Bernat Reversible Knit Lap Blanket: Free Pattern and Complete Guide

There is something deeply satisfying about a project that looks polished no matter which side faces up. The Bernat Reversible Knit Lap Blanket is exactly that kind of project — a beautifully textured, completely functional piece that works just as hard as it looks good. Whether you are curling up on the couch on a chilly evening, tucking it around your legs at a football game, or gifting it to someone who deserves a little handmade warmth, this blanket delivers on every count.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to complete this project from start to finish, including materials, gauge, stitch explanations, the full free pattern, finishing tips, and ideas for customizing it to make it truly your own. If you have been knitting for a year or two and want a satisfying weekend project that uses a thick yarn and works up quickly, this is the perfect choice.

Why Knitters Love This Pattern

Before diving into the needles-and-yarn details, it is worth talking about what makes a reversible knit blanket so appealing in the first place.

Most knitted fabric has a right side and a wrong side. The right side looks intentional and neat; the wrong side shows the “back” of the stitches, which can look perfectly fine but was never meant to be the star of the show. A reversible pattern, by contrast, is engineered so that both faces of the fabric look equally attractive — either because the stitch pattern looks the same from both sides, or because it produces two different but equally beautiful textures.

For a lap blanket specifically, reversibility is not just a nice aesthetic bonus. It is genuinely practical. Lap blankets get flipped and repositioned constantly. They slide off chairs and get picked up and tossed back on. They get folded and the fold lands wherever it lands. When both sides look intentional and attractive, you never have to fuss over which side is “up.” The blanket just works, every time.

Bernat yarns have long been a favorite for blanket projects because they are widely available, affordably priced, wash well, and come in an enormous range of colors. The Bernat Blanket yarn line in particular — a super bulky, chenille-style yarn — is practically synonymous with the quick-knit throw. It is soft, cozy, and substantial enough that even a lap-sized project feels like a proper luxurious blanket rather than a small swatch.

Materials You Will Need

Getting your materials organized before you cast on will make the whole process smoother. Here is everything you need for this project.

Yarn: Bernat Blanket yarn in your chosen color or colors. This is a super bulky (size 6) yarn. For a standard lap blanket measuring approximately 30 inches wide by 40 inches long, you will need roughly 300 to 400 yards. A single 10.5-ounce skein of Bernat Blanket yarn contains about 220 yards, so plan on two skeins to have enough with a comfortable margin. If you want to make a larger throw — around 40 by 50 inches — pick up three skeins. Bernat Blanket comes in dozens of solid, tweed, and ombre colorways, so you will have no trouble finding something that suits your space or the recipient.

Needles: US size 13 (9mm) straight or circular knitting needles. Even though you are knitting flat (back and forth in rows, not in the round), circular needles can be easier to manage with a bulky project because the cord holds the weight of the work rather than your wrists bearing it all. A 24-inch or 32-inch circular needle used flat works beautifully here.

Other tools: A yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and stitch markers if you find them helpful for keeping track of pattern repeats.

Gauge

Gauge: approximately 9 stitches and 12 rows = 4 inches in the seed stitch pattern on US 13 needles.

Gauge is always worth checking, but for a lap blanket, it is not as critical as it would be for a fitted garment. A stitch or two off per four inches will change the finished dimensions slightly but will not affect the function or beauty of the blanket. If your gauge is a little looser or tighter, simply adjust your needle size to bring it closer, or accept the slightly modified finished dimensions. If you tend to knit tightly, go up half a needle size; if you knit loosely, go down half a size.

Understanding the Stitch Pattern

The stitch that makes this blanket reversible is seed stitch, sometimes called moss stitch in its slightly extended form. Seed stitch is one of knitting’s most elegant solutions to the reversibility problem, and it requires knowing only two things: a knit stitch and a purl stitch.

In seed stitch, you alternate knit and purl stitches across every row, and on the following row, you knit the stitches that were purled and purl the stitches that were knitted. This means you are always working the opposite stitch of whatever is facing you. The result is a fabric that looks identical on both sides — a pebbly, nubby texture that lies completely flat without curling at the edges and has a beautiful firmness that makes it ideal for blankets.

This is different from ribbing, where you work the same stitch above itself to create vertical columns. In ribbing, knit stitches are always worked above knit stitches and purl stitches above purl stitches. Ribbing is also reversible in a technical sense, but it has a strong vertical pull and a distinctly different texture than seed stitch.

Seed stitch sits flatter, covers more surface area evenly, and has a satisfying, almost woven appearance when worked in a chunky yarn like Bernat Blanket.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

Before the row-by-row instructions, here is a quick reference for the abbreviations used throughout.

CO = cast on
K = knit
P = purl
RS = right side (though for a reversible piece, this is interchangeable)
WS = wrong side
Rep = repeat
St(s) = stitch(es)
BO = bind off

The Free Pattern

Finished Measurements: Approximately 30 inches wide by 40 inches long. For a larger throw, see the sizing notes after the main pattern.

Cast On

Using the long-tail cast on or your preferred method, CO 68 stitches. The long-tail cast on is recommended because it produces a neat, elastic edge that matches well with seed stitch. If you are new to the long-tail cast on, a simple backward loop or knitted cast on will also work fine.

Row 1 (Setup Row): K1, P1 across to end of row.

Row 2: P1, K1 across to end of row.

These first two rows establish the seed stitch pattern. Notice that in Row 2, you are purling the stitch that was knitted in Row 1 and knitting the stitch that was purled. This is the key to seed stitch. If you ever lose your place in the pattern, simply look at the stitch on your left needle: if it looks like a knit stitch (a smooth V), purl it. If it looks like a purl stitch (a bump), knit it.

Continue the Pattern

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until your piece measures 40 inches from the cast-on edge, or until you reach your desired length. For a standard lap blanket, this will take approximately 120 rows, though your row count may vary based on your gauge.

Measure your work periodically by laying it flat without stretching. Seed stitch has a slight tendency to compress vertically, so be sure you are measuring the fabric relaxed.

Bind Off

When your blanket has reached the desired length, bind off on a Row 1 (the K1, P1 row). Bind off loosely in pattern, meaning as you bind off each stitch, work it in the seed stitch pattern rather than knitting every stitch. To bind off in pattern: work the first two stitches as K1, P1, then pass the first stitch over the second. Continue across, alternating knit and purl bind-offs. This keeps the bound-off edge as stretchy and consistent as the rest of the piece.

Leave a 6-inch tail when you cut the yarn for weaving in.

Finishing

Weave in both ends (the cast-on tail and the bind-off tail) using your yarn needle. For a chunky yarn like Bernat Blanket, weave the tail through about four or five stitches in one direction and then back through two stitches in the opposite direction. This anchors the end securely without it ever working loose.

No blocking is strictly necessary, but if you want the blanket to look its absolute best, wet blocking is a wonderful finishing step. Soak the blanket in cool water for 20 minutes, press out the excess water gently (do not wring), and lay it flat on a clean towel or blocking mat to the desired dimensions. Pat it into shape and let it dry completely. Blocking evens out any slightly uneven tension and opens up the seed stitch beautifully.

Sizing Notes

The pattern above produces a lap blanket of approximately 30 by 40 inches, which is ideal for draping over your legs while seated. If you want to adjust the size, here is how to do it.

Seed stitch requires an even number of stitches to set up correctly when you are working with the simple two-row repeat described here. (You can also use an odd number, which produces a slightly different but equally valid version of seed stitch where Row 1 and Row 2 begin with the same stitch.) For simplicity, keep your stitch count even.

To make a wider blanket, add stitches in multiples of 2. For a 40-inch-wide throw, cast on approximately 90 stitches. For a 50-inch-wide blanket, cast on approximately 112 stitches. Adjust your yarn yardage accordingly — a larger blanket will require more yarn, so add a skein when you size up significantly.

For length, simply knit more rows. A 50-inch-long blanket will add roughly 30 more rows compared to the 40-inch version.

Color Variations and Customization Ideas

One of the beauties of a simple stitch pattern on a basic rectangular shape is how much room it leaves for creative personalization. Here are some ideas for making this blanket your own.

Stripes: Because seed stitch is so visually cohesive, stripes in a second or third color look absolutely stunning. You can join a new color at the beginning of any row. For wide stripes, switch colors every 20 to 30 rows. For narrow stripes, switch every 4 to 6 rows. Carry the unused yarn loosely up the side edge if you are alternating between just two colors, or cut and weave in ends if you are using three or more.

Ombre Effects: Bernat Blanket yarn comes in beautiful ombre and gradient colorways that do the color work for you automatically. Working a simple seed stitch blanket in an ombre yarn produces a piece that looks far more complex and sophisticated than the pattern actually is. This is a great option if you love the look of color variation without having to manage multiple yarn balls.

Tonal Solids: For a more understated, classic look, a single rich solid color allows the texture of the seed stitch to take center stage. Deep jewel tones like burgundy, forest green, or navy look particularly luxurious in the nubby texture of chenille-style yarn.

Edging: If you want to add an extra finishing touch, you can pick up stitches along all four edges after completing the blanket and work a simple garter stitch border (knit every row for about 1 inch, then bind off). This frames the blanket beautifully and reinforces the edges.

Caring for Your Finished Blanket

Bernat Blanket yarn is machine washable, which is one of its most practical qualities for a blanket that will actually be used. Wash on the gentle cycle in cold water and lay flat or tumble dry on low. Avoid high heat, which can cause the chenille fibers to mat or pill more quickly than they would otherwise.

If the blanket develops pilling over time — which is normal with any soft, fuzzy yarn — a fabric shaver or lint roller can restore its original appearance in minutes.

Tips for Knitting Success

A few final thoughts that will help you enjoy this project from cast-on to bind-off.

Check your seed stitch alignment every ten rows or so, especially if you are a newer knitter. The most common mistake in seed stitch is accidentally working a knit above a knit, which creates a small patch of stockinette rather than seed. If you catch it early, you only have to rip back a few rows. If you catch it much later, you can decide whether it bothers you enough to fix — in a big chunky blanket, small inconsistencies are rarely noticeable in the finished piece.

Keep your tension consistent throughout. Seed stitch can have a tendency toward uneven tension in some knitters, particularly the transition between knit and purl stitches. If you notice loose stitches at those transitions, try snugging up each stitch slightly as you move the yarn to the front or back. With practice, this becomes completely automatic.

If you need to set the project down mid-row and pick it up again later, place a stitch marker at the point where you stopped so you know which direction you were traveling. Nothing is more frustrating than picking up a knitting project and spending five minutes trying to figure out which end is which.

Finally, enjoy the process. A lap blanket is a project that moves quickly in a super bulky yarn — most knitters can complete this in two or three leisurely weekend sessions — but it is also substantial enough to feel like a genuine accomplishment. Every row of seed stitch you work is building something warm, beautiful, and entirely reversible: a piece that will look equally at home whichever way it lands.

A Note on Gifting This Blanket

If you are making this lap blanket as a gift, you have chosen well. A handknitted blanket communicates care in a way that few other gifts can. It is practical, personal, and built to last. Lap blankets in particular are wonderful for elderly relatives who feel the cold, for people recovering from illness, for teachers, for new parents, and for anyone who spends time seated and would benefit from a little portable warmth.

If you want to make the gift extra special, tuck a small tag inside noting the yarn and the fact that it is machine washable. Most people who receive handknitted gifts are genuinely anxious about caring for them, and a simple care instruction note removes that worry entirely and ensures the blanket gets used rather than stored away.

Wrap it loosely so its shape is apparent, and it will be immediately clear what you have made — which is part of the joy of a gift this size and texture.

Whether this is your first blanket project or your fiftieth, the Bernat Reversible Knit Lap Blanket is a pattern worth keeping in your collection. It is simple enough to work on while watching television or sitting with family, beautiful enough to display on a couch or chair, and practical enough to earn a permanent spot in daily life. Cast on, settle in, and enjoy every stitch.