Seaside Blanket/Throw

Seaside Blanket/Throw by Jackie Ehman

Project Overview

The Seaside Blanket/Throw is a beginner-friendly knitting project designed by Jackie Ehman. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a cozy blanket or throw measuring 38 inches wide by 55 inches long (before blocking). The finished piece features a classic seaside aesthetic, perfect for adding warmth and style to any room or as a thoughtful handmade gift.

What Is Being Made

This project produces a rectangular blanket/throw with defined borders and a textured interior. The design incorporates garter stitch borders on all sides combined with stockinette stitch in the central field, creating visual interest and structural stability. The blanket is constructed using the flat knitting method on circular needles, allowing for easy stitch management across the wider width.

Techniques Used

• Long tail cast on method – Used to create an elastic, professional-looking foundation edge with 162 stitches
• Stitch markers – Ring-type markers are placed and slipped throughout the project to clearly define the border sections and maintain pattern consistency
• Flat knitting on circular needles – A 28-inch (or longer) circular needle accommodates the blanket's width while working back and forth in rows
• Blocking – The finished blanket is blocked to achieve final dimensions and even out the fabric
• Bind off – A secure finishing method completes all edges

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – The primary stitch forming the garter stitch borders and stockinette sections
• Purl (P) – Used selectively to create texture variation and define pattern rows
• Garter stitch – Knitting every row creates the textured border frame (9 stitches on each side)
• Stockinette stitch – The central field alternates between knit rows (right side) and purl rows (wrong side) for a smooth, classic fabric

Materials Required

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn (also called #4 weight) totaling at least 1,608 yards. The pattern specifically used Paintbox Simply Aran in Sea foam Blue, with each skein containing 201 yards. A total of 8 skeins were used for the project as written, though additional yardage allows for extending the blanket length if desired.

Needles and Tools: Size 5.0mm (US 8) circular knitting needles measuring 28 inches or longer to accommodate the blanket width. A tapestry needle is needed for weaving in yarn ends. Two ring-type stitch markers help track pattern sections throughout the knitting process.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 5 stitches equals 1 inch. This gauge measurement is essential for achieving the intended finished dimensions. The blanket begins with a 15-row garter stitch border at the bottom, followed by a setup row that establishes stitch markers for the main body pattern. The combination of 162 cast-on stitches and the specified gauge produces the final width of 38 inches.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner project, the Seaside Blanket/Throw is accessible to knitters new to the craft. The pattern relies on fundamental stitches (knit and purl) and straightforward stitch marker placement. The repetitive nature of the rows makes it an ideal project for building confidence and developing consistent tension, while the larger needles and worsted weight yarn work up relatively quickly.