Free Knitting Pattern – Staggered Squares Blanket

Handmade blankets make great gifts, and there are many ways to gift wrap them to make them extra special. Here are a few ideas:

Use a basket or container: A basket or container is a great way to present a blanket as a gift. You can fill the container with tissue paper, shredded paper or shredded fabric to add a little extra padding, and then place the blanket on top.

Use a gift bag: A gift bag is a great way to present a blanket as a gift. You can choose a gift bag that is large enough to hold the blanket and add some tissue paper or shredded paper to the bag to add a little extra padding.

Roll the blanket: Rolling the blanket and tying it with a ribbon or string is a great way to present it as a gift. You can add a little extra padding by wrapping tissue paper or shredded paper around the blanket before rolling it.

Fold the blanket: Folding the blanket and wrapping it in gift wrap or cellophane is a great way to present it as a gift. You can add a little extra padding by placing tissue paper or shredded paper between the folds of the blanket before wrapping it.

Add a gift tag: Adding a gift tag to the blanket is a great way to personalize the gift. You can write a heartfelt message on the tag to make it even more special.

This particular free pattern uses Bernat Baby Big Ball yarn to create a beautiful staggered squares blanket. The yarn is soft and perfect for babies, it also comes in a variety of colors so you can choose the one that matches the baby’s room or the parents’ taste. The pattern is free to download on the Mary Maxim website and it’s a great way to create a special and thoughtful gift for a new parent or to add a touch of warmth to a baby’s room.

As we get into the part of the year with a lot of food-forward holidays, it might be time to start thinking about knitting some new things for your table. While a few of these are more fall/Thanksgiving focused, just changing up the colors would make others work for Christmas, or keep it neutral and use them all year long.

What got me started thinking about this was the lovely and simple Fresh Bread Dishtowel, a free pattern from Purl Soho. Worked in a lovely cotton and linen blend, the towel is mostly stockinette stitch with a bit of texture on the borders.

You could use this same kind of pattern to make anything from placemats to a table runner, but let’s look at some specific patterns for those kinds of projects as well.

The easy moss stitch table runner from Glass Bird Knits is beginner friendly can can easily be modified to fit your table (or, again, to make placemats instead of or in addition to a runner). This version is worked in macrame cord, but you could also use bulky yarn.

Emielle Design has a garter stitch runner pattern that’s made with braided cotton cord for a lot of texture without a lot of work. But be sure to take a lot of breaks when knitting with cord because it can be rough on your hands!

I also love the diamond pattern on the Hamilton Table Runner from Wyndlestraw Designs. It calls for a DK weight cotton and linen blend yarn and comes in three sizes with different widths and lengths. The pattern has both written and charted instructions.

Amy Marie’s Table Pumpkins (on Ravelry) is a fun mosaic knitting pattern that would be great to use as a table runner through the fall and for Thanksgiving. It uses a worsted weight cotton yarn in two colors, and you can make it as long as you like for your table.

The no cable knit placemats from Yarn Culture Studio have a fun faux cable look that would be great for the table through the fall and winter.

Or here’s another pattern from Wyndlestraw Designs, this time for an easy knit and purl stitch placemat pattern that looks different but still good on both sides. It calls for worsted weight cotton and comes in two sizes for placemats, but also has instructions for coasters, a hot pad and a table pad all using the same stitch.

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