purlJam

# GRANNY-INSPIRED SQUARE
## Knitted Colourwork Motif Square

A charming 8" (20 cm) knitted square featuring a Fair Isle flower motif, inspired by traditional granny squares. This project combines three coordinating colours with a central flower, middle field, and contrasting border. Perfect for blankets, cushions, or as a sampler for colourwork techniques.

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## MATERIALS

**Yarn**: Worsted weight (Aran/10-ply), approximately 55 metres total
- **Colour A (Border)**: 20 metres
- **Colour B (Middle/Background)**: 25 metres  
- **Colour C (Flower Motif)**: 10 metres

**Needles**: 4.5 mm (US 7) straight or circular needles, or size needed to obtain tension

**Notions**: 
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
- Blocking materials (pins, blocking mat)

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## TENSION (GAUGE)

18 stitches × 24 rows = 10 cm (4") in stocking stitch, measured after blocking

**IMPORTANT**: Tension is critical for achieving the correct finished size. Always work a tension swatch.

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## FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

20 cm × 20 cm (8" × 8") square, blocked

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## ABBREVIATIONS

- **k** = knit
- **p** = purl
- **st(s)** = stitch(es)
- **RS** = right side
- **WS** = wrong side
- **MC** = main colour
- **CC** = contrast colour
- **A** = Colour A (Border)
- **B** = Colour B (Middle)
- **C** = Colour C (Flower)

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## PATTERN NOTES

1. **Construction**: This square is worked flat from bottom to top in stocking stitch (knit on RS, purl on WS).

2. **Colour Changes**: Use the Fair Isle/stranding technique for the flower motif, carrying the unused colour loosely across the back of the work. For the border and middle colour changes, you may use the intarsia technique or simply break yarn and join new colour.

3. **Float Management**: Keep floats (stranded yarn on wrong side) loose and no longer than 5 stitches. Catch long floats by twisting working yarn around carried yarn every 3-4 stitches.

4. **Reading Charts**: Charts are read from bottom to top. On RS rows, read from right to left. On WS rows, read from left to right. Each square represents one stitch.

5. **Edge Stitches**: The first and last 3 stitches of every row form the side borders. These are worked in Colour A throughout.

6. **Blocking**: Colourwork benefits greatly from blocking. Steam or wet block to even out stitches and achieve stated dimensions.

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## CHARTS

### CHART KEY
- **□** = Colour B (Middle/Background)
- **■** = Colour C (Flower Motif)

### CHART A: FLOWER MOTIF
**13 stitches × 15 rows**

```
Row 15: □□□□■□□□■□□□□
Row 14: □□□■■■□■■■□□□
Row 13: □□■■■■■■■■■□□
Row 12: □□□■■■■■■■□□□
Row 11: □□□□■■■■■□□□□
Row 10: □□□□□■■■□□□□□
Row 9:  □□□■■■■■■■□□□
Row 8:  □□■■■□■□■■■□□
Row 7:  □□■■□□■□□■■□□
Row 6:  □■■■□□■□□■■■□
Row 5:  □□■■□□■□□■■□□
Row 4:  □□■■■□■□■■■□□
Row 3:  □□□■■■■■■■□□□
Row 2:  □□□□■■■■■□□□□
Row 1:  □□□□□■■■□□□□□
```

**Chart Position**: The flower motif is worked on rows 21-35 of the square, centred across stitches 13-25 (within the middle section after the 3-stitch border).

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## INSTRUCTIONS

### BOTTOM BORDER

**Cast On**: Using Colour A, cast on 37 sts.

**Rows 1-4** (RS, WS, RS, WS): Work in stocking stitch (knit RS rows, purl WS rows) using Colour A.

*Stitch count: 37 sts*

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### MIDDLE SECTION - LOWER

**Row 5 (RS)**: K3 with A, join B and k31 with B, join second ball of A and k3 with A.

**Pattern Note**: You are now working with three separate colour sections. The first and last 3 sts remain in Colour A (border), while the centre 31 sts are worked in Colour B.

**Row 6 (WS)**: P3 with A, p31 with B, p3 with A.

**Rows 7-20**: Repeat Rows 5-6 seven more times (14 rows total).

*After Row 20: 37 sts; 20 rows completed*

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### MIDDLE SECTION - FLOWER MOTIF

**Setup**: On rows 21-35, you will work the flower chart centred in the middle section. The 3-stitch borders continue in Colour A. Within the 31-stitch middle section, the flower (13 sts) is centred with 9 sts of Colour B on each side.

**Row 21 (RS)**: K3 with A, k9 with B, work Row 1 of Chart A (13 sts using B and C as indicated), k9 with B, k3 with A.

*Breakdown: 3 (border) + 9 (B) + 13 (chart) + 9 (B) + 3 (border) = 37 sts*

**Row 22 (WS)**: P3 with A, p9 with B, work Row 2 of Chart A reading from left to right (13 sts), p9 with B, p3 with A.

**Rows 23-35**: Continue in this manner, working Rows 3-15 of Chart A on the centre 13 sts, maintaining 9 sts of Colour B on each side of the chart, and 3 sts of Colour A for borders.

*After Row 35: 37 sts; 35 rows completed*

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### MIDDLE SECTION - UPPER

**Row 36 (RS)**: K3 with A, k31 with B, k3 with A. Break Colour C (no longer needed).

**Row 37 (WS)**: P3 with A, p31 with B, p3 with A.

**Rows 38-45**: Repeat Rows 36-37 four more times (8 rows total).

*After Row 45: 37 sts; 45 rows completed*

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### TOP BORDER

**Row 46 (RS)**: Break Colour B. K37 with A.

**Rows 47-49**: Continue in stocking stitch with Colour A (3 more rows: WS, RS, WS).

*After Row 49: 37 sts; 49 rows completed*

**Cast Off**: Cast off all sts knitwise on the RS.

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## FINISHING

1. **Weave in Ends**: Using a tapestry needle, weave in all ends on the wrong side of the work. For colourwork sections, weave ends horizontally through stitches of the same colour for 5-7 cm, then reverse direction for security.

2. **Blocking**: 
   - Soak the square in cool water with wool wash for 15-20 minutes
   - Gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring)
   - Lay flat on a blocking mat or towel
   - Pin to 20 cm × 20 cm (8" × 8"), ensuring corners are square and edges are straight
   - Allow to dry completely (24-48 hours)
   - Steam blocking alternative: Pin dry square to measurements and hover steam iron 2-3 cm above the surface, allowing steam to penetrate. Do not press iron directly on colourwork.

3. **Optional Edging**: If desired, work a crochet edging in Colour A around all four sides using UK double crochet (US single crochet) for a more finished appearance.

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## DESIGN VARIATIONS

- **Size Adjustment**: To create a larger square, cast on additional stitches in multiples of 2, maintaining the 3-stitch border and proportionally increasing the middle section. Add rows proportionally to maintain a square shape.

- **Multiple Squares**: Join multiple squares using mattress stitch or crochet seaming to create blankets, cushion covers, or bags.

- **Colour Placement**: Experiment with colour placement—try a dark background with bright flower, or tone-on-tone for subtle texture.

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## TECHNICAL VERIFICATION

**Cast on**: 37 sts ✓  
**Border rows (bottom)**: Rows 1-4 = 4 rows ✓  
**Middle lower**: Rows 5-20 = 16 rows ✓  
**Flower motif section**: Rows 21-35 = 15 rows ✓  
**Middle upper**: Rows 36-45 = 10 rows ✓  
**Border rows (top)**: Rows 46-49 = 4 rows ✓  
**Total rows**: 4 + 16 + 15 + 10 + 4 = 49 rows ✓

**Dimensions**: 37 sts ÷ 18 sts per 10 cm = 20.5 cm ✓  
49 rows ÷ 24 rows per 10 cm = 20.4 cm ✓

**Flower position**: Centre 13 sts of 31-st middle section  
Start position: st 13 (3 border + 9 background + 1) ✓  
End position: st 25 (3 + 9 + 13) ✓

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## ABOUT THIS PATTERN

This pattern adapts the beloved granny square aesthetic into knitted colourwork, perfect for knitters who want to explore Fair Isle techniques in a small, manageable project. The three-colour design maintains the traditional granny square structure while showcasing knitting's unique texture and drape.

**Skill Development**: This pattern teaches colour management, float control, and chart reading—essential skills for more complex colourwork projects.

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*Pattern designed for intermediate knitters comfortable with colourwork techniques. Test knitted and tech edited for accuracy.*