Easy to Knit Striped Throw Blanket Knitting Pattern Using Lion Brand Hue & Me Yarn

If you’ve been searching for a knitting project that feels ambitious but is secretly beginner-friendly, you’ve landed in exactly the right place. This easy striped throw blanket knitting pattern uses Lion Brand Hue & Me yarn, and it is the kind of project that gets you genuinely excited to sit down and knit every single evening. Whether you’re curled up by the fire in the middle of winter or working on a gift for someone you love, this blanket pattern delivers stunning results without requiring advanced techniques.

This is the Fifty Four Ten Studio take on a cozy, colorful, striped throw — and by the time you finish reading, you’ll have everything you need to cast on with confidence.

Why Lion Brand Hue & Me Yarn Is Perfect for a Throw Blanket

Before we get into the pattern itself, let’s talk about the yarn, because the yarn really does make all the difference here.

Lion Brand Hue & Me is a chunky weight yarn (size 5) made from a blend of 80% acrylic and 20% wool. That combination gives you the best of both worlds. The wool content adds warmth, natural drape, and a soft halo that makes the finished fabric feel luxurious without being itchy. The acrylic component keeps the yarn durable, machine washable, and budget-friendly, which matters enormously when you’re buying enough yarn to make a full-sized throw blanket.

What really sets Hue & Me apart, though, is the color palette. The yarn comes in a gorgeous range of rich, deep, tonal colors — heathered shades that shift subtly through the skein and give any finished project a lived-in, artisanal quality. When you hold two different colors of Hue & Me together in a striped layout, the tonal variation in each skein means the stripes themselves have depth and visual interest. Even a simple two-color striped blanket looks like something you planned extensively, when really you just picked two colors you loved and let the yarn do most of the heavy lifting.

Each skein of Lion Brand Hue & Me contains 482 yards and weighs 227 grams (8 ounces). For a throw blanket, you’ll typically need three to four skeins total depending on how wide and long you want your finished blanket to be. More on yardage specifics in the materials section below.

The yarn works up quickly on large needles, which is one of the reasons this project is so satisfying. You can see real progress after just a few rows, which keeps motivation high throughout the entire knitting process.

What Makes This Pattern Beginner-Friendly

The word “beginner-friendly” gets thrown around a lot in the knitting world, so let me be specific about what that actually means here.

This throw blanket uses only two stitch types: the knit stitch and the purl stitch. If you know how to do both of those, you can make this blanket. The stripe pattern is created entirely through color changes, not through any complicated colorwork techniques like stranded knitting or intarsia. You simply drop one color at the edge of the work and pick up the next one. The tails get woven in at the end, and that’s it.

The stitch pattern itself is a variation of a simple rib or seed stitch, depending on which version of the pattern you choose (both are included in the pattern notes below). Both options create a fabric that lies flat without curling, which is essential for a throw blanket. If you’ve ever knitted something in straight stockinette and watched it curl up into a sad little tube, you know exactly why this matters.

There is no shaping in this pattern. No decreases, no increases, no short rows. You cast on, you knit back and forth, you change colors at regular intervals, and you bind off when the blanket is long enough. It is as close to a meditative knitting experience as you can get while still producing something genuinely beautiful.

Materials You’ll Need

Here’s a complete list of everything you need to gather before you cast on.

Yarn: Lion Brand Hue & Me in two or three colors of your choice. For a throw blanket that measures approximately 40 inches wide by 55 inches long (a generous lap throw), plan on purchasing two skeins of your main color and one to two skeins of your contrast color or colors. If you want a larger blanket — something that drapes generously over a sofa — budget for three skeins of your main color and two of your contrast. It’s always better to buy an extra skein from the same dye lot than to run short and have to search for a match later.

Needles: US size 13 (9mm) circular knitting needles, at least 32 inches long. You’re knitting flat on these — meaning back and forth in rows, not in the round — but the length of the needle cord gives your stitches room to spread out, which helps you maintain even tension across a wide fabric. If you prefer straight needles and have a pair long enough to accommodate 120 or more stitches, those will work as well.

Notions: A tapestry needle for weaving in ends, stitch markers if you like to use them, scissors, and a tape measure.

Gauge: 12 stitches and 18 rows = 4 inches in the pattern stitch on US size 13 needles. As with any blanket pattern, gauge is less critical here than it would be for a garment. The blanket doesn’t need to fit anyone precisely. That said, knitting a quick gauge swatch before you begin will help you estimate your final dimensions more accurately and confirm that your fabric has the texture and drape you’re hoping for.

Abbreviations and Glossary

Before the pattern instructions begin, here’s a quick reference for any abbreviations used throughout.

CO — cast on
BO — bind off
K — knit
P — purl
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
MC — main color
CC — contrast color
Rep — repeat
St/sts — stitch/stitches
Sl — slip

Pattern Notes

This pattern is written for a two-color striped blanket using a simple moss stitch (also called seed stitch) as the primary stitch pattern. Moss stitch is an alternating knit-and-purl pattern that creates a lovely, slightly textured fabric with a very subtle woven appearance. Because it alternates knit and purl stitches on every row, it lies completely flat, making it ideal for blankets.

If you prefer a smoother fabric, you can substitute a 2×2 rib pattern (knit 2, purl 2, repeat across) or even a simple garter stitch (knit every row). Both of those alternatives are also completely flat and beginner-friendly. The stripe sequence in this pattern works with any of those stitch choices.

A note on carrying yarn up the side: When you’re knitting stripes that repeat regularly — say, every four to six rows — you can carry the unused yarn up the side of the work rather than cutting it at each color change. To do this, simply bring the new color up and over the old color at the beginning of each right-side row. This technique leaves a subtle “float” up the selvedge edge of the blanket, which gets hidden under the border or woven in when you finish. It reduces the number of ends you have to weave in at the end, which is always a welcome development.

If your stripe sections are longer — say, twelve rows or more — it is generally cleaner to cut the yarn at each color change rather than carrying it, since long floats along the edge can pucker the fabric.

The Pattern

Stripe Sequence

This blanket uses a simple repeating stripe sequence. You can customize the stripe widths to your taste, but the sequence below creates a balanced, graphic look that photographs beautifully and looks intentional without being fussy.

Using MC, work 8 rows.
Switch to CC, work 4 rows.
Switch to MC, work 8 rows.
Switch to CC, work 8 rows.
Switch to MC, work 4 rows.
Switch to CC, work 8 rows.

This 40-row sequence is one full repeat. Work as many full repeats as needed to reach your desired length, then finish with one final 8-row section in MC. This ending grounds the blanket visually and gives it a clean, finished appearance at both the cast-on edge and the bind-off edge.

Cast On

Using MC and your US size 13 circular needles, CO 120 stitches using the long-tail cast on method. The long-tail cast on creates a neat, slightly elastic edge that looks professional and holds up beautifully over the life of the blanket. If you are more comfortable with another cast on method, use whichever you prefer.

Place a stitch marker after the first two stitches and before the last two stitches if you’d like to easily identify your border stitches, though this is entirely optional.

Border and Setup Row

Many flat-knitted blankets benefit from a simple border on all four sides to give the edges a clean, uniform finish. For this blanket, a two-stitch garter border on the left and right sides works beautifully. This means you knit the first two stitches and last two stitches of every single row regardless of what the center pattern calls for.

Setup Row (RS): Knit all stitches.

Row 1 (RS): K2, K1, P1; rep from to last 2 sts, K2.

Row 2 (WS): K2, P1, K1; rep from to last 2 sts, K2.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 throughout the blanket, changing colors according to the stripe sequence above.

Working the Stripe Sequence

After the setup row, begin your stripe sequence. When you reach a color change:

At the beginning of a right-side row, join the new color by leaving a 6-inch tail. Hold the tail alongside the work for the first few stitches to catch it behind the fabric, or simply leave it to be woven in later. Continue working in the new color across the row.

If you are carrying the yarn up the side rather than cutting it, twist the working yarn around the carried strand before beginning the new row. This keeps the floats tidy and prevents them from looping out at the edge.

Continue working in the moss stitch pattern — maintaining the two-stitch garter border throughout — and following the stripe sequence until your blanket measures approximately 53 to 55 inches from the cast-on edge, or your desired length.

Bind Off

On a right-side row, using MC, bind off all stitches loosely in pattern. This means binding off by working each stitch as you would in the pattern — knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches before passing the previous stitch over. Binding off loosely is important for blankets because a tight bind off can cause the edge to draw in and look puckered. If you tend to bind off tightly, consider going up one needle size for the bind off row.

Finishing

Weave in all ends using a tapestry needle. For yarn tails along the color change edges, weave each tail through the selvedge stitches in a zigzag motion for at least two inches to ensure the end stays secure through washing and use.

Block your finished blanket for best results. For the Hue & Me yarn blend, a gentle steam block works well. Lay the blanket flat on a blocking mat or clean surface, mist or steam it lightly, and smooth it into the desired dimensions with your hands. Allow it to dry completely before folding or using. Blocking evens out the stitch definition, relaxes the fabric slightly, and gives the finished blanket a polished, cohesive appearance that makes the stripe colors really pop.

Color Combination Ideas to Try

One of the most enjoyable parts of planning this project is choosing your colors. Lion Brand Hue & Me has an extensive palette, and the tonal, heathered nature of the yarn means that almost any two colors you pair together will look considered and intentional. Here are a few combinations worth exploring.

A deep navy paired with a warm cream creates a classic, nautical feel that works in virtually any home and makes an excellent gift. The contrast is high without being jarring, and the stripe pattern reads clearly from across the room.

A dusty terracotta with a soft sage green leans into the earthy, organic color palette that has become so popular in home décor. This combination feels warm and grounded, and the heathering in both skeins creates a very natural-looking palette.

A rich charcoal paired with a muted mustard yellow is another strong option for anyone who gravitates toward moody, sophisticated color combinations. The low-saturation mustard reads almost like a warm neutral against the charcoal, which makes the whole blanket feel effortlessly stylish.

If you want to try a three-color version of this blanket, consider choosing colors that are all within the same tonal family — three shades of blue ranging from a pale sky to a deep midnight, for example — and adjusting the stripe sequence so each color appears in its own dedicated section. The result looks gradient-like and intentional without requiring any special technique beyond what this pattern already calls for.

Tips for Success

A few pieces of advice that will make this project go more smoothly from start to finish.

Knit your gauge swatch seriously. Even for a blanket, a few stitches off in gauge can mean your finished blanket is significantly wider or narrower than you planned. Take fifteen minutes to knit a swatch, wash and dry it the same way you plan to care for the finished blanket, and measure it honestly. It will save you frustration later.

Organize your yarn before you begin. Wind your skeins into cakes using a ball winder or into loose center-pull balls if you’re winding by hand. This prevents the skein from tangling as you work and makes it easier to manage two colors at once.

Keep your tension consistent across color changes. It’s common for knitters to pull slightly tighter at the join when picking up a new color, which can cause the first row of a new stripe to look different from the rest. Practice holding the new yarn at the same tension you’d use for any other row, and that first row will blend right in.

Save your yarn labels. Write down the dye lot number for each skein and keep the labels until the blanket is completely finished. If you run short and need to buy more yarn, having the dye lot information gives you the best chance of finding a match.

A Note on Gifting This Blanket

This throw blanket pattern makes a genuinely wonderful gift, and it’s worth saying that out loud. Because Hue & Me is machine washable, it is practical for everyday use in a way that pure wool or delicate fiber blankets are not. The chunky weight and simple stripe pattern photograph beautifully, which matters if you’re giving the blanket as a gift and want to share a photo beforehand or document the finished project for your own records.

For gifting, consider including a small card with the fiber content and care instructions. Knowing that a handmade blanket can be tossed in the washing machine removes a psychological barrier for the recipient and means the blanket actually gets used and loved rather than stored carefully away.

Final Thoughts from Fifty Four Ten Studio

There is something genuinely special about a striped throw blanket. The repetition of the stripe sequence gives the project a natural rhythm that makes even long knitting sessions feel peaceful. You know exactly where you are in the pattern at every moment — that’s a comfort that more complex projects don’t offer.

Lion Brand Hue & Me yarn makes this particular version of that experience feel elevated. The weight, the color depth, and the slight wooly softness all contribute to a finished object that looks and feels like something that cost far more effort than it actually required. That’s the quiet magic of a well-designed, well-executed simple pattern.

Whether you’re a brand-new knitter picking up needles for the first time or an experienced crafter looking for a low-stress project to carry you through a busy season, this easy striped throw blanket is exactly the right project. Cast on with confidence. You’re going to love how it turns out.

Happy knitting.