Garter Stitch Baby Blanket | Loom Knit
There is something quietly magical about making a baby blanket by hand. Whether you are a brand-new crafter or someone who has been looming for years, a garter stitch baby blanket is one of those projects that rewards you at every step — it grows quickly, it looks beautiful, and when you hand it over to a new parent, you already know it is going to become one of those well-loved keepsakes that gets dragged everywhere and washed a hundred times and never quite gets retired.
This tutorial walks you through everything you need to know to loom knit a classic garter stitch baby blanket. We will cover the supplies, the stitch pattern, the setup, and every row along the way. If you have been curious about loom knitting or you are looking for a manageable project to add to your queue, this is the one to start with.
Why Loom Knitting Is Perfect for Baby Blankets
Loom knitting has a reputation for being beginner-friendly, and that reputation is well earned. Unlike needle knitting, the loom holds your stitches for you, which means you are not constantly juggling yarn and needles while trying to keep your place. The pegs do the work of keeping everything organized, and all you have to do is wrap and pull.
For a baby blanket specifically, the loom is ideal for a few reasons. First, baby blankets are wide, flat pieces of fabric with no shaping required. There are no increases or decreases to manage, no seaming at the end, and no complicated stitch counts that shift from row to row. You set up your loom, establish your pattern, and repeat until the blanket is the length you want.
Second, garter stitch is one of the most forgiving textures you can knit. It lies flat naturally — no blocking required to prevent curling edges — and it creates a dense, cushiony fabric with a lovely ridged texture that babies seem to love running their fingers across. It is also reversible, which means both sides look equally finished and polished.
Third, loom knitting is genuinely easier on the hands and wrists than needle knitting for many people. If you have dealt with any joint stiffness or just find needle knitting uncomfortable, the loom is worth trying. The motion is different — gentler, more open — and many crafters who struggled with needles find that the loom opened up a whole world of projects they had given up on.
What You Will Need
Before you cast on, gather your supplies so everything is within reach. There is nothing more frustrating than getting partway through a project and realizing you need to run to the craft store.
Loom: For this blanket, you will want a long loom or a rectangular knitting board. A rake-style loom with at least 60 pegs is ideal for a standard baby blanket width, though the exact number depends on your yarn weight and how wide you want the finished blanket to be. If you have an adjustable loom, even better — you can set it to exactly the width you need.
Yarn: Soft, washable yarn is non-negotiable for baby items. New parents need to be able to machine wash blankets quickly and easily, so skip anything labeled “dry clean only” or “hand wash only.” Look for yarn specifically marketed as baby yarn, or choose a superwash merino, a soft acrylic, or a cotton-acrylic blend. Bulky or super bulky yarn will give you a thicker, faster-growing blanket. Worsted weight is a classic choice that creates a beautifully balanced fabric. Avoid anything scratchy or with loose fibers that could shed.
Loom Knitting Hook: This is the tool you use to lift loops over pegs. Most looms come with one, but if yours is worn out or you have just misplaced it, replacements are easy to find.
Yarn Needle / Tapestry Needle: You will use this to weave in your ends when you are finished.
Scissors: Any pair will do.
Row Counter or Notepad: Garter stitch is easy to track visually — each ridge you see represents two rows — but a row counter helps you keep your place, especially if you tend to put projects down and come back to them.
Measuring Tape: So you can check your blanket length as you go.
Choosing Your Yarn Colors
One of the most fun parts of making a baby blanket is choosing the yarn. A soft, neutral palette never goes out of style — creams, whites, soft grays, and warm beiges pair beautifully with any nursery. Pastels are perennially popular for baby items. Mint green, lavender, butter yellow, and dusty pink are always lovely choices.
If you know the gender of the baby or the color scheme of the nursery, you can tailor your palette accordingly. Variegated and self-striping yarns are especially satisfying on a garter stitch blanket because the stitch pattern is simple enough that the color changes become the star of the show. A speckled yarn in creamy tones with small flecks of color can look absolutely stunning worked up in garter stitch on a loom.
If you want a solid, classic look, a single skein of a soft, neutral yarn gives the finished blanket an heirloom quality that feels timeless.
Understanding Garter Stitch on a Loom
In needle knitting, garter stitch is created by knitting every single row. The alternating tension of knit rows creates the characteristic horizontal ridges.
On a loom, you achieve the same effect, but the mechanics are slightly different. To create garter stitch on a loom, you alternate between the flat knit stitch (also called the u-wrap knit stitch) and the purl stitch. Specifically: knit one row, purl the next. Repeat. This alternation produces the same ridged, flat texture that you see in traditional garter stitch.
Some loom knitters prefer to use the e-wrap stitch for both rows, but this tends to create a stretchier, looser fabric that does not mimic true garter stitch as accurately. The flat knit and purl combination gives you a fabric that looks and feels closest to the needle-knit version, and for a baby blanket, you want that dense, structured texture.
If you are new to the purl stitch on a loom, do not be intimidated. It takes a row or two to feel natural, but once you find your rhythm, you will move through it just as quickly as the knit rows.
How to Do the Flat Knit Stitch (U-Wrap)
The flat knit stitch is the foundation of most loom knitting. Here is a quick refresher:
Hold your yarn behind the loom. Lay the working yarn in front of the peg, creating a U-shape around it. Using your loom hook, reach under the bottom loop (the one already on the peg) and lift it up and over the new loop, dropping it off the back of the peg. The new loop stays on the peg and becomes your new stitch. Move to the next peg and repeat.
Work across all pegs in one direction, then turn and work back. Each pass across the loom is one row.
How to Do the Purl Stitch on a Loom
The purl stitch creates a bump on the side facing you, which is the opposite of the knit stitch. When you alternate these two stitches in rows, they build up into garter stitch.
Bring your working yarn in front of the peg and hold it there, below the existing loop. Use your loom hook to reach through the top of the existing loop from the right side, grab the working yarn, and pull it back through the loop, forming a new loop. Slide the old loop off the peg and place the new loop on the peg. Move to the next peg and repeat.
The key with purl stitches on a loom is keeping consistent tension. It can feel a little awkward at first, but your hands will find their rhythm after a few rows.
Casting On
For this blanket, use the long-tail cast on or the chain cast on, both of which give you a clean, flexible edge that stretches when needed and holds its shape otherwise. The chain cast on is often recommended for beginners because it is quick and forgiving. Whichever you choose, make sure your cast on is not too tight — a baby blanket needs to drape and stretch, and a tight cast on can restrict that.
Wrap your yarn onto each peg across the loom, placing one loop on each peg. For this project, you want the loops to feel snug but not strangled. If you can gently wiggle the loop on the peg, your tension is about right.
Once all pegs have a loop, you are ready to begin Row 1.
The Pattern
This is beautifully simple. Once you understand the two-row repeat, you will not need to refer back to any instructions.
Row 1: Flat knit stitch across all pegs.
Row 2: Purl stitch across all pegs.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until your blanket reaches the desired length.
That is genuinely all there is to garter stitch. The magic is in the repetition. Every two rows you complete adds one visible ridge to your fabric, and those ridges stack up into a beautifully textured blanket that looks far more complicated than it actually is.
How Long Should a Baby Blanket Be?
A good all-purpose baby blanket measures approximately 30 by 36 inches, though sizes range anywhere from 28 inches square up to about 36 by 45 inches for a more generous throw. Receiving blankets are often smaller — around 30 inches square — while crib blankets tend to run larger.
For a loom-knit garter stitch blanket, aim for 30 to 36 inches in length once you account for how the fabric may pull in slightly. Check your length every ten to fifteen rows with a measuring tape laid flat along the fabric. This way you will not overdo it or fall short.
Binding Off
When your blanket is the length you want, it is time to bind off. The basic bind off, also called the chain one bind off or the gather bind off, works well here, but for a baby blanket you want something that will stay elastic and lie flat.
A good option is the basic bind off done loosely: knit the first two stitches, then use your loom hook to lift the loop from Peg 1 over the loop on Peg 2 and off the peg. You now have one loop on Peg 2. Knit Peg 3, then lift the loop from Peg 2 over Peg 3 and off. Continue across all pegs until only one loop remains. Cut your yarn, leaving a six-inch tail, and pull the tail through the last loop to secure it.
If you want an extra-stretchy bind off, try the decrease bind off at a slightly looser tension, or look up the suspended bind off method, which gives even more elasticity along the edge.
Weaving in Ends
Thread your tapestry needle with the yarn tail at the cast-on edge. Weave the tail through the stitches along the wrong side of the blanket in a zigzag pattern for at least two inches. Pull gently, then weave back in the opposite direction for added security. Trim the tail close to the fabric. Repeat with the tail at the bind-off edge.
Because baby items get washed frequently, it is worth taking an extra minute to really secure those ends. A tail that pulls free after the first wash is no fun for anyone.
Finishing Touches
Once your ends are woven in, give your blanket a gentle hand wash or run it through your washing machine on a delicate cycle according to your yarn’s care instructions. Lay it flat on a clean towel to dry, smoothing it out gently to the dimensions you want. This process is called blocking, and while garter stitch does not strictly need it, a light blocking will even out any tension inconsistencies and give the blanket a polished, finished look.
If you would like to add a border, a simple slip-stitch crochet border around all four edges can give the blanket a clean, professional finish. You can also add a crocheted shell border or a picot edge for a more decorative look. These are optional — the blanket is perfectly beautiful without any additional border — but they are a lovely extra touch if you have the time and the interest.
Tips for Success
Work at a consistent tension throughout your project. If you notice your fabric getting tighter or looser over time, try to consciously adjust as you go. Inconsistent tension is the most common issue for newer loom knitters, and it usually resolves itself with practice.
Put stitch markers on the first and last peg if you are using a loom that has more pegs than you are using for this project. This will keep you from accidentally adding or skipping pegs at the edges.
Count your ridges rather than your rows to track your progress. Every two rows equals one ridge. If your target length requires roughly 80 rows, you are looking for 40 ridges. It is much easier to count ridges visually than to keep track of individual rows.
If you run out of yarn mid-project, join your new skein at the beginning of a row rather than in the middle. Leave a six-inch tail on both ends, knot them loosely together for now, and weave them in properly when you are finished.
Why This Makes Such a Wonderful Gift
Handmade baby blankets occupy a special category of gifts. They are practical — every baby needs something soft and warm to sleep under, be bundled in, or lie on during tummy time. But they are also deeply personal. Someone took time, care, and skill to make something specifically for that child, and most families hold onto handmade blankets long after the baby has outgrown needing them. They end up in baby books, in memory boxes, passed down to younger siblings.
The garter stitch design has an added advantage: it is gender-neutral, age-appropriate for any baby, and works with every style of nursery. A well-chosen yarn color makes this blanket look like it was custom-made for that specific baby, even though the pattern itself is beautifully universal.
If you are making this as a gift, consider packaging it in a simple muslin bag or a wicker basket with a handwritten tag. The presentation does not need to be elaborate — the blanket itself is already the main event.
Final Thoughts
The garter stitch baby blanket is one of those timeless loom knitting projects that deserves a permanent spot in your rotation. It is approachable enough for a true beginner but satisfying enough that experienced loom knitters return to it again and again. The stitch pattern is forgiving, the finished fabric is beautiful, and the end result is something genuinely useful and genuinely meaningful.
Whether you are making this blanket for a baby shower, a new sibling, a grandchild, or just because you love to loom and want a project that moves along quickly, this one will not disappoint. Cast on, find your rhythm, and let those garter ridges stack up row by row. Before you know it, you will have a soft, snuggly blanket ready to be wrapped around someone very small and very loved.
Happy looming.
