purlJam

# Peter Griffin Face Knit Square

This beginner-friendly knitting pattern creates a charming square featuring a simplified intarsia design of Peter Griffin's face. Perfect as a washcloth, trivet, or a fun addition to a blanket, this project introduces basic colorwork (intarsia) while keeping the overall construction straightforward. The Garter stitch border ensures the edges lie flat, preventing the common curl of Stockinette stitch.

**Difficulty Level:** Beginner

**Finished Measurements:** Approximately 8 inches (20 cm) wide x 8 inches (20 cm) high

---

## Materials

*   **Yarn:** Worsted weight yarn, approximately:
    *   **MC (Main Color):** Peach or Light Tan (Peter's skin tone) - 80 yards (73 meters)
    *   **C1 (Contrast 1):** White (for eyes) - 10 yards (9 meters)
    *   **C2 (Contrast 2):** Black (for pupils) - 5 yards (4.5 meters)
*   **Needles:** US 8 / 5 mm straight or circular needles
*   **Notions:**
    *   Tapestry needle (for weaving in ends)
    *   Scissors
    *   Stitch markers (optional, for marking border stitches)
    *   Yarn bobbins (optional, but highly recommended for intarsia to manage multiple color strands)

---

## Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch (knit on right side, purl on wrong side)
*Please take time to check your gauge. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.*

---

## Abbreviations

*   **CO:** Cast on
*   **BO:** Bind off
*   **k:** knit
*   **p:** purl
*   **RS:** Right side
*   **WS:** Wrong side
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **MC:** Main Color
*   **C1:** Contrast 1
*   **C2:** Contrast 2
*   **St st:** Stockinette Stitch (k on RS, p on WS)

---

## Pattern Notes

*   **Intarsia Technique:** When changing colors in intarsia, always twist the old and new yarns around each other on the wrong side of your work. This prevents holes from forming. Carry each color as needed across the row, using separate balls or bobbins for each section of color. For example, if you have MC-C1-MC across a row, you will need three separate strands of yarn (one MC for the left section, one C1 for the middle, and one MC for the right section).
*   **Garter Stitch Border:** The first and last 4 stitches of every row, and the first and last 4 rows of the entire project, are worked in Garter stitch (knit every row). This creates a neat, non-curling border.
*   **Reading the Pattern:** When working the colorwork section, follow the instructions explicitly. For RS rows, knit in the specified colors. For WS rows, purl in the specified colors.

---

## Instructions

**Setup**

1.  With MC, **CO 36 sts**.
    *   *(Math Check: 36 stitches / (18 sts / 4 in) = 8 inches wide)*

**Bottom Garter Border**

2.  **Rows 1-4 (Garter Stitch):** Knit all 36 sts.
    *   *(Math Check: 4 rows worked)*

**Peter Griffin Face Section**

This section uses MC, C1, and C2. Remember to twist yarns on every color change! The first 4 sts and last 4 sts of every row are worked in MC (Garter stitch). The center 28 sts are worked in St st with color changes as indicated.

3.  **Row 5 (RS, MC):** K4, knit to last 4 sts, K4. (36 sts)
4.  **Row 6 (WS, MC):** K4, purl to last 4 sts, K4. (36 sts)
5.  **Repeat Rows 5-6 fifteen (15) more times.**
    *   *(Math Check: Total 16 rows of MC worked in pattern body, including Rows 5-6)*
    *   *(This completes Rows 5-36 of the main body, which is 32 rows total)*
    *   *(Correction: Rows 5-6 are the first 2 rows. Repeating 15 more times means 2 + 15*2 = 32 rows. This matches my plan of 16 rows for the lower head MC section, where each row instruction covers RS and WS. So, it should be 16 rows of MC in total before starting colorwork.)*
    *   **Revised:**
        *   **Rows 5-20 (MC - Lower Head/Chin):**
            *   **Row 5 (RS, MC):** K4, k28 MC, K4. (36 sts)
            *   **Row 6 (WS, MC):** K4, p28 MC, K4. (36 sts)
            *   Repeat Rows 5-6 seven (7) more times. (Total 16 rows of MC completed: 8 RS, 8 WS)
        *   *(Math Check: 16 rows of MC completed. This is the first block of 16 rows for the 40-row intarsia section.)*

6.  **Rows 21-28 (Eyes - C1 & C2):** Follow these instructions carefully.
    *   **Row 21 (RS):** K4 MC, k6 MC, k16 C1, k6 MC, K4 MC. (36 sts)
    *   **Row 22 (WS):** K4 MC, p6 MC, p16 C1, p6 MC, K4 MC. (36 sts)
    *   **Row 23 (RS - Pupils):** K4 MC, k6 MC, k1 C2, k14 C1, k1 C2, k6 MC, K4 MC. (36 sts)
    *   **Row 24 (WS - Pupils):** K4 MC, p6 MC, p1 C2, p14 C1, p1 C2, p6 MC, K4 MC. (36 sts)
    *   **Row 25 (RS - Pupils):** K4 MC, k6 MC, k1 C2, k14 C1, k1 C2, k6 MC, K4 MC. (36 sts)
    *   **Row 26 (WS - Pupils):** K4 MC, p6 MC, p1 C2, p14 C1, p1 C2, p6 MC, K4 MC. (36 sts)
    *   **Row 27 (RS):** K4 MC, k6 MC, k16 C1, k6 MC, K4 MC. (36 sts)
    *   **Row 28 (WS):** K4 MC, p6 MC, p16 C1, p6 MC, K4 MC. (36 sts)
        *   *(Math Check: 8 rows of eye section completed. Total rows in intarsia body: 16 (lower MC) + 8 (eyes) = 24 rows.)*

7.  **Rows 29-44 (MC - Upper Head/Forehead):**
    *   **Row 29 (RS, MC):** K4 MC, k28 MC, K4 MC. (36 sts)
    *   **Row 30 (WS, MC):** K4 MC, p28 MC, K4 MC. (36 sts)
    *   Repeat Rows 29-30 seven (7) more times. (Total 16 rows of MC completed: 8 RS, 8 WS)
        *   *(Math Check: 16 rows of upper MC completed. Total rows in intarsia body: 24 + 16 = 40 rows. This matches the 40-row height for the Stockinette intarsia panel.)*

**Top Garter Border**

8.  **Rows 45-48 (Garter Stitch):** K all 36 sts.
    *   *(Math Check: 4 rows worked. Total rows for project: 4 (bottom border) + 40 (main body) + 4 (top border) = 48 rows. This matches the 8-inch height calculation for Stockinette gauge.)*

**Bind Off**

9.  **BO** all stitches loosely in knit.

---

## Finishing

1.  Weave in all loose yarn ends using a tapestry needle.
2.  Gently block your square to its finished dimensions (8 x 8 inches / 20 x 20 cm) if desired, which will help flatten the fabric and even out stitches.

Enjoy your Peter Griffin Face Knit Square!