4 Super-Easy, Fun Knitting Stitches for Lovely Afghans
If you’re looking for an easy yet interesting way to whip up afghan squares, try one (or all!) of these reversible knitting stitches
Are you looking for an easy, fun, and quick way to offer your knitting for charity?
Or, are you burned out from knitting a lengthier project and need some quick gratification?
If either of these are true for you, you are the perfect candidate for a batch of afghan squares! Afghan squares are a classic knitting project, and for many good reasons.
First, they’re portable even while they contribute to a larger project. You can take afghan squares anywhere without covering your lap with yarn!
Second, they make wonderful charity knitting projects. You can send completed squares to a number of charities (like the ones featured in this article!). And because they knit up so quickly, you can send many at once in a few weeks or so.
Finally, you can throw a little variety into your squares without creating a blanket of chaos.
That’s where the following 4 stitch patterns come in! All of these are reversible, so your afghan will look great from either side. You can use different colors for each square, or you can use one color for the entire afghan — it’s really up to you.
Ready for some afghan square magic? Take a look at the following 4 stitch patterns. Use one, two, three, or all four — whatever suits your fancy.
1. Checkered pattern
The name says it all! This stitch pattern produces a checkerboard-like design. To create it, just cast on a number of stitches in a multiple of four plus two. Then repeat the following series of 4 rows:
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: P2, then K2, P2 to end
Row 4: K2, then P2, K2 to end
2. Double moss stitch
I love the texture of double moss stitch (and its cousin, seed stitch). The combination of rhythmic knits and purls creates a pleasant nubby texture.
For this pattern, just cast on a number of stitches in a multiple of four plus two. Then repeat the following 4 rows:
Row 1: K2, P2 to end
Row 2: As row 1
Row 3: P2, K2 to end
Row 4: As row 3
3. Diamond stitch
Again, the name says it all; the diamond stitch produces diamond-shaped images. It looks equally pretty knitted in solid and multicolored yarn. That’s unusual for a textured stitch pattern!
To knit this pattern, cast on a multiple of fifteen stitches. Then follow these directions:
Row 1: K1, P13, K1, repeat to end
Row 2: P2, K11, P2, repeat to end
Row 3: K3, P9, K3, repeat to end
Row 4: P4, K7, P4, repeat to end
Row 5: K5, P5, K5, repeat to end
Row 6: K1, P5, K3, P5, K1, repeat to end
Row 7: P2, K5, P1, K5, P2, repeat to end
Row 8: As row 3
Row 9: As row 7
Row 10: As row 6
Row 11: As row 5
Row 12: As row 4
Row 13: As row 3
Row 14: As row 2
4. Diagonal lines
I love diagonal lines! To me it’s fun to change things up from the usual vertical or horizontal lines found in knitting.
To create this pattern, cast on a multiple of eight stitches plus six. Then repeat the following 8 rows:
Row 1: P3, *K5, P3, rep from * to 3 rem, K3
Row 2: P4, *K3, P5, rep from * to 2 rem, K2
Row 3: P1, K5, *P3, K5 to end
Row 4: K1, P5, *K3, P5 to end
Row 5: K4, *P3, K5, rep from * to 2 rem, P2
Row 6: K3, *P5, K3, rep from * to 3 rem, P3
Row 7: K2, P3, *K5, P3, rep from * to 1 rem, K1
Row 8: P2, K3, *P5, K3, rep from * to 1 rem, P1
These four stitch patterns are wonderful for beginners. Create enough of these squares, and watch your knitting confidence grow!
They’re also terrific for the experienced knitter who wants to create a ton of squares in a small amount of time.
In short, there’s no reason not to cast on and start knitting any (or all) of these squares today!
You can download a beautiful, ad-free PDF featuring all four of these stitch patterns at the Knitting for Charity Mosaic Bookshop! Tuck a copy in your knitting bag and take it with you wherever you go.
Hi Nicole,
Are these all 12” squares?
Because these are stitch patterns that can be altered depending on the number of stitches you cast on, the border stitches, and so on, these aren’t any particular size. You’ll probably want to experiment with the number of cast-on stitches (and border stitches) you would need to create a 4-inch square. Hope that helps!
Diagonal lines looks like fun. I think an afghan in different colored blocks would be a fun new thing to try.
Diagonal lines is one of my favorites! I actually created an afghan in different colored blocks, and it was a lot of fun. I was very pleased with how it turned out!
I used the ‘checkered pattern’ for my first baby blanket donated to the ‘Until I Get Home’ charity.
All the patterns are great for scarves, washcloths and blankets. Thank you Nicole.
You’re very welcome, Linda!
Regarding the phrase, “no question is stupid”, I have a question regarding the checkered pattern. In row 3, you P2, K2, P2 to end – means what? Usually I know what an asterisk means in a pattern, but here I am totally confused. After the second P2, stitch what to the end??? Repeat? Sorry to be so thick, but love the pattern and want to get it right. thanks for your help!! Great site. Jane
Jane, I apologize – I hadn’t even noticed that I neglected the asterisks in these patterns! I will be sure to add them by the end of the day. But yes, after the initial P2, you’ll repeat the K2, P2 pattern to the end of the row. And the same will go for the 4th row – after the original K2, you’ll repeat the P2, K2 pattern until the end of the row. I’m so sorry for the confusion! I will make the changes ASAP.
Thank you so much! Love receiving your posts.
You’re very welcome!
Thank you for your kind generosity to all. Will knit squares with these patterns.
Shouldn’t be any reason why you can’t print them out. I don’t know what internet browser you’re using, so I can’t help you there. You might want to try putting the URL into a website called printfriendly.com .
I’d very much welcome seeing more of these different stitch patterns. Please keep them coming…I love to play and learn while I work.
Thanks so much! I’ll share as many more as I can. 🙂
The Diamond stitch block would be a wonderful project to teach the knit and purl stitch.
Yes, it certainly would!