Lana Grossa Blanket Knitting Pattern

Lana Grossa Blanket in Linea Pura Organico

What Is Being Made

This is a large knitted blanket measuring approximately 162 x 123 cm (length x width). Design 32 from Filati Handstrick 71, the blanket combines textured stitch patterns with decorative lace elements to create an elegant throw suitable for home décor or personal use.

Techniques Used

The blanket is constructed using several key knitting techniques:

• Bottom-up construction: The piece is worked from the cast-on edge upward, allowing the crafter to adjust length as needed during the knitting process.
• Seamless, worked flat: The blanket is created as a single flat piece on circular needles without seaming, resulting in a smooth, unified fabric.
• Lace patterning: A ladder and lace pattern worked from a chart creates openwork sections that add visual interest and airiness to the design.
• Strategic increases and decreases: The pattern incorporates a structured shaping sequence, with 24 stitches increased evenly across a row near the beginning and decreased evenly near the end, creating subtle dimension.
• Border application: Garter stitch borders are picked up and worked along the left and right edges after the main body is complete, framing the central pattern.
• Blocking: The finished piece is pinned to measurements and blocked to achieve proper dimensions and even fabric appearance.

Stitches Used

The blanket employs a limited but effective stitch vocabulary:

• Garter stitch: Knit every row, creating a textured, reversible fabric used for the top and bottom edges (11 rows each, approximately 3.5 cm) and the side borders.
• Stockinette stitch: Knit on right-side rows and purl on wrong-side rows, providing a smooth base within the patterned sections.
• Ladder and lace pattern: Worked from a chart over 24-row repeats, this pattern combines yarn overs and decreases to create openwork sections. The pattern is worked for 362 rows (approximately 154 cm) in the central section, with rows 1–24 worked once, then rows 13–24 repeated.
• Selvage stitches: Single knit stitches at the beginning and end of every row maintain clean, finished edges.

Materials

The blanket is crafted using Lana Grossa Organico, a yarn composed of 100% organic cotton. A total of 1250 grams (approximately 1.25 kg) of yarn is required, worked in the colorway Reed (color 89). The yarn specification is 90 meters per 50 grams, providing a light, breathable fiber ideal for a blanket.

A size 4 mm circular needle, 120 cm long, is used throughout the project. Circular needles accommodate the large stitch count (215 stitches cast on, increasing to 239 stitches) and allow the blanket to be worked flat without the need for multiple needles.

Gauge and Sizing

Proper gauge is essential for achieving the intended finished dimensions. On size 4 mm needles, the gauges are:

• Ladder and lace pattern: 20.5 stitches and 23.5 rows = 10 x 10 cm
• Garter stitch: 16 stitches and 11 rows = 10 x 3.5 cm

These gauge measurements ensure the blanket reaches its target size of approximately 162 x 123 cm when completed and blocked.