Letter P Grid Square

A Beginner 35 × 35 Knit/Purl Motif Square (Finger-Friendly Worsted)

A simple textured square worked flat on a 35-stitch by 35-row grid. The capital letter “P” is formed with reverse-stockinette stitches against a stockinette background, framed by garter-stitch borders. Perfect for a dishcloth, afghan block, or wall hanging. Only knit and purl stitches are used.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4), approx 60 yd (55 m). 100 % cotton recommended for dishcloth use; acrylic or wool blend fine for decorative square.
• Needles: US 8 (5 mm) straight or circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge. (Larger needles keep the fabric soft and finger-friendly for beginners.)
• Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, locking stitch marker (optional, to mark RS).

Gauge

18 sts and 24 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in stockinette stitch, blocked. (Gauge is not critical for a square, but matching it yields a finished piece approx 7½″ × 7½″ after blocking.)

Finished Size

Approx 7¾″ (20 cm) wide × 6″ (15 cm) tall unblocked; wet-block to 7½″ (19 cm) square.

Abbreviations (US)

• k – knit
• p – purl
• RS – right side
• WS – wrong side
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• CO – cast on
• BO – bind off

Pattern Notes

• The entire piece is a strict 35-st × 35-row grid. Every row has exactly 35 stitches; no increases or decreases.
• Garter borders (knit every row) keep edges flat.
• Motif is worked in reverse stockinette (purl on RS, knit on WS) so the “P” stands out in bas-relief.
• Chart is read right-to-left on RS rows, left-to-right on WS rows. Odd-numbered rows are RS.
• For true beginners: ignore the chart and follow the written row-by-row instructions; they contain the identical information.
• Finger-knitting tip: if conventional needles feel awkward, you may work the same 35-st grid on a simple peg loom or by finger-looping (each “stitch” is a finger-loop pulled through the previous row); the k/p texture still reads correctly when finished.

Stitch Pattern Overview

• Rows 1–5 and 31–35: garter stitch (knit every st).
• Rows 6–30: 7-st garter border each side + 21-st letter-P panel in the center.
• Inside the panel, background = stockinette (k on RS, p on WS); “P” stitches = reverse stockinette (p on RS, k on WS).

Chart Key (21-st motif only)

• Empty cell = stockinette (k on RS, p on WS)
• X cell = reverse stockinette (p on RS, k on WS) — these form the letter P

Row 30 (RS): - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row 29 (WS): - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row 28:      - X X X X X X X X X X X - - - - - - - - -
Row 27:      - X - - - - - - - - - X - - - - - - - - -
Row 26:      - X - - - - - - - - - X - - - - - - - - -
Row 25:      - X - - - - - - - - - X - - - - - - - - -
Row 24:      - X - - - - - - - - - X - - - - - - - - -
Row 23:      - X - - - - - - - - - X - - - - - - - - -
Row 22:      - X X X X X X X X X X X - - - - - - - - -
Row 21:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row 20:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row 19:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row 18:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row 17:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row 16:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row 15:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row 14:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row 13:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row 12:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row 11:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row 10:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row  9:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row  8:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row  7:      - X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Row  6:      - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(Only the center 21 sts shown; add 7 garter sts each side.)

(The vertical bar of the P is 2 sts wide on the left of the motif; the upper bowl is 12 sts wide and 7 rows tall; the counter-space inside the bowl is open.)

Instructions

Cast on
CO 35 sts using any beginner-friendly method (long-tail or simple e-wrap).

Bottom garter border
Rows 1–5: Knit all 35 sts.
(Place a marker on the RS after Row 1 if desired.)

Letter-P section (Rows 6–30)
Work the 7-st garter borders and 21-st motif as follows. (All rows still contain exactly 35 sts.)

Row 6 (RS): k7, p21, k7.
Row 7 (WS): k7, k21, k7.
Row 8 (RS): k7, p1, k19, p1, k7.
Row 9 (WS): k7, k1, p19, k1, k7.
Row 10 (RS): k7, p1, k19, p1, k7.
Row 11 (WS): k7, k1, p19, k1, k7.
Row 12 (RS): k7, p1, k19, p1, k7.
Row 13 (WS): k7, k1, p19, k1, k7.
Row 14 (RS): k7, p1, k19, p1, k7.
Row 15 (WS): k7, k1, p19, k1, k7.
Row 16 (RS): k7, p1, k19, p1, k7.
Row 17 (WS): k7, k1, p19, k1, k7.
Row 18 (RS): k7, p1, k19, p1, k7.
Row 19 (WS): k7, k1, p19, k1, k7.
Row 20 (RS): k7, p1, k19, p1, k7.
Row 21 (WS): k7, k1, p19, k1, k7.
Row 22 (RS): k7, p12, k8, p1, k7.
Row 23 (WS): k7, k1, p8, k12, k7.
Row 24 (RS): k7, p1, k10, p1, k8, p1, k7.
Row 25 (WS): k7, k1, p8, k1, p10, k1, k7.
Row 26 (RS): k7, p1, k10, p1, k8, p1, k7.
Row 27 (WS): k7, k1, p8, k1, p10, k1, k7.
Row 28 (RS): k7, p12, k8, p1, k7.
Row 29 (WS): k7, k1, p8, k12, k7.
Row 30 (RS): k7, p21, k7.

(Math check: each row = 7 border + 21 motif + 7 border = 35 sts ✓. Motif rows = 25; plus 5 bottom + 5 top = 35 rows ✓.)

Top garter border
Rows 31–35: Knit all 35 sts.

Bind off
BO all sts knitwise on Row 35 (WS). Cut yarn, leaving a 6″ tail.

Finishing

1. Weave in ends with tapestry needle on the wrong side.
2. Wet-block: soak in lukewarm water 15 min, gently squeeze out water (do not wring), pin to 7½″ × 7½″ square on blocking mats, and let dry completely. This evens the grid and makes the “P” crisp.
3. Optional: add a hanging loop by crocheting a short chain at one corner, or seam several squares together for a blanket.

Tips for Success

• Count stitches at the end of every row until the borders become automatic.
• If a purl bump looks wrong, check whether you are on a RS or WS row—the reverse-stockinette “P” only appears correctly on the right side.
• For a bolder letter, use a contrasting color for the motif stitches (intarsia or stranded); the grid numbers stay identical.
• Finger-knitting conversion: cast on 35 finger-loops, then work each subsequent row by pulling a new loop through every existing loop; purl texture is created by twisting the loop the opposite direction.

Enjoy your 35 × 35 Letter-P grid square!