I was thinking about sharing some patriotic knitting patterns going into Memorial Day/Flag Day/Fourth of July, but I’ve done plenty of those in the past (see: patriotic knitting patterns, and more patriotic knits and some more here).
But because the patriotic American holidays (and those in some other countries, too!) mostly fall in the summer, they’re often celebrated with barbecues, picnics and time at the park or the beach. So I figured why not share knits that would be perfect for your summer picnics and barbecues? You can always knit them in red, white and blue if you like!
First let’s start with picnic blankets (we’ll get to other picnic gear soon!). Thinking about this I might have to knit a picnic blanket to share with you because I think my ideal would be cotton (heavy duty, machine washable) worked in a simple stitch pattern (so it doesn’t take forever to knit). I am confident such patterns exist, they’re just not listed on Ravelry as picnic blankets.
What you will find on Ravelry are things like this fun Fair Haven Picnic Blanket by Cheryl Toy for Little Church Knits. It’s worked in squares that are worked from the center out (the original used DK weight yarn) and finished with a three-needle bind off that joins the squares together as you go. You can also make the blanket any size you want by adding more squares. It’s finished with applied I-cord.
Stana D. Sortor’s round picnic blanket doubles as a play mat for baby inside or outside the house. You can find this pattern on Ravelry, too, and it calls for a sport weight wool yarn, though you could use something washable, too. It is worked from the center out so you can make it whatever size you want. The edge is finished with I-cord and includes loops you can use to help carry it.
Different widths of stripes combine on scrappy blocks for the Picnic Time blanket from the Plucky Knitter, which can also double as a shawl since it’s worked in fingering weight yarn. Make the blocks with the same colors or change it up to use yarn you already have. You’ll find this pattern on Ravelry.
The Balloon Fiesta picnic blanket pattern from Laura Whittington (Knitting Emporium) would be an amazing way to use your DK leftovers to make all the little hot air balloons. This pattern is on Etsy and I really love how the shape of the balloons/bulbs makes the edgs of the blanket wavy, too.
In addition to being a great way to use stash, blankets are also a great way to try new stitch patterns. Hydrangea from Berrocco uses a few different colors of worsted weight yarn and a few different stitch patterns to give the project a sampler patchwork look. You can grab this one on Ravelry.
Make a knit picnic blanket that looks like a quilt with this intarsia picnic blanket with a classic star motif. This one is from Little Barn Owl Store on Etsy, and it uses an acrylic and nylon blend yarn that’s lightweight, soft and comes in lots of different colors to make your perfect blanket for the backyard or anywhere else.
