Blanket coverage

It's 31ºC/88ºF outside and steamy too – but we all know the summer heat won't last. Before you know the nights will be drawing in and the cooler weather will arrive. So my next suggestion for this #SummerKnitting series is to start planning a winter blanket!

Of course, it is quite hard to think about winter when it's quite so warm outside, so think back to last year for inspiration... perhaps you would have liked a lap rug when the first of the cooler days arrived... or a super‐cozy blanket to keep all the draughts away. 

Blankets need to be soft and warm if they are to do their job well, but it is also really important that they are the right size. A narrow blanket that lets cold air in every time you turn over will not be your favourite item! So I thought I would compile some sizes of blankets that work well for hand‐knitted projects. Compare these to some of your old stand‐bys and make any adjustments so that your next blanket will be your favourite of all time.

1. Knee-Rugs & Lapghans:

Lap‐Rugs are great for throwing over your legs at any time you need a small amount of extra warmth, but they do need to be wide enough so that draughts don't creep in. I find that a width of 100cm/40" works well for most situations and gives warmth without bulk.

In terms of the length, this depends on how you will use the knee‐rug. For sitting in a chair or wheelchair, then work to about 115‐120cm/45‐48". If you like to relax with your feet up on a foot‐stool, then a length of 150cm/60" will keep your toes well covered. You can even add another 50cm/20" if you want an extra snuggle factor so that you can have a fold‐over at the top or enough length to tuck underneath your feet.

The photo above shows the Ennismore Lap-Rug which has just the right weight to keep you warm in the evening, or if you would just like an extra layer over your knees when you are sitting for a while. It also works very well as a car rug for long journeys.

2. Afghans/Throws:

The best size for these will depend upon the chair they are going to be draped over, but a size that works well for most sofas is 130cm/50" wide x 150cm/60" long.

If you like to use your afghan as an occasional throw for a bed, then you could make this both a little wider and a touch longer to give an overall size of 150/60" wide x 185cm/72" long. That will give a good extra layer over a quilt.

The photo shows the Kingsfold Dorm Room Throw which can be worked in a single colour or in a colour-block version as in the photo above. It can also be worked with stripes as a fun alternative.

3. Blankets

.  Single/Twin-Sized Blankets: A Single bed in the UK is a little narrower than a Twin in the USA. However, a good sized blanket for both places is 170cm/66" wide x 230cm/90" long.

. Double/Full-Sized Blankets: A Double/Full‐sized bed is about 130cm/54" wide, but the depth of the mattress can vary considerably. For a standard mattress, aim for a blanket that is 200cm/78" wide x 250cm/100" long to give good coverage. If the mattress is extra‐deep, then add another 20cm/8" to the width and 10cm/4" to the length.

.  Queen-Sized Blankets: ​Queen size beds are about 150cm/60" wide, so a little wider than a Double/Full‐sized bed, and usually have deeper mattresses too. So for this size of bed, work a blanket 230cm/90" wide x 260cm/102" long.

And just to note, but some people like a deeper overlap at the side of the bed and some a bit less, so have a look at blankets you already have on hand to see which you prefer. Some patterns also allow you to adjust this as you work, as in the Henley Blanket shown above, so you can finish your blanket as per your preference.

.  King-Sized Blankets:

In the UK King‐sized beds are 185cm/72" wide while in the USA they are about 10cm/4" wider. The mattress can also be quite substantially deeper in the USA. So for a UK King‐sized blanket make this about 270cm/106" wide x 260cm/102" long. However, for a US King‐size it would be better to be 290cm/115" wide x 275cm/108" long.

The photo above shows the King-sized version of the Ocean Currents Blanket which has been worked with many different yarns to give a lovely old-time quilt feel. If you would like to read more about how I selected the yarn for this project, delving deeply into boxes of remnant yarns along the way, then please see my last Knitting Notes post here.

4. And let's not forget the kiddies...

In the 'olden days' we would always lay baby down to sleep wrapped securely in a snuggly blanket. Of course, the guidance has changed markedly over the years and these days there is nothing in the cot with them when they are settling to sleep overnight.

However, there is still a place for a lovely knitted blanket, especially when you head out for a walk or have them sleeping alongside you while you knit in the garden. So here are some good sizes for blankets to suit all occasions.

.  Small size: For a Moses basket, cradle or bassinet, then a 60x80cm/24x32 ins size works very well. This is a very neat size but still with enough width and length to tuck in well.

.  Matching Dolly size: You could also make a matching dolly blanket so that big brother or sister can tuck in their favourite dolly or teddy too. The Caela Dolly Blanket shown above on the right measures 40x50cm/16x20 ins and is perfect for a dolly or stuffed toy up to 60cm/24 ins high. Our grandson's favourite monkey, Michael, certainly seems very happy in his little box bed!

.  Medium size: For a cot, pram, stroller or car seat then I would suggest a touch more width and bit more length, so 90x120cm/36x48 ins would work well. This gives enough length to provide a turn-back at the top for extra warmth, too.

. Playmat size: When our kiddies were small I liked having a square blanket to hand. I could gather all their toys in it to walk to a friend's house and then set that down for them as a playmat or in a playpen. A size of 90-100cm/36-40 ins square worked very well for this.

.  Toddler Bed size:

Then when baby has grown to be a toddler they can finally have a blanket of their own! So here is the Winsford Stroller Blanket which provides a wonderfully zingy colour combination to liven up any toddler's room. For this size bed, aim for a blanket size with a width of about 100cm/40 ins and length about 125-150cm/45-60 ins, depending on the length of the bed they are using.

I hope this gives lots of good ideas for blanket sizes for future projects. If you would like to see all my available blanket patterns, please click here. Cozy winters are on the horizon!!

And that draws this Summer Knitting series to a close. I hope you found lots of useful ideas for a whole summer of knitting. By the time September comes around you will be amazed at how productive you have been over the summer months!

​If you would like to read the first post in this series, then please click here. You can then follow the links at the bottom of each post to read the remainder of the series.

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