There’s something special about wrapping yourself up in a blanket you made with your own hands, but what if you could skip the crochet hook or knitting needles and still create something beautiful, cozy, and totally beginner-friendly? Enter: finger knitting — the easiest way to make a soft, chunky blanket without any special tools or complicated stitches.
I know I typically share crochet related projects. However, I feel finger knitting fits nicely here because if you love crocheting, you’ll love finger knitting! It’s easy to do and fun to learn something new.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make your very own finger knit blanket from start to finish — even if you’ve never made anything like this before.
I have linked a video below, as well, if you are more of a visual learner.
What is Finger Knitting?
Finger knitting is exactly what it sounds like — knitting with your fingers instead of hooks or needles. It’s easy to do, using a simple looping technique. You start with a chain just like with a normal crochet project, then build upon that for your blanket.
It’s beginner-friendly, relaxing, and super satisfying. Plus, because you use thick, chunky yarn, your blanket comes together quickly — often in just a few hours!
Why You’ll Love Finger Knitting
Making a finger knit blanket isn’t just about the final product — it’s about the experience. It’s tactile, soothing, and creative, giving your hands something to do while your mind relaxes. Many people find it’s a great way to unwind while watching a movie or listening to music.
And when you’re done, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind blanket that’s perfect for gifting, decorating your couch, or curling up with on chilly nights.
Materials Needed
You don’t need much to get started. Here’s your simple supply list:
- Chunky or Jumbo Yarn – Jumbo, size 7 yarn. I prefer Bernat Blanket, but make sure you get the extra thick yarn.
- For a blanket 50in x 60in, I use approximately 3 skeins of yarn. (72 yards per skein, 216 yards total).
- Scissors
- A needle and thread
That’s it!
Be “Extra” Aware of Yarn Thickness
If purchasing Bernat Blanket Yarn online, be sure to pay close attention to what you’re purchasing. For this project, you want “Jumbo, Size 7” yarn. Confusingly, Bernat makes a yarn called “Bernat Blanket Extra”. This yarn is “Jumbo, Size 7”, but it is significantly thinner than other Bernat Blanket “Jumbo, Size 7” yarn. Examples of the thicker yarn are “Bernat Blanket Extra Thick” and “Bernat Blanket Big.”
Also, look at yardage when purchasing. Michaels sells Bernat Blanket Big, but the skeins are only 32 yards. The skeins I mentioned above were 72 yards. (It’s completely fine to use smaller skeins, just realize you’ll need more of them).
This Photo Compares yarn thickness for “Bernat Blanket Extra” and “Bernat Blanket Extra Thick”.
Note: They are both sold as Jumbo Yarn and the weight is 7.
Where to Purchase Supplies
You can purchase the yarn in store at Michaels. (Note, as mentioned above, Michaels carries Skeins that are smaller than the ones I used so you’ll need more of them). They frequently have coupons and sales, as well as a rewards program. I have purchased from Michaels and have found them to have good quality yarn. I have also found that yarn variety and selection depends on store location. Some locations have very limited selection, while others have very wide selection.
Yarnspirations manufactures Bernat Yarn, therefore they have a large selection of yarn, but you do have to purchase online. They frequently have good sales. (They carry other yarn as well such as Red Heart and Caron). Yarnspirations is where I purchased the large skeins from. The yarn came quickly and was good quality.
Amazon sometimes can have good deals but often times, I find it’s cheaper and better quality to purchase from a source like Yarnspirations or Michaels.
Let’s Get Started
Get cozy with your favorite beverage and lets’s begin this finger knitting adventure together.
Step 1: Make a Slip Knot or Loop with a Regular Knot
Step 2: Create Your Foundation Chain
Now you’ll make a chain — just like in crochet — to form the base width of your blanket.
1. Using your working yarn (the strand coming from the skein), pull a loop through your slip knot with your fingers.
2. Repeat the process, pulling new loops through each previous loop until you have your desired width.
Each loop represents one “stitch” in your blanket’s width.
Tip: Try to keep your foundation chain loose to prevent your blanket from being too tight at the bottom.
Step 3: Start Your First Row
Once your foundation chain is complete, you’ll work back down the chain to start building the blanket.
1. Lay your chain flat on a table or your lap so it’s not twisted.
2. Starting from the second loop from the end, reach through the loop with your fingers and pull a new loop of working yarn up through it.
3. Continue pulling new loops through each chain stitch across the row.
When you reach the end, you’ll have one row of loops sitting above the chain — this becomes the first row of your blanket.
Tip:
- Larger loops will create a blanket with bigger “holes”, but it uses less yarn.
- Smaller loops will create a blanket with smaller “holes”, but it uses more yarn.
Step 4: Continue Building Rows
This is where the rhythm sets in and your blanket starts taking shape.
To make the next row:
1. DO NOT turn your work, simply make another loop on top of the last loop you created.
2. Continue pulling up loops across the row, always pulling new loops through the previous row’s loops until you reach the end.
Try to keep the size of your loops consistent — about 2 inches tall — so your blanket looks even and uniform. However, you don’t need to measure your loops and they don’t have to be exactly the same size. Just have fun with it and do your best.
Pro tip:
Check your loop tension every few rows. If you notice some rows aren’t looking like you want them to, you’ll be able to catch it quickly.
Step 5: Keep Going Using Same Method Until You Reach Your Desired Length
Now the fun part — just keep going!
As you build rows, your blanket will grow in length. I generally like to make blankets roughly 50in x 60in, but you can make yours as big or small as you’d like.
You’ll find that the process becomes meditative — loop, pull, repeat — and before you know it, you’ll have a full-sized, squishy blanket in your lap.
Step 6: Finish the End of the Blanket
When your blanket is the length you want, it’s time to make the final row and finish it off.
1. Pull up loops across the top of the blanket, but make each loop about twice the size of the loops used for the rest of the blanket.
2. Start at the beginning of the row you just created with the extra large loops and pull the second loop through the first loop.
3. Pull the third loop through the second loop.
3. Repeat this across the entire row until you have just one loop left.
4. Cut the working yarn, leaving about a 6-inch tail.
5. Pull the tail through the final loop and tug gently to secure it.
Step 7: Weave In the Ends
To weave in your ends, you can use your fingers to wind the yarn through a couple stitches. To secure the yarn so that it won’t come undone, use a needle and thread to sew the end in place. You only need to go through the yarn a few times. You can used this method for the starting end too.
Tip: When joining ends together for new skeins, you can just tie them together with a knot and it stays pretty secure. An alternate method is to use the needle and thread to sew the end of the working skein to the beginning of the new skein.
That’s it — your blanket is officially complete!
Video Tutorial
How to Care for Finger Knit Blankets
Because these blankets are made with chunky, soft yarn, they need a little extra care to stay looking their best.
🧺 Care tips:
- Hand wash or machine wash on a cold, gentle cycle
- Use mild detergent
- Air dry flat
- Fluff it up once dry to restore softness
Do I really have to wash and dry this carefully?
Okay now let’s get real here. I am a mother of 4 who stays quite busy. Do we really need to wash and dry these blankets as carefully as mentioned above? The quick answer is, if you want the blanket to stay as soft and fluffy as it is right when you’re done making it, then yes. However, I have personally washed these blankets on cold, gentle cycle with regular detergent and put them in the dryer on regular settings. They do come out a little less soft this way, but in my experience so far, it didn’t ruin them by any means. I’ve also used the “air dry” setting on my dryer which seemed to work better for keeping the softness.
Final Thoughts
Finger knitting proves that you don’t need fancy tools or years of practice to make something beautiful. In just a few hours, with some chunky yarn and your own two hands, you can create a cozy, handmade blanket that adds warmth and charm to any space.
So grab your yarn, put on a favorite playlist, and start looping — your next favorite blanket is just a few stitches away.
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