Log Cabin Garter Blanket
A centre square with garter strips picked up round and round. No seams, and a great stash-buster.
- Yarn
- Worsted (4) in 4–6 colours. Colour changes happen per strip, so partial skeins are fine.
- Needles
- US 8 (5 mm) 40 in (100 cm) circular
- Sizes
- Square throw 50 × 50 in (127 × 127 cm)
- Example gauge
- 18 sts and 36 rows (18 ridges) = 4 in (10 cm) in garter
- Yarn needed
- About 2,600 yd (2,400 m) worsted. Use “Custom rectangle” 50 × 50 in and “Garter or ribbing”.
Do the math
The examples use the gauge above. Put your own swatch into the gauge calculator first, then use your numbers in each formula.
| Step | Formula | Example | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre square | centre width × sts per in | 10 × 4.5 = 45 sts; knit 90 rows (45 ridges) | Cast-On Calculator |
| Strip depth in rows | strip width × rows per in | 4 in × 9 = 36 rows (18 ridges) | By hand |
| Rounds of strips | (finished width − centre) ÷ (2 × strip width) | (50 − 10) ÷ 8 = 5 rounds = 20 strips | By hand |
| Pick-up rate | 1 st per ridge along side edges; 1 st per stitch along cast-on or bind-off edges | a 10 in edge ≈ 45 sts | By hand |
Materials
- Worsted (4) yarn (see yarn needed)
- US 8 (5 mm) 40 in (100 cm) circular
- Tapestry needle
- Locking markers
Gauge swatch
Garter swatch as for any garter project. Garter has a handy ratio: 1 ridge is roughly as tall as 1 stitch is wide, which makes picking up easy.
Instructions
Centre
With colour A, cast on the centre count (example: 45 sts). Knit until the piece is square (example: 90 rows). Bind off, leaving the last loop on the needle.
Strip 1
Turn the square 90° clockwise. With the live loop as the first stitch, pick up and knit 1 st per ridge along the side (example: 44 more, 45 total). Knit the strip depth (example: 36 rows). Bind off, leaving the last loop live.
Strips 2 onwards
Turn 90° clockwise each time. Pick up along the full edge now facing you: the new strip edge plus the edge of the square or strips beside it.
Each strip is longer than the last. Picking up 1 per ridge / 1 per stitch keeps the fabric flat without counting.
Change colour every strip, or every 2 strips for a spiral look.
Work 20 strips (5 rounds) or until the blanket is the size you want.
Border
Optional: pick up around all four sides and knit 6 rounds of garter in the round (knit 1 round, purl 1 round), increasing 1 st each side of each corner every other round. Bind off.
Finishing
- Weave ends into the ridge lines of the same colour.
- Block square.
Designer’s notes
- If the edges ripple, you picked up too many; if they pull in, too few. Adjust on the next strip.
- Make the strips unequal (2 in and 4 in alternating) for a Courthouse Steps variation.
Counter set-up
Counter 1: rows in current strip (reset each strip). Counter 2: strips completed (goal: 20).
Open the row & stitch counter for several counters, or use the quick one below.
Tools for this pattern
- Gauge CalculatorEnter your swatch counts to get stitches and rows per 4 in (10 cm).
- Cast-On CalculatorEnter your width and gauge; it rounds to the stitch multiple for you.
- Yarn Quantity CalculatorPick the project, size and yarn weight to get total yardage and skeins to buy.
- Row & Stitch CounterSet up the counters listed below; the screen stays awake while you work.