Blanket size reference

Choose a size for the child and the project

A blanket size is a starting point, not an age rule. A small child can use a larger lap blanket, while a tall teen may need more length. Ask the family or the receiving group what they need before buying yarn. For a donation, the group's current request comes first.

The table above gives a short planning ladder from a small baby square to a teen blanket. These are selected minimum-size guidelines from the Greater Pittsburgh Project Linus chapter's published guidance, not universal sizes. That chapter lists 30-inch squares for preemies, 36-inch squares for newborns, 35 by 45 inches for infants and toddlers, 45 by 55 inches for early school age, and 48 by 72 inches for teens. Other chapters differ. A size suitable for one group may be too small for another.

Measure the finished blanket from edge to edge, including its border. The centimeter values above are direct conversions, rounded to one decimal where needed. One inch is 2.54 cm. Check both dimensions; a narrow, long strip does not serve the same purpose as a wider blanket with the same area.

The Linus Connection has its own yarn-blanket rules

The Linus Connection in Central Texas and Project Linus are different organizations. A link to one is not evidence of the other's policy. The Linus Connection's old blanket-specifications address returns a not-found page, but its current official specifications remain available.

For knitted and crocheted donations, that page gives a range from 30 by 30 inches to 40 by 60 inches and calls for washable, 100% acrylic yarn. Its wider 54-by-70-inch limit applies to other blanket categories; it should not be treated as the yarn-blanket limit. It also asks makers to secure seams and weave in ends. Check its current instructions for labels and delivery before donating.

For a teen yarn blanket going to that organization, ask which size is needed within its yarn range. Do not automatically make the larger teen size in our planning table. The destination, fabric and purpose decide the final dimensions.

Check donation requirements before you cast on

The national Project Linus FAQ describes a range of accepted sizes and directs makers to their local chapter. It gives about 40 by 60 inches as a common size. Local requests can differ in size, fiber and construction.

Before starting, confirm these details with the receiving group:

• Which age or height range needs blankets right now?
• Does the group accept knitted and crocheted blankets, and which fibers does it allow?
• Must the fabric be solid, without large lace holes, fringe or loose trim?
• How should the blanket be washed, labeled and delivered?

For a hospital project, follow the hospital's instructions. A preemie-sized square in a craft chart does not establish what a neonatal unit accepts or how it uses blankets. This page helps plan a craft project; it does not give infant sleep instructions.

Turn the finished size into stitches and rows

Make a swatch in the actual stitch pattern. Wash and dry it as you will the blanket, then measure the center without stretching it. Yarn labels help select tools, but their gauge is not your finished blanket's gauge.

For an example, suppose your washed swatch has 16 stitches and 24 rows in 4 inches. A 30-inch width needs 120 stitches at that gauge. A 40-inch length needs 240 rows. Those counts assume the same stitch across the full fabric and no extra border. Adjust for your stitch repeat, edge stitches and border plan before casting on.

If a border will add one inch on each side, make the center two inches narrower and two inches shorter than the finished target. Check the blanket again after washing. A border is part of the size, not an addition that can be ignored.

Use our knitting gauge calculator to work from a measured swatch. For yarn choice, start with the needle and yarn converter, then check the recipient's fiber rules.

Before you finish

Lay the blanket flat, measure both ways and check the edges. Secure all ends and seams. Look for long loops or trim that could catch. Wash only as the yarn label and receiving group allow, then keep the blanket clean until delivery.

For a personal gift, ask about washing and size before choosing a fiber. For a donation, confirm the current local request before starting. A blanket made to the right dimensions in the wrong fiber may still be unusable to the group.