Cream Flower Garden Throw Knitting Free Pattern
Introduction
The Cream Flower Garden Throw is a cozy, folk-art-inspired blanket that brings a little handmade charm to any room. It's designed for advanced beginners who are comfortable with knit and purl stitches and are ready to try simple yarn-over increases and picking up stitches. The smooth cream stockinette body feels soft and drapey, while the sage green garter borders add a crisp, ridged frame that makes the whole throw look polished. Twelve little five-petal flowers are scattered evenly across the field, giving it a sweet garden feel that looks lovely draped over a sofa or at the foot of a bed.
Materials Needed
- Yarn: Worsted weight (4) acrylic or wool blend. Main color (MC) cream: 1200 yards. Contrast color (CC) sage green: 300 yards.
- Needles: 5.0 mm (US 8) circular needle, 32-inch length.
- Notions: Yarn needle, stitch markers (optional), scissors, tape measure, blocking pins and mats.
- Finished size: 40 inches wide x 48 inches long.
Abbreviations
- CO: cast on
- st(s): stitch(es)
- RS: right side (the smooth knit face of the throw)
- WS: wrong side (the purled back)
- k: knit
- p: purl
- yo: yarn over (wrap the yarn around the needle to create a new stitch and a small hole)
- MC: main color (cream)
- CC: contrast color (sage green)
Gauge
16 stitches and 22 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Knit a small swatch in stockinette, block it lightly, and measure a 4-inch section to confirm your stitch and row counts match before starting.
Tips Before You Start
- Work a gauge swatch first; a throw this size will grow or shrink noticeably if your gauge is off.
- Keep your yarn overs loose and even so the flower petals open up neatly.
- When picking up border stitches, space them evenly along the edge to avoid a wavy or puckered border.
- Lay the finished body flat and arrange the flowers before sewing so you can adjust spacing to your liking.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Throw Body (MC)
Row 1 (CO): Cast on 160 sts.
Rows 2-241: Work in stockinette stitch (RS knit, WS purl) for 240 rows total, ending with a WS row.
Bind off: Bind off all 160 sts.
Short-Edge Borders (CC) — make 2
Set-up: With RS facing, pick up and knit 160 sts evenly along one short edge.
Rows 1-8: Knit every row (garter stitch) for 8 rows.
Bind off: Bind off all sts.
Repeat for the opposite short edge.
Long-Edge Borders (CC) — make 2
Set-up: With RS facing, pick up and knit 192 sts evenly along one long edge.
Rows 1-8: Knit every row (garter stitch) for 8 rows.
Bind off: Bind off all sts.
Repeat for the opposite long edge.
Flowers (CC) — make 12
Set-up: Using the cable cast-on, CO 5 sts.
Row 1: Knit (5 sts).
Row 2: k1, [yo, k1] 4 times (9 sts).
Row 3: Knit (9 sts).
Row 4: k1, [yo, k1] 8 times (17 sts).
Row 5: Knit (17 sts).
Row 6: k1, [yo, k1] 16 times (33 sts).
Row 7: Knit (33 sts).
Row 8: Bind off 16 sts, knit to end (17 sts).
Row 9: Bind off 16 sts, knit to end (1 st). Fasten off.
Assembly and Finishing
Arrange the 12 flowers evenly on the throw body in a 3x4 grid, spacing about 10 inches apart horizontally and 12 inches vertically. Pin each flower in place. Using CC and a yarn needle, sew each flower to the throw with small stitches around the center and petals. Weave in all ends. Block lightly to measurements (40 inches wide x 48 inches long), pinning the borders flat and allowing the throw to dry completely.
Pro Tips and Variations
- Swap the sage green CC for a soft dusty rose or mustard for a different folk-art palette.
- Add a few extra flowers in a scattered, non-grid arrangement for a more organic garden look.
- Use a superwash wool blend for easier washing and a slightly springier drape.
