Bamboo Forest Blanket Knitting Pattern

This Bamboo Forest Blanket Knitting Pattern is an easy knit and purl design that’s great for beginners and knitters of all skill levels. This unique and natural look with raised lines and ridges gives the impression that you’ve woven actual bamboo into your knitting. Select among seven blanket sizes and have fun knitting up your new heirloom today.

Get your free written pattern instructions with a video tutorial below. You may also purchase my ad-free printable pdf pattern in my Studio Knit Pattern Shop.

Knitted blanket in bamboo stitch texture in green colored yarn displayed on a wooden ladder.

About the Bamboo Forest Blanket

Create a wonderfully textured fabric that feels as calming as a warm hug.

  • Texture Design: The Bamboo Ribbing Stitch has been modified into a bold and larger motif for this blanket pattern. 
  • Beginner Level: The entire blanket is easily created with a simple combination of knits and purls.
  • Shape: A square/rectangular shape.
  • Bottom Up: This knitted blanket is created from the bottom up and knitted flat on a long circular needle.
  • Not Reversible: This is not a reversible pattern, because the bamboo texture is on the right side, but not the wrong side of your work.
  • Easy-to-Memorize: The texture is created with a 24-row repeat in a simple combination of knits and purls.
Knitted blanket in bamboo stitch texture in green colored yarn displayed on a loveseat couch.

Printable Knitting Pattern (ad-free)

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PRINTABLE DOWNLOAD: Purchase the ad-free printable pdf pattern in my Studio Knit Pattern Shop. Also available on Etsy, LoveCrafts, and Ravelry. A great way to support my knitting work!

Knitting pattern printable pdf of the Bamboo Forest Blanket by Studio Knit.

Local Inspiration at Giant Bamboo Grove

The serenity of Bamboo Giant in Aptos, California has inspired my easy blanket design. It is located about an hour’s drive south of my Studio Knit location down the coast in Santa Cruz County. Stepping into this enchanting wonderland, you’re welcomed by towering bamboo shoots swaying gently in the breeze.

The vibrant green hues and the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy make it a picture-perfect spot for a joyful picnic or a leisurely afternoon walk. It’s an experience that leaves me feeling rejuvenated, inspired, and connected with the beauty of the natural world.

Kristen McDonnell at Bamboo Garden in Aptos, California.

Blanket Sizes and Yarn Amount

Knitting Gauge in Bamboo Ribbing Stitch Pattern (Blocked)
4″ x 4″ (10 x 10 cm) = 15 stitches x 16 rows

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Select a blanket size to determine the amount of yarn you’ll need, as well as help you know how many stitches to cast on your needle.

18” x 26” Baby Stroller Blanket
Cast On 88 Stitches
120 Rows, 4 Pattern Repeats + 8 Rows
Yarn Amount 227 yds / 207 m
Requires 2 skeins of Cascade 128 yarn brand

24” x 32” Baby Blanket
Cast On 112 Stitches
144 Rows, 5 Pattern Repeats + 8 Rows
Yarn Amount 593 yds / 542 m
Requires 5 skeins of Cascade 128 yarn brand

36” x 38” Receiving Blanket
Cast On 136 Stitches
168 Rows, 6 Pattern Repeats + 8 Rows
Yarn Amount 840 yds / 768 m
Requires 7 skeins of Cascade 128 yarn brand

36” x 44” Lapghan Blanket – My pictured sample size
Cast On 136 Stitches
192 Rows, 7 Pattern Repeats + 8 Rows
Yarn Amount 960 yds / 878 m
Requires 8 skeins of Cascade 128 yarn brand.

40” x 50” Blanket Throw
Cast On 160 Stitches
216 Rows, 8 Pattern Repeats + 8 Rows
Yarn Amount 1,271 yds / 1,162 m
Requires 10 skeins of Cascade 128 yarn brand

70” x 86” Twin Bedspread
Cast On 184 Stitches
360 Rows, 14 Pattern Repeats + 8 Rows
Yarn Amount 2,436 yds / 2,228 m
Requires 20 skeins of Cascade 128 yarn brand

90” x 98” Queen Bedspread
Cast On 208 Stitches
Knit 408 Rows, 16 Pattern Repeats + 8 Rows
Yarn Amount 3,121 yds / 2,854 m
Requires 25 skeins of Cascade 128 yarn brand

Knitted bamboo stitch with green yarn in large blanket pattern by Studio Knit.

Knitting Supplies

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Knitting Needles

Knitting Tools

Yarn – Bulky Weight #5
The sample shown was knit with Cascade 128 Yarn in color Moss #841 (Green) – found on Amazon. Feel free to use any fiber and colors of your choice. 

If you’d like to knit your blanket in the exact same yarn, please see all local and online buying options for Cascade 128 Ravelry here >

When choosing yarn, I wanted the warmth and quality of a natural wool fiber that can be easily washed. As a result, my blanket samples pictured were knit in Cascade 128 Superwash Merino Wool that I purchased at my favorite local yarn shop (LYS) Imagiknit in San Francisco (yes, they sell online).

Yarn Weight Substitution

If you would rather knit with worsted weight #4 yarn, you may follow this pattern by knitting double-stranded to achieve the same bulky gauge.

Yarn Substitution Recommendations


Knitting Techniques

Need to brush up or learn a new technique? Check out my entire library of Knitting Techniques to help you along as you knit up this blanket pattern.

Blanket Knitting Instructions

Step 1: Cast On

Cast On the number of stitches for the blanket size you’ve selected (see sizes above).

Casting on knitting stitches onto a circular needle with green yarn.

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Step 2: Bottom Border

Begin knitting the bottom border with 8 Rows in Garter Stitch.

Rows 1 – 8: Knit All

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Step 3: Blanket Body

Knit the Bamboo Ribbing Stitch. The following pattern includes 8 rows of garter border on top and bottom, along with 6 stitches of garter border on each side.

To best keep track of your stitches, it is highly recommended to place markers. I simply use a little scrap yarn and place them between the stitch repeats. Doing so allows me to easily keep track of my stitches while knitting row-by-row.

Bottom border of the bamboo blanket in garter stitch.

For the number of row repeats, please see blanket sizes above.

  1. Row 1: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  2. Row 2: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  3. Row 3: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  4. Row 4: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  5. Row 5: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  6. Row 6: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  7. Row 7: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  8. Row 8: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  9. Row 9: K6, * P16, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  10. Row 10: K10, * P8, K16 * to last 6 sts, K6
  11. Row 11: K6, * P16, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  12. Row 12: K10, * P8, K16 * to last 6 sts, K6
  13. Row 13: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  14. Row 14: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  15. Row 15: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  16. Row 16: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  17. Row 17: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  18. Row 18: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  19. Row 19: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  20. Row 20: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  21. Row 21: K6, * P4, K8, P12 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  22. Row 22: K10, * K12, P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  23. Row 23: K6, * P4, K8, P12 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  24. Row 24: K10, * K12, P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6

Knit Repeats of Rows 1 – 24 of the Bamboo Ribbing Stitch for the length of your selected blanket size.

Finish by knitting Rows 1 – 8 once again before moving on to the top border.

Knitting Chart of the Bamboo Forest Blanket pattern by Studio Knit.

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Step 4: Top Border

End your blanket by knitting the top border with 8 Rows in Garter Stitch.

Rows 1 – 8: Knit All

Top border of the bamboo blanket knitted in garter stitch.

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Step 5: Cast Off and Finish

Cast Off all stitches loosely. It is recommended to use the Stretchy Bind Off technique;
Weave in your yarn ends;
Wet-Blocking Highly Recommended: You may wish to block your work for the best results. I simply use a spray bottle to wet both sides. If you don’t have enough blocking mats for the entire blanket, simply block in sections. I find that it is usually dry and ready to remove within 24-hours.

Bamboo Blanket blocked on mats with pins.

Printable Knitting Instructions

Knitted blanket in bamboo stitch texture in green colored yarn displayed on a wooden ladder.

Printable Knitting Pattern for Lapghan Blanket

This Bamboo Forest Blanket Knitting Pattern is an easy knit and purl design great for beginners and knitters of all skill levels. This unique and natural look with raised lines and ridges gives the impression that you've woven actual bamboo into your knitting.

Makes: Bamboo Forest Blanket
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Active Time: 1 day 6 hours
Additional Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours 40 minutes
Difficulty: Experienced Beginner

Materials

  • Yarn - Bulky Weight #5 in any fiber or color of your choice.
  • Amount 960 yds / 878 m
  • My sample was knit with Cascade 128 Yarn in color Moss #841 (Green).
  • Lapghan Size (36" x 44") requires 8 skeins of this yarn brand.

Tools

  • Circular Knitting Needle 10 US / 6.0 mm, 36” length
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Scissors

Instructions

This printable pattern is specifically for the Lapghan Throw Size (36" x 44") Blanket. For other blanket sizes, please see the yarn amount and pattern specifics in the above post.

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Step 1: Cast On

Cast 136 stitches onto your needle with the long-tail method.
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Step 2: Bottom Border

Begin knitting the bottom border in the easy Garter Stitch.

When knitting flat on a long circular needle for your project's length, begin by holding the "empty" needle in your dominant hand (right for right-handers, left for left-handers) while knitting from the needle with the yarn tail in your non-dominant hand.

Rows 1 - 8: Knit All Rows

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Step 3: Blanket Body

The following pattern includes 8 rows of garter border on top and bottom, along with 6 stitches of garter border on each side.

To best keep track of your stitches, it is highly recommended to place markers. I simply use a little scrap yarn and place them between the stitch repeats. Doing so allows me to easily keep track of my stitches while knitting row-by-row.

  1. Row 1: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  2. Row 2: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  3. Row 3: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  4. Row 4: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  5. Row 5: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  6. Row 6: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  7. Row 7: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  8. Row 8: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  9. Row 9: K6, * P16, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  10. Row 10: K10, * P8, K16 * to last 6 sts, K6
  11. Row 11: K6, * P16, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  12. Row 12: K10, * P8, K16 * to last 6 sts, K6
  13. Row 13: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  14. Row 14: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  15. Row 15: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  16. Row 16: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  17. Row 17: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  18. Row 18: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  19. Row 19: K6, * P4, K8 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  20. Row 20: K10, * P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  21. Row 21: K6, * P4, K8, P12 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  22. Row 22: K10, * K12, P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6
  23. Row 23: K6, * P4, K8, P12 * to last 10 sts, P4, K6
  24. Row 24: K10, * K12, P8, K4 * to last 6 sts, K6

Knit 7 Pattern Repeats of Rows 1 – 24 of the Bamboo Ribbing Stitch for the length of this Lapghan Throw size. After completing seven pattern repeats, finish by knitting Rows 1 - 8 once again.

Knitting Chart of Bamboo Ribbing (does not include garter borders)

Knitting Chart of the Bamboo Forest Blanket pattern by Studio Knit.

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Step 4: Top Border in Garter Stitch

Complete your blanket by knitting the top border.

Rows 1 -8: Knit All Rows

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Step 5: Cast Off

Cast Off all stitches loosely. The Stretchy Bind Off technique is recommended.

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Weave In Ends

Wet-Blocking Recommended: You may wish to block your work for the best results.

Notes

Knitting Gauge in Bamboo Ribbing Stitch Pattern
4" x 4" (10 x 10 cm) = 15 stitches x 16 rows

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KNITTING TECHNIQUES

  1. Slip Knot 
  2. CO = Cast On Long Tail Method
  3. K = Knit Stitch 
  4. P = Purl Stitch
  5. Stretchy Bind Off
  6. Weave In Ends

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I hope you are inspired to knit up this easy Bamboo Forest Blanket Pattern with confidence in your next knitting project.

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