River Rock Blanket

River Rock Blanket by Jae K Knits

Project Overview

The River Rock Blanket is an intermediate-level knitting project that creates a finished throw measuring approximately 50" x 60". This design combines knitting and crochet techniques to produce a cozy, striped blanket suitable for home décor or as a generous gift. The project uses a straightforward construction method worked flat on circular needles, making it accessible for knitters with some experience.

What Is Being Made

This blanket is a rectangular throw crafted using a two-color striped pattern. The finished piece measures 50 inches wide by 60 inches long, making it an ideal size for draping over furniture or using as a lap blanket. The design features a classic color combination inspired by natural river rocks, with contrasting yarn colors creating visual interest throughout the piece.

Techniques Used

The River Rock Blanket employs several key knitting and finishing techniques. The main construction uses the Broken Rib stitch pattern, which alternates knit and purl stitches to create texture and visual depth. Color work is incorporated through a striped pattern that requires managing two yarn colors across multiple rows. A specialized edge technique is employed where the new color is twisted over and around the old color at the edge to eliminate loops of carried yarn, ensuring clean, professional-looking selvage edges. The blanket is worked flat on circular needles rather than in the round, with rows turned throughout construction. After the main knitting is complete, single crochet finishing is worked along each side edge to create a polished border and add structural definition.

Stitches Used

• Broken Rib Stitch: The primary stitch pattern alternates knit and purl stitches (K1, P1) on wrong-side rows, with solid knit rows in between. This creates a subtle textured appearance while maintaining good drape and flexibility in the finished fabric.
• Garter Stitch elements: Knit rows worked in single colors contribute to the overall texture and structure.
• Single Crochet: Used for the finishing border worked along both side edges with the right side facing, creating a neat edge treatment.

Materials and Tools

The blanket is constructed using Bernat MAKER BIG yarn, a bulky-weight option that works up quickly on large needles. Six balls each of two colorways are required: Color A in Tar (#25005) and Color B in Pebbles Varg (#25019). The project calls for US size 19 (16mm) circular needles measuring 40 inches for the main knitting, allowing stitches to spread comfortably across the needle. A US size Q (16mm) crochet hook is used for the single crochet finishing rows. A large eye tapestry needle is needed for weaving in yarn ends after completion. The recommended gauge is 6 stitches and 10 rows over 4 inches when worked in the Broken Rib stitch pattern.

Construction Details

The blanket begins with casting on 75 stitches in Color A using the circular needles. The work is not joined; instead, rows are turned back and forth to create a flat rectangular piece. The Striped Broken Rib pattern is worked continuously, with the color sequence creating the striped effect across the blanket's surface. The pattern repeats rows 2 through 5 until the piece reaches 60 inches in length, with the final rows worked in Color A before binding off knitwise. This construction method ensures consistent stitch quality and allows for easy adjustments if needed during the knitting process.