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Picnic Basket Blanket
Spread your Picnic Basket Blanket under a big, leafy tree and settle in for an afternoon of nowhere else to be. Its stitch pattern echoes the woven texture of a classic picnic hamper, while our delightfully dappled Sunshower Cotton yarn brings the depth and variation of natural basketry.
You create all that satisfying basket-y texture with simple knits and purls, the plump, round strand of Sunshower Cotton creating a remarkably convincing woven illusion. Work from a chart or written instructions… Whichever sets you up for carefree, lazy-day knitting!
Sunshower Cotton is an Italian-made organically grown cotton yarn that knits up quickly in a generous worsted weight, smooth and supple while it’s on the needles and strong and durable enough to last for decades. Your finished blanket will be machine wash- and dry-able, too, so you never have to worry about taking it along!
Because we chose unmercerized cotton for this yarn, it has a lovely matte quality that’s both grounded and graceful. We selected the basket-like Wood Thrush color for our Picnic Basket Blanket, but you have a whole palette of sunny and stormy shades to choose from, each color printed onto the yarn in a freeform drizzle.
If happiness is a blanket, a basket, and a beautiful day, the Picnic Basket Blanket is the perfect way to get there! Pick up 9 skeins of Sunshower Cotton for a crib blanket or 13 for a small throw and settle in for the ultimate summer knit.
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 55 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
Pattern designed and written by Purl Soho designer, Hiromi Glover. See even more of Hiromi’s work on her Instagram!
Story written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.
Want to print this pattern? On desktop, find the “print” icon in the right margin, and on mobile, scroll to the end of the pattern for it. Use the on-screen instructions to remove anything you don’t want to print!
Materials
- 9 (13) skeins of Purl Soho’s Sunshower Cotton, 100% organically grown cotton yarn. Each skein of this worsted/aran-weight yarn is 159 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 1315 (2030) total yards required. We used the color Wood Thrush.
- US 6 (4 mm), 32- or 40-inch circular knitting needles, depending on size
GAUGE
18 stitches and 33 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern
SIZES
Crib (Throw)
Finished Dimensions: 33½ inches wide x 39½ inches tall (42½ inches wide x 48 inches tall)
Sample: We knit the Throw size.
NOTES
STITCH MULTIPLE
This pattern is worked over a multiple of 20 plus 11 stitches.
SLIP STITCHES
Slip all stitches purlwise with yarn in front.
PATTERN
Cast on 151 (191) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Set-Up Row (wrong side): Slip 1 (see Notes), k1, slip 1, purl to last 3 stitches, slip 1, k1, slip 1.
Continue to work either from Written Instructions or Chart, both below.
PICNIC BASKET PATTERN: WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS
Row 1 (right side): K1, slip 1, k1, *k5, p15, repeat from * to last 8 stitches, k6, slip 1, k1.
Row 2 (wrong side): Slip 1, k1, slip 1, *p5, k15, repeat from * to last 8 stitches, p5, slip 1, k1, slip 1.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Row 4: Slip 1, k1, slip 1, purl to last 3 stitches, slip 1, k1, slip 1.
Row 5: K1, slip 1, k1, p10, *k5, p15, repeat from * to last 18 stitches, k5, p10, k1, slip 1, k1.
Row 6: Slip 1, k1, slip 1, k10, *p5, k15, repeat from * to last 18 stitches, p5, k10, slip 1, k1, slip 1.
Row 7: Repeat Row 5.
Row 8: Repeat Row 4.
Repeat Rows 1–8 thirty-nine (48) more times.
Repeat Rows 1–4 one more time.
Go on to Finishing section, below.
PICNIC BASKET PATTERN: CHART
NOTE: New to reading charts? Learn how with our Reading A Chart Tutorial!
Starting in the bottom right corner of the Chart below, work right-side (odd number) rows from right to left and wrong-side (even number) rows from left to right.
Work Rows 1–8 forty (49) times, then repeat Rows 1–4 one more time.
When complete, go on to Finishing section, below.
KEY
CHART
NOTE: Want to see it bigger? Download this chart (and key) as a PDF!
FINISHING
Bind-Off Row (right side): K1, slip 1, pass first stitch over second stitch, bind off knitwise to last 2 stitches, slip 1, pass first stitch over second stitch, k1, pass first stitch over second stitch.
Weave in the ends and gently block as desired.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Learn About Sunshower Cotton + All Our Beautiful Yarns
We used Sunshower Cotton for this project to show off its soft, stippled surface, like the sun shining through an afternoon drizzle! This worsted/aran-weight yarn has a very pleasant hand, both substantial and soft, as well as supple. A machine washable yarn, Sunshower Cotton is 100% organically grown cotton and absolutely wonderful for adding interest to lovely garments, blankets, baby knits, and housewares. Take a sunshower!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our inspiring collection of free Sunshower Cotton knitting patterns and cast on!
More Worsted/Aran-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of worsted/aran-weight yarn (What does worsted-weight yarn mean, really? Our guide to worsted-weight yarn will answer your questions and more!)
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial, our Yarn Substitution article, and our Complete Guide To Yarn for lots of helpful information.
More Yarns With Similar Fiber
- Shop cotton yarn (What helps cotton keep its cool? Learn all about this soft, natural fiber in our guide to cotton yarn!)
- Shop plant-based yarn
- Shop machine washable yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of free knitting patterns) and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
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Would a wool yarn of similar gauge work in this pattern?
Hi Jan,
Thank you so much for reaching out!
You could definitely use wool. I would just be mindful of the idea that wool has more elasticity and stitch memory. You’ll have really great stitch definition, but the drape that cotton offers will be lost.
You might enjoy reading more about fiber properties in our article on “Yarn Substitution Made Easy,” or in our article entitled “Complete Guide to Yarn: Fiber, Spin, Weight + More.”
I hope this is helpful, but please reach back out anytime!
Kindly,
Hills
Thank you!
Hi Jan,
We’re so glad you asked about using a different fiber for this blanket! This blanket would look wonderful in a wool yarn and I’ve got the perfect idea for you…
We used a classic worsted weight yarn for this pattern, so my top recommendation for a wool-based substitute would be Daily Wool Worsted. Wool yarns tend to have more elasticity and stitch memory than cotton yarns, so your blanket will have a different, but still beautiful, texture. Daily Wool Worsted also has the added bonus of being machine washable, so it’s a great choice for anything getting a lot of use! We always recommend making and blocking a swatch in the stitch pattern before starting, and this is especially important when using a different fiber. Making a small swatch will give you the best idea of the texture of the final blanket and give you the opportunity to decide if this is the pattern and yarn combination you are looking for.
I hope this helps, and please reach out with any other questions!
Kindly,
Andrea
Hello,
I wanted to check if you have any suggestions for the amount of cast on stitches (and gauge, if possible) if I wanted to use all or at least most of my Cotton Pure on a Cone yarn that I’ve been saving for a blanket pattern.
Thank you!
PS. Thank you for this free pattern as I loveee all basket-like project patterns.
Hi SJ,
Thank you so much for reaching out. We’re really glad that you love this pattern!
Unfortunately, we’re unable to do this kind of math with a gauge change included. I could maximize yarn usage at the same gauge, or suggest a cast-on to match the original blanket’s width at a new gauge, but unfortunately we’re unable to make both changes successfully.
You could try working a gauge swatch to get an idea of how much yarn you’d use in the swatch, and how many swatches you could make total. You’ll need your swatch and the weight of the total cone (40g is included in the weight on the label to account for the tube inside the cone) to determine your yardage per gram.
You might also consider taking a look at the Stitchwork Blanket or the Tin Ceiling Blanket. You might also enjoy reading more about yarn substitution in our article, “Yarn Substitution Made Easy.”
I hope you find the perfect project for your cone! Please feel free to reach out anytime.
All the best,
Hills
Hi SJ,
We’re so glad this pattern has piqued your interest and are happy to help you think through another yarn choice!
Cotton Pure is thinner than Sunshower Cotton, so you’ll need to cast on more stitches, go down a couple of needle sizes, and will ultimately end up with a slightly smaller, more condensed basket weave pattern. If that all sounds good to you, I recommend starting with US5 needles and aiming for a gauge of 24 stitches per four inches to make Cotton Pure really shine in this pattern!
As for how to use up as much of this yarn as possible, a full cone of Cotton Pure is enough to make a throw size blanket. After taking a look at some of our other blanket patterns that use up a full cone, I recommend casting on 251 stitches for a blanket with 12 repeats of the stitch pattern and about 42 inches wide at this gauge. Once your blanket is about 45 inches tall, I would keep an eye on the amount of yarn you have left after each full repeat of Rows 1-8 to make sure you have enough to finish with Rows 1-4 and binding off!
I love that this pattern is easy to modify because it has an easily memorized 20-stitch pattern repeat, so I’m extra glad it called to you. We’d love to see how yours turns out. Please feel free to share photos anytime!
Kindly,
Andrea
Thankyou so very much for your pattern
Hi Leiza,
We’re so glad to see you’re loving the Picnic Basket Blanket! Please feel free to reach out with any questions you might have…we’re always here and happy to help!
Happy knitting,
Hills
Can I receive the crib blanket pattern details?
Hi Louise,
Thank you so much for reaching out, and I’m happy to help!
Both the crib and throw blanket are included in this pattern. The crib-sized blanket’s instructions are outside the parentheses. For example,
I’m including some details for printing the pattern, and I’ve just emailed you a PDF, as well. For more details on how this pattern is written, you might enjoy our article on How to Read a Knitting Pattern.
I hope this helps! Please reach back out anytime.
Kindly,
Hills
Hello there, as someone who dislikes purling, do you think it’s possible for me to add a row at the start of pattern so that I end up with a knit all row instead of a purl all row? Read the chart backwards from that point or that’s not going to work easily?
Hi Isha,
Thank you so much for reaching out!
Sadly, this pattern can’t be worked in a way that would avoid purling, as the basket weave texture is created through a pattern of alternating knits and purls. I wouldn’t advise adding a row as it could disrupt the overall texture, but if you see a way forward, I would definitely still encourage you to give it a try.
You might consider something like the Shimmering Stripes Blanket, worked in garter and knit throughout the pattern.
I hope this is helpful. Please reach back out anytime.
All the best,
Hills
Hi there, thank you for the reply. I’ve decided to try a swatch of working the chart opposite and it worked.
I started with the last row of chart as if it was the right side and continued to read the chart the opposite way from there, slipping with yarn in back instead as well. Yay!
Hi Isha,
Thank you so much for your reply! Double-yay! I am thrilled to read how well this worked for you, and super grateful to know that this is an option! Thank you very much for sharing this wisdom with us; I’m sure other knitters will also be really grateful to read this post.
Please don’t hesitate to reach back out anytime!
All the best,
Hills
Hello – Does the light cream have a dye lot? I already have 4 skeins, and want to purchase the remaining separately.
I’d also like to knit it at about 55”x 70”. I thought 4 more skeins would give me enough yarn. Is this correct?
Thank you in advance for your inspiring pattern and help with my questions.
Hi Lindsey,
Thank you so much for reaching out. We’re so glad to see this pattern is inspiring you!
Heirloom White in Sunshower Cotton should use dye lots, and I would suggest emailing us at [email protected] to look into that further!
The larger sample we knit used 2,030 yards (or 13 skeins) for an area of 2,040 square inches. To work this blanket for 55×70 inches, a total area of 3,850 square inches, you would need 3,832 yards (or 25 skeins).
I hope this is helpful, but please feel free to reach back out anytime.
Kindly,
Hills
Hello! I am excited to start this pattern. But I wanted to know if this pattern is prone to laddering between the knit and purl switch offs. I just finished a scarf that switched between knit and pearl sections on the same row and had a horrible time with loosening stitches between the switch offs. Thank you!!
Hi Cindy,
I’m so glad you reached out today, and I’m thrilled the Picnic Basket Blanket called out to you. I’m happy to help!
I would actually recommend practicing with a pattern that switches between knits and purls if you’re experiencing laddering when switching back and forth. This could be a perfect pattern for that skill. You may need to hold your tension a bit more tightly to avoid laddering when switching from knits to purls. It would definitely expand your options when searching for new projects!
If you do run into trouble, please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected]. We are very eager to help get you on track with this skill and would love for you to enjoy this pattern! We’ll keep an eye out for an email from you, Cindy.
All the best,
Hills
Thank you so much!! Will be starting the blanket soon and will reach out if I have any questions. Love your site and products!!
Hi,
I’m currently working on the gauge swatch and was wondering if there’s a different edge stitch instead of the one in the pattern?
My edge stitch looks all wonky and messy..
not all neat and tidy like what is shown in your pictures😢
Suggestions?
Thanks 🙏
Hi Brenda,
I’m so glad you reached out! I’m happy to help with your selvage edges.
Great work swatching! The longer you work an I-cord edge, the cleaner it becomes. It can sometimes take more than a few inches for the edge to cinch in, creating its beautiful edge. You can also work by slipping 3 stitches at the beginning of the row and working them at the end, if you find that a bit easier. Please feel free to send us an image of your swatch to [email protected]…we’d be glad to take a look!
All the best,
Hills
Does this yarn soften after washing and drying? Thanks
Hi Carol,
Thank you so much for reaching out with your question. I’m happy to advise on blocking Sunshower Cotton.
Once blocked, the yarn should soften, yes! It might not be quite as transformative as other cotton yarns you’ve worked with. I would recommend knitting and blocking a gauge swatch to see what you think. It’s the best way to determine if you like the look and feel of the fabric or whether you might need to change needle sizes to obtain the correct gauge. We recommend Machine washing + drying. You can also steam the blanket as a final step.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Hills