12 Free Ways to Knit an Adorable Blanket for Children

Any of these beautiful knitting patterns for children’s blankets would make great gifts or charity projects

Knitting patterns for children’s blankets are so special to me.

In my household, my family still has every handmade blanket we’ve ever received. Some of these were knitted, others were crocheted, still others were quilted. But they remained treasured items even when the recipient has long outgrown its original purpose.

Both my daughters still have tiny hand-stitched blankets they were given as babies by one of my cousins – and believe me, they are far too large for those blankets now! But they are still treasured items, and I’m certain they will never give them up.

I believe the same holds true for most people. Hats, scarves, and mittens may be lost. Sweaters will be outgrown. But a handknitted blanket will be treasured for a lifetime, and possibly handed down to future generations.

For this reason, I think blankets make not only wonderful gifts for children, but also tremendous charity knitting projects. Consider a child who is sick, recovering from a tragedy, or is otherwise in need. A blanket made just for him or her will not only brighten his or her spirits, but it may also serve as a reminder — perhaps for the rest of that child’s life — that someone cared enough to offer the time and love required to make a blanket.

I chose the knitting patterns for children’s blankets in this collection for one big reason: they have interesting designs. They may have unique shapes, eye-catching patterns, or complex colorwork that result in child-friendly designs. And I believe that every pattern you see here would be greatly loved by a child.

And I think they would all be fun to knit, too!

Free Knitting Patterns for Children’s Blankets 

Easy As Pi(e) Blanket: I have wanted to knit this blanket for some time now. I just love the color possibilities. This is a Knitty pattern, but I’ve linked to the Ravelry page so you can not only check out the link to a knitalong that offers helpful tutorials, but also see project photos that really show off the delightful possibilities of this pattern. (Click on the “Projects” tab to see these photos.)

Project Linus All-Purpose Afghan: Let’s go from a very challenging project to a very simple one! This is an easy-to-memorize pattern that results in a very pretty, wavy blanket. Any child would love to snuggle up with this.

The Richmond Blanket: Here’s an even simpler blanket pattern, designed to be squishy and with lots of colorful stripes. It’s perfect for knitting whenever you have spare time, as it’s easy to knit, put it back down, do something else, and then come back to easily without hunting for a lost place in a pattern!

Bernat Star Afghan: The name speaks for itself! It’s a gorgeous star-shaped afghan that bursts with color. Click the button that reads “Free Pattern” to download.

Cuddly Chevron Baby Blanket: Another pattern where the name speaks for itself. There’s nothing like a classic chevron blanket (and I should know – our family has two of them!).

Itty Bitty Sockyarn Bits Blanket: Don’t you just love scrap yarn projects? I know I do, and I love the idea behind this blanket — using it to showcase all the socks you’ve knitted and loved before. In addition to being a great way to showcase leftover sock yarn, this pattern can be used to knit any size blanket you want.

Commemorative Police Throw: Here’s a remarkable blanket that will present a real challenge! But if you love challenging knits, have the right colors of yarn, and would love to honor a child who wants to grow up to be a police officer, this is a fantastic pattern to try!

(Like all Lion Brand patterns, you need to be registered on their website to download the pattern – but registration is free.)

Family Afghan Quilt: This is a special pattern that, in my opinion, is perfect for a group of knitters in a family or a group of knitters who want to create a unique afghan for a special child (either a relative or a charity recipient). It is designed so that each knitter creates a series of squares that will be sewn together at the end. What a special idea!

Red Heart Wild Waves Throw: This fun, wavy pattern is far easier than it looks, and it can be designed using a small variety of colors or a whole bunch of them. Scroll down to the “Download printable instructions” button to access.

Homer Blanky: Got a child who loves baseball? This is the perfect blanket pattern! It’s designed for Minnesota Twins fans but can easily be either adapted for another team or adapted to leave off the “Twins” reference. The pattern calls for lining in blue fleece for extra warmth, but that can be left off as well.

Commemorative Fire Fighter Throw: Another Lion Brand special, this blanket pattern is much like the Police throw listed above. It’s challenging and colorful and absolutely perfect for a child who dreams of growing up to be a fire fighter.

Patons Butterfly Blanket: Butterflies are often used as inspirational logos in charity knitting, and this blanket would undoubtedly be a cherished treasure to many a child — especially to one embroiled in or recovering from a crisis. Be sure to click the “Download Free Pattern” button to access the pattern.

Want to knit a butterfly blanket that isn’t quite this complex? Try the Caron Butterfly Blanket, also from the Yarnspirations website. It’s more of a baby blanket than a child’s blanket, but it could still be a beloved gift to any child.

Are you ready to grab your needles and get to work on one of these knitting patterns for children’s blankets? I know I am!