrease row repeatedly until only 5 stitches remain, at which point the work is bound off. This elegant shaping method means the blanket grows and then tapers symmetrically, creating a perfect square without any seaming.

A circular needle is used throughout — not for working in the round, but simply to accommodate the large number of stitches at the widest point of the blanket. The throw is worked back and forth in rows, exactly as one would with straight needles. This is a helpful technique for beginners to understand, as circular needles are often more comfortable and practical for wide flat projects.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k): The foundation stitch of the entire project. Every row is knitted, creating the classic Garter stitch fabric — a reversible, slightly ridged texture that lies flat and has natural stretch, making it ideal for baby blankets.
• Yarn Over (yo): Used in the increase rows to add one stitch per row during the expanding phase, and also incorporated into the decrease rows as a decorative element that creates a small eyelet detail along the center diagonal.
• Knit 2 Together (k2tog): A basic right-leaning decrease used during the second half of the blanket to reduce the stitch count back down to 5, shaping the second triangle.

Stitch Pattern

The body of the throw is worked entirely in Garter stitch — knitting every row on both right-side and wrong-side rows. Garter stitch is one of the most beginner-friendly stitch patterns in knitting, requiring no purling and producing a fabric that is naturally flat without curling at the edges. This makes it especially well-suited for a baby throw, where a neat, stable edge is desirable without the need for a separate border.

Materials

• Yarn: Lion Brand Babysoft in two colorways — Cream (920-099) and Bluebell (920-107), 2 balls of each. The entire throw is worked with one strand of each color held together throughout, creating a blended, heathered effect from the two shades and producing a thicker, cozier fabric.
• Yarn Weight: DK weight — a lightweight yarn category that knits up to a soft, drapey fabric well-suited for baby items.
• Needles: A circular needle, size 9 (5.5 mm), at least 36 inches (91.5 cm) long, to comfortably hold all stitches at the widest point of the blanket.
• Additional Tools: A set of large-eye blunt needles for weaving in ends during finishing.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 16 stitches = 4 inches (10 cm) in Garter stitch, worked with