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Log Cabin Scrap Blanket

When I describe myself as a knitter, I always use the word “stashless”. This is true – I never, ever buy yarn unless I plan to cast-on with it right away, knowing exactly what I’m going to make. I have ZERO stash.

That doesn’t mean that I don’t have a “yarn closet” full of yarn. Oh, boy. I have little bits of leftover yarns from decades of projects. I’m able to use up some of these leftovers in the sample bits I knit up for demonstration in the videos, but I love it when I can sink my teeth into a great use of leftover yarns.

So here we have the Log Cabin Scrap Blanket. Log Cabin is a traditional quilting technique that has been adapted over the years into both knitting and crochet. This one is knit.

This pattern is a FREE RAVELRY DOWNLOAD, and includes links to a six-part video tutorial. The video is also at the bottom of this post.

Size: approx 47” by 63”
Needles: size 7 US (4.5mm), circulars or straights
Yarn: Use up your leftover worsted yarn bits! For best results, stick with one fiber type for the whole blanket. Either animal (wool, alpaca, angora, etc.); cellulose (cotton, linen, bamboo, etc.); or acrylic. You’ll also want to stick with one weight of yarn. If you choose to pick a border color as I did (in black), you’ll need an additional 1100 yards of yarn for the size I indicate above.
Additional Materials: tapestry needle for weaving in ends and seaming, and clippie markers are always helpful
Gauge: 5 stitches per inch in garter stitch

Frequently Asked Questions on this pattern can be found here.

Be sure to check out my other video tutorials.

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198 comments on “Log Cabin Scrap Blanket”

  1. Hi Donna – I can’t say for sure, because different wool blends have different amounts of wool, and behave differently. But my guess is that you will be fine.

    Hope that helps –
    S t a c i

  2. Hi Staci,
    I’m new to knitting but wanted to make this blanket for my husband and myself for Christmas, none the less, while making my squares a couple of them began to bubble up in the middle. I steamed them like the video says but its not working. I’m not sure what to do and I’ve already put so much work into making it. PLEASE HELP!!! Thank you so much in advance.

  3. Hi Kimmie – without seeing your work, it’s impossible for me to know exactly what is going wrong, but here are some ideas:

    Is it just one yarn that is bubbling? Maybe that yarn has a different fiber, and won’t work well with the other yarns for this blanket.

    Is it possible that your cast-on and/or bind-off is tight on that strip? That would cause tension issues in the center.

    Have you tried steaming the whole block out bigger? Maybe an inch or so? If the other strips can handle it, that might remove the bubbling from the troublesome strip.

    Good luck!
    S t a c i

  4. I have 4 squares completed on my “half log cabin blanket”. I’ doing half so that I have a small lap blanket.

    I have changed some of the things you have on your pattern. I think they save steps in knitting and make putting the whole thing together easier.

    First – as I am making each block, i decided not to bind off the long rectangle blocks, but put them on waste yarn until it comes time to knit them, thus saving the step of binding off the sts.

    Secondly – Then as I did the first stitch in each of the other pieces, I slipped the first stitch as if to purl, thus making an easier edge to seam or to pick up- this stitch later.

    Thirdly – When putting the whole thing together, i am thinking that I may do all of the edging together at on time. I think this may be doable since i am only doing 6 blocks rather than 12. It may prove to be a lot of sts on one needle, but I use circular needles and may have to use two together when doing the width. I will post the results of how this works out. ( as you may guess, I am not fond of seaming together and I think this would be more satisfactory for me at least.

    I have enjoyed doing the 4 blocks I have done, however I made a booboo on the last one and the center block is not in the same position as the rest, but i figure no one but me might notice it, would have taken it all out but it is not worth wasting all that knitting when it is just a matter of placement! ” As the old saying goes, a man on a horse riding by will not be able to see the difference!” Not making excuses but stating that I am not that perfect of an individual to go to the trouble to rip out all that work for the placement of two blocks! I just had a lightening thought, I could make the rest of the two blocks the same as the mistaken on and say I was trying a new pattern of putting the blocks together…. will let you know what I decide!

    VTC

  5. Good suggestions, Virgina…but I want to mention two thing to others who are reading this.

    You mentioned that you are making your blanket smaller. With a bigger (and heavier) blanket, the bind-off rows and the seams provide necessary structure to the whole thing. Without them, there is a risk of the blanket being a lot of unstructured garter stitch. So the extra trouble of picking up stitches and seaming the blocks is an important part of the design.

    Slipping the first stitch of each row does make picking up along the sides of the strips easier. Just be careful that your tension is loose enough so that the edges of the work aren’t puckering smaller than the center.

    Thanks for your note, Virginia!
    S t a c i

  6. Thanks so much for sharing this pattern! I have made several log cabin afghans but never one in block style. I had always wanted to but was unsure how to do it, but now with your excellent instructions I am well on my way! Again, thanks for sharing your expertise.

  7. I KNEW there was a reason I couldn’t throw out my leftover bits!!!! Now everyone who has nagged at me to throw them out or donate them will eat their words.

    Just wait until they see the wonderful blanket I’m going to make. HOARDER??? Not likely. I’m thrifty and creative. So there!

  8. Hi Staci! I recently taught myself to knit using your videos as a sort of therapy while we are going though secondary infirtility. And it turns out I really love it which is due to your videos! You are an excellent teacher. I believe I made 4 of your dish cloths in about the first 3 days after I found your videos:) I am doing the log cabin blanket right now because I needed something I could work on a little longer. But my question is a really basic one. Since I am so new to knitting I did not know if we count the cast on and bind off rows as rows in the pattern. The way I read the pattern I am thinking no but wanted to ask just in case. Thanks! Becca

  9. HI Rebecca – thanks for the note. In most patterns, you are not going to count the CO or BO rows as a row of knitting.

    In the case of this blanket, you are going to count the ridges, which are each two rows, as I demonstrate in the video. The CO row, plus one more row, makes one ridge. So you are sort of counting the CO row in this blanket. (The same is true with the rows you pick up and knit after working the center square).

    Hope that helps!
    S t a c i

  11. This is to continue my note from above. I finished the throw and am very pleased with it, I made it with 6 squares and knitted the border after all blocks were finished. I then connected the two neighboring blocks together, then knitted these blocks together along the edges, then conneted the longer crosswise row along the top and bottom all as one. Made for long rows of garter, but it has worked out nicely and I am pleased. I made the color for the connecting rows around out of a bright yellow which is a favorite of mine!

    Thanks for the great pattern and I love it, as I gather more scraps of colors, I plan to make another and may make it a tad smaller by cutting the size of the of the rows and # of stitches of garter used to make a baby throw or smaller type of blanket.

    Virginia Chase

  13. My Frequently Asked Questions page has information about many of the things you’ll see in the videos. Hope that helps!

    S t a c i

  14. Staci,
    What a wonderful teacher you are. This has provided me with so many useful hints and tips, a super pattern, and all so generously given for free.
    I have a huge stash, and so many left overs to choose from, I may end up making more than one!
    The one piece of advice that I will take on board is to ensure I actually take the time to block and steam my work. I can totally understand why you emphasise the point.
    I too will be looking for a blocking board now.
    Thankyou so much for your time, knowledge and heartfelt enthusiasm.
    Happy stitching!
    Helen

  15. hi 1st time I have seen any of your tutorials actually was looking on u tube for a crochet stitch but somehow got carry to this pattern just started a project tonight but I am going to put that on hold to do this. Just wish there was somewhere I could buy the yarn cheaper although I have loads of scrap bits and bobs.. Having trouble downloading pattern but it is probably me not really to good with computers….lol
    many thanks
    Julie from England

  17. You are my idiol. No stash, how can that be. That is my goal. I have even donated 6 boxes to our church. Its crazy to be a yarn hoarder. Thanks Jodi

  18. My question is can I only use 3 colors I want to
    make a blanket but only use three colors? I love
    your website I am a beginner and thus site really
    helps.

  21. I love the pattern! I will be making a purse with part of my “leftovers”! Thank you for the inspiration!

  22. Thank you for this wonderful pattern to use up lots of my “end of ball” yarns.
    I will be starting a blanket very soon. Thanks again.

  23. I love this pattern! I downloaded it a couple weeks ago and I am almost done with the first block.I love all of your videos! I was hoping that you could make a free video on how to make a cable hat?

  25. The blanket is colorful and beautiful. Have been a knitter for a few years.
    I make beanies for newborns.

  26. Thank you for this pattern.
    This is very simple but very lovely.
    I am korean so I can’t speak English.
    Quality day, I hope someday English easier.
    See you next.
    bye.

  27. Hi Staci! I LOVE this blanket! You have taught me several things through your tutorials. But i have a question. When you say stashless does that mean no yarn stash? Or you don’t start another project until the 1st is finished?

  28. Hi Hannah – yes, that is true. I have no yarn stashed. The only yarn in my house is leftover bits from other projects. I buy yarn as I need it, and I only have one project going at a time.
    🙂
    S t a c i

  30. Dear Staci,
    This is a super beautiful piece of work. I am starting this week for a patchwork begspread for my granddaughters”marriage.
    Thank you so much for inspiring us and giving us all this free advice.
    LoveLucette

  33. I actually found your web site by accident. I was looking up how to loom a blanket when I found you Log Cabin Scrap Blanket. It looks so easy that I’m going to set the loom aside. I’ve done a couple of scarves and hats so I’m pretty excited to get started on my blanket. Unfortunately, where I am in the world at the moment yarn isn’t easy to come by or readily available. So, it will not technically be a “Scrap” Blanket. Good thing I already plan to make it bigger. Anyway, I will have plenty of scrap now! Thank you for your beautifully done videos. They truely are the best I’ve seen. I finally understand the purl stitch. Being a lefty I was trilled to seen a video comparing the two hands.

  34. This is a wonderful pattern. My girlfriend just discovered the fabric version and is making 2 log cabin quilts for Christmas. I am very excited to try this pattern in knitting. Your tutorial makes it look so easy. If I am successful, I will give my friend and her husband the knitted version of the log cabin quilt. Once she sees it, I know she will want to try it too. Thank you so much for the great pattern and your excellent tutorials.

  35. This is absolutely gorgeous. I have always loved log cabin quilts, but I HATE sewing, so would never attempt quilting. However, I LOVE knitting and crocheting, but have never found a really nice knitted log cabin pattern. I inherited a stash from my mother-in-law and want to surprise my husband with a quilt from his mom’s wool. Hopefully there will be enough left-overs to make pillow covers for all the grandchildren.

  36. I am almost done with my log cabin blanket! Your tutorial has been extremely helpful along the way! My one question is, should I block before or after I knit the final border around each piece? I know that I’d have to measure differently for each piece if it’s after doing the border because not every edge is as thick as each other (the 5 ridges vs 10 ridges). Thank you again for an amazing tutorial!

  38. Do you have a version of this quilt for sport or baby yarn? I have a ton of scraps in those weights that I would like to use up. Thanks

  39. Thank you sooooo much for not only taking the initiative and time to do this wonderfully comprehensive step-by-step video, but also for your extremely clear discussion at every step. I have been knitting for about thirty years, but I have never ventured into this type of a project, which is now close to the top of my long list of Things To Do in 2013, 2014, and 2015. You are clearly most sensitive to the creativity implied in this seemingly easy project. Thank you again, and all good wishes for the new year. And for 2014. And 2015.

    Dr. Arnovick

  41. When you say knit for 20 ridges I finally figured out that means to knit 40 rows but when I bind off I end up on opposite side so do I need to knit for 41 row and then bind off? Same if I need to knit 10 ridges do I need to knit 21 rows to end up on right side of project?

  42. Vilda – if you do a long-tail cast-on, that actually creates a half of a ridge. For best results, count ridges, not rows – and always bind-off on the right side of the work.

    S t a c i

  43. Hello,

    I started knitting in Nov. (2012). I began with potholders for family for Christmas (we try to do homemade instead of just buying each other gifts). Then I made scarves for a preschool room I work with for their dressup area. I am collecting patterns for future projects that look fun and challenging. I stumbled on this by accident and I don’t have any scrap yarn so I bought some and challenging myself to make a quilt for my queen size bed. Where are some good places to look for scrap yarn? I’ve tried the recycling center in the area and the local Goodwill stores. By the way, I love the video tutorials they are so easy to follow!
    Thanks,
    Melissa

  44. Hi Melissa – thank you for the note. I’m afraid I have no idea where one can find scrap yarn…I spend all of my time trying to use up what I have here! I recommend just using what you have leftover from other projects, even if it means that your blanket will take a long time to finish. It will end up being a sort of “memory blanket” as you look over the different strips in the blanket and remember the original project you knit with that yarn.

    S t a c i

  46. Hi Shannon – yes, I do sometimes do knitting on commission if there is something that someone really wants…but this is a lot of knitting and would be very expensive! It would be much less expensive (and much more fun) to learn to knit yourself and make one.

    🙂
    S t a c i

  47. I have a question that I didn’t see asked so here goes…in watching the placement of the blocks is there a place that you have that I can print out the diagram of the log cabin blanket to make sure the colors work with each other? I am doing a college log cabin blanket starting with TN orange and white. Thank you and I have learned so much from watching your videos.

  48. Lisa – I’m not sure I understand your question, but I’ll give it a shot. Are you referring to the paper cutouts I use to demonstrate placement? I used graph paper and colored pencils for that…very low tech.

    S t a c i

  50. I love this blanket and would like to start one! I am thinking of using a self-striping yarn such as Bernat Mosaic and then I don’t have to change colours at the corners. If I am going to do this, I shouldn’t have that extra stitch of the odd colour when I change colours, so I should be able to avoid knitting two together at the end of the row, is that right? Hopefully my question makes sense? Thanks very much for the beautiful pattern!

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