Stunning Pangolin-Scale Knit Blanket Pattern — Full Instructions, Charts & Tips

This detailed pattern shows how to knit a textured "pangolin scales" blanket — a cozy, decorative throw worked in a repeating scale motif. The pattern includes full materials, stitch abbreviations, three charted diagrams and row-by-row instructions for the beginning border, the main scale pattern (repeatable to any length) and the ending border. Finished size is approximately 47" x 43"; follow the gauge and yarn requirements below for best results.

The design creates overlapping scale-like shapes using increases and decreases. Intermediate knitters comfortable with yarn-overs, decreases (ssk, k2tog), double decreases (sk2p / k2sp) and reading charts will find this pattern straightforward. Notes and tips: swatch and block to check gauge, and repeat rows 31–78 until you reach the desired blanket length before working rows 79–106 to finish.

Caption: Finished pangolin-scale blanket draped to show overall scale texture and size.

Alt text: Photo of finished knitted pangolin-scale blanket showing layered scale-like texture.

Materials & Measurements

• Needles: US 8 - 5.0 mm.
• Aran weight yarn: Alize Lanagold, 700g, 1700m
• Gauge: 17.5 sts x 25 rows ~ 4” x 4” in stockinette.
• Finished Measurements: Approx. 47”x 43”.

Techniques Used

• Knit: K
• Purl: P
• Yarn over: Yo
• Right-leaning decrease: K2TOG
• Left-leaning decrease: SSK
• Double decrease: SK2P / K2SP

Caption: Close-up of the stitch pattern showing the overlapping scale details and texture.

Alt text: Close-up photo of knitted fabric with overlapping scale-shaped motifs and textured stitches.

• To work the K2SP: Slip next two stitches knitwise from the left needle to the right needle, one at a time. Slip two stitches knitwise back to left needle at once. Insert the right needle into the first three stitches on the left needle from left to right. Knit three stitches together.
• To work the SK2P: Slip next stitch knitwise from the left needle to the right needle. Knit two stitches together. Use the tip of left needle to lift up the second stitch and pass it over the first stitch and off the right needle.

Pattern Instructions

Cast on 197 stitches or multiple of 24 stitches, plus 29.

Beginning Border: Rows 1-30

Row 1 - Right side: Purl.

Wrong side rows: Purl.

Row 3: Purl.

Row 5: Purl.

Row 7: P14, *yo, ssk, p22, repeat from * to last 15 sts, yo, ssk, p13.

Row 9: P12, k2tog, yo, *k1, yo, ssk, p19, k2tog, yo, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k1, yo, ssk, p12.

Row 11: P11, k2tog, yo, k1, *k2, yo, ssk, p17, k2tog, yo, k1, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k2, yo, ssk, p11.

Row 13: P10, k2tog, yo, k2, *k3, yo, ssk, p15, k2tog, yo, k2, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k3, yo, ssk, p10.

Row 15: P9, k2tog, yo, k3, *k4, yo, ssk, p13, k2tog, yo, k3, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k4, yo, ssk, p9.

Row 17: P8, k2tog, yo, k4, *k5, yo, ssk, p11, k2tog, yo, k4, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k5, yo, ssk, p8.

Row 19: P7, k2tog, yo, k5, *yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p9, k2tog, yo, k5, repeat from * to last 15 sts, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p7.

Row 21: P6, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, *p1, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p7, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, repeat from * to last 15 sts, p1, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p6.

Row 23: P5, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p1, *p2, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p5, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p1, repeat from * to last 15 sts, p2, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p5.

Row 25: P4, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p2, *p3, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p3, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p2, repeat from * to last 15 sts, p3, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p4.

Row 27: P3, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p3, *p4, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p3, repeat from * to last 15 sts, p4, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p3.

Row 29: P2, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p4, *p5, yo, ssk, k4, yo, k2sp, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p4, repeat from * to last 15 sts, p5, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p2.

Chart 1

Caption: Chart 1 — stitch chart for the beginning border (visual key for rows 1–30).

Alt text: Graphic stitch chart labeled Chart 1 for the beginning border of the pangolin-scale blanket.

Main Pattern: Rows 31-78

Row 31: P2, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, p4, *yo, ssk, p4, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, p4, repeat from * to last 15 sts, yo, ssk, p4, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, p2.

Row 33: P3, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p4, k2tog, yo, *k1, yo, ssk, p4, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p4, k2tog, yo, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k1, yo, ssk, p4, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p3.

Row 35: P4, yo, sk2p, yo, p4, k2tog, yo, k1, *k2, yo, ssk, p4, yo, k2sp, yo, k3, yo, sk2p, yo, p4, k2tog, yo, k1, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k2, yo, ssk, p4, yo, k2sp, yo, p4.

Row 37: P5, yo, ssk, p3, k2tog, yo, k2, *k3, yo, ssk, p3, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, p3, k2tog, yo, k2, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k3, yo, ssk, p3, k2tog, yo, p5.

Row 39: P6, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, k3, *k4, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, k7, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, k3, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k4, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, p6.

Row 41: P7, yo, sk2p, yo, k4, *k5, yo, k2sp, yo, k9, yo, sk2p, yo, k4, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k5, yo, k2sp, yo, p7.

Row 43: P8, yo, ssk, k4, *k5, k2tog, yo, k5, [yo, ssk, k4] twice, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k5, k2tog, yo, p8.

Row 45: P9, yo, ssk, k3, *[k4, k2tog, yo] twice, p1, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, k3, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k4, k2tog, yo, p9.

Row 47: P10, yo, ssk, k2, *k3, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p3, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, k2, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k3, k2tog, yo, p10.

Row 49: P11, yo, ssk, k1, *k2, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p5, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, k1, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k2, k2tog, yo, p11.

Row 51: P12, yo, ssk, *k1, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p7, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k1, k2tog, yo, p12.

Row 53: P13, yo, *k2sp, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p9, yo, ssk, k4, yo, repeat from * to last 16 sts, k2sp, yo, p13.

Row 55: P14, *yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, [p4, yo, ssk] twice, k4, repeat from * to last 15 sts, yo, ssk, p13.

Row 57: P12, k2tog, yo, *k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p4, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, p4, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k1, yo, ssk, p12.

Row 59: P11, k2tog, yo, k1, *k2, yo, sk2p, yo, p4, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, p4, yo, k2sp, yo, k1, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k2, yo, ssk, p11.

Row 61: P10, k2tog, yo, k2, *k3, yo, ssk, p3, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, ssk, p3, k2tog, yo, k2, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k3, yo, ssk, p10.

Row 63: P9, k2tog, yo, k3, *k4, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, k7, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, k3, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k4, yo, ssk, p9.

Row 65: P8, k2tog, yo, k4, *k5, yo, sk2p, yo, k9, yo, k2sp, yo, k4, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k5, yo, ssk, p8.

Row 67: P7, k2tog, yo, k5, *yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, k9, k2tog, yo, k5, repeat from * to last 15 sts, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p7.

Row 69: P6, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, *p1, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, k7, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, repeat from * to last 15 sts, p1, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p6.

Row 71: P5, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p1, *p2, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p1, repeat from * to last 15 sts, p2, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p5.

Row 73: P4, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p2, *p3, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p2, repeat from * to last 15 sts, p3, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p4.

Row 75: P3, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p3, *p4, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p3, repeat from * to last 15 sts, p4, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p3.

Row 77: P2, k2tog, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p4, *p5, yo, ssk, k4, yo, k2sp, yo, k4, k2tog, yo, p4, repeat from * to last 15 sts, p5, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, p2.

Repeat rows 31-78 until you reach the desired length. Then, continue with rows 79–106.

Chart 2

Caption: Chart 2 — stitch chart for the main scale pattern (rows 31–78).

Alt text: Graphic stitch chart labeled Chart 2 showing the main pangolin-scale repeat.

Ending Border: Rows 79-106

Row 79 (RS): P2, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, p4, *yo, ssk, p4, yo, ssk, k4, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1, p4, repeat from * to last 15 sts, yo, ssk, p4, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, p2.

Row 81: P3, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p4, k2tog, yo, *k1, yo, ssk, p4, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p4, k2tog, yo, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k1, yo, ssk, p4, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, p3.

Row 83: P4, yo, sk2p, yo, p4, k2tog, yo, k1, *k2, yo, ssk, p4, yo, k2sp, yo, p3, yo, sk2p, yo, p4, k2tog, yo, k1, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k2, yo, ssk, p4, yo, k2sp, yo, p4.

Row 85: P5, yo, ssk, p3, k2tog, yo, k2, *k3, yo, ssk, p3, k2tog, yo, p5, yo, ssk, p3, k2tog, yo, k2, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k3, yo, ssk, p3, k2tog, yo, p5.

Row 87: P6, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, k3, *k4, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, p7, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, k3, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k4, yo, ssk, p1, k2tog, yo, p6.

Row 89: P7, yo, sk2p, yo, k4, *k5, yo, k2sp, yo, p9, yo, sk2p, yo, k4, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k5, yo, k2sp, yo, p7.

Row 91: P8, yo, ssk, k4, *k5, k2tog, yo, p11, yo, ssk, k4, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k5, k2tog, yo, p8.

Row 93: P9, yo, ssk, k3, *k4, k2tog, yo, p13, yo, ssk, k3, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k4, k2tog, yo, p9.

Row 95: P10, yo, ssk, k2, *k3, k2tog, yo, p15, yo, ssk, k2, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k3, k2tog, yo, p10.

Row 97: P11, yo, ssk, k1, *k2, k2tog, yo, p17, yo, ssk, k1, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k2, k2tog, yo, p11.

Row 99: P12, yo, ssk, *k1, k2tog, yo, p19, yo, ssk, repeat from * to last 15 sts, k1, k2tog, yo, p12.

Row 101: P13, yo, *k2sp, yo, p21, yo, repeat from * to last 16 sts, k2sp, yo, p13.

Row 103: Purl.

Row 105: Purl.

Then bind off. Weave in all ends, block as desired.

Chart 3

Caption: Chart 3 — finishing border stitch chart to match the beginning border and frame the blanket.

Alt text: Graphic stitch chart labeled Chart 3 for the ending border of the pangolin-scale blanket.