The Coloring Book Blanket is a FREE knit garter stitch blanket pattern. This blanket combines the classic garter stitch with 94 colors and patterned stripes. Not only is this a fantastic all levels knitting pattern (you're only going to use the knit stitch!), but the alternating rows of color never leaves you bored! 

Copyright Disclosure: This pattern is for your own personal use. No unauthorized reproduction, in whole or in part (i.e. copying and pasting this pattern into your own document, altering this pattern in any way and calling it your own, etc.), or distribution of this pattern or content (i.e. sharing this pattern in its whole form on your own blog) is allowed. You can use this blog post in blog round-ups. I give permission to sell your items made from this pattern. Please credit “While They Dream” in your listings. The pattern and all photos are the property of While They Dream. You are welcome to share my patterns across all social media forms as long as you link back to my blog directly.

Finished blanket measures: Approximately 52 in x 58.75 in (132 cm x 149 cm) 

If you use the exact same number of mini skeins you will have knit 376 rows and have 188 garter stitch ridges (2 rows of knitting = one solid colored ridge on the right side of your work).

Gauge:  16 sts in 4 inches (10 cm) and 8 rows (4 garter stitch ridges) in 1.25 inches (approximately 3 cm)

Supplies Needed

• Needles needed: US 8/5mm circular knitting needles 36 inches (91 cm) or longer
• Scissors for cutting yarn
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• Yarn: Scheepjes Cahlista 100% Double Gassed Cotton, 15g mini skeins, Aran weight | A note about this yarn: I personally feel that this yarn is much more of a DK weight, so any weight of DK, Worsted, or Aran weight would work just fine for this pattern. See additional notes for more about the colors I used. 

• BO – Bind Off 
• CO – Cast On 
• K – Knit  
• Sts – Stitches

• You can find the PDF Pattern HERE on my website
• Grab it on Etsy HERE
• Add it to your Ravelry Favorites HERE

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N O T E S

Yardage: I used approximately 11g of each 15g mini. I used 94 of the 109 colors from the Scheepjes Cahlista Color Pack which equals 1,034g of yarn. You don't have to use this same yarn. Use what you have! I decided to leave out the blacks, greys, and some of the browns from the pack. Just use an even amount of colors so you end with two colors. 

How Many Rows Per Color?

For each 15g skein, I knit four rows in total. If we were labeling the colors in the photo above and you said color "A" was red and color "B" was blue, the pattern you see would be A, B, A, B. This equals 8 rows total and gives you 4 garter ridges in alternating colors. I just keep working in this pattern of two colors throughout the whole blanket. 

Choosing My Colors: I liked picking four colors at a time and going from there. I did not decide on my entire color layout ahead of time. I chose things as I went (and never chose my colors in dim light). I always made sure my next batch of colors felt like it flowed well from the previous color choices. I do NOT have a color order list for this blanket. I think part of the joy of making this blanket was choosing colors that made me happy as I was knitting that day. Sometimes my kids would get to choose them as well. You could have a random color generator pick for you, work in rainbow order, assign colros to moods, etc. 

Simple Steps: 

• Choose your first color, knit two rows, do not cut the yarn. 
• Choose your second color, knit two rows, do not cut the yarn. 
• Carry the yarn from the first color up, knit two rows, cut the yarn (leaving a long tail). 
• Carry the yarn from the second color up, knit two rows, cut the yarn (leaving a long tail). 
• Repeat this with the next two color choices. 
• ALL COLOR CHANGES HAPPEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BLANKET ONLY! If you have any ends on the left side, you made a mistake. 

P A T T E R N

CO: With your first color, CO 210 stitches

Row 1: Continuing with your first color, knit all stitches, do not cut yarn. 

Rows 2 and 3: Switch to a new color, knit all stitches, do not cut yarn. 

Rows 4 and 5: Switch back to your first color by carrying your yarn up the edge. Knit all stitches. Cut your yarn after you have finished both rows, leaving a long (9-10 inch/23-25 cm) tail. 

Rows 6 and 7: Switch back to your second color by carrying your yarn up the edge. Knit all stitches. Cut your yarn after you have finished both rows, leaving a long (9-10 inch/23-25 cm) tail. 

You have completed your first two-color stripe. From this point on you will work with two new colors at a time, knit your 8 rows, alternating between the two you have chosen for a total of 4 garter ridges. You will cut those colors once you have completed those rows and move on to your next two colors. 

Rows 8 and 9: Choose a new color (I will refer to this as your "first" color in Rows 12 and 13), knit all stitches, do not cut yarn. 

Rows 10 and 11: Choose a new color (I will refer to this as your "second" color in Rows 14 and 15), knit all stitches, do not cut yarn. 

Rows 12 and 13: Switch back to your first color by carrying your yarn up the edge. Knit all stitches. Cut your yarn after you have finished both rows, leaving a long tail (9-10 inches/23-25 cm). 

Rows 14 and 15: Switch back to your second color by carrying your yarn up the edge. Knit all stitches. Cut your yarn after you have finished both rows, leaving a long tail (9-10 inches/23-25 cm). 

Repeat rows 8 - 15 for the rest of your blanket, always working with only two colors at a time. 

KNITTING YOUR LAST TWO ROWS

When you get to your very last two rows of this blanket you will do as follows for the Rows 14 and 15 repeats: 

Row 14: Switch back to your second color by carrying your yarn up the edge. Knit all stitches. 

Row 15: Bind off all stitches. Leave a long tail to weave in. 

Weaving in the ends

For garter stitch I like to use a duplicate stitch method to weave in my ends. I did try weaving them in as I knit and just didn't trust it, so I pulled them back out and wove them in by hand. I suggest to not pull things too tight. Keep the weaving loose and you shouldn't end up with much for stiffness. Weave in ends every time you finish about 6-8 colors and you won't be overwhelmed at the end. 

.  
I suggest weaving in tails every time you finish 6 – 8 colors so that you 
do not get overwhelmed later.  

Video Link: Weaving in ends in garter stitch