Add a festive, cozy touch to your home this holiday season with this cable knit Christmas throw. The Candy-Striped Chunky Cable Knit Throw pairs bold cable twists with classic candy-cane red and white stripes — the kind of blanket that looks like it took weeks but knits up fast in chunky #6 super bulky yarn. The full free pattern is below, and if you’d rather have an ad-free printable PDF for your knitting bag, the polished version is available on Etsy. 🤍

It’s part of my growing collection of cozy knit throws — the kind of project that lets the yarn and the stitch do all the work while you settle in with a holiday movie and knit through it. Let’s get into what makes this chunky cable knit throw special and exactly what you’ll need to make it.

Why You’ll Love This Cable Knit Christmas Throw

• Festive by design — classic candy-cane red and white stripes make it an instant holiday statement piece
• Bold cable texture — one simple cable twist creates that rich, sculpted look
• Chunky and fast — #6 super bulky yarn on US 11 needles works up quickly
• Beginner-friendly — if you can knit, purl, and follow a row repeat, you can make this throw
• Fully resizable — the 14-stitch repeat means you can scale it from a lap throw to a full blanket

Materials for the Chunky Cable Knit Throw

• Yarn: Bernat Blanket yarn (#6 super bulky) — Main Color: 2 balls (300 g / 10.5 oz, 201 m / 220 yds each) in Merlot or any festive red; Contrast Color: 2 balls in Beach Foam or any festive white
• Needles: 8 mm (US 11) circular knitting needles with a 29-inch cord
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• A cable needle or spare stitch holder for the cable twists

The pattern is shown in a #6 super bulky yarn in Merlot and Beach Foam, but any super bulky yarn will work. If you’d like to understand yarn weights so you can substitute confidently, the Craft Yarn Council yarn weight system is a helpful reference.

Pattern Details

• Skill level: Beginner / Intermediate — uses a basic cable stitch
• Finished size: Approximately 47 x 47 inches as written; adjustable in multiples of 14 stitches
• Gauge: 4″ x 4″ (10 cm x 10 cm) = 8 sts x 13 rows with 8 mm (US 11) needles
• Stitches used: Knit, purl, slip stitch, and a basic cable twist

Pattern Notes

• This pattern is a simple 10-row repeat with color changes every 7 inches (about 20 rows).
• The first stitch in every row is slipped to create a simple, elegant edging — don’t forget to slip that first stitch.
• The pattern is written in US terminology.

Abbreviations

• CO — Cast On
• K — Knit
• P — Purl
• Sl — Slip
• St(s) — Stitch(es)
• MC — Main Color
• CC — Contrast Color

The Cable Twist

Every cable twist row uses the same simple move: place the next 4 stitches on a stitch holder (or cable needle) and hold them in front of your work, knit the next 4 stitches, then return to the 4 stitches on the holder and knit those 4. That front-held crossing is what creates the bold, sculpted cable. Here are some helpful photos:

place next 4 sts on stitch holder and hold in front of work:

k next 4 sts:

return to 4 sts on holder, k4:

Free Cable Knit Christmas Throw Pattern

With MC, cast on 76 stitches. If you’re using two colors, change yarn every 7 inches / 20 rows.

• Row 1: *P6, k8* repeat within ** to last 6 sts, P6
• Row 2: Sl first st, k5, *p8, k6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 3: Sl first st, p5, *k8, p6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 4: Sl first st, k5, *p8, k6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 5 / Cable Twist Row: Sl first st, p5, *place next 4 sts on stitch holder and hold in front of work, k next 4 sts, return to 4 sts on holder, k4, p6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 6: Sl first st, k5, *p8, k6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 7: Sl first st, p5, *k8, p6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 8: Sl first st, k5, *p8, k6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 9: Sl first st, p5, *k8, p6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 10: Sl first st, k5, *p8, k6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 11: Sl first st, p5, *k8, p6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 12: Sl first st, k5, *p8, k6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 13: Sl first st, p5, *k8, p6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 14: Sl first st, k5, *p8, k6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 15 / Cable Twist Row: Sl first st, p5, *place next 4 sts on stitch holder and hold in front of work, k next 4 sts, return to 4 sts on holder, k4, p6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 16: Sl first st, k5, *p8, k6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 17: Sl first st, p5, *k8, p6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 18: Sl first st, k5, *p8, k6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 19: Sl first st, p5, *k8, p6*, repeat within ** to end
• Row 20: Sl first st, k5, *p8, k6*, repeat within ** to end

If you’re using two colors, change yarn every 7 inches / 20 rows. Repeat Rows 11–20 until you’ve reached your desired length. Bind off and weave in ends.

Tips for Knitting This Throw

• Knit a gauge swatch first so your finished throw lands close to the size you’re aiming for.
• Keep even tension through the cable rows so the twists stay uniform and sculpted.
• Carry your colors loosely up the side when changing every 20 rows to keep a tidy edge.

Resizing Your Cable Knit Throw

The pattern uses a 14-stitch repeat, so you can adjust the cast-on in multiples of 14 to scale to any standard size:

• Lovey — 10″ x 10″
• Stroller — 30″ x 35″
• Swaddle (as written) — 47″ x 47″
• Throw — 52″ x 60″
• Twin — 59″ x 85″

More Cozy Knit Throws & Holiday Patterns

• Chevron Crochet Throw — a free chunky beginner blanket in a classic zigzag
• V-Stitch Crochet Throw — an easy, airy throw that works up fast
• Sunset Cats Blanket — a vintage-style cat afghan crochet pattern
• Knit Herringbone Pillow — a modern textured pillow to match your throw
• Knit Cable Leg Warmers — more cozy cable knitting for the whole family

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this cable knit Christmas throw good for beginners?

Yes. It’s rated beginner/intermediate because of the cable twist, but the twist is a single, repeatable move and the rest of the throw is straightforward knit and purl. Practice one cable twist before starting and you’ll have the rhythm down quickly.

Can I make this throw in non-holiday colors?

Absolutely. The candy-cane red and white is festive, but the cable texture looks beautiful in any two colors — or in a single solid color for a year-round chunky cable knit throw.

Where can I get the printable PDF pattern?

The complete printable PDF is available in my Etsy shop. Same pattern, ad-free, beautifully formatted for printing, with a full standard blanket size chart included. Instant digital download — use code SEELOVE15 for 15% off.