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Please note: some of the patterns below are older and do not include instructions for leaving tails.
Ronda has requested that we now leave a 50cm/20" tail for sewing squares together. Please butterfly the tail to the square. Instructions for this and an illustration can be found at
http://www.knit-a-square.com/support-files/knitted-square-plain_jane.pdf
Replies
Houndstooth check square
A classic 'Houndstooth' check pattern square today. I have seen a lot of patterns for Houndstooth, but most of them looked a bit too complicated for me. Found this simple 'slip stitch' version and I think it looks pretty good!
Requires a multiple of 2 + 1 stitches. (I cast on 39 stitches in 8 ply yarn using 4 mm needles and did a total of 76 rows).
I don't count the cast on row, though the cast on row will be your Main colour or MC (in the case of my square the black is the MC). I call the second colour the Contrast colour or CC. Here is the pattern, as done after the cast on row.
CC K2, SL1
CC Knit
MC SL1, K2
MC Purl
Vertical Zig Zag Square
Multiple of 6 plus 2 sts
Using 8 ply yarn and size 8 (4mm) needles, cast on 38 sts.
Row 1: K1, P36, K1
Row 2: K1, * K3, P3; repeat * to end, K1
Row 3: K1, P36, K1
Row 4: K1, P1, * K3, P3; repeat * to end, K3, P2, K1
Row 5: K1, P36, K1
Row 6: K1, P2, * K3, P3; repeat * to end, K3, P1, K1
Row 7: K1, P36, K1
Row 8: K1, * P3, K3; repeat *, to end K4
Row 9: K1, P36, K1
Row 10: K1, P2, * K3, P3; repeat * to end, K3, P1, K1
Row 11: K1, P36, K1
Row 12: K1, P1, * K3, P3; repeat * to end, K3, P2, K1
Finish on wrong side row (row 11), cast off in pattern (row 12).
This pattern was found here:
http://www.purplekittyyarns.com/pattern-squares/vol34-no22
I found that following the instructions as given, it made a perfect 8 inch (20 cm) square.
Block Stitch Square (reposting to include Photo)
Knitted in 8 ply (dk) Acrylic yarn. It is basically just 2 pattern rows, but needs to be done in blocks of 4 to form the pattern.
With 4.5 mm (size 7) needles, cast on 36 stitches, (do not count the cast on row as part of the pattern).
1st row; Knit 4, Purl 4.
2nd Row; Purl 4, Knit 4.
3rd Row; Knit 4, Purl 4.
4th Row; Purl 4, Knit 4.
Now you 'Reverse' the rows to form the next row of blocks.
5th Row; Purl 4, knit 4
6th Row; Knit 4, Purl 4.
7th Row; Purl 4, Knit 4.
8th Row; Knit 4, Purl 4.
Keep repeating these 8 pattern rows until the square is large enough. (A total of 64 rows should make the finished square 20 cm or 8 inches in size).
NOTE: I cannot say how this pattern will work if you use different size needles, thicker or thinner yarn. Also be aware that pure wool and other types of yarn will often knit up smaller or larger than Acrylic yarn.
Alternating Broken Rib Square (Reposting to Include Photo)
Here is my pattern for an 'Alternating' broken rib square. It is basically just 3 pattern rows, but they need to be knitted in blocks of 6 to form the pattern.
You need to start with an odd number of stitches (i.e. 37, 39, 41 etc). Using 4mm Needles and 8 ply yarn I cast on 41 stitches to get my finished square to be 8 inches.
Row 1: Knit 1, Purl 1
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: Knit 1, Purl 1
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: Knit 1, Purl 1
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: Purl 1, Knit 1
Row 8: Knit
Row 9: Purl 1, Knit 1
Row 10: Knit
Row 11: Purl 1, Knit 1
Row 12: Knit
Continue repeating these rows till the square is long enough.
Harris Tweed Square (reposting to include Photo)
Mulitple of 4 stitches plus 2 required for this pattern. (Using 4.5 mm needles and 8 ply yarn I cast on 38 stitches).
Row 1: K2, P2
Row 2: P2, K2
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: K2, P2
Row 6: P2, K2
Row 7: Purl
Row 8: Knit
Repeat above rows until square is long enough.
(found this pattern here: http://knitting.about.com/od/stitchglossary/g/harris_tweed.htm)
Basket Stitch Square Pattern (Reposting to include Photo)
Using 4mm Needles (UK size 8 ) and 8 ply yarn (UK DK yarn) Cast on 42 stitches.
Row 1: P2, K2, P4 then K2, P4 to end of row, finishing with a K2, P2
Row 2: K2, P2, K4 then P2, K4 to end of row, finishing with a P2, K2
Row 3: P2, K2, P4 then K2, P4 to end of row, finishing with a K2, P2
Row 4: K2, P2, K4 then P2, K4 to end of row, finishing with a P2, K2
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: K1, P4, K2 (then P4, K2 to last 5 sts P4, K1)
Row 8: P1, K4, P2 (then K4, P2 to last 5 sts K4, P1)
Row 9: K1, P4, K2 (then P4, K2 to last 5 sts P4, K1)
Row 10: P1, K4, P2 (then K4, P2 to last 5 sts K4, P1)
Row 11: Knit
Row 12: Purl
Repeat rows 1 – 12 five times.
Then repeat rows 1 – 4 only, cast off.
I know 42 stitches seems like a lot, but this is a rib type pattern which pulls the square in a bit.
NOTE: I cannot say how this square will turn out if using needles or yarn other than specified. Also be aware that your knitting tension can affect the finished size of the square. If you are a tight knitter I would suggest using a size larger needle and if a loose knittter a size smaller to get the finished square the right size.
You could try this pattern in thicker/thinner yarns, but you need to keep the number of stitches in a multiple of 6 for the pattern to work.
Waffle Rib (Reposting to include Photo)
Multiple of 3 + 1. (I found that using 8 ply yarn and 4 mm needles 43 stitches made a neat 20 cm/8 inch square).
This pattern looks great in a solid colour but also works beautifully done in stripes. Just change colours after finishing each knit row (the 4th pattern row).
Row 1: P1, K2 repeat to end finishing with a P1
Row 2: K1, P2 repeat to end finishing with a K1
Row 3: P1, K2 repeat to end finishing with a P1
Row 4: Knit
Repeat these 4 rows until square is long enough.
Found this pattern here: http://www.craftelf.com/knitting-stitch-patterns/waffle-knitting-st...
Broken Moss Stitch Pattern (reposting to include Photo)
This pattern works with any odd number of stitches. As a guide I used 8 ply yarn and 4mm Needles and started with 39 Stitches.
Row 1. Knit
Row 2. Purl
Row 3. K1, P1
Row 4. K1, P1
I apologise that my photo isn't the best, but I only have the camera in my phone and it isn't very good at doing close up photos.
Farrow Rib (Reposting to include Photo)
Pattern is a multiple of 3 Stitches. As a guide, using 4mm needles and 8 ply yarn I needed 57 Stitches. I know this seems like a lot, but this rib stitch pulls in a lot.
Knit 2, Purl 1 repeat to end of row finishing with a Purl 1. Continue until 20 cm or 8 inches in size, cast off.
6 stitch Rib - From https://www.wrapwithlove.org/knitting-patterns/
(Reposting to add Photo)
Multiple of 6 plus 3 stitches. As a guide I used 4mm needles and 8 ply yarn and needed 45 Stitches.
Row 1. Knit 3, Purl 3
Row 2. Knit 1, Purl 1
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