COLORFUL AFGHAN SQUARES

Copyright 2000 Esther S. Bozak. All rights reserved. This article may be copied and freely shared with others so long as it remains fully intact, including this copyright notice, and no profit is made from its distribution or use.

With the coming of Spring, thoughts turn to color. It's easy to incorporate two or more colors into afghan squares for this year's Knitting Challenge without having to worry about the long floats often created in stranded colorwork -- use slip stitches. Pattern stitch dictionary shown many slip stitch patterns one can use. These pattern stitches often compress more widthwise than you might expect, so a small gauge swatch is really necessary before you use a specific pattern stitch in a square. Once you have a slip stitch's gauge for your yarn and needles, have some fun working it in different color combinations. You'll be surprised at the possible effects of changing colors.

Here are a couple two-color slip stitch pattern stitch squares to get you started. For either square, you will need 1-2 oz. each of two colors (A and B) of worsted weight yarn and US size 10 needles, or whatever size you need to achieve the square's blocked gauge -- 4.5 sts/ 1" in either Two-Color Twisted Ladder or Ridge Check Pattern. When done, hide all ends neatly and block to 12" square.

Afghan Square #1 -- Two-Color Twisted Ladder
With Color A, cast on 53 sts and work 3 ridges (6 rows) of garter stitch. Beg patt st:

Row 1:  (RS) With Color B, * k3, sl 2 wyib; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 2:  With Color B, * k3, sl 2 wyif; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 3:  With Color A, * k3, skip 1 st and knit into 2nd st, then knit into
        skipped stitch, then sl both sts from needle together; rep from * 
        to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 4:  With Color A, * k3, p2; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.

Rep Rows 1-4 until square measures 11.25-11.5", ending with a RS row. With Color A, work 3 ridges (6 rows) of garter stitch, binding off on last row.

Afghan Square #2 -- Ridge Check Pattern
With Color A, cast on 53 sts and work 3 ridges (6 rows) of garter stitch. Beg pattern st:

Row 1:  (WS) With Color A, k3, purl across to last 3 sts, k3.  
Rows 2 & 4: With Color  B, k6, * sl 1 wyib, k3; rep from * to last 3 sts,
        k3.  
Row 3:  With Color B, k3, * p3, sl 1 wyif; rep from * to last 6 sts, p3,
        k3.  
Row 5:  With Color B, k3, purl across to last 3 sts, k3.  
Rows 6, 7, & 8:  With Color A, rep Rows 2, 3, & 4.

Rep these 8 rows until square measure 11.25-11.5" long, ending with either a Row 4 or 8. With next color in striping sequence, work 3 ridges (6 rows) of garter stitch, binding off on last row.

Last Updated: March 28, 2000
Comments & questions to: Esther S. Bozak, ebozak@cs.oswego.edu
URL: http://www.cs.oswego.edu/~ebozak/knit/tscny/challenge2.html