Simple Single Square

As I promised....>

Here is the pattern for a single MD square. Doesn't look like much all by itself, but this little square really packs a punch. Squares made in this manner can be worked together (not sewn together, nor with picking up stitches) to create strips, blocks, or any shape your heart desires.

How To Make A Single Square

Pattern Notes:

Slip all stitches purlwise with yarn forward.

Knit all YO’s through the back.

Cast on 22 sts.

Row 1: Knit 11, YO, K1, YO, K2tog, turn.

Row 2: Sl 1, Knit 3, K2tog, turn. [5 working stitches] (see pattern notes)

Row 3: Sl 1, K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, K2tog, turn.

Row 4: Sl 1, Knit 5, K2tog, turn. [7 working stitches]

Row 5: Sl 1, K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, K2tog, turn.

Row 6: Sl 1, Knit 7, K2tog, turn. [9 working stitches]

Row 7: Sl 1, K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, K2tog, turn.

Row 8: Sl 1, Knit 9, K2tog, turn. [11 working stitches]

Row 9: Sl 1, K4, YO, K1, YO, K4, K2tog, turn.

Row 10: Sl 1, Knit 11, K2tog, turn. [13 working stitches]

Row 11: Sl 1, K5, YO, K1, YO, K5, K2tog, turn.

Row 12: Sl 1, Knit 13, K2tog, turn. [15 working stitches]

Row 13: Sl 1, K6, YO, K1, YO, K6, K2tog, turn.

Row 14: Sl 1, Knit 15, K2tog, turn. [17 working stitches]

Row 15: Sl 1, K7, YO, K1, YO, K7, K2tog, turn.

Row 16: Sl 1, Knit 17, K2tog, turn. [19 working stitches]

Row 17: Sl 1, K8, YO, K1, YO, K8, K2tog, turn.

Row 18: Sl 1, Knit 19, K2tog, K1, turn [22 working stitches]

Row 19: Sl 1, Bind off all stitches loosely.

Tips

There will always be an odd number of working stitches.

YO’s are placed on either side of center stitch on all odd number rows

Color changes for stripes are always done on even number rows, and across a multiple of one even row and one odd row.

If you lose your place, count the number of ridges completed, including the “new” row and work that many stitches, then begin the YO, K1, YO sequence.

If you work with a tight tension, you may want the increase a stitch or two in the corner when binding off, to give it more room to square off

For those who are NOT blind followers and with a nod to EZ:

Short and “Pithy” Directions
Cast on X number of stitches equaling the number of desired stitches for each square width and height, (this must be an even number).Plus one stitch for a center stitch and one stitch for the number of squares desired.

Example:

10 sts wide…….10 sts

10 sts tall………10 sts

Center stitch…….1 st

One square………1 st

______________________
Cast on ………..22 sts

Knit across until the only remaining cast on sts to be worked is equal to the number of stitches tall plus one.
Row 1: YO, K1, YO, K2tog, turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, knit across, K2 tog, turn.
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 increasing one knit stitch after the Sl 1 and before the K2tog in each odd row.
End by knitting last remaining cast on, turn, Sl 1, bind off all stitches loosely.

Remember this sweater from a few posts back?? Using this simple square (and a couple of other tricks...be patient, I'll be posting them) a sweater like this can be made. It was made in one piece with no sewing, no picked up stitches, and only the beginning and ending of each ball of yarn used. (If I remember correctly, I had 12 ends to weave in when I was done making this sweater.

I know I promised the 4-patch block next, and it will be coming, I promise, but I think the next logical thing to show you is a strip of squares, aka, a scarf. Look for it tomorrow. Hopefully the curve balls life has been tossing at me and mine these past two days, will be resolved and I'll be able to do fibery stuff, and get some patterns written up in proper form.

Soooo, next up is a scarf. So easy, sensible, and addicting, I suspect you'll be making everyone you know a scarf for the Holidays!! Go ahead and start picking out the yarn(s) you want to use (no more than 2 please) Included in the pattern will be how to make the scarf with any yarn you want, in any width and any length. I only want you think about 2 things when choosing your yarn. One, if you want to use a highly textured yarn, then you should pair it with a smooth yarn...really, cuz think about it, using 1 fluffy puffy yarn alone or 2 fluffy puffy yarns will only obscure the stitch pattern so why bother working the squares?? (fluffy, puffy stuff wouldn't be my reccomendation for your first project though. You should give youself a break and REALLY know what you're doing when making the squares cuz counting fluffy, puffy stitiches isn't fun, IMHO) And the second thing to consider when picking out your yarn is to use yarns at least simlar in weight. Granted the above pictured sweater used a sport wt. and sock wt...close but not the same. Slight differences in weight won't cuz much of a problem, but you might not like the results with 2 yarns of widely differing weights....then again, maybe you would...hey it's YOUR scarf!!!

Wishing you sweet dreams of lovely almost-mitered scarves with only 4 ends to weave and no stitches picked-up!!

PS I hope all comes through OK, and forgive me if there are spelling errors please. Every time I try to spell check, I get a lot of broken html code and lose half of what I written..............sigh...another curve ball????

BTW I do have the simple single square pattern in PDF form, but I don't know how to post it here, if anyone out there knows how could you tell me?%<>