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.