Right Angles Baby Blanket in Lion Brand Ice Cream - L60361 - Downloadable PDF

Right Angles Baby Blanket Knitting Pattern – Lion Brand Ice Cream (L60361)

The Right Angles Baby Blanket is a free, downloadable knitting pattern (Pattern Number L60361) designed by Missy Marshall and published by Lion Brand Yarn Company. It produces a finished square baby blanket measuring approximately 30 × 30 inches (76 × 76 cm), making it an ideal size for a crib, stroller, or tummy-time mat. The design is rated Easy, making it a welcoming project for beginner and newer knitters who want to build confidence while creating a beautiful, heirloom-worthy gift.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a soft, square baby blanket worked entirely in one piece across two connected sections. The finished blanket features a classic garter stitch texture throughout, giving it a cozy, ridged surface that lies flat without curling — a practical and attractive quality in any baby blanket. The "right angles" design concept comes from the way the two sections are oriented and joined, creating a subtle geometric visual interest without requiring complex colorwork or shaping techniques.

Construction Technique

One of the most instructive aspects of this pattern is its clever construction method. Rather than seaming two separately knitted pieces together, the blanket is worked in one piece in two sections. The first section is knitted to completion, and then stitches for the second section are picked up directly from the edge of the first section. This pick-up technique creates a seamless, tidy join between the two sections and eliminates the need for sewing or mattress stitch finishing. It is an excellent introduction to the skill of picking up stitches, a foundational technique used in countless knitting projects including sweater necklines, button bands, and sock heels.

Because the blanket involves a large number of stitches across its width, the pattern calls for working back and forth in rows on a circular needle rather than on traditional straight needles. The circular needle simply acts as a very long straight needle, accommodating all the stitches comfortably without the risk of them sliding off the ends. This is a common and practical approach for wide flat projects such as blankets and shawls.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch – The entire blanket is worked in garter stitch, which means every stitch on every row is knitted. There is no purling required. Garter stitch is one of the most beginner-friendly stitch patterns in knitting, and it produces a fabric with natural elasticity, a pleasant ridged texture, and excellent drape for baby items.
• Picking Up Stitches – Used to begin the second section of the blanket along the edge of the first completed section, creating the right-angle join that gives the pattern its name.

Materials and Yarn

The pattern is designed specifically for Lion Brand Ice Cream® yarn (Art. #923), a sport weight yarn. Three colorways are used in the sample blanket:

• 203 Blueberry (Color A) – 1 ball
• 201 Cotton Candy (Color B) – 1 ball
• 211 Lemon Meringue (Color C) – 1 ball

The palette of soft blues, pinks, and yellows gives the blanket a cheerful, nursery-friendly look. Lion Brand Ice Cream® is a sport weight yarn known for its softness and gentle color palette, making it well suited to baby projects where comfort against delicate skin is a priority.

Needles and Notions

• Circular knitting needle, size US 5 (3.75 mm), at least 36 inches (91.5 cm) long – required to hold the full width of stitches
• Lion Brand large-eyed blunt needle – for weaving in yarn ends neatly at the finish

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 20 stitches = approximately 4 inches (10 cm) in garter stitch. Checking gauge before beginning is strongly recommended, as it directly affects the finished dimensions of the blanket. Because garter stitch gauge can vary between knitters, swatching ensures